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Activate your money for transformative social, ecological, and cultural change

With the RSF Donor Advised Fund (DAF), you will join a community of active philanthropists and learn and co-create with us. The RSF DAF lets you catalyze solutions to systemic problems and experiment with new giving models that challenge philanthropy’s power dynamics.

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What is a DAF?

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle administered by a public charity created to manage charitable donations on behalf of organizations, families, or individuals.

A DAF allows a donor to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Donors can contribute to the fund and recommend grants as frequently as they like. RSF’s values-aligned donors are active with their giving—on average, they grant over 60% of their funds every year.

While assets are at RSF, we invest for impact. Our investment strategy focuses on creating relationships with funds and CDFIs that have demonstrated strong social and/or environmental impact in their communities.

How we work

We offer best-in-class service and work closely with donors to establish a giving approach that expresses their goals and values.

We believe gift money has an important role to play in economic life. As the most flexible, catalytic, and risk-tolerant capital, philanthropic funds are ideally suited for empowering communities and supporting systemic change.

We practice trust-based philanthropy and are leaders in participatory grantmaking processes, including Shared Gifting and Flow Funding. We are working to shift the field of philanthropy to community-led solutions.

We have proudly taken the Hate is Not Charitable pledge alongside many of our colleagues in philanthropy.

Set up your fund

Complete your online application. Minimum to start a fund is $5,000.

Apply now
Fund highlights
Community

When opening a Donor Advised Fund at RSF, you are joining a vibrant, learning community. RSF can facilitate connections to like-minded donors as well as experts in your fields of interest.

We believe philanthropic funds are most transformative when they support development and testing of new models, and we learn together with our clients.

Impact

We continually advance RSF's pioneering impact DAF portfolio, investing assets in climate and social justice solutions while preserving liquidity for grantmaking. We also provide opportunities to customize your DAF investments.

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Innovation

An RSF DAF lets you catalyze solutions to systemic problems and experiment with new giving models that challenge philanthropy's power dynamics.

We approach philanthropy with a justice lens, and are well equipped to help DAF clients who are interested in restorative giving.

Personalization

We can create a customized fund structure and work with you to develop a customized plan for your giving.

Download more information
  • DAF Overview
  • DAF Program Guide
  • Grant Recommendation Form
  • Recoverable Grant Recommendation Form
  • DAF Application
  • Multiple Grant Recommendations Template
  • Guide to Recommending Grants
Fund details
  • Account information

    There is a $5,000 minimum to open a Donor Advised Fund with RSF.

  • Asset contributions

    RSF can accept cash gifts by wire, check, or credit card, as well as public equities. We can also accept bequests, distributions from retirement plans, and legacy gifts. On a case by case basis, we may also be able to receive closely held securities, trusts, real estate, or other complex assets. RSF is not able to accept donations of motor vehicles. Please contact us st ps@rsfsocialfinance.org for more information.

  • RSF's investment portfolio: putting your funds to work

    Most DAF assets are held in our mission-aligned investment portfolio, which seeks safe and liquid cash opportunities that achieve deep impact. Investments are placed in funds, community banks, and companies that are mission-driven and focused on climate change solutions and social justice.  Click here for more details.

  • Eligible grantees

    From your donor advised fund at RSF, you can recommend grants to 501c3 organizations and equivalents such as public schools, most churches, and all federally recognized Native American tribal and local governments. RSF can also make grants for charitable work to organizations that are located and operating outside of U.S. borders. The minimum amount for an international grant is $5,000. Please note that there are additional transaction fees associated with international grants.  We have proudly taken the Hate is Not Charitable pledge alongside many of our colleagues.

  • Recommend a grant

    You can recommend grants online through RSF’s client portal, by mail or email. Direct your email recommendation to grantrec@rsfsocialfinance.org, and a team member will respond to you shortly.

Other Questions?

If you’re interested in opening a Donor Advised Fund, please contact our client engagement team at: ce@rsfsocialfinance.org

Current clients, please contact the philanthropic services team at: ps@rsfsocialfinance.org