Welcome to CAF America
Our Services

Donor Advised Funds

Efficiently manage domestic and international grantmaking

Establishing a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at CAF America streamlines the process of giving, because you may use the Fund to advise grants to both domestic and foreign organizations.

With a DAF, you eliminate the considerable time and expense required to establish and maintain a private foundation and obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS.

Guaranteed compliance, maximum impact

CAF America is fully compliant with United States law and follows the highest ethical standards, reflecting our commitment to trust and integrity. All charitable organizations in our Global Charity Database undergo a thorough review process to ensure that approved projects lead to positive, meaningful change.

Advantages of a Donor Advised Fund

Let us do the work for you

Tap into our expertise as we identify international organizations that are aligned with your philanthropic goals.

Receive comprehensive Fund management support

Including activity statements, online account access, and a dedicated Fund Manager.

Make unlimited, fully tax-deductible contributions

30+ years

Benefit from our decades of international grantmaking experience and expertise.

Represent your mission

Name the Fund to best reflect your program goals, mission, or initiatives.

Efficient grant payments

Make weekly grant distributions via free wire transfer to securely and quickly create an impact with your giving.

Access a global network

Connect to global giving solutions via the CAF Group and our network of trusted partners.

Compliance with regulations

Enjoy peace of mind regarding your fiduciary and compliance responsibilities.

Donate non-cash assets

Such as privately held stock, real estate, and art.

Grow your impact with an Invested Donor Advised Fund

For donors wishing to grow the impact of their contributions over time, CAF America offers the option of investing donors’ DAF assets.

You may recommend investment allocations based on your appetite for risk and goals for growth, choosing from our pre-approved portfolio options. You will also receive immediate tax benefits as you grow your giving over time and maximize contributions to your preferred organizations.

Advantages of investing your DAF assets:

  • Avoid capital gains taxes on invested donations
  • Select from four different Model Portfolios to find the one that best meets your grantmaking time horizon and philanthropic mission

Do you have a particular vision for your DAF investments? Speak with us to discuss bespoke offerings.

Resources for Donor Advised Funds

You may be interested in

What Is Expenditure Responsibility?

Expenditure Responsibility (ER) is a tool provided by the IRS for foundations that allows for targeted funding that supports a specific charitable project when giving, lending, or otherwise supporting an entity that is not designated as exempt under U.S. IRC Section 501(c)(3).

What Is Equivalency Determination?

Equivalency determination (ED) is the process by which a U.S. grantmaker makes a good faith determination that a foreign grantee is considered the equivalent of a U.S. public charity under IRS Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the tax code.

Passing the Public Support Test: Challenges of Equivalency Determination

One of the requirements of an Equivalency Determination is that the entity is “supported by the general public.” In real terms, the IRS uses what is called the “public support test” to evaluate the level of funding coming from multiple donors.

Equivalency Determination vs. Expenditure Responsibility: Which Is Right for You?

A private foundation may choose to use either equivalency determination or expenditure responsibility. Both tools are equally valid options for making a grant to a non-exempt entity.

Partner with a leader in cross-border giving

We invite you to ask us about giving through our vetted global network.

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