1. Planned Giving
  2. Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund (DAF), which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to United Way of Central Iowa and other qualified charities. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.

You can also create a lasting legacy by naming United Way of Central Iowa the beneficiary of the entire account or a percentage of the fund. With a percentage, you can create a family legacy of giving by naming your loved ones as your successor to continue recommending grants to charitable organizations. Contact your fund administrator for a beneficiary form.

DAF Basics

Still learning about DAFs? Discover the ease of opening a donor advised fund—plus the advantages you’ll enjoy—with your FREE guide Centralize Your Giving With Donor Advised Funds.

Please provide the following information to view the guide.

Donor Advised Fund Guide Request Form
First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address

An Example of How It Works

Family with their dog Joe and Laura want to give back to their hometown by putting their money where it will do the most good. They establish a $25,000 donor advised fund with a community foundation.

The couple receives a federal income tax charitable deduction for the amount of the gift. They also get the time they need to decide which charities to support.

After researching community needs with the foundation’s staff, Joe and Laura recommend grants for United Way (which they’ve supported for years) and a local animal shelter. The foundation presents the charities with checks from the Patricia Fund, which Joe and Laura named in honor of Laura’s mother. They name United Way as the beneficiary to receive the account balance after their lifetimes. Joe and Laura are delighted to start this personal legacy of giving.

Personal Estate Planning Kit

Estate Planning Kit

Protect your loved ones, organize everything for your estate in one place, and save on taxes with our free Estate Planning Kit.

Download My Kit

Next Steps

  1. If you already have a fund, use our tool Take Action! Visit Your Fund to connect. No fund yet? Get our free guide.
  2. Contact Chase Young at 515-246-6504 or chase.young@unitedwaydm.org to discuss using your donor advised funds to support United Way and our mission.
  3. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  4. If you include United Way in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal name: United Way of Central Iowa
Address: 1111 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50314
Federal tax ID number: 42-0680425

Get More From Your DAF

Ensure you’ve made the most of your donor advised fund—for your family and for United Way. Download the FREE guide Maximize the Impact of Donor Advised Funds.

Personal Estate Planning Kit

Our Top Free Resource

This comprehensive estate planning kit helps you protect your family and establish your legacy. FREE!

Download My Kit