Donor-Advised Fund
With a donor-advised fund (DAF), you can make a gift now, receive a current income tax deduction, and retain the flexibility to recommend gifts later when the time is right.
You may find that using a DAF provides a simple, meaningful way to benefit UPMC Children’s and other charities you support. Consider the following:
- You establish a DAF with a single donation to the sponsoring organization. You can make additional donations later if you wish. Most DAFs will accept assets beyond cash and securities, sometimes including real estate, cryptocurrency, or closely held stock.
- The sponsoring organization then owns those assets and administers the fund — you no longer need to manage the money.
- This arrangement allows you to qualify for an immediate income tax charitable deduction for the amount contributed to the DAF, even though the money hasn’t been distributed to charity yet.
- You have advisory privileges, meaning that at some point in the future, you can recommend (but not require) gifts to be distributed to specific charities.
Note: Charitable deductions are subject to limitations. Click for details.
- Only gift amounts that surpass 0.5% of your AGI qualify for an income tax deduction.
- If you are in the top 37% tax bracket, the tax benefit of your deduction will be capped at 35%.
- The maximum deduction is limited to a percentage of your adjusted gross income, based on the type of assets donated. Any excess deduction can be carried over for up to five years.
Don’t overlook succession planning for your DAF.
It’s important to ensure that the money you set aside for charitable giving supports those charities that are meaningful to you and your loved ones. Check to see if your DAF allows you to name your spouse, your child, or another person as a successor advisor after you pass or designate a qualified charity to receive final grant distributions of any remaining assets.
Evaluate the fit.
Donor-advised funds may be a particularly good option to consider if you:
- Want to make a large, tax-deductible contribution this year to offset increased income
- Haven’t yet fully established your charitable goals and would like flexibility in making future gifts
- Would find it beneficial to segment your charitable funds from your other assets
- Would like to donate a more complex noncash asset that your intended charitable recipient(s) cannot accept
See how it works.
Five years ago, Steve earned a significant year-end bonus. He knew he wanted to use that money for a charitable purpose, but he wasn’t yet sure where he wanted to have an impact, and he had little time to decide. He chose to donate the full amount to a DAF, which ensured an immediate and much-needed income tax charitable deduction. The sponsoring organization invested the assets and retained ultimate authority over any distributions.
This year, Steve’s nephew underwent successful cancer treatment at UPMC Children’s. Steve uses his advisory privileges to recommend a grant from the DAF to UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation to help fund the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation going forward. The sponsoring organization distributes the recommended gift to us (they are not obligated to do so, but in most cases, they will follow Steve’s recommendations).
Consider your timing.
If you want to qualify for a charitable deduction this year, you should initiate your gift by Friday, December 11, 2026.
Ready to give from your donor-advised fund?
If you have an established donor-advised fund, you can support UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation now by recommending a grant from your DAF. You can also name UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of your DAF for a future gift.
Make a current gift from your donor-advised fund
To recommend a grant from your DAF today, log in to your DAF provider’s website and select “Recommend a Grant” (or the equivalent option). Search for and select the correct legal organization and Employer Identification Number (EIN), then enter the amount you would like to recommend.
Our legal name: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation (dba UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation)
EIN: 25-1865744
Your DAF provider will process your recommendation and send the grant to UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation. If you would like your gift to support a particular program, fund, or area of care, please contact Nicole Riggleman Kelly, Senior Director of Development, for guidance.
Name us as a beneficiary of your donor-advised fund
You can also designate UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of your DAF, allowing your remaining DAF assets to support our mission after your lifetime. When completing your DAF provider’s beneficiary information, please search for and select the correct legal organization and Employer Identification Number (EIN):
Our legal name: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation (dba UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation)
EIN: 25-1865744
Using the correct EIN helps ensure that your gift is directed to UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation and not to another organization with a similar name. If your DAF provider asks for additional information to identify us, please contact Nicole Riggleman Kelly, Senior Director of Development.
Whether you choose to make a gift from your DAF today or name UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation as a future beneficiary, your support can help advance care for children and families.
We can help.
We can provide you with more information about donor-advised funds and grants to UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Our mission. Your impact.
If you are exploring ways to make a difference today or in the future, we can help.