A donor advised fund is a personal philanthropic account established with an up-front donation (immediately tax deductible). From this account, donors can recommend grants (gifts) to any public charity any time, using a fully automated WEB-based platform. While the donated funds remain in the account, they are invested in high social and environmental impact investments.

> How it Works

The Giving Fund offers a range of investments with high social and environmental returns that allow you to maximize the impact of your giving. By providing a slate of impact investment options that have been carefully screened for social and environmental benefit as well as financial risk/return, the Giving Fund multiplies the benefits of your donor advised fund many times over. While a few other DAF providers offer socially responsible investment options, the Giving Fund’s offerings are both broad and deep, enabling you to tailor your philanthropic portfolio to your personal charitable goals. Low minimum contributions and high touch customer service complement the Giving Fund's meaningful investment options.

> Features

Yes. Contributions towards your Giving Fund are tax-deductible as Giving Assets Inc is a 501 c3 non-profit organization.

Cash, mutual fund shares, stocks, bonds and other securities are eligible for contributions to the Giving Fund. Non-conventional assets such as real estate are also accepted. If you have specific questions regarding your contribution, please call Delna Sepoy, Giving Fund Associate, at 800.248.0337.

No. The IRS does not have a distribution requirement for donor-advised funds. Since the Giving Fund exists to support philanthropy, it requires its donors to grant 5 percent each year to nonprofit organizations. If your account sits idle for more than three years, GF will contact you to ask you for grant recommendations.

> Tax Benefits

Grants can be made to charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) and are public charities under Code Section 509(a).

> Open a Giving Fund

According to IRS law, grants cannot be made to private foundations. The Giving Fund will consider distribution of grants to foreign charitable organizations or other non-501(c)(3)s, although this grant-making activity will usually incur additional costs (see next FAQ).
Grants may not be used for any pre-existing pledge, dues, membership fees, event tickets, and goods bought at charitable auctions or for any private benefit. Grants also may not be used for lobbying, political contributions, or to support political campaign activities. We will reject grant recommendations for improper purposes and may request that the grant be returned or that the donor make an additional non-deductible contribution to the Giving Fund.
You will be notified if an organization you recommend to receive a grant is not approved.

Thanks to its partnership with Global Giving, the Giving Fund is able to administer grants to foreign charities. Donors recommend grants to foreign charities by filling out a Grant Recommendation Form as they would for any charity. To the extent possible, due diligence, and verification of projects will be completed within 30 days of receipt of request. A $250-$1,000 fee will be charged for each international grant recommendation. This fee will cover the cost of international communication, 501(c)(3) equivalency research and paperwork, and international wiring costs. To learn more about international giving, please contact Delna Sepoy, Giving Fund Associate, at 800.248.0337.

There is a $250 minimum for each grant processed from your Giving Fund.

Since the donor receives a tax deduction when he/she contributes cash or assets into their fund, additional tax deductions cannot be taken on grant recommendations made through their Giving Fund.

> Click here for Investment Options

Community Investment Note: For donated assets invested in the Community Investment Note there is no investment management expense.
Mutual Funds: Each mutual fund is subject to varying operating and management expenses expected to be between .75% and 2.25% of each fund's average net assets per year. These expenses impact the daily net asset values of the funds in the Pools. They are the same expense that any direct investor in these funds would incur. We do not pay a load charge on the purchases of these funds, which are in A Shares at NAV.
Global Impact Ventures: Fees for these investments vary from fund to fund. For details on specific funds please contact Delna Sepoy, Giving Fund Associate, at 800.248.0337.

All Giving Fund donors have the option of attaching a financial advisor to their account in order to track and observe the performance of their DAFs. Giving Fund donors with accounts greater than $500,000 may recommend that their own financial advisor manage the assets, thus providing greater flexibility and control of philanthropic assets. To learn more about this customized opportunity, please contact Delna Sepoy, Giving Fund Associate, at 800.248.0337.

The Giving Fund is a program provided by Impact Assets and administered by Calvert Foundation, both independent 501(c)(3) organizations. Calvert Group is a for-profit that provides support to Calvert Foundation through nominal in-kind facilities and legal support. All three organizations have separate balance sheets and are governed by separate Boards of Directors.

Please visit our Getting Started page for more information.

The minimum contribution required to open a Giving Fund is $5000.

> For a complete list of minimum balances and requirements click here

> Please click here to see the adminstration fees.

You can reach our Giving Fund Associate Delna Sepoy by calling 800.248.0337 or by email at foundation@calvertfoundation.org

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