Quick Notes: Donor-Advised Fund and Estate Planning.

A quick tidbit on Donor-Advised Fund as part of estate planning...

You can donate various kinds of property including cash and property to charitable organizations of your choice.

A Donor-Advised Fund is when you want to donate cash or property to a charitable fund administered by a public charity.  Fidelity has a nice explanation and chart on Donor-Advised Fund on their website. Many charities have information about Donor-Advised Fund on their websites as well.  Here is such a webpage from California Community Foundation.

Basically a Donor-Advised Fund is akin to setting up a private foundation to manage your charitable giving with tax advantages.

Donations are invested according to donor's advice and grants made to qualified public charities according to donor's recommendations, subject to approval of the administering charity. Donors can choose successors to advise on investments and recommend grants after donor's death.

The contribution limits are typically between $10,000 to $25,000 for the first contribution and $5,000 for additional contributions.

The level of complexity is low.

There may be administrative and investment management fees incurred.

Contact your investment company or charity of your choice to learn more information.