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Donor-Advised Funds: A Powerful Tool for Women’s Philanthropy

Posted on Oct 10, 2024

Today, October 10, marks the first-ever Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Day—a day to spotlight the immense power of donor-advised funds in driving meaningful, lasting change. As a vehicle for charitable giving, DAFs are gaining traction as an efficient and strategic way for individuals to manage their philanthropy. In 2022 alone, nearly 10% of all charitable giving came from DAFs, underscoring their growing importance in the nonprofit world. 

A DAF is more than just a financial tool—it’s a powerful way to amplify your impact and create a legacy. When established at an organization, such as a women’s fund, you receive an immediate tax deduction. The funds are then invested, and you can recommend grants to various charitable organizations over time allowing you to support the causes closest to your heart, like gender equity and women’s empowerment.  

Why Women’s Funds and DAFs are a Perfect Match 

• Amplify Your Impact, Direct Change 
  By establishing a donor-advised fund at The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, you align your giving with a clear mission: promoting the advancement of women and girls in the Fox Valley. The Women’s Funds is uniquely equipped to address the systemic issues that disproportionately affect women such as education, health, economic empowerment, and gender equality. When you contribute through your DAF, your giving is channeled to programs and organizations working in our community to create sustainable change. 

• Expert Guidance for Maximum Impact 
  Giving strategically requires more than just passion—it takes expertise. When you partner with the Women’s Fund, you benefit from a wealth of knowledge about where resources are needed most. The Women’s Fund can guide your giving toward high-impact grants that align with the issues you care most about and your personal philanthropic goals to ensures your donations make the greatest possible difference. 

• Support Critical Issues Long-Term 
  One of the most powerful aspects of a DAF is the ability to think long-term about your giving. With a DAF at The Women’s Fund, your philanthropy doesn’t stop with a single donation. You can create a lasting impact by recommending grants over time and ensureing that your commitment to gender equity continues for future generations. Your DAF can support ongoing projects and respond to emerging needs, creating a ripple effect of positive change. 

How to Drive Change with a DAF at The Women’s Fund 

• Establish Your DAF for Gender Equity 
  If you don’t yet have a donor-advised fund, consider setting one up directly at The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region. With your fund in place, you can make tax-deductible contributions of cash, stock, or other assets. Those contributions are then invested, and you can recommend grants to support causes that are advancing the well-being of women and girls. 

• Already Have a DAF? Give to The Women’s Fund 
  If you already have a DAF, you can contribute to the Women’s Fund through it. By doing so, you ensure that your charitable dollars are directed toward empowering women and fostering gender equality. Whether your focus is on education, economic empowerment, or health, giving through your DAF ensures that your donations are part of a larger movement to uplift women in your community and beyond. 

• Align Your Giving with Systemic Change: 
  When you contribute to the Women’s Fund through your DAF, you’re not just making a one-time donation. You’re joining a collective effort to drive systemic change. Women’s Funds operate on the principle that sustainable, community-driven solutions are the key to breaking down barriers for women. By pooling resources, women’s funds amplify the impact of individual donors, creating long-term change in areas like education, healthcare, and leadership development for women. 

Your Philanthropic Journey 

Setting up a donor-advised fund at The Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region—or contributing to the Women’s Fund through your existing DAF—goes beyond traditional philanthropy. It’s a commitment to systemic change, a pledge to support the causes that uplift women and girls, and a chance to leave a legacy of empowerment. 

Today, on Donor-Advised Fund Day, consider how your DAF can be a tool for advancing gender equity and creating meaningful change. By leveraging the flexibility and tax benefits of a DAF, you can support long-term, community-based solutions that empower women and girls, helping to create a more equitable and just world for all. 

Join the movement today—because the future of women and girls depends on what we do now. 

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