Donors who give through a donor-advised fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation enjoy the ease and flexibility of our charitable funds as well as our best-in-class customer service team to help them along the way.
Whether you recently established your donor-advised fund, or you have been giving through your fund for many years, we want to help you make the most of your fund at the Community Foundation. Here are five ways you can maximize your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation:
1. Make Gifts in Honor of Individuals
Many donors wish to support their friends or families participating in races or going on mission trips. We can help with that as long as there is no direct benefit to any individual. You can make grants to charities and note that the gift is in honor of a specific individual in the special instructions. Contact Donor Services if you’d like to make a grant from your fund to support online fundraising efforts in honor of an individual.
2. Support Events
Determining how you can support charities through ticket, table and sponsorship purchases can seem especially tricky. Our Donor Services team is ready to help you determine which portion of the purchase can be funded through your donor-advised fund and which portion must be paid through your personal bank account. All ticket and table purchases, both tax-deductible and non-tax-deductible portions, must be paid through your personal bank account. Any sponsorship costs tied to the intangible recognition you receive for being a sponsor can be covered by your donor-advised fund.
3. Purchase Memberships
You can use your donor-advised fund to purchase a membership as long as the purchase is 100% tax-deductible. Many memberships offer incidental benefits such as free admission, free parking, discounts at gift shops and low-cost gifts such as coffee mugs. These benefits are allowed. However, benefits that are more than incidental must be declined and, if you wish to take advantage of those benefits, paid for separately through your personal bank account.
4. Support Scholarships and Tuition
You can use your donor-advised fund to support a scholarship program administered by a 501(c)(3) public charity or an educational institution. The IRS does not allow contributions to be earmarked to assist specific individuals.
5. Make Recurring Grants
You can easily set up recurring monthly, quarterly or annual donations to your favorite charities by contacting Donor Services. This one-time setup allows you to consistently grant to organizations throughout the year.
As always, we are ready to help you make the most of your donor-advised fund and answer any questions about granting from your fund. Contact our Donor Services team at service@growyourgiving.org or 816.842.7444. View our donor-advised fund grant guidelines for more helpful tips on using your charitable fund.
Authored by: Susie Johnson, Director of Donor Relations and Development