A Smarter Way to Give

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When disaster strikes, the first impulse many people have is to ask how they can help. And with the number of natural catastrophes tripling worldwide since 1980,¹ there has been no shortage of opportunities to lend a hand.

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But what if there were a smarter way to give? What if you could fold your charitable giving into your broader plans in a way that lets you give both strategically and as the need arises?

STRATEGIC GIVING Through Donor-Advised Funds Donor-advised funds are investment accounts you create solely for supporting charitable causes – and because the fund is self-directed, you get to dictate when, where and how much to give. Using this tool, you and your target organization can reap important benefits:

• Immediacy. Because funds are already set aside, donor-advised funds let you donate immediately. You don't have to reconfigure your existing financial plans to give.
• Effectiveness. One of the biggest challenges to financing recovery efforts after a disaster is timing: While it can take years to rebuild after a catastrophe, donations often decrease to a trickle within weeks. By scheduling a recurring gift through a donor-advised fund, you can help immediately as the crisis is happening but also during the rebuilding and prevention phases.
• Tax optimization. Donor-advised funds let you help yourself as you help others. Not only do the funds' investments grow tax-free, but your initial and any future contributions to the fund are deducted immediately from that year's taxes, giving you additional planning flexibility.

With the frequency and intensity of natural disasters continuing to increase, getting the most bang for your charitable buck is critical. With donor-advised funds, you can give for both the short and long term in a way that fits into your broader plans.

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¹The Conference Board Inc., The Future of Disaster Philanthropy, 2017.