Donor Advised Funds

A donor advised fund at Stanford allows you to have your gift invested with a quality investment management team while you consider the purposes that you would like the fund to support.

How it works

• You make a tax-deductible gift of $1 million or more to Stanford to establish a donor advised fund now and later advise how you would like the university to use the gift. Your gift may be cash, securities, or other more complex assets.

• While you consider what you would like your donor advised fund to support, the donor advised fund can be invested with the Stanford endowment, which is managed by the Stanford Management Company.

• Generally, half of your gift must be designated to Stanford. The other half may be used to support other charities. You will have advisory privileges and may recommend distributions to Stanford or other qualified charities.

• You also may use a donor advised fund to continue your family’s philanthropy into the next generation. A donor advised fund may be established through a bequest, naming your children or others to be the fund advisors.