by Hiram Wurf | Sep 3, 2014 | Donor-Advised Funds, Featured |
Trending with the growth of financial markets (some at record highs) donors are increasingly giving gifts to donor-advised funds of appreciated assets including stocks, bonds, and more complex assets in publicly and privately held companies. Among the three largest donor-advised funds Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund and Schwab Charitable Fund both saw year-over-year growth in appreciated asset gifts – with Fidelity continuing to increase the percentage of appreciated asset gifts the first half of this year. Donors to Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program dramatically reversed their gifting patterns from providing “a lion’s share” of cash gifts in 2011 to providing 81% of 2013 gifts in appreciated securities. All those appreciated assets really added up! In 2013 donors to Fidelity Charitable’s donor-advised fund contributed $2.2 billion of appreciated assets to their accounts. Vanguard Charitable donors gifted $730 million in appreciated assets – the bulk of the $904 million they contributed – to its donor-advised fund. With Schwab Charitable added, the total of appreciated assets gifted to the three largest donor-advised funds in 2013 likely exceeds $3.5 billion. ____________ Hiram Wurf is Charitable Catalyst, Managing Director of The Advise Us Fund®. The Advise Us Fund is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that offers a donor-centric approach to charitable giving. Hiram formerly served as Executive Director and Founder of the nonprofit 12 State, Inc. and as Marketing Communications Manager for Cool Choices, Inc. He has more than 16 years experience in nonprofit development, marketing and communications including nine years administering grants at a family foundation. The information in this blog post is general and educational. It is not intended nor should it be construed...
by Hiram Wurf | Aug 19, 2014 | Linked In |
Yesterday’s court ruling on Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art & Design’s plans to merge undoubtedly broke with donor intent – as Judge Robert Okun acknowledged – but Okun argued it was a result that nonetheless would have pleased donor William Wilson Corcoran #donorintent #philanthropy...
by Hiram Wurf | Aug 8, 2014 | Linked In |
U.S. universities and colleges receiving large gifts aren’t unusual – nonprofits in higher education have done very well fundraising in recent years. Recently Marquette University raised millions from alumni donors. While not every nonprofit can leverage their alumni relationships – is this a strategy that could work for your nonprofit? #charitablegiving #plannedgiving...
by Hiram Wurf | Jul 4, 2014 | Donor Intent, Featured |
This week on July 4th we celebrate Independence Day – the birth of American democracy. The day the people of the United States of America declared the “self-evident truth” of each individual’s equality and birthright of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Like democracy, charity predates America’s birth – and like democracy the American experience has changed charity, evolving our understanding of the philanthropic enterprise, with lasting international impact. While the American founding was not thought of as a “charitable enterprise” what is surprising is how much American charity, and international charity, has nonetheless followed the “self-evident truths” of our birth. The act of donating is itself an expression of donors “pursuing their happiness” – seeking those causes they are most passionate about – and establishing their legacy through their support. What better describes our charitable giving practices than championing greater equality through funding educational opportunity or seeking social justice; or giving to food, shelter and health care programs that support the life of our fellow citizens, while developing self-reliance and independence that promote their liberty; or charitably funding arts, cultural and educational institutions and experiences that allow individuals the pursuit of happiness. Yet as we take pause to celebrate our legacy – let us not just celebrate the charitable successes of the past, but also look to those in our future. One hundred years ago on July 4th President Woodrow Wilson said at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, “Liberty does not consist, my fellow-citizens, in mere general declarations of the rights of man. It consists in the translation of those declarations into definite action. Therefore, standing here where...
