Make Giving Easier—and More Strategic - Whidbey Community Foundation

Start a Donor-Advised Fund with the Whidbey Community Foundation

Are you giving to 3 or more nonprofits annually?
Would you like to simplify how you track charitable receipts?
Do you have publicly traded securities you’d like to donate gradually, while keeping your gift invested and growing in the market?
Are you curious how your giving could create greater impact?

If any of these sound like you, it might be time to consider starting a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) at the Whidbey Community Foundation Today. Even if you currently hold a DAF with another institution, transferring it to the Whidbey Community Foundation allows you to support local impact while still enjoying the same benefits.

Ready to Take Next Step?

What is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)?

A DAF is a flexible charitable giving account that allows individuals, families, or organizations to recommend grants to nonprofit organizations over time. You can contribute assets—such as cash or securities—and receive an immediate tax deduction. Those assets can then be invested and grow tax-free until you choose to make grants to qualified charities.

The Whidbey Community Foundation, as a public charity, sponsors DAFs and provides expert stewardship of your contributions. While the Foundation maintains legal control of the fund, you advise where and when grants are made.

DAFs are one of the fastest-growing tools for charitable giving in the U.S. According to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (DAFRC), nearly 2 million individuals now use DAFs as part of their giving strategy.

“We find a DAF to be a convenient way to give that allows us to maximize our charitable contributions – maximize our impact. We used to give directly to non-profits but with a DAF we are able to cluster our charitable giving into periodic years to insure we can deduct more than the standard deduction. ” – George and Sheila Saul, WCF DAF Holders

Why Do Donors Choose a DAF?

Simplify Giving: Manage all your charitable giving in one place—no need to keep track of multiple donation receipts.
Immediate Tax Benefits: Receive a deduction at the time you contribute to the fund, and take your time deciding which nonprofits to support.
Flexible Contribution Options: Donate cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, real estate, closely held stock, life insurance, or even private foundation assets (note: Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD’s) from an IRA cannot be used to fund a DAF).
No Limits on Grantmaking: Make as many grants as you’d like, when you’re ready, within your spendable balance.

Share Your Interest

Why Open Your DAF at the Whidbey Community Foundation?

When you open a DAF with the Whidbey Community Foundation, your fees do more than cover administrative costs—they help fund nonprofit training workshops, support local grant cycles, and sustain the Foundation’s staff and services.

As a local foundation, we offer something national sponsors can’t:

Insight into nonprofits that align with your values
Opportunities to participate in our annual, competitive grantmaking process
A deeper connection to the impact your gifts create on Whidbey Island

Can a DAF Support My Legacy Giving?

Absolutely. You can involve your family in giving decisions now, and designate successors to carry on your philanthropic legacy. Many donors include their DAF in their estate plans to ensure impact continues for generations to come.