by Andrew Hibel | Nov 22, 2016 | #GivingTuesday, Charitable Giving, Donor Impact, Donor-Advised Funds, Featured |
Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 in a partnership by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to create an international day of giving during the busy holiday shopping season. Since 2012, Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) has become a powerful movement supporting giving and creating a culture of philanthropy. Since its inception, charities have seen large increases in both donor participation and dollars given per-donation. In 2015, charities saw a 155% increase in donations over 2014, bringing in over $117 million dollars. While that represents only a fraction of annual giving to charities, it does represent the largest single day of online giving. Giving Tuesday is helping charities increase the number of donors and reach the increasingly important millennial generation. The social nature of giving on Giving Tuesday makes it a great way to introduce charitable giving to children and teens. So, this coming Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2016, take a moment to give to your favorite charities. If you have the money to spare, start up a donor-advised fund. It makes giving easy, it makes doing your taxes easier without the need to keep track of various tax receipt letters, and it forces you to think about how much you want to give in total, rather than to any given recipient. The Advise Us Fund is itself a 501(c)3 non-profit and you can donate to us here or contact our...
by Andrew Hibel | Sep 11, 2016 | Charitable Giving, Donor-Advised Funds, Events, Featured |
Donor Advised Fund Essentials for Small and Medium Charities The Advise Us Fund expresses its deep gratitude to Holland and Knight for graciously hosting this event. Thursday, September 29, Registration opens at 8 am, program 8:30 am – 2 pm Entire Program Free, Box Lunch Included Please email [email protected] for any dietary needs or specific agenda. Speakers Include: Bob Eichinger, Chicago Community Trust, Director of Donor Services Ron Burke, Active Transportation Alliance, Executive Director Laura Kaufman, Partners in Effective Philanthropy, President Vivian Karpowitz, Advocate Health Care Foundation, Director, Development Information and Analytics Tony Oommen, Fidelity Charitable, Vice President, Charitable Planning Consultant Kristin Carlson Vogen, Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, President and CEO David Rosen, Jewish United Fund, Senior Vice President, Endowment Free...
by Robert Freedman | Jun 29, 2016 | Charitable Giving, Donor Impact, Donor-Advised Funds, Featured |
The Active Transportation Alliance partnered with The Advise Us Fund to offer expanded giving options to donors. This new partnership will go a long way in supporting Active Trans in its future development and planned giving efforts. Chicago, IL, June 23, 2016 –(PR.com)— Cycling advocacy has deep roots going back more than 40 years. As such, the early pioneers of this movement are looking to secure the future of the cycling movement through planned giving and major gifts and bequests. This shift in development strategy balances traditional annual giving and long-term planned giving to meet the needs of cycling advocates looking to secure the legacy of their life’s work. The Active Transportation Alliance partnered with The Advise Us Fund to offer expanded giving options to donors. This new partnership will go a long way in supporting Active Trans in its future development and planned giving efforts. Recognizing that both organizations work to achieve a similar goal, Active Trans is proud to partner with The Advise Us Fund. “The sustainable transportation movement has reached a new level of maturity,” said Ron Burke, Active Trans Executive Director. “Establishing a long-term giving program for the organization is a natural development for us as we grow and evolve. And we’re thrilled to be teaming up with The Advise Us Fund in pursuit of this goal.” Furthering this partnership, “We work toward matching the interest of donors to the needs of the organization and providing outcomes to help them enhance the difference they are making.” said Amy Roy, Charitable Catalyst and Managing Director of The Advise Us Fund. “We look forward to bringing our expertise...
by Robert Freedman | May 19, 2016 | Charitable Giving, Donor-Advised Funds, Uncategorized |
Your wallet, your heart and your head must all be open when donating to a charity. The first two are easy: you either have the passion and the funds or you don’t. However, the latter requires you to ask yourself five important questions to give wisely to a reputable charity. What truly interests you? A charitable heart can be pulled in many directions but it takes mindfulness to identify the organizations that are most meaningful to you. Take time reading the mission statements and understanding a charity’s goals so that they mirror your unique values, not just a cause that is universally good. Do you want to give to a general fund or a specific program? Like any investment, you want to make sure that your dollars go a long way. Instead of a Return on Investment, concentrate on your ROG, or Return on Giving. Determine “multipliers” for your donation and figure that in the rate of return. For example, a $100 donation to an organization could make your community $200 richer, or a $100 donation could enable volunteerism. A day’s work by a volunteer that would replace professional services charging, say, $50 for eight hours, is a $300 net on your $100 donation. Set goals for the outcomes of your donation and identify charities that give the best ROG. Will your donation be tax deductible? You may also want to take advantage of tax breaks. Part of your research of charities should involve a visit to the IRS website to search its database of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. Keep in mind, this...
