The DAF advantage
Your investments have a strategy. Your retirement has a plan. A donor-advised fund brings that same intentional approach to your charitable giving.
Contribute
Set aside funds in a donor-advised fund — a tax-effective charitable account — and claim an immediate tax deduction.
Invest & Grow
Your charitable assets are invested in high-quality, low-cost funds. Over time, growth amplifies your giving power.
Grant with Greater Impact
Give to the causes you care about most, with the potential to multiply your original contribution into something far greater.
When I opened my account, I thought of it as a way to organize my giving. Ten years later, my charitable impact has far exceeded what I originally contributed. The investment growth changed what was possible.
— Vanguard Charitable donor since 2014
See your charitable impact
Answer a few questions and watch your projected impact update in real time.
$0
over20years
Giving Multiplier
more impact than giving without a DAF
That's equivalent to
Get Your Customized Impact Report
About Tax Deductions
We recognize that the ability to claim a tax deduction is a key catalyst of charitable giving. In fact, an individual can experience significant additional savings, aside from those noted in this calculator, by gifting assets to a donor-advised fund, claiming an immediate tax deduction, and allowing the assets potentially accrue tax-free over time. This can be more tax-efficient than holding assets in a personal investment account and paying tax on the dividends or interest.
Donors can further enhance these benefits by contributing their appreciated assets, such as long‑held securities. By donating appreciated assets directly to a donor‑advised fund, donors typically avoid paying capital gains taxes while still receiving a charitable deduction based on the asset's full fair market value.
Due to shifting tax laws and the complexities involved with each individual's financial portfolio, we did not account for the tax deduction in this calculator's scenarios. However, we encourage potential donors to consider the additional positive impact a charitable donation and resulting deduction will have on their overall financial portfolio.
Because each person's tax situation is unique, we recommend that you consult a qualified tax advisor to discuss your charitable giving strategy.
Built to maximize your impact
Tax-Smart Flexibility
Contribute cash, appreciated securities, private equity, real estate, and other complex assets. Take an immediate tax deduction, then watch your charitable dollars grow tax-free.
Low, Transparent Fees
The smaller the fees, the bigger the charitable impact. That's why we keep our all-in fees low to ensure your charitable impact remains high.
Investment Discipline
Choose from 36 curated investment options built on Vanguard's low-cost, long-term philosophy. The same discipline trusted by millions of investors, now applied to your philanthropy.
$25B+ Granted to Charity
Nine consecutive years of record giving. In 2026 alone, donors granted $3.9 billion to nearly 67,000 nonprofits. A proven track record of turning generosity into impact since 1997.
This calculator is for informational purposes only. Returns are dependent on market conditions and not guaranteed.
Program Guidelines & Requirements
- Account Minimums: To establish a donor-advised fund account with Vanguard Charitable, a minimum initial contribution of $25,000 is required. Subsequent additional contributions must be at least $5,000.
- Flexible Giving (Bunching): This tool allows you to model an "annual average" for planning purposes (e.g., entering $3,500 to represent a $10,500 contribution made every three years). However, please note that Vanguard Charitable requires each individual additional contribution to be at least $5,000. You may contribute as frequently or infrequently as you choose, provided each transaction meets this minimum.
- Gifting Policy: The minimum grant recommendation is $500 per charity. The projections in this tool assume that all modeled annual giving meets this threshold.
All investments are subject to risk. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Diversification does not ensure growth or protect against loss in a declining market. All contributions are made as charitable donations to a philanthropic account held at Vanguard Charitable. Vanguard Charitable's all-in fee is a weighted average based upon account asset size.