Give Through Your Donor-Advised Fund

A donor advised fund (DAF) lets you make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to the causes you care about over time. If you already have a DAF, supporting The Midnight Mission takes just a few minutes.

 

Already have a DAF? Recommend a grant today.

1. Log in to your DAF account (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, your community foundation, or your financial institution).
2. Search for The Midnight Mission by name or by our Tax ID below.
3. Recommend your grant amount and choose “general operating support,” or name a program you love.
4. Let us know it’s coming so we can thank you and direct your gift as you intended.

 

What your DAF sponsor needs:

Legal name: The Midnight Mission
Tax ID (EIN): 95-1691293
Address: 601 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Contact: Valerie Lord, Director of Advancement
vlord@midnightmission.org · 213-624-9258 x1262

 

New to donor advised funds?

A DAF is one of the simplest and most flexible ways to give, and it can help your generosity go further.

• Give now, decide later. You receive your tax deduction the year you contribute, then recommend grants on your own timeline.
• Give more than cash. Many DAF sponsors accept appreciated stock and other assets, which can help you avoid capital gains tax. Acceptance policies vary by sponsor.
• Let your giving grow. Funds in a DAF can be invested, so there may be more available for the causes you love over time.
• Simplify your records. You get one tax receipt from your sponsor, no matter how many charities you support.
• Build a family legacy. You can name your children or other loved ones as successor advisors so your giving continues.

 

How it works

1. Open a DAF with a financial institution or community foundation.
2. Contribute cash, stock, or other assets and receive your tax deduction that year.
3. Invest it so it can grow while it waits. Most sponsors let you choose how your DAF is invested. Any growth is tax free and adds to what you can give.
4. Recommend a grant to The Midnight Mission, once or on a recurring schedule.
5. See your impact as your gift provides meals, recovery, housing, and a path forward for people experiencing homelessness.

 

Good to know

Put your DAF to work. Many DAF dollars sit in cash, waiting. When your fund is invested, it has the potential to grow over time, which means more to give to the causes you love. Talk with your advisor or DAF sponsor about an investment strategy that fits your goals.

Make your giving automatic. Most DAF sponsors let you schedule recurring grants: monthly, quarterly, or annually. A recurring grant to The Midnight Mission gives us steady, predictable support we can plan around, and you never have to remember to give.

What a DAF grant can and can’t do. DAF grants can support our general operations and programs. Under federal rules, a DAF grant can’t be used to buy event tickets, auction items, or anything that gives you a personal benefit. If you’d like to attend one of our events, please purchase your ticket separately.

Let us know it’s coming. DAF grants often arrive without the donor’s name or contact information. Please email us when you recommend a grant so we can thank you properly.

 

Questions? Let’s talk.

Whether you’re opening your first DAF or already give through one, we’re happy to help. Contact Valerie Lord at vlord@midnightmission.org or 213-624-9258 x1262.

The Midnight Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This information is educational and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult your own advisors.

Need Help Setting Up a DAF?

Download our Quick Start Guide to Donor-Advised Funds to learn how they work and whether a DAF is right for you.

Download PDF – Getting Started With a DAF