FAQs for Individual Donors

Do you have a list of approved charities?

Grants can be made to any IRS-approved public charity. Approved organizations are U.S.-based organizations that qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are public charities as defined by Section 509(a) of the code. AEF provides you the ability to research through CharitySearch, from GuideStar®, a database of over 1 million IRS-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Note: All grant recommendations are subject to approval of the Fund. We are also able to make grants to international charities through CAF America.

Can my financial advisor be involved in investing my fund?

Yes. You can recommend that we work with your financial advisor to determine how the assets in your Fund will be invested, and invest in a broad range of securities, including individual stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Why would a grant be declined?

AEF takes great care to comply with all laws governing charitable gift giving and all IRS guidelines affecting donor advised funds. The fund will not approve any grants that:

Are made to individuals or non-qualified charities;
Provide benefit to the donor or individual;
Support lobbying, political campaigns or other political activities;
Support a charitable event that would constitute a quid-pro-quo arrangement (e.g., tickets for a fundraiser dinner.)

Will the grant check have my name on it?

The check will bear the name of the American Endowment Foundation; however, the accompanying letter will recognize the donor or account name (per your instructions) who recommended the particular grant. You may also remain anonymous if you wish.

Can I use my fund to pay off a pledge I made to my college?

Donors may recommend a grant to fulfill a pledge to a charitable organization provided that AEF makes no reference to the existence of the pledge when making the grant, the donor does not receive any benefit that is more than incidental on account of the grant, and the donor does not attempt to claim a charitable deduction with respect to the grant.

Will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?

Yes. Contribution statements are mailed for each contribution. You will have access to your quarterly statements on DonorCentral, AEF’s online portal.

What does it mean to “recommend” grants?

Tax laws require that your charitable contribution must be irrevocable and unconditional in order for you to receive the associated tax benefits. Your role as donor advisor to those funds does allow you to recommend how the funds are invested and distributed.

Can I contribute assets from an IRA?

You may designate your donor advised fund as a beneficiary to a portion or all of your IRA. We encourage you to consult with your tax advisor to discuss the tax consequences of utilizing an IRA for charitable giving.

How do I recommend a grant?

You can recommend a grant online once you have logged into DonorCentral, AEF’s online portal (preferred method). You can also fill out the Grant Recommendation Form and fax, mail or email it to us.

Will I receive any income?

No. All account earnings accrue within your donor advised fund, thereby increasing the amount that you can recommend for grants to public charities. The earnings in the fund do not increase any tax deduction you can claim for contributing to the account, since you receive your deduction at the time of contribution.

What types of organizations are eligible to receive grants?

Since its founding in 1993, AEF’s donors and their advisors have appreciated our independence which allows us to singularly focus on what we do best – deliver highly personalized service and administration. In accordance with our granting policy, AEF makes grants to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities. Accordingly, we are guided by our due diligence process which relies on the IRS determination as to whether a charity is in good standing under the Internal Revenue Code. The Board of Directors of AEF remains cause-neutral with respect to the disposition of our charitable assets ensuring that AEF remains independent of any viewpoint espoused by a particular tax-exempt entity.

Can I name my fund as beneficiary of my charitable remainder trust?

Yes. As a public charity, AEF can be named as a CRT remainderman.

When will the charity receive the grant?

If we have worked with the charity before, the ACH or check will ordinarily be issued within 5-7 business days. If we have not granted to the charity before, we perform due diligence on your behalf to verify that it is a 501(c)3 charity. This process may take longer based on the time it takes to qualify the charity.

Can I plan for a successor on my account?

Yes. We encourage our donors to see their account as a vehicle with which to leave a lasting legacy of giving. You may name one or more designated individuals as the successor(s) on your account, to take over as donor-advisors when you are no longer able to, or no longer want to. Alternatively, you may designate a specified charity as the beneficiary, and the account will be distributed to the charity according to your distribution plan.

Can my children succeed me as advisor of my fund?

Yes, you can name anyone you want as successor advisor. Simply name your successor advisor in the Disposition section of the Fund Application. If you want to name more than one successor advisor, please identify who will serve as spokesperson of the group. When they succeed you, they will be able to name successor advisors.

How can I get my children involved?

With proper guidance from an adult, you can involve your children or grandchildren as young as 8 years old and can create donor advised funds in their name. Here is additional information about engaging your family members in your DAF.

Will I receive confirmation when a grant is made?

You can login into DonorCentral, AEF’s online portal to check the status of your grant at any time. Once the grant has been paid, you will have access to view the grant letter on DonorCentral. A copy of the grant letter is either emailed or mailed to the charity.

How long will it take for my contribution to appear in my account?

Typically, your account is open and funded within 24 hours from the receipt of your contribution. On some occasions (particularly if assets are being transferred from a financial institution to another.), the process can take from two to six weeks. If the assets are coming from another financial institution and you are concerned about timing, we recommend you contact us for strategies to expedite the transfer.