DAF: Donor Advised Funds

Donor-advised funds (DAF) are the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle because they are the easiest, and most tax-savvy way to give to your favorite causes. A DAF is like a charitable investment account that is set up for the sole purpose of supporting charities.

Individuals can contribute cash, stocks, or other assets into the DAF. Those funds are invested for tax-free growth and the individual can recommend donations to charities of their choice - like the Old-Growth Forest Network - over time.

Read more below on DAF benefits and how to give to OGFN from a DAF.

    1. Tax Deduction: When a donor contributes to a donor-advised fund, the donor can generally treat the full fair market value of the contribution as an itemized deductible charitable contribution, up to certain IRS limits.

    2. Bypassing Capital Gains Taxes: Donating appreciated securities or other appreciated assets to a donor-advised fund allows donors to avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciation.

    3. Tax-Free Growth: Once assets are in the donor-advised fund, they can be invested, potentially leading to tax-free growth over time.

    4. Simplified Giving: Instead of managing multiple donations to various charities individually, you can conveniently allocate funds from your DAF to support different causes, all from one centralized platform.

    5. Estate Tax Planning: Donor-advised funds can be included in estate planning strategies. Contributions to a DAF can help reduce the donor's taxable estate, potentially lowering estate taxes.

    6. Employee Company Match: Many companies offer donation matching programs for contributions made through employee donor-advised funds, effectively doubling the impact of the original donation.

  • Step 1. Reach out to us and inform of your intentions to donate from your Donor-Advised Fund. Many times we do not receive any donor information, only the funds. We want to thank you for your gift and make sure you know it is in good hands. To do so, please contact Kayla Green, Development Director, at kayla@oldgrowthforest.net or leave us a voicemail at (404) 585-0329. We will contact you promptly.

    Step 2. Talk to your financial advisor or tax advisor about setting up an account with a sponsoring organization. Examples of sponsoring organizations: Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, National Philanthropic Trust, and many Community Foundations.

    Information you may need

    Primary Name: Old-Growth Forest Network

    Address: P.O. Box 21, Easton, MD 21601

    Tax ID #: 45-4115570

    Step 3. Once you have set up an account with your chosen sponsoring organization, make an irrevocable contribution of personal assets—which could include cash, stock, real estate and more into your newly established donor-advised fund. Generally, you can receive an immediate tax deduction for federal and/or state income tax the year you make a contribution.

    Step 4. Manage your DAF however you see fit. You can name your DAF anything you’d like, recommend an investment strategy, appoint friends and family members to help you manage the responsibilities of a DAF, and design a legacy plan to determine what will be done with your DAF assets beyond your lifetime which may include appointing successors or charitable beneficiaries (click here to learn about our Legacy Grove Society).

    Step 5. As soon as your DAF is established and funded, you can recommend one-time or recurring grants to the Old-Growth Forest Network.

    Step 6. When your donation is received , we will personally thank you for your generous gift. Please make sure you tell your sponsoring organization to provide your personal information (name, address, email/phone) with your donation so we can tie your gift to you. If you do not hear from us about your gift, please reach out to us ASAP so we can make sure it was received and the gift was tied to your name. Contact: kayla@oldgrowthforest.net or leave us a voicemail at (404) 585-0329.