The Community Foundation had a record-breaking year in 2023 and that is thanks in part to our donor advised funds, which granted nearly $640,000. Donor advised funds (DAFs) have become such an easy and meaningful way for individuals, families and couples to give back in their community (and around the country) that grants are made weekly.

“Having our DAF with the Community Foundation has provided us with giving opportunities tailored to where our company and family want to make an impact,” said Duncan Smith, president of All Star Services, a corporate donor advised fund holder.

The sheer level of giving from DAFs is extremely generous, but even more impressive is the responsiveness of our donor-advised fund holders to current community needs and the ability to leverage their gifts with other community donors.

Last year, donors leveraged their gifts through a match when more than 30 local nonprofits provided the Community Foundation with their current needs under $2,000 through the Wish List. The first round of wishes granted were matched up to $5,000 and that generosity pooled together to grant a total of $23,000. Then, when the fall Wish List was published more than $21,000 was granted – a quarter of those funds were from DAF holders giving back alongside the community.

“We appreciate the ease of giving from our DAF at the Community Foundation,” said Geof Kusch, who makes grant recommendations alongside his wife, Jenifer. “A few clicks of our mouse when logged in to our account and we can recommend grants to be made to organizations doing work important to us to support.”

In addition to small grants through the Wish List, nearly $100,000 in general operating support was provided by 15 different DAFs to the donors’ favorite nonprofits like Kids in Distress, Mid City Nutrition, Operation Transformation, Blue Water Habitat and many more.

Or grants focused on priority areas like how our friends at the DTE Energy Foundation used their corporate DAF to grant $205,000 for community events and small business support both locally and around the state of Michigan.

The Community Foundation is committed to helping our DAF holders make hundreds of grants of varying sizes each year to the causes they are passionate about, whether it’s a large grant locally or a small grant to a nonprofit across the country.

In 2024, the Wish List will be published in the fall and will be an opportunity for donor-advised fund holders and the public to come together once again to grant wishes.

Community members with a DAF held at a financial institution or another provider are also encouraged to engage with Community Foundation staff to learn about local giving opportunities.

To learn more about donor advised funds and if they would be a good fit for your giving click here.