Harness the Giving Power of a Private Foundation—Without the Complexity

Donor Advised Funds

Are you looking for an easy, cost-effective way to support the University of Colorado and other causes you love? A donor advised fund, which is like a charitable savings account, may be the right choice for you.

Here's how it works. You transfer cash or other assets to a tax-exempt sponsoring organization such as a public foundation. You can then recommend—but not direct—how much and how often money is granted to CU or other charities—sometimes as easily as using a Web portal. And you avoid the cost and complexities of managing a private foundation.

You qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction at the time you contribute to the account, and the power to make recommendations on which charities to support whenever you want. You centralize your giving and record-keeping in one location. And maybe best of all, you can start a legacy of giving by letting your children help decide which grants to recommend.

Donor Choice Funds

The University of Colorado Foundation also offers the opportunity to set up a similar Donor Choice Fund. Establishing a Donor Choice Fund is similar to the Donor Advised Fund, but 100% of the funds must benefit CU. This vehicle allows you to make a charitable contribution to CU, receive an immediate tax benefit and then allows for flexible recommended transfers from the fund over time to support various projects or areas of interest specifically at CU.