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  1. Home
  2. FAQ
  3. FAQs for Individual Donors

FAQs for Individual Donors

Is my password protected?

Yes. Your personal information is only accessible to you and AEF. If you approve, your advisor can be granted access to your DonorCentral account.

What if I forget my password?

You can reset your password online through DonorCentral. However, if you forget your user name, please call us at 1-888-440-4233 and we will be happy to assist you.

How do I access my account online?

Click here to go to DonorCentral if you do not have your Password, please call us at1-888-440-4233.

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;
  • Fulfill a donor’s pre-existing pledge to an organization;
  • 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 I receive confirmation when a grant is made?

You will receive a copy of the letter sent to the charity.

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.

When will the charity receive the grant?

If we have worked with the charity before, the check will ordinarily be issued within five 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.

Is there a minimum grant amount?

$250 is the minimum grant amount.

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.

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.

How do I recommend a grant?

You can recommend a grant online once you have logged into DonorCentral, or you can 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.

Will I receive a receipt for tax purposes?

Yes. Contribution statements are mailed for each contribution. You will also receive quarterly statements.

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.

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 can I get my children involved?

With proper guidance from an adult, you can get involve your children or grandchildren as young as 8 years old and can create donor advised funds in their name.

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.

What types of statements will I receive?

We will e-mail you a notice that your quarterly statement is available for access through our online donor portal. The statement will itemize contributions and grants and list the value of your account.You will receive acknowledgement that can be used to support your tax deduction. If you recommend a grant to charity, you will also receive a copy of the letter we mail to the charity.

Can I make an anonymous grant?

Yes. If you request anonymity on the Grant Recommendation Form, AEF will make the grant without disclosing your identity to the grantee organization. This can be done selectively or for all grants.

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

No. Unfortunately, tax regulations prohibit grants that satisfy personal pledges from a donor advised fund.

What types of organizations are eligible to receive grants?

AEF can make grants to any US-based, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (other than non-operating private foundations) as well as approved international charities.

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.

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.

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.

FAQ

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