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Donor Advised Funds

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is like having your own giving bucket, looked after by the Foundation.

Your donations are allocated to your DAF’s ‘balance’, which sits within Foundation’s charitable assets. GCF invests your balance for you, with a focus on growing it over time, and you make recommendations about where your DAF’s grants are distributed. The Foundation retains final approval to ensure all grants align with our charitable purpose and legal obligations.

Who they’re for

A Donor Advised Fund may suit you if you:

  • Want a structured, tax-effective way to support the causes you care about

  • Are considering establishing a private foundation (or ‘PAF’) but prefer a simpler alternative

  • Wish to involve family members in giving

  • Have experienced a liquidity event or received an inheritance and want to give thoughtfully over time

  • Want to build a lasting philanthropic legacy in the region, or honour a loved one

  • Are a business who wants to give back to the community over time

How it works

  • 1. Establish your Fund

    A Donor Advised Fund can be opened with a minimum initial donation of $20,000. It’s as easy as completing our establishment form and making your first contribution. Because a DAF is not a separate legal entity, it can be established in a matter of days.

  • 2. Name your Fund

    Through the establishment process, select a name for your DAF (e.g. The Saunders Family Giving Fund)

  • 3. Contribute

    GCF accepts cash, listed securities, bequests and some non-cash assets (subject to due diligence). Donations are tax-deductible..

  • 4. Recommend grants

    Recommend grants by advising us of the organisations, projects, amounts and timing of distributions. We’ll take care of the paperwork and processing. All grants must align with our charitable purpose and DGR1 requirements and final approval rests with the Foundation’s Board.

  • 5. Ongoing reporting

    You will receive annual statements outlining contributions, grants made, investment performance and fund balance.

FAQs

  • Funds are invested through the Foundation’s pooled investment portfolio.

  • The Board makes every effort to honour grant recommendations, but retains full discretion over grant approvals for risk and compliance purposes.

  • Grants cannot be made to individuals, donor-controlled entities or for private benefit.

  • Yes. Whilst all GCF-led granting goes to our region, we see the importance of mobilising local generosity, no matter where it lands.

  • Administration and investment fees apply and are outlined in a written agreement. Additional fees may be agreed with the donor ahead of time should specialist or complex support be required.

  • Come and talk to us - we may provide an alternative service that is more suited to you, or we may be able to assist you to reach the minimum amount over time.

  • Informal granting advice is available upon request.

  • Succession planning options are available (e.g. access to advice, appointment of successor, conversion to a perpetual or community fund etc.)

  • Grantees will understand the support is coming from your DAF, unless you prefer to remain anonymous.

  • DAFs provide investment returns so you can grow your giving, but the benefits reach far beyond that. They allow you to separate when you make a tax-deductible donation with when you make a grant. This means you can plan and structure your giving along with the rest of your finances more effectively, and give more strategically and impactfully. They also accommodate greater scale and complexity than direct giving - allowing you to involve others, become more intentional over time, and meet your commitments reliably. Finally, being a DAF-holder makes you a part of the GCF community - forming connections with local causes and meeting peers so you can get inspired and learn over time.

    If you’re considering establishing a Donor Advised Fund, we welcome a conversation about your goals and how we can support your giving.

    Get in touch today.