Donor advised funds seemed to explode on the charitable giving scene in just a few short years. Today, the top charities in the country are donor advised funds. By 2015, the donor advised fund world reached $80 billion in assets.

But for all this rapid rise, few seem to remember their history.

At the turn of the 19th century, John D. Rockefeller had become one of the wealthiest men in the world. As part of his strategy, he utilized a variety of trusts and charitable trusts to advance his interests. He ultimately created the Standard Oil Trust, which allowed him to centralize his holdings in 41 states. But the trust met with disfavor under federal anti-trust laws. In addition, some questioned Rockefeller’s use of charitable trusts, seeming to perpetuate family wealth more than they accomplished charitable objectives.

As a result, in 1914, Frederick Goff, a Cleveland lawyer, created the first community trust, the Cleveland Community Foundation. By placing funds in the hands of community trustees, the goal was to encourage philanthropy among the common man and to make sure that giving out into the community actually occurred.

Goff’s innovation caught on and spread to other communities. Community foundations later innovated to create individual funds held by the foundation but allowing donor input on giving decisions: the donor advised fund. Goff’s original innovation has ultimately influenced billions of dollars of charitable giving. Donor advised funds typically have a much higher giving percentage than any private foundation.

Donor advised funds eventually spread as well to commercial providers like Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and others. By 1980, one of the first Christian community foundations was established. (The Signatry dates back to 2000.)

As wealth transfer continues in this country, the donor advised fund continues to be a vital tool in that transfer.

Bill High

Bill is CEO & Founder of Vyne Legacy. He works with families to equip them with tools to build multigenerational legacies, and he teaches givers and financial advisers on transformational biblical generosity. He is the co-author with David Green of Giving It All Away and Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously.

Published April 23, 2018

Topics: Giving Strategies

Donor Advised FundsGiving Strategies