Donor-advised funds: So much to celebrate

Written by:
Jennifer Turner, VP of Philanthropy 

Over the years, our team has talked with a lot of people who are surprised to learn that they can set up such a wide variety of charitable giving vehicles, including legacy gifts as well as lifetime giving vehicles such as donor-advised funds. What’s more, some people who have already established a donor-advised fund at a national financial institution don’t realize that they could have set up that donor-advised fund with more local expertise at the CICF Collaborative (which includes Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana).  

Establishing a donor-advised fund is a terrific first step toward establishing a comprehensive charitable giving plan. And October is a particularly good time to evaluate the role of a donor-advised fund as part of your philanthropic strategy. That’s because October 9 was DAF Day 2025, a national celebration of donor-advised funds and the impact they make in communities everywhere.  

Of course, we want to celebrate YOU – our fundholders who have chosen to hold your funds here at the community foundation.  Over the years, we’ve learned that several fundholders have additional funds with other institutions, including national financial institutions.  If this applies to you, we would love to connect with you about the opportunity to transfer the fund(s) to an entity at the CICF Collaborative. You’ll be glad to know that our donor-advised funds can carry the same tax and administrative advantages as those at national firms, including: 

  • Online account access and simple grant request processes 
  • Consolidated tax reporting and full back-office administration 
  • Useful as a tool for “bunching” by front-loading several years of charitable giving into a single tax year to exceed the standard deduction threshold 
  • Dollars in the fund support favorite charities over time, enabling strategic giving 

But there are many unique benefits, too. Here’s where a donor-advised fund within the CICF Collaborative really stands out: 

  • Our fees stay local, supporting our operations and various projects which in turn help sustain and expand initiatives specifically for the Central Indiana community. 
  • We provide personal guidance informed by deep community knowledge from staff members who live and work in Central Indiana. 
  • With entity members working for more than a century in Central Indiana (Indianapolis Foundation), the CICF Collaborative has built close relationships with local nonprofit leaders and organizations across many fields. 
  • Fundholders have several opportunities each year to meet and learn more about the local organizations that your generosity has benefited. 

Should you be interested in moving existing, external funds here – or be interested in exploring additional fund types to reach your charitable goals, we welcome the chance to speak with you on how we might deepen our partnership and further support your philanthropy. Together, we can make sure your charitable assets accomplish exactly what you intend—whether that means making an immediate difference, planning for the future, or both. 

About the CICF Collaborative 

CICF Collaborative is a partnership of philanthropic organizations working together to strengthen communities across the region. Each entity within the CICF Collaborative (including the cornerstone entities, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana) brings deep knowledge, strong relationships, and its own individual, focused mission. The CICF Collaborative unites the entities by providing shared services, allowing the entities to operate more efficiently and effectively. By leveraging what we each do best, we’re able to better serve our communities and create more lasting impact, together. Learn more » 

About the Author 

Jennifer Turner has a passion for creating partnerships and connections within the community to create meaningful impact. As vice president of philanthropy at CICF, she helps support more than 1,300 families, companies, and not-for-profits design philanthropic plans that are both meaningful and impactful. With expertise in fundraising, capital campaigns, planned giving, and more, Jennifer helps organizations of all kinds maximize their missions and ensure their long-term sustainability.