Donor Advised Funds 101
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a dedicated investment account for charity—much like a 401(k) or HSA, but designed solely for giving. Donors contribute cash, appreciated stock, or other assets into the account and receive an immediate charitable tax deduction for that calendar year, even if not a single dollar has gone to a working charity yet. While the money remains in the fund, it can be invested across index funds, bonds, or other portfolios to grow tax-free, leaving more money available to give away over time. Whenever you are ready, you decide when and where to distribute grants to your favorite 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Donating to the National Museum and Center for Service with your DAF
If you have a donor advised fund, you can donate directly to the National Museum and Center for Service by providing the following information to the sponsoring organization of your fund.
- Legal name: National Museum and Center for Service
- Tax ID: 85-1532378
- Mailing address: PO Box 236852, Cocoa, FL, 32923
- Contact details: [email protected] tel. 202-991-7069
Your Donor Advised Fund will likely need the following information to direct the donation:
- Donation amount
- Purpose of the donation: If the funds are to be allocated for a specific project or purpose
- Acknowledgement information: Instructions for sending acknowledgement of the gift
PayPal Giving Fund: The National Museum and Center for Service is set up to receive donations via PayPal Giving Fund. Through PayPal Giving Fund you can set up a regular donation with purchase, or contribute via your Donor Advised Fund. The National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) and Vanguard Charitable are two sponsoring organizations that allow donations through PayPal Giving Fund. Learn more here.
DAF Direct: DAFGiving360, Fidelity Charitable and BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund DAF donations can be made via DAF Direct.
DAF frequently asked questions
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle that allows individuals to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to their chosen charities over time.
Each organization will have the appropriate forms to complete these donations, which you can usually access through an online portal or working with your fund advisor. Sponsoring organizations will then complete the transaction and distribute the funds to NMCFS.
Using a DAF is simple. First, you open an account with a sponsor organization—such as Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or a community foundation—and make a tax-deductible contribution of cash, stocks, or other assets. Next, those funds are invested and can grow tax-free over time, giving you even more to give back. Finally, whenever you feel inspired to give, you log into your provider’s website and request that a grant be sent directly to your organization of choice.
Giving through a DAF maximizes the value of your generosity while keeping things simple for you. If you donate appreciated assets like stocks, you can avoid paying capital gains tax, which leaves more funds available for charitable giving. You also get the convenience of a single tax receipt at the end of the year from your DAF provider, rather than keeping track of separate receipts from multiple charities. Plus, if you have a particularly high-income year, you can make a larger tax-deductible contribution now and distribute grants to charities over time.
Yes, absolutely. When you request a grant through your DAF sponsor, you can choose to share your contact information with us so we can thank you properly, or you can choose to keep your grant completely anonymous. We respect your privacy either way.
Because DAF gifts receive special tax treatment under federal law, there are a couple of standard guidelines to keep in mind. DAF grants cannot be used to pay for items where you receive a personal benefit in return, such as buying tickets to a gala dinner, purchasing silent auction items, or paying school tuition. Additionally, DAF grants generally cannot be used to satisfy a legally binding personal pledge you made previously.
The National Museum and Center for Service (NMCFS) is a registered 501c3 — EIN 85-1532378. For more information please contact [email protected].
The National Museum and Center for Service (NMCFS) is not a financial advisor, tax advisor, or legal counsel. The information provided on this page is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal tax, legal, or financial advice. Because individual tax situations vary, we strongly recommend consulting with your personal financial advisor, CPA, or tax professional on opening any investment accounts.