Achieve Your Philanthropic Goals with Donor Advised Funds

The Women's Foundation of California has been helping individuals and families achieve their philanthropic goals since its inception in 1979. One way the Foundation does this is through donor advised funds (DAF).

Flexible and convenient, DAF's allow you to partner with the Foundation in selecting specific issues areas and designating grant recipients. In this collaborative effort, the Foundation provides all professional services - administrative, programmatic, financial - and works to connect your social justice objectives with innovative community-based organizations.

DAF's may be established through cash gifts, securities, closely held stock, stock options, life insurance, real estate or other assets. You may also start your fund with either a single gift or incrementally through the years and take advantage of favorable tax situations.

In establishing a donor advised fund at the Foundation:

  • You may choose to have your fund managed as a perpetual endowment, meaning only the income, not the principal, is disbursed, or you may disburse principal at will.
  • You recommend grants of any size to local, regional and national organizations over a number of years and at your convenience. You may designate the purpose of your fund to a specific area of interest, a region or a particular organization.
  • You may choose to be completely anonymous or we can provide full acknowledgment.
  • You and your spouse or partner can invite others as advisory members to recommend grants from your fund, and you can involve younger members of your family to continue the life of the fund on to the next generation.
  • You collaborate with staff who are committed to fostering women's philanthropy and funding for social justice issues.

For specific guidelines and administrative fee structures, please read a SAMPLE DAF AGREEMENT and the ADVANCE ADVISOR FORM.

To start your own donor advised fund, please contact Cathy Schreiber, Vice President of Development and Communications at cathys@womensfoundca.org or (415) 321-2044.