A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows a donor to make a contribution and receive a tax deduction at the time of the gift before choosing the eventual recipient of the funds. Donors who wish to make a tax-deductible donation now but are not yet sure which charity they want to support may find a DAF useful.
Popular DAF providers include Vanguard Charitable and Fidelity Charitable. Note that the platforms that provide donors with the ability to create DAFs typically require a large first-time contribution (e.g., a minimum contribution of $25,000 is required to start a Vanguard Charitable DAF).
Using a DAF to donate to GiveWell
Donors who hold funds in a DAF can recommend a grant to GiveWell (we are typically listed in DAF providers like Vanguard Charitable and Fidelity Charitable under our legal name, The Clear Fund). We ask that you include instructions for how we should allocate your gift (to the All Grants Fund, Top Charities Fund, Unrestricted Fund, or one or more of our Top Charities) in the "purpose" or comment section of the grant form. If this isn't possible, you can let us know how you'd like your gift to be allocated by emailing donations@givewell.org. GiveWell’s board retains final discretion over grant decisions.
Using a DAF to support our Giving Funds with a non-cash donation
Donors may also contribute non-cash assets (such as appreciated securities, real property, or other in-kind donations, subject to the rules of the DAF provider) to a DAF, and the donation can be granted as cash to a charity. If you have a DAF and are interested in donating non-cash assets to our Giving Funds, please contact your DAF provider (e.g., Vanguard Charitable or Fidelity Charitable) to verify whether they are able to accept this contribution. Alternatively, you can follow the instructions above to give certain assets through GiveWell's DAF.
Please note that the above is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Benefits may vary depending on your situation. We recommend speaking to your tax accountant, lawyer, or financial advisor for specific tax, legal, or financial advice for your situation.