At the Wayne County Foundation, we work with a wide range of donors who want to support favorite charities and causes they care about. Sometimes we meet with individuals and families who have already begun their charitable giving journey by establishing a donor advised fund at a national charitable sponsor or commercial provider.
Over time, many donors discover that they want something more. They want to learn about local needs, connect with nonprofits making a difference in their community, involve family members in giving decisions, and work with people who understand the place they call home. For these donors, transferring a donor advised fund from a national charitable sponsor or a commercial provider to the Foundation can be a natural next step.
The good news is that moving a donor advised fund is often easier than people expect. Here is a simple guide to the process.
Step 1: Start a conversation with the Foundation
The first step is simply to reach out. The Wayne County Foundation team can learn about your charitable interests, answer questions, and explain how a donor advised fund at the Foundation can support your goals.
Many donors are surprised to learn that a community foundation offers not only the convenience of a donor advised fund, but also local knowledge, philanthropic expertise, and a long-term commitment to strengthening the community.
Step 2: Map out a fund that reflects your values
One of the most enjoyable parts of the process is designing a fund that reflects your family’s charitable vision. You can choose a fund name, such as the Smith Family Fund, designate fund advisors, and discuss how future generations might become involved. Many donors use this opportunity to create a structure that encourages family conversations about generosity and community impact, tapping into the Foundation’s resources and expertise.
Step 3: Establish your new donor advised fund
The Foundation will provide a simple fund agreement that outlines how the fund will operate and who may recommend grants to nonprofit organizations. The process is typically straightforward, and the Foundation team will guide you through each step.
Step 4: Recommend a grant to make the transfer from your current donor advised fund
Once your new fund is established at the Wayne County Foundation, you can contact your current donor advised fund provider and recommend a grant to the Foundation for the benefit of your newly created fund.
Step 5: Confirm the details
To help ensure a smooth transfer, be sure to use the exact name of your new fund and any instructions provided by the Foundation. Our team will gladly help coordinate the details and answer any questions that arise along the way.
Step 6: Decide how much to transfer
Some donors transfer the entire balance of an existing donor advised fund at once. Others prefer to transfer a portion first and move additional assets later. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The right decision depends on your charitable goals, giving plans, and personal preferences. Some donors even choose to maintain their existing donor advised fund at a commercial provider while also establishing a separate locally-focused donor advised fund or other charitable fund at the Foundation.
Step 7: Put your philanthropy to work in the community
After the transfer is complete, you can begin recommending grants from your Wayne County Foundation donor advised fund. Our team is always here as a sounding board and resource if you have questions! You may already support several favorite local nonprofits, and our team is happy to discuss both these organizations and new organizations that might have caught your attention. Many donors find that this deeper connection to the local community and to professionals who understand it becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of their giving.
The upshot here is that any donor advised fund can help you organize and simplify your charitable giving. By moving your fund to the Wayne County Foundation, you also gain a local partner committed to helping you make a lasting difference close to home. If you’d like to explore whether a transfer makes sense for you, the Wayne County Foundation team would be delighted to start the conversation!