Knowledge Centre

Donor-advised funds can generally accept cash and publicly traded securities. Depending on the charitable program and its policies, other eligible assets such as private shares, insurance policies, real estate may also be considered.

Donating appreciated publicly traded securities can be a particularly effective way to give. In Canada, eligible donations of publicly traded securities may receive favourable tax treatment, while the donor receives a charitable tax receipt for the eligible value of the gift.

The types of assets accepted are determined by the charitable organization operating the DAF program and its gift acceptance policies.

Donors can recommend grants from their donor-advised fund to eligible charitable organizations. Grant recommendations are submitted through the program’s established process and reviewed before funds are distributed.

The charitable organization sponsoring the DAF retains legal control of the charitable assets and final authority over all grants. Donor recommendations are advisory and must be consistent with the organization’s charitable purposes, policies and applicable Canadian requirements.

Once approved, the grant is processed and distributed to the recipient organization.

Yes. Charitable assets held in a donor-advised fund may be invested for future charitable giving, subject to the investment framework and policies of the DAF program.

This allows donors to contribute today and recommend grants over time. Investment growth can increase the amount ultimately available for charitable purposes, although investment values may also fluctuate.

The investment options and approach available will depend on the structure of the individual DAF program.

Grants are generally made to qualified donees recognized under Canada’s Income Tax Act, including Canadian registered charities and certain other eligible organizations.

Before a grant is distributed, the recipient organization and grant request are reviewed through the DAF program’s established processes.

Grant eligibility is determined by the charitable organization sponsoring the DAF and applicable Canadian charitable requirements.

DAF administration covers the day-to-day work required to operate a donor-advised fund program. This can include account and fund setup, donation processing, recordkeeping, tax receipting support, grant administration, charity validation, reporting and donor service.

Behind every donor experience is a significant operating infrastructure. Effective administration brings together technology, established processes, operational controls and specialized charitable giving expertise.

DSI provides this infrastructure and operational support to organizations that offer donor-advised fund programs.

DSI provides the technology, administration and operational expertise behind donor-advised fund programs.

We work with financial institutions, foundations, DAF sponsors and organizations building specialized charitable giving programs. Depending on the needs of the program, DSI can support fund administration, donation processing, grant administration, reporting, digital workflows and donor and advisor experiences.

DSI can also provide philanthropy planning and advisory support to help donors and families develop thoughtful, strategic and long-term approaches to their charitable giving.

Our role is to help organizations launch, operate and scale sophisticated charitable giving programs without having to build the full operating infrastructure themselves.