Giving Resources
Your Donor Advised Fund Can Help Build the Future of Rural America
DAF Day is coming up on October 8th, and it’s a great moment to talk about one of the simplest ways to give: a Donor-Advised Fund.
If you’re not familiar with them, a DAF works a bit like a charitable savings account. You put money or assets in, take the tax deduction in the year you contribute, and then recommend grants to the charities you care about whenever you’re ready. Many of our friends already have one through their financial advisor, and some don’t realize how easy it is to put those dollars to work.
Why this year is a little different
The tax rules for charitable giving changed in 2026. For people who itemize, there’s now a 0.5% of AGI floor, meaning the first 0.5% of your charitable giving generally isn’t deductible. Because of that, some donors may find it beneficial to bunch two or three years of planned giving into a DAF in a single year, then recommend grants to their favorite charities over time. The charities can continue to receive steady support, while the donor may be able to maximize the tax benefit of giving in the year the DAF is funded.
Giving appreciated stock to your DAF (or directly to a qualified charity) can be another tax-efficient strategy. If you’ve held the stock for more than one year, you can generally contribute it without recognizing the capital gain and may be eligible for a charitable deduction based on the stock’s fair market value, subject to applicable limitations.
What your gift does here
At the Fay Rural Community Foundation, DAF grants help rural students get to trade school and support community projects in the small towns that hold this country together. Welders, electricians, diesel techs, nurses. These are the people who keep rural communities running, and many of them just need a little help getting started.
How to give
Log in to your DAF account and recommend a grant to the Fay Rural Community Foundation, EIN 86-2355941. That’s it. If you’d like to talk it through or want to direct your gift to a specific program, I’d love to hear from you.
As always, every situation is different, so check with your tax advisor about what works best for you. Thank you for everything you do for rural communities.