Becoming a Change Maker through a Donor Advised Fund

United Charitable assists individuals, families, and organizations with charitable giving through vehicles including donor-advised funds (DAF). Through DAFs, United Charitable helps clients set up an account dedicated to supporting their preferred charitable organizations.

A DAF allows individuals or companies to donate easily, right from an online portal. Contributions into a Donor advised fund are tax-deductible at the time they are contributed, but they can grow tax-free thereafter. This ensures the donor receives tax benefits upfront while ensuring maximum impact when the funds are ultimately awarded to the nonprofit(s).

Last year was rough for many around the world, making donations more important than ever. In addition to the tax benefits, a DAF is a convenient, hassle-free way to give because the donor only needs to make funds available. Granting to their chosen charitable organizations is only a button click away. This effort does not have to be solitary. Donors can encourage family, friends, and co-workers to donate to a particular DAF fund, thereby maximizing support for charitable organizations they care about.

Athletes for Charity STEM Youth Literacy Program

Based in Tysons, Virginia, United Charitable is a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping social entrepreneurs by offering fiscal sponsorship. Through this charitable vehicle, United Charitable a 501(c)(3), takes on the administrative burdens for the program allowing them to focus on their philanthropic missions. One of the not-for-profit organizations supported by United Charitable is Athletes for Charity.

The STEM Youth Literacy Program is an initiative by Athletes for Charity, the Detroit Lions, and Tata Technologies. The STEM project focuses on enhancing learning outcomes and fostering student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program has its focal point in two Detroit schools: Clark Preparatory Academy and Dixon Educational Learning Academy.

Players from the Detroit Lions made monthly book contributions throughout the initiative’s ten-month duration to students at these institutions. The educational materials donated mainly consisted of age-appropriate STEM-related literature. Detroit Lions players and staff from Tata Technologies served as volunteer readers at the various schools throughout the project.

Furthermore, vocabulary development, drawing contests, and essay competitions are a part of the STEM Youth Literacy Program. Students also received various academic incentives, including tickets to games and autographed footballs, basketballs, and t-shirts.

The Different Types of Donor Advised Fund Sponsors

United Charitable is a nonprofit organization based in Tysons, Virginia. It provides administrative support for several charitable missions through its fiscal sponsorship platform. United Charitable also assists individuals who foster an interest in philanthropy to make the most of their donations through its Donor Advised Funds (DAF).

In the United States, there are over 1000 DAF sponsor organizations. These not-for-profit institutions fall into three distinct categories: single-issue nonprofits, community foundations, and national charities.

Community foundations in the US were the first to sponsor DAFs in the 1930s. Today, these charities number over 800, spreading across every state in America. While these foundations differ in their structure, the objective largely remains the same: to help philanthropists support local charity causes. Also, these organizations are usually knowledgeable about community needs and the nonprofits meeting those needs because they’re community based. As such, they’re able to advise donors from their extensive expertise.

Single-issue nonprofits usually focus on a specific area such as social justice, environment, LGBTQ rights, and health. Some examples of single-issue nonprofits include rotary foundations, universities, faith-based charities, and hospitals. In the US, single-issue nonprofits hold $15.19 billion of charitable assets.

National charities focus on philanthropic work on a country-wide scale. In the US, these DAF sponsors have the highest amount of charitable assets, received the most donations, and distributed the greatest number of grants. There are two types of national nonprofits DAF sponsors – Independent noncommercial organizations and commercial gift funds.

Tips for an Effective Discussions on Philanthropy with Clients

Based out of Tysons, Virginia, United Charitable is a non-profit organization that serves clients across the nation by assisting them in fulfilling various philanthropic initiatives. United Charitable provides support to donors, charity professionals, social entrepreneurs, and wealth advisors.

Discussing charitable giving with clients is important to help them determine how to best establish a legacy. However, approaching this subject in conversation is not always easy for wealth advisors. Consider the following valuable tips when talking about philanthropic strategies with your client:

1. Focus on your client’s values. Conversations with clients about philanthropic giving should revolve around what things are meaningful to them personally rather than solely focusing on technical subjects such as estate planning and tax benefits.

2. Discuss the topic early on. Wealth advisors should intentionally bring up the subject of philanthropy rather than wait for their clients to. By addressing the topic early, advisors develop a deeper relationship with their clients as they learn about how the client envisions his legacy.

3. Build a team of experts. Wealth advisors don’t have to know everything about charitable giving, but they should have someone they can bring in that does. Advisors should consider attending planned giving educational events and build their network. They can also consider earning the American College’s Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation to broaden their knowledge base.

Overview of United Charitable’s Fiscal Sponsorship

Tysons, Virginia-based United Charitable has been guiding wealth advisors on how to realize the benefits of using donor-advised funds to maximize their philanthropic giving while reducing tax liability. United Charitable, an established non-profit, also offers fiscally sponsored programs (FSP) to eliminate the complications of operating a charitable program.

Compared to establishing a 501c3, organizing a fiscal sponsorship with United Charitable is simple and relatively quick to arrange. Fiscal sponsorship provides organizations with the financial and administrative assistance they need to govern their operations while furthering their cause and helping them save on overhead expenses.

United Charitable provides comprehensive office support, resources, and administrative and legal assistance to their fiscally sponsored programs. Fees for grant finding are minimal and used to cover the costs of the reporting and auditing services required by grants. Establishing an FSP through United Charitable provides your program with insurance coverage, access to a fundraising platform, and payroll services.

About ReTreeUS’ School Orchard Grant

Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, United Charitable is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity that has spent years establishing and supporting diverse charitable programs on behalf of wealth advisors, social entrepreneurs, and other donors. One of United Charitable’s fiscally sponsored programs (FSP) is ReTreeUS, which promotes environmental sustainability through education and mentorship.

The ReTreeUS School Orchard initiative was established in collaboration with foundations, businesses, and local non-profits to provide schools with access to “educational orchard” grants. These grants provide each school with materials needed to plant trees on campus, a project that includes a wealth of information about the life cycle of plants, the role of worms and worm castings throughout the fertilization process, and other science lessons. The lessons also teach students about practical mulching and planting techniques. The program encourages children to be active and spend time outdoors while beautifying their school for generations to come. The program has served nearly 40 schools in Maine and continues to grow.

Using a United Charitable Donor-Advised Fund

Based in Tysons, Virginia, United Charitable works with social entrepreneurs, wealth advisors, and donors throughout the nation to develop and implement charitable initiatives. A registered 501(c)(3) public charity, United Charitable can extend this status to client initiatives through fiscally sponsored programs, donor-advised funds, and other projects.

The donor advised fund (DAF) charitable vehicle is used by United Charitable to grant donors the flexibility they require to grow their philanthropic efforts and refocus direction as needed. DAFs are a particularly fitting option for donors interested in making a more personalized impact, potentially on behalf of a loved one.

Donors begin the DAF process by making an irrevocable gift of personal assets. After the DAF is named, the donor can begin making grant recommendations to likeminded charities and community organizations, after which the DAF team will see to the administrative, compliance, and financial details.

Part of the flexibility of a DAF can be attributed to the fact that donors do not have to keep up with the time-consuming clerical work of donation management. Instead, donors can focus on their professional lives, while supporting a cause they truly believe in.

United Charitable FSP Los Angeles Bicycle Academy

Through Fiscal Sponsorship, United Charitable assists social entrepreneurs as they develop and launch projects in a variety of philanthropic fields. As a Fiscally Sponsored Program, you benefit from receiving support in areas such as accounting, compliance adherence, access to fundraising tools, payroll services, and many more. One of United Charitable’s current Fiscally Sponsored Programs, the Los Angeles Bicycle Academy, is taking strides at improving the quality of life of kids in the community through bicycles.

The Los Angeles Bicycle Academy has been a fiscally sponsored program of United Charitable for over 10 years. Founder and program manager, Damon Turner, started this program to help young people in his community build entrepreneurial skills while also discovering and enjoying the sport of cycling. For 2020, the LABA is running a program called the Earn-A-Bike Project, where students ranging in age from 8-18 participate by “putting the hours in” at the LABA bike shop to learn the mechanics of building a bicycle while also learning sales and service-oriented skills. At the end of their journey, these kids have earned their own bikes.

Cycling provides a healthy outlet to work through stress and energy build up. It is also a vehicle to discover new things outside of your neighborhood. Often kids in the program come from challenging circumstances and might not have otherwise had access to cycling as a sport and the community it provides. This is a rewarding opportunity for them. This past July, LABA ran a fundraising campaign, OFF THE COUCH, ON THE BIKE, to help launch the Earn-A-Bike program. They successfully raised over $24,000! After years of partnership with United Charitable, as a Fiscally Sponsored Program, the Los Angeles Bicycle Academy has grown a program that continues to have a profound effect on its community.

How the Ron Leary REACH Foundation Helps Youth

A registered 501(c)(3) public charity, United Charitable helps donors and wealth advisors increase the impact of their charitable giving through charitable vehicles such as donor advised funds and fiscally sponsored programs. By being under fiscal sponsorship with United Charitable, program managers can focus on achieving their mission while keeping their costs at a minimum.

The Ron Leary REACH Foundation is just one of the charitable programs under fiscal sponsorship with the organization. Founded by Ron Leary of the Denver Broncos, the Ron Leary REACH Foundation reaches out to youths who live in underserved and low-income communities. It hosts football camps and other events to teach lessons on the value of discipline, work ethic, integrity, determination, and leadership. At the end of the sessions, participants receive school supplies.

The foundation envisions a world where children have access to the right tools, role models, and mentors to achieve their dreams regardless of their gender, ethnic background, or socioeconomic status. Programming such as the Elite Youth Camp brings together 20 high school football coaches and six current National Football League athletes to provide children with instruction on the fundamentals and techniques of playing football.

Understanding United Charitable Donor Advised Funds

Established in 2010, United Charitable assists wealth advisors, social entrepreneurs, and donors from around the United States with a variety of tasks relevant to establishing and sustaining effective philanthropy. United Charitable provides support through charitable vehicles, including the establishment of a donor advised fund.

A donor advised fund (DAF) represents the ideal method of achieving a client’s philanthropic desires and efficiently supporting one or more related nonprofits, all while bypassing the complex administrative and financial processes involved in the creation of a fully operational private foundation. These funds are not temporary and, in fact, can be passed down from one generation to the next as part of a legacy of impactful giving.
Several elements of DAF creation take only a matter of minutes, such as allotting a grant to a chosen charity and selecting the option to remain anonymous as the donor. As the creator of a DAF, individuals create grant requests deciding the grant size and the timing of allocation. Furthermore, individuals have the opportunity to directly advise on the charity’s use of the funds.

In keeping with the optimized nature of the DAF program, interested groups and individuals can visit http://www.unitedcharitable.org and immediately begin the DAF creation process by filling out an application.