If you've got a Donor Advised Fund and you've been meaning to do something with it, today's a good day to stop meaning to.
A DAF, if the term is new to you, is a charitable giving account. You put money into it, you get the tax benefit up front, and then you recommend grants out of it whenever you're ready, to whichever nonprofits you choose. A lot of people set one up, feel good about it, and then let it sit for a year or two longer than they meant to. That's normal. It's also exactly the kind of account DAF Day exists to shake loose.
What a Grant From Your DAF Actually Does
It's easy to think of a DAF gift as abstract, money moving from one account to another somewhere out of sight. It isn't. A grant to Girls on the Run Greater Houston turns into a specific thing for a specific girl this season. It can help a girl unleash her limitless potential. It can give a girl a place where she feels accepted and valued, on a team, at practice, at the finish line. It can increase her joy and confidence in ways that outlast the season itself.
That's the whole point of the program, and it's funded one grant at a time.
How to Actually Do It
Recommending a grant from a DAF is simpler than most people expect. You log into your fund's portal, whether that's through a community foundation, Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or wherever your fund lives, and you request a grant in our name. Most portals will ask for our EIN to process it, so here it is:
EIN: 41-2142328
That's really the whole process. No forms to fill out on our end, no waiting on us. Your fund administrator handles the transfer, and the grant lands where you sent it.
If You'd Rather Just Ask Someone
Some people would rather talk it through than click through a portal, and that's completely fine. Michelle handles DAF gifts for us directly, and she's happy to walk you through it, answer questions about your specific fund, or just confirm you've got the right information before you submit anything.
You can reach her at (832) 474-0412 or michelle@gotrgreaterhouston.org.
Today's the Day
DAFs are easy to forget about precisely because there's no urgency built into them. The money's already set aside. Nobody's asking. DAF Day is just a nudge, a reminder that the fund you set up for exactly this purpose is still waiting to be used.
If you've got one, consider recommending a grant to Girls on the Run Greater Houston today. It takes a few minutes, and it reaches a girl who's counting on it.