As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you’ve likely noticed increased coverage of donor-advised funds in financial publications. This comes as no surprise, given that these popular vehicles can help your clients achieve both their financial and philanthropic goals.
What many advisors don’t realize is that a donor-advised fund at the Wayne County Foundation is not only useful as a standalone tool, but can serve as the flexible foundation of a client’s overall charitable giving portfolio. Here’s how:
Organize annual giving
Fundamentally, a donor-advised fund provides a centralized way for a client to manage gifts of cash, appreciated stock, and other assets while maintaining flexibility in timing grant distributions to favorite charities. This flexibility is especially important as a planning tool in 2025 before the new floor and cap kick in next year on itemized charitable deductions. “Bunching,” or front-loading, multiple years of charitable contributions into a donor-advised fund this year can create meaningful tax advantages and build a ready reserve of philanthropic capital for years to come.
Wide range of tools and resources
The donor-advised fund itself is just the beginning! Beyond enjoying convenience and tax efficiency, clients who establish donor-advised funds at the Wayne County Foundation can work closely with our knowledgeable team to access even more charitable giving resources and vehicles that align with their philanthropic goals.
Community impact
The Wayne County Foundation’s deep understanding of local nonprofits and community priorities can help clients enhance their engagement and impact. Our team provides insights, research, and connections that help your clients see where their dollars make the most difference, turning charitable intent into meaningful outcomes.
A variety of fund types
The Wayne County Foundation offers a wide range of options beyond donor-advised funds. A designated fund, for example, enables your client to provide long-term support to a specific organization. A field-of-interest fund focuses on causes your client cares about that are being addressed in the community by multiple nonprofits, and sometimes even by the Foundation itself.
Giving from IRAs
A client who is 70½ or older can transfer Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), up to $108,000 per taxpayer (2025 IRS limit), from IRAs to a designated, field-of-interest, or unrestricted fund at the Wayne County Foundation, bypassing taxable income in the process.
Legacy strategies
The Foundation team is happy to help you integrate legacy planning strategies into clients’ charitable giving portfolios. Whether through bequests in wills and trusts or through beneficiary designations on life insurance or retirement accounts, naming a donor-advised or other fund at the Wayne County Foundation allows your clients’ charitable intentions to extend across future generations. The Wayne County Foundation provides ongoing support and stewardship, ensuring your clients’ charitable intent is preserved and aligned with evolving community needs over time.
The bottom line? Partnering with the Wayne County Foundation helps your clients’ donor-advised funds function not only as a tax-efficient giving vehicles, but also as dynamic, flexible cornerstones of a comprehensive charitable portfolio, built to adapt through changing tax environments and community priorities.