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Dartmouth Donor Advised Fund

Give to Dartmouth and other charities of your choice from a fund managed by some of the world’s most talented investors—and receive an income tax deduction.

What are Donor Advised Funds?

A donor advised fund (DAF) is a charitable investment account that allows you to support charities of your choice. When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a donor advised fund, the funds are invested for tax-free growth, and you recommend grants to any eligible IRS-qualified public charity.

You can establish a Dartmouth Donor Advised Fund (DDAF) with a $250,000 gift, including one from an existing DAF.

Baker Tower clock with moon in the background

Benefits of a Dartmouth Donor Advised Fund

A DDAF combines the flexibility of a private foundation with the tax advantages of a public charity. DDAFs are invested alongside Dartmouth's endowment and receive the same historically significant investment returns—with no administrative fees.

Did you know? Opening a DDAF also qualifies you for Bartlett Tower Society membership.

How it Works

Once you make your initial gift to establish your fund, you are immediately eligible for an income tax deduction based on the fair market value of your gift. You can roll a DAF from another institution to meet this threshold. Dartmouth will invest the funds alongside the endowment for long-term growth while you consider how you would like Dartmouth to use your gift. 

You can make grant recommendations for charitable distributions through the Gift Planning Office, with a required minimum of 5% distributed each year. At least 50% of all contributions must be to Dartmouth or its professional schools.

What They're Saying about DDAFs

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Setting up the DDAF was easy as can be. There are many options in how you choose to support Dartmouth, from sports to the graduate schools and the Dartmouth College Fund. Donors have total flexibility.

–Holger Liepmann ’74

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We appreciated the ability to allocate 50 percent to non-Dartmouth charities and the fact that the funds would be managed fee-free by the Dartmouth Investment Office.

–Mark and Karen Koulogeorge ’85

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I’m an extremely analytical person. I’m brain first and heartstrings later. A DDAF is a tax-efficient way to give, and your investment is managed in conjunction with Dartmouth’s endowment.

–Femi Wasserman ’99

Next Steps

To learn more about the benefits of establishing a DDAF, complete the form below and a member of the Gift Planning team will follow up with you.