Types of Funds

Charitable Checking Account^SM

If you make regular gifts to charity and want favorable tax benefits, the Charitable Checking Account Service is for you. This free, donor-advised fund option allows individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations and unincorporated groups to give to charity on a regular basis and actively participate in the grantmaking process.

The World May Be Complicated, But Giving Doesn’t Have to Be

In today’s world, automated 1-800 numbers and AI-generated chat bots make life feel complicated and impersonal. But at The Dayton Foundation, we make your giving fast and easy with a click on our website or a phone call to a live person. Plus, our free Charitable Checking Account^SM Service helps you maximize your charitable dollars and support the causes you care about most.

Other Benefits of the Charitable Checking Account Service

• Flexibility — Deposit assets in the tax year when you need a charitable deduction, with the flexibility to direct grants to your favorite charities anytime you wish.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — Fund your account with gifts of cash, appreciated securities and real estate, as well as more complex contributions.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your account to avoid long-term capital gains taxes.
• Personalized, professional support — Our staff of charitable giving experts is available to handle all of your gift and grant needs.
• Ease of use — Enjoy 24/7 secure, online access through Donor Express to your account information and gift history, plus make gifts and grants online.
• Simplified tax reporting — We offer hassle-free record keeping and tax reporting, with just your Dayton Foundation tax acknowledgement letters and year-end statement detailing all account activity needed at tax time.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your name or anonymously.
• It’s free! No minimum deposit or balance required and no fees.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s Charitable Checking Account Service is available in our brochures.

Invested Donor-Advised Funds

With an invested Donor-Advised Fund, you decide when and how much to gift to any eligible IRS-qualified charity of your choice. We’ll do the rest! We verify the organization’s charitable status, send the gift per your wishes and provide you with one statement of fund activity at the end of the year for your tax records.

The ease and flexibility of this fund option makes it a popular choice with many individuals, families and companies. Plus, it’s a great way to pass along the value of giving to your family. You can name family members and others, who are living at the time the fund is established, in advising current grants to charities or to succeed you as advisors to the fund.

Other Benefits of an Invested Donor-Advised Fund

• Flexibility — Deposit assets in the tax year when you need a charitable deduction, with the flexibility to direct grants to your favorite charities anytime you wish. The convenience of an advised fund enables you to make more significant gifts to your fund in profitable years and to sustain the same level of giving to charities in leaner times.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — We accept gifts of cash and appreciated securities, as well as more complex assets.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your fund, avoiding long-term capital gains taxes.
• Investment options for long-term growth — Select from more than 50 Foundation-approved investment managers to invest your fund pending donation to charity.
• Ease of use — Enjoy 24/7 secure, online access through Donor Express to your fund information and gift history, plus make gifts and grants online.
• Simplified tax reporting — We offer hassle-free record keeping and tax reporting, with just your Dayton Foundation tax acknowledgement letters and year-end statement detailing all account activity needed at tax time.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your name or anonymously.
• Personalized, professional support — Our staff of charitable giving experts is available to handle all of your gift and grant needs.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s invested Donor-Advised Funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Family Foundation Plus^SM

This first-in-the-nation service offers you many of the advantages of a private foundation, plus the ease, flexibility and tax benefits of a community foundation.

With Family Foundation Plus, you benefit from:

• donor-advised giving to IRS-qualified charities of your choice;
• family involvement through generations;
• no separate annual 990 filings;
• more favorable tax treatment, including significantly greater tax deductibility of donations than with a private foundation;
• the ability to give anonymously, if you so choose; and
• no separate accounting or legal fees, among other benefits.

Similar to a private foundation, a Family Foundation Plus is invested and participates in market growth.

You also have the added benefit of the Foundation’s experienced staff, including grantmaking, investment, administration and charitable-gift expertise, to help you at a fraction of the cost of administering a private foundation.

With a minimum gift threshold of $250,000 and no start-up expenses, Family Foundation Plus is a more economical and less burdensome way to establish a family foundation.

More information about Family Foundation Plus^SM is available for easy downloading and printing.

Community Impact Endowment Funds [Unrestricted Funds]

With a Community Impact Endowment Fund, you can address a broad range of local needs, including future needs that cannot be anticipated. This endowed fund option carries little or no restriction on how the income may be used in awarding grants to nonprofit organizations. These unrestricted dollars form the basis of the Foundation’s strategic, discretionary grantmaking program to strengthen local nonprofits and support community leadership initiatives, both of which have had far-reaching effects in all corners of Greater Dayton.

From community initiatives helping area youth become successful adults through education, to programs getting homeless men and women back on their feet, The Dayton Foundation’s discretionary grants to area nonprofits are moving the needle on critical issues throughout the Dayton Region. These projects often are innovative, collaborative and dynamic – and have a larger community strategy designed to leverage dollars for the most impact.

Other Benefits of a Community Impact Endowment Fund

• Ability to establish a fund now or through an estate plan — Consider naming your Foundation fund as the beneficiary of a bequest, retirement assets, life insurance policy and more.
• Designate a portion of your endowed fund as unrestricted or unrestricted in a particular field of interest.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — We accept gifts of cash, appreciated securities or retirement funds, as well as more complex contributions and gift options that produce income for life.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your fund, avoiding long-term capital gains taxes.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your name or anonymously.
• Personalized, professional support — Our staff of charitable giving experts is available to handle all of your gift and grant needs.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s Community Impact Endowment Funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Field-of-Interest Funds

If you have a particular area of charitable interest – such as children, education, the arts, health or the environment – but want us to determine where community need is greatest, a Field-of-Interest Fund is an excellent option. You decide the general field to support, and we’ll select the grantees from nonprofit applicants through the Foundation’s discretionary grants process. Our staff, volunteer Grants Committee and Governing Board provide the due diligence to ensure that the organizations and projects reflect your wishes.

Other Benefits of a Field-of-Interest Fund

• Ability to establish a fund now or through an estate plan — Consider naming your Foundation fund as the beneficiary of a bequest, retirement assets, life insurance policy and more.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — We accept gifts of cash, appreciated securities or retirement funds, as well as more complex contributions and gift options that produce income for life.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your fund and avoid long-term capital gains taxes.
• Investment options for long-term growth — Select from more than 50 Foundation-approved investment managers to invest your fund pending donation to charity.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your name or anonymously.
• Personalized, professional support — Our staff of charitable giving experts is available to handle all of your gift and grant needs.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s Field-of-Interest Funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Agency Funds

Nonprofit Agency Funds provide a simple and effective way to build your organization’s endowment or a reserve for long-term sustainability. The Dayton Foundation’s proven investment and administrative oversight enables you to focus on fulfilling your nonprofit’s mission.

Three Fund Options to Meet Your Needs

Agency Funds through The Dayton Foundation support your organization’s operations and special programs over time or in perpetuity.

• Endowed Agency Funds ensure long-term, sustained income in perpetuity.
• Modified-endowed Agency Funds allow your organization to set parameters around how the principal is accessed and under what conditions based upon the terms you put into the fund agreement.
• Non-endowed Agency Funds allow you immediate access to your fund’s assets to address current organizational needs.

Other Benefits of an Agency Fund

Ease of use

• 24/7 secure, online access through Donor Express to fund information, including exporting donor lists, reports and gift history
• Gift processing directly to your fund
• Gift acknowledgement letters sent to all donors, regardless of gift size

Personalized, professional support

• Foundation staff to consult with your donors, their professional advisors and your staff to discuss planned and current giving vehicles
• Advice about building capital campaigns, specific funding needs or other projects
• Training and resources for board education
• Planned giving tools and analysis
• Customized donation link and QR code for fundraising

Ability to accept a variety of assets, including gifts of cash, appreciated securities or real estate, as well as more complex contributions.

Use of The Dayton Foundations Investment Policy and investment oversite

Lower fees and greater asset diversification by accessing the Foundation’s investment pools

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s Agency Funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Committee-Advised Funds

For individuals who share a common charitable cause and want to raise funds and award gifts to support that cause, a Dayton Foundation Committee-Advised Fund might be the solution. With this fund option, you establish an Advisory Committee of three or more individuals who meet at least annually to direct the operations of the fund, including soliciting contributions and directing grants from the fund. Once your Committee recommends grants to IRS-approved charities, we will verify that the grants meet all the terms of the Foundation and your fund agreement, then process the grants for you.

Other Benefits of a Committee-Advised Fund

• Nonprofit status through the Foundation — Under the umbrella of The Dayton Foundation, your Advisory Committee also benefits from its insurance coverage.
• Fund administration and oversight — Let us do the work of administering your fund, sending grants and acknowledging contributions. We also keep all permanent records, including your bylaws, meeting minutes, reports and more, as needed.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — We accept gifts of cash, appreciated securities or retirement funds, as well as more complex contributions and gift options that produce income for life.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your fund, avoiding long-term capital gains taxes.
• Ability to pay program expenses through your fund — Operating expenses can be paid through your fund once approved by the Foundation.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your fund name or anonymously.

• Personalized, professional support — In addition to helping you consult with your donors, we have a variety of educational resources for your group, including seminars, workshops and other materials.
• Fundraising support — Let us help you by providing a customized donation link and QR code to include on promotional materials or your website.

Donor-Designated Funds

Establishing a designated fund allows you to support the good work of one or more specific organizations, today or after your lifetime. You receive an immediate tax deduction when you contribute assets to your fund, and we will regularly send grants in your fund name (or anonymously, if you wish) to your designated charities. If an organization you selected ceases to exist or changes its mission, we will help choose a similar beneficiary that can best carry out your original intent.

Other Benefits of a Donor-Designated Fund

• Ability to establish a fund now or through an estate plan — Consider a gift of continual financial support for your favorite charities by naming your Foundation fund as the beneficiary of a bequest, retirement assets, life insurance policy and more. By naming your fund at the Foundation, you no longer have to amend your trust or will when you make changes to the charities you wish to support. We provide free modifications to your fund agreement.
• Ability to use a variety of assets — We accept gifts of cash, appreciated securities or retirement funds, as well as more complex contributions and gift options that produce income for life.
• Increased tax advantages — Donate appreciated assets to your fund, avoiding long-term capital gains taxes.
• Investment options for long-term growth — Select from more than 50 Foundation-approved investment managers to invest your fund pending donation to charity.
• Flexibility — Designate an alternative charity to receive grants from your fund in case your designated charity goes out of business or changes its mission.
• Give anonymously, if you choose. Grants can be made in your name or anonymously.
• Personalized, professional support — Our staff of charitable giving experts is available to handle all of your gift and grant needs.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s Donor-Designated Funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Scholarship Funds

As the largest scholarship provider in Greater Dayton outside of the university systems, we offer more than 300 scholarship funds created by individuals, families and organizations. In our last fiscal year, these funds awarded $3.6 million in scholarships to aid nearly 1,500 students in pursuing their dreams of an education.

You, too, can open a scholarship fund that best meets your charitable goals and personal interests.

Consider a Scholarship Fund if you:

• want an easy, personalized way to help students pursue their educational dreams;
• want to support specific educational opportunities, an educational institution or a field of study;
• wish to honor a special achievement or a loved one; or
• want to express your company or organization’s values by assisting employees or their dependents.

Getting Started Is Easy

Our experienced staff is here to help create a Scholarship Fund that’s uniquely your own.

Decide who you want to support and how often.

You may wish to aid students who are graduating from a particular high school, attending a specific college or university, or pursuing a certain course of study. Your scholarship may make one-time, annual awards or renewable or completion awards to see students through to graduation. We will help you determine your scholarship guidelines, including eligibility criteria, award amount and use, and selection committee.

Identify what to give.

Gifts can be made during your lifetime or through your estate, such as with a bequest in your will or a designation of qualified retirement assets or life insurance policies. We’ll work with you and your financial or estate planning advisor to customize a plan that works for all of your needs.

More information about The Dayton Foundation’s scholarship funds is available for easy downloading and printing.

Looking for inspiration? Visit our ScholarshipCONNECT^SM application system to read about what inspired other donors to create their scholarship funds and learn about their award criteria.

IRA-Designated Funds

If you are charitable, have a traditional IRA and are over the age of 70 ½, The Dayton Foundation offers several charitable giving vehicles for your qualified charitable distributions. One of the more popular ways for individuals to use IRA assets is to establish an IRA-Designated Fund through the Foundation that will award grants to your specified charity or charities. Because the gift goes directly to your fund and not through you, the gift may be excluded from your taxable income up to $108,000 for individuals and $216,000 for married couples.

Consider an IRA-Designated Fund if you:

• are required to take a minimum distribution from an IRA but don’t need it for living expenses and would face increased tax liabilities if you took it as income;
• would prefer to reduce the balance in an IRA to lower future required minimum distributions; and
• would rather make a larger charitable gift to a favorite charity than you could by gifting cash or other assets.

More information about The IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution is available for easy downloading and printing.