News for Professional Advisors

Donor Advised Funds offered by national providers like Fidelity or Schwab have made charitable giving very simple. Their platforms are efficient, online and typically charge low administrative fees.

For some donors, that simplicity is exactly what they want.

If your client’s charitable giving consists mostly of writing a few checks each year to organizations they already know, a national Donor Advised Fund platform might be a perfectly good option.

But many donors want something more from their philanthropy.

At the Community Foundation, we do more than administer charitable funds. We help donors think about their giving, involve their families and connect their philanthropy to real needs in the community.

So, the question often comes down to this:

If your clients are simply writing three checks a year, a national platform might work just fine.

But if you want these three things, the Community Foundation can be a far better partner.

1. Involving your family in philanthropy.

Many donors want their children or grandchildren to understand the values behind their giving. We help families structure conversations, develop shared priorities, and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation to participate.

2. Guidance on complex gifts.

Some of the most impactful charitable gifts come from assets like closely held business interests, real estate or other complex, non-cash assets. 

Our team works closely with donors and their advisors to help structure these gifts thoughtfully.

3. Local insight and nonprofit opportunities.

Our team works every day with nonprofits across our community. We understand emerging needs, promising programs and where giving can truly make a difference. 

That insight helps donors give more strategically and with greater confidence.

But that’s not the whole story.

We also show up for our community. Fees from Donor Advised Funds allow us to invest directly in Sioux Falls through grants to local nonprofits, leadership on community initiatives and by convening partners to work together on the issues that shape our community’s future.

In short, national Donor Advised Funds make giving easy.

The Community Foundation makes giving meaningful.