February check-in: How to achieve your charitable New Year's resolutions with a donor-advised fund
Planned to give more in 2023 but looking for the ideal giving tool to support your generosity? Learn about how a donor-advised fund can help.
Resources to help you with your charitable tax planning. Four questions to get you started.
This time of year, many individuals start working with tax professionals and professional advisors to discuss their potential tax bill. At Vanguard Charitable, we’ve provided four resources to help you, whether you are a DIY-er or plan to consult with a tax professional.
Rising to the occasion: Millennials drive disaster relief giving in 2022
Over the past few years, unexpected developments, natural disasters, and international humanitarian crises have generated headlines and demanded our attention, compassion, and support. During such trying times, donors have responded resoundingly - many millennials, in particular, have driven this recent charge.
Survey Says: Here's the one thing nonprofits want most this holiday season
When we asked what request nonprofit organizations would make of our donors, nearly 6 in 10 had the same response: More unrestricted giving. Unrestricted giving—donations or grants that can be used for any purpose by the receiving charity—is considered the gold standard for charitable giving because it offers charities the ability to direct funds to their areas of greatest need.
How DAFs have reshaped philanthropy for the better
This is the story of donor-advised funds. In a normal year, they are strong charitable engines that churn out donations and help power the philanthropic sector. But when the unthinkable happens, they are also equipped with a special extra gear. Not only do DAFs help respond to natural disasters, but evidence also shows that they can be a stabilizing force to the philanthropic world during economic downturns.
Nonprofit Insights with Alzheimer's Association
Welcome to the final part of our Q & A series featuring different organizations discussing how nonprofits are responding to crises, specifically COVID-19 recovery and addressing inequality, and how you can act now and in the future.
Nonprofit Insights with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Welcome to part two of a three-part Q & A series featuring different organizations discussing how nonprofits are responding to crises, specifically COVID-19 recovery and addressing inequality, and how you can act now and in the future.
Nonprofit Insights with The Nature Conservancy
Welcome to part one of a three-part Q & A series featuring different organizations discussing how nonprofits are responding to crises, specifically COVID-19 recovery and addressing inequality, and how you can act now and in the future.
UPDATED: COVID-19: List of highly rated charities
Support victims of the coronavirus with your donor-advised fund. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a global health emergency. Meanwhile, medical professionals are working to treat those who have been diagnosed. These highly rated charities are working on the front lines to address the crisis head-on in the areas of greatest need.
Q&A with Casey Marsh, Chief Development Officer of Feeding America
On Episode 5 of the Value in Giving podcast, Casey Marsh, Chief Development Officer of Feeding America, joined Vanguard Charitable President Jane Greenfield to discuss the invaluable role Feeding America is playing to help alleviate hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven months later, we spoke with Casey to hear some updates from Feeding America.
COVID-19 and how UNICEF is helping children around the world
In this interview, we talk with UNICEF president and CEO Michael Nyenhuis about the challenges children face in a pandemic. Since talking with Michael in our Value of Giving podcast, episode 2, he updates us on UNICEF’s ongoing pandemic support and the unique struggles of children globally.
Advisor lightning round: Q&A with Greg Murray on investment performance
The performance of investment options offered by donor-advised fund providers helps to determine your clients' giving capacity. When you can count on high-quality investments, you can focus your attention on adding value in other areas on behalf of your clients. See these lightning round Q&As in our latest edition of advisor-to-advisor.
Should I open a donor-advised fund?
Are you wondering if a donor-advised fund (DAF) is right for you? You’re not alone. More and more charitably minded people–and their professional advisors–are talking about strategic philanthropy and how DAFs can help. This blog is to help you decide if a DAF is right for you.
Donors share stories of their COVID-19 response
With charitable funds primed and ready, Vanguard Charitable donors like Tom and Kathy Cole are uniquely positioned to offer crucial support during the COVID-19 crisis. Our donors have already granted more than $75 million in response to the pandemic, and many report complementing their giving with volunteer efforts.
#GivingTuesdayNow a conversation with the organization behind the movement
Vanguard Charitable talks with #GivingTuesdayNow. A global day of giving and unity on May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. At a time when we are all experiencing the coronavirus pandemic, generosity gives everyone the power to make a positive change in the lives of others.
Guiding your clients through times of uncertainty
The world is experiencing a time of great uncertainty. As an advisor, you play an important role in guiding your clients on how to handle this time of great need. Your clients are looking to you for help making the right strategic choices when considering how to manage their wealth in these turbulent times.
Support victims of the Tennessee tornadoes
Support victims of the Tennessee tornadoes with your donor-advised fund. On March 3, 2020, a series of tornadoes swept through communities in Tennessee. Twenty-five people have lost their lives and many more are still missing. Homes and buildings have been destroyed leaving many homeless or without power. Trees, powerlines, and debris cover roadways.
A scientific patent? A famous painting? How charities benefit from your ‘unusual’ assets
Many donors may not think to consider the full range of their nontraditional assets as a source of charitable giving. Contributions of complex assets, such as private equity, hedge fund interests, LLC and limited partnership interests, closely-held stock, real estate, and more, can boost your giving impact and tax benefits.
Our Business Development Team takes a hands-on approach to creating your charitable plan
Vanguard Charitable attended the 54th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning in Orlando, Florida, to talk about charitable planning, building a philanthropic legacy, and donor-advised funds (DAFs).
Puerto Rico Earthquakes
Puerto Rico has been rocked by a series of severe earthquakes and powerful aftershocks leaving many without power, causing landslides in towns along the southern coast and extensive property damage. The quakes have brought renewed attention to the island’s ongoing rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Maria more than two years ago.
Support relief efforts in Australia
Support relief efforts for bushfires in Australia with your donor-advised fund. Australia battles bushfires every year, but few can recall a fire season as deadly or destructive as this one, with fires burning in all of Australia’s states. The fires have already claimed the lives of 20 individuals and, by some estimates, as many as 480 million wild animals.
Tax refresher: What's changed under the new law?
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 enacted the first overhaul of the tax code since 1986. If you’re still getting used to the new law, you are not alone. With year-end tax deadlines approaching, it’s a good time to review a few significant provisions in the TCJA, and see how they might impact your charitable giving.
Year-end giving guidelines posted
Based on years of experience, Vanguard Charitable has published recommended dates by which year-end contributions to philanthropic accounts should be initiated.
Want to boost your impact? Rethink what you give
Saving to give means investing charitable assets so that you can give more over time. The following scenario shows the benefits of taking a long-term outlook and carefully choosing what you give to charity.
They wanted to donate stock—but there was a problem
Saving to give means investing charitable assets so that you can give more over time. The following scenario shows the benefits of taking a long-term outlook and carefully choosing what you give to charity.
What would you do with an unexpected inheritance?
Saving to give means investing charitable assets so that you can give more over time.
Advisor to Advisor: How to have the charitable conversation
More than 70% of HNW clients indicate that discussing charitable giving with their advisors is important to them. Talking to your clients about their philanthropy is an excellent way to get to know them better and deepen your relationship.
Charitable Strategies part three | Find and focus on your charitable passion
Most of us want to give back, but we may be unsure where to start. How can we do the most good? How should we allocate our time and our funds? To what causes should we direct our resources? Everyone’s path to meaningful giving is different. It’s important to find and follow yours.
Charitable strategies part two | Plan to make a difference
In part one of our charitable strategies series, you learned how to make the greatest impact with your charitable giving by using cost saving tools.
How donor-advised funds can help charities during a recession
Experts in philanthropy have long discussed a problem in the way most people give: When the economy is doing well, we tend to give more.
Advisor to Advisor: What are your clients not telling you?
We recognize the important role professional advisors play in their clients’ financial lives, and our goal is to provide resources to support you and to help you build those client relationships.
Charitable strategies part one | Pay less to give more
In our charitable strategies series, read about the leading tactics for giving and granting, how other donors approach charitable giving, ways to optimize your giving for tax efficiency, and how you can increase the charitable benefit to nonprofits.
Maximizing your charitable giving by minimizing your costs
A reality of charitable giving today is that effective granting requires effective cost management.
Richer than a millionaire—a conversation with a Vanguard Charitable donor
Our donors are doing incredible work across the country and the globe. From time to time, we're fortunate to speak in depth with donors about what drives them. I'm happy to present an interview with Vanguard Charitable donor William D. Danko, Ph.D., co-author of The Millionaire Next Door and Richer Than A Millionaire ~A Pathway to True Prosperity.
The giving conversation: Involving the next generation in philanthropy
Anecdotally, we know that our donors have a strong desire to include their children and grandchildren in their philanthropy, in the hope that they inspire future generations. But to be effective, it may be just as important to "walk the walk" rather than just "talk the talk."
What you gain from giving
I have been at Vanguard Charitable for over ten years, and in my current role leading our Operations team I am fortunate to have a front-row seat to our donors' giving experiences. With the "giving season" in full swing, I see and hear on a day-to-day basis the joy and fulfillment our donors get from their charitable work.
Values-driven work
At any time of year, our donors are ready to give to causes they care about, springing into action whenever support is needed. For example, when the devastating number of natural disasters occurred last fall, our donors responded immediately, inspiring Vanguard Charitable team members to do whatever it took to ensure our donors’ charitable dollars were utilized to the fullest potential.
20th Anniversary
Twenty years ago today, responding to direct requests from philanthropic individuals, Vanguard Charitable opened its doors.
Save to give: How millennials will shape philanthropy
Each generation approaches philanthropy differently. With millennials in particular receiving a lot of attention recently, as ascending generations often do, this final blog in a three-part series will look at what we can expect in the way of charitable giving.
Save to give: Stretching your charitable dollars
This blog is the second in the three-part series. The first blog discussed the advantages of using a donor-advised fund and the save-to-give mindset to maximize your ‘philanthropy retirement.’
Save to give: Planning for your ‘philanthropy retirement’
Vanguard Charitable is celebrating our 20th year of operation. With 20 years’ worth of market data to consider, we decided to create a three-part blog series highlighting some of that data.
Why $500?
One thing that sets Vanguard Charitable apart from other donor-advised funds is our $500 grant minimum.
A charity's infrastructure can be as important as its mission: Overhead is OK
Over the years, there has been a stigma attached to the word "overhead" in the nonprofit community. Donors are hesitant to have their money applied to excessive CEO salaries or fundraising costs, so some have pulled back on giving unrestricted dollars to general operating expenses.