Donor Advised Funds with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota

Protect and Grow Your Legacy

In every season of generosity, God invites us to be stewards of His abundance — not only for today, but for generations to come. A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is one way Catholic families and individuals are answering that call. Rooted in gratitude and guided by faith, a DAF allows you to give with intention, support the Church’s mission, and respond to needs as they arise — all while keeping your giving aligned with Catholic values. For many givers, a DAF is a perfect way to give today while protecting the legacy they've always desired. 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

A DAF is a charitable account held by the Catholic Foundation where:

• You make an irrevocable gift & receive immediate tax benefit
• We invest your gift in alignment with Catholic values, immediately supporting the Foundation’s broader mission
• You advise the Foundation to grant to qualified Catholic charities

Common Reasons People Consider DAFs

• They wish to move ownership of funds out of their name, but still leave the legacy they desire
• They are interested in directing the use of the funds in the short or long term
• They want their designated charities to receive the benefits of high investment returns without tax implications
• They are looking for an immediate tax write off

 

 

How The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota Helps

• We make transferring funds or stock easy and can work directly with your broker or financial advisor
• We can help you weigh the pros and cons of a Donor Advised Fund vs other giving options
• We can help you figure out a distribution strategy, such as what percentage to give each year so that the gift lasts a certain length of time
• We do the work to distribute your gift to your Catholic charity of choice, like cutting and mailing the check

 

Speak with a Foundation representative to discuss your options for a Donor Advised Fund, or learn more about DAFs on our blog.

Executive Director, Elizabeth Williams

507-218-4098  |  ewilliams@catholicfsmn.org

 

"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children” Proverbs 13:22

 

Ready to Request a Distribution?

     1. Once you have established your donor advised fund(s), you will receive login information for your new Fund Advisor profile. Log into your account to begin the grant request process.  https://cfsm.fcsuite.com/erp/fundmanager

     2. After you login, click “SELECT” under the fund you would like to request a distribution from. Click “GRANT REQUEST” from the left-hand menu and then click “CREATE GRANT REQUEST” on the top right.

     3. You can then select a grantee (recipient) using the "Search Grantee" function, select from one of our established funds under "Previous Grantee or Fund" or enter a new nonprofit under "Manual Grantee". If you have requested a grant for a particular grantee before, please use “Search Grantee” as they will have an existing grantee profile. We recommend using the less is more method when searching, i.e. searching “Newman” or “Newman Center” instead of “Mankato State University – St. Thomas More Newman Center”.

     4. Once your grant request has been submitted, you should receive an automated email with a summary of your grant request(s). You will also receive a second confirmation when your requested grant funds are distributed to the grantee. You may also be contacted by the Foundation with questions about your request.

If you have any questions or concerns at any point in the process, please call Kelly Hoffman at (507) 858-1276. Thank you for choosing the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota to help you reach your philanthropic and charitable giving goals!