In the last five years, donor advised funds (DAFs) at the Community Foundation of St. Clair County have quietly but powerfully fueled change across our region. From supporting food pantries and museums to boosting robotics teams and riverfront restoration, donors who have opened DAFs are making an unmistakable difference in the lives of their neighbors.

More than $5.4 million has been recommended in grants from local donor advised funds in just the past five years. These grants have touched every corner of our community:

• Arts & Culture: $1.68 million to theaters, museums, festivals, and art programs.
• Community & Economic Prosperity: $1.96 million to events, revitalization projects, and local growth.
• Basic Needs & Human Services: Nearly $393,000 to food pantries, shelters, and emergency relief.
• Health: $333,000 to patient support, cancer needs, and community wellness initiatives.
• Youth, Education & Career Pathways: More than $343,000 to tutoring, robotics, sports, and student success support.

And that’s just the beginning. Every dollar recommended by donors carries a story and community pride.

What is a Donor Advised Fund?

A Donor Advised Fund is one of the most talked about charitable giving tools in the country—and for good reason. It’s simple, flexible, and incredibly impactful.

Think of a DAF as a charitable giving account. You make a contribution—cash, stock, or other assets—and receive an immediate tax deduction. Your contribution is invested and grows tax-free, allowing you to recommend grants to nonprofits over years or even decades.

At the Community Foundation, DAFs function like a family foundation—but without the paperwork, regulations, or overhead. Donors and their families can be actively involved in choosing the causes and organizations they want to support, whether that’s here in St. Clair County, elsewhere in Michigan, or even across the globe. If a donor wishes to be more passive, the Foundation team will regularly make recommendations for areas of support needed around the Thumb Coast.

Real Impact, Close to Home

The generosity of DAF holders has been felt in countless ways:

• Animal welfare: general support for the local humane society.
• Classrooms and Schools: grants for hygiene products, art supplies, and robotics clubs.
• Basic needs: food pantry support through Downriver Helping Hands, the Salvation Army, and many other local partners.
• Community life: sponsorship of festivals like Sandfest, Juneteenth, and Chilly Fest.
• Health & wellness: support for cancer patients, hospitality houses for families of those hospitalized or in treatment, and learn-to-swim programs for kids.
• Environment: funding for Blue Water River Walk renovations and support for Friends of the St. Clair River.

Each grant is a reflection of a donor’s passion—whether that’s youth sports, access to the arts, or helping neighbors in need. Collectively, these choices weave together a stronger, more vibrant community.

Why Consider a Donor Advised Fund?

For many, a DAF is the best of both worlds: the immediate tax benefits of charitable giving combined with the ability to make a long-term impact. With a minimum gift of $10,000, you can establish your own fund at the Community Foundation and begin shaping your philanthropic legacy.

Some donors open a DAF to involve their children and grandchildren in charitable decisions, creating a family tradition of giving. Others use it to simplify their annual charitable contributions, or to make a larger gift in a year when they want the tax deduction but spread out their giving over time.

Above all, a Donor Advised Fund keeps you connected to the causes you care about most.

Make Giving Back Simple and Meaningful

Over the past five years, donor advised funds at the Community Foundation have proven just how much good can be done when generosity meets thoughtful giving. Whether you care deeply about education, the environment, health care, the arts, or simply helping your neighbors, a DAF can help you make your mark.

It’s easy. It’s impactful. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Ready to learn more? Visit stclairfoundation.org/donor-advised-fund to explore how you can start your own donor advised fund and join the growing movement of local donors shaping a brighter future for St. Clair County and beyond.