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  3. Getting Started

Getting Started

Establishing a donor advised fund (DAF) is a great way to contribute to charity, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to qualified nonprofits at any time afterward. A DAF allows you to support charities during your lifetime or can help you create an enduring legacy that reflects your values and makes a positive impact for generations to come.

Establishing your AEF Donor Advised Fund is easy:

  1. Together with your Financial Professional, review our Program Description and Sample Application so that they can easily provide the necessary information for the application.
  2. Your Financial Professional or their staff will complete our fund application online.
  3. When we receive the completed application, we will contact your Financial Professional to arrange transfer of the assets you intend to give and arrange the fund’s investment program.
  4. Contribute assets to your fund. AEF accepts as little as $10,000 as an initial contribution.
  5. When we accept your contribution, we send a letter acknowledging your gift, and you receive secure online access to our Internet giving portal, DonorCentral. 
  6. You retain the right to advise AEF in administering the affairs of your fund. Your role is that of an advisor – hence the name, donor advised fund. Please note:
    • Contributions received and accepted by AEF are irrevocable.
    • All recommendations from you are advisory. IRS regulations common to all donor advised funds require that the sponsoring charity (in this case, AEF) must have the final say on all recommendations.
    • Each donor advised fund must be operated exclusively for charitable purposes.
    • AEF can only consider grants from your fund to US-based, tax-exempt, public charities, qualified governmental organizations, or approved international charities through our arrangements with CAF America and GlobalGiving.
    • AEF will contact you immediately regarding any grant recommendation that does not comply with tax regulations.

Obviously, AEF incurs expenses in operating your donor advised fund. These include donor services, phone support, mailed notices, statements and communications, tax reporting, compliance, grants administration, and online services. To cover the costs associated with these services, the fund assesses an account administrative fee. AEF charges fees directly to a fund – not to the donor.

Much of the information above can be downloaded in the following form: New DAF Procedure

For our latest fee schedule, please call 1-888-440-4233.

For other important documents you will need, see Forms.

Our experienced staff is available to assist you or your professional advisor in tailoring a charitable giving plan that fits your needs, goals, and charitable interests.

Call us or use our contact form if you have questions.

About AEF

  • Vision, Mission & Values
  • Policy Statements
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • Board of Directors
  • Council of Advisors
  • Getting Started

"Our ensemble financial planning firm has been using AEF to host DAF’s for many of our clients since 1993.

We could not be happier with the pleasant and responsive service that we receive from the staff at AEF, and we hear the same comments about AEF from our clients.   We appreciated AEF’s willingness to work seamlessly with us to service our clients’ DAF accounts for grant making with up to date on-line capabilities.

Many clients have established shell DAFs, which will receive the remainder interest of their CRTs and CGAs at death, thus allowing the next generation to continue on with their parents’ legacy of philanthropy for future generations with sizeable sums to benefit the family’s favorite causes.  If you are an independent advisor seeking a philanthropic partner, you need look no farther than AEF."

Johnne Syverson, CFP, AEP, CAP
Syverson Strege and Company

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5700 Darrow Road Ste. 118,
Hudson, Ohio 44236

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Phone: 1-888-402-9179
Fax: 330-656-2063

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