For Advisors
Partnering with advisors to protect donor intent, preserve privacy, and support long-term charitable planning.
Empower Your Clients to Give with Confidence
DonorsTrust is a principled donor-advised fund supporting values-driven philanthropy that strengthens communities and civil society.
We partner with advisors to deliver secure giving solutions that protect donor intent, preserve privacy, and simplify philanthropy.
What We Offer
- Creative problem solving to help maximize the impact of your clients’ wealth and legacy
- Easy integration with existing wealth and estate plans
- A responsive, knowledgeable team that understands your clients and the causes they support
- Tax efficiency with one simple year-end receipt
- Privacy and assurance for clients who value discretion
- Values-driven grantmaking to local charities, faith-based groups, national policy organizations, and other nonprofits that reflect your clients’ convictions
Why Advisors Partner with DonorsTrust
Financial Advisors and Estate Attorneys regularly partner with the team at DonorsTrust to enhance their client services. Our expertise in charitable giving strategies complements the financial and estate planning services offered by advisors and attorneys.
DonorsTrust unlocks holistic client service.
Personalized service from a stable, industry-experienced team empowers advisors and single-family offices to integrate philanthropy seamlessly into holistic wealth and legacy planning. Our Philanthropic Advisors can also help advisors and clients navigate the tax implications of charitable giving, maximizing tax benefits while achieving a client’s philanthropic goals.
DonorsTrust fosters deeper client relationships.
Collaboration with our team promotes loyalty from clients who appreciate advisors that address their philanthropic interests. Long-term charitable planning also opens the door to intergenerational conversations that help advisors form relationships with heirs.
DonorsTrust opens referral opportunities.
Advisors who differentiate their services by integrating charitable giving into overall financial plans can build a reputation as socially responsible professionals committed to their clients’ values and community impact. Satisfied clients often share their charitable experiences within their philanthropic network.
Connect with Our Team
Lukas Dwelly AIF®, CAP®, AEP® is Senior Director for Growth at DonorsTrust. His expertise bridges strategic philanthropic planning and financial and estate planning services, helping advisors and attorneys serve their clients’ charitable needs.
Types of Contributions
DonorsTrust accepts a variety of assets, allowing our donors to structure their charitable contributions efficiently and tax-effectively.
With an initial contribution of $10,000, you can open your donor-advised fund account with DonorsTrust. Philanthropists under age 40 can open their account with $1,000 and begin recommending grants once their account balance reaches $5,000.
CASH
CRYPTO CURRENCY
PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES
MUTUAL FUNDS
PRIVATELY HELD STOCK
REAL ESTATE & OTHER PROPERTY
Bring DonorsTrust into the discussion early when complicated assets are at stake to ensure your clients can maximize the charitable benefit of their donation—and thus expand the long-term impact of their philanthropy.
Fees & Investment Options
| FEE SCHEDULE | FEES |
|---|---|
| First $1 million | 75 bps (0.75%) |
| Next $1.5m | 65 bps (0.65%) |
| Next $2.5m | 60 bps (0.60%) |
| Next $5m | 50 bps (0.50%) |
| Next $15m | 40 bps (0.40%) |
| Above $25m | Please call to discuss |
DonorsTrust operates independently and is not subsidized by any banking institution or private foundation. As a 501(c)3 public charity, DonorsTrust receives occasional gifts from donors who appreciate our unique purpose within the free-market community. However, administrative fees are our primary means of sustaining our operations.
All donor-advised accounts include:
- Grant due diligence and processing
- IRS compliance and reporting
- Quarterly account statements
DonorsTrust’s standard administrative fees start at 0.75% and decline with larger accounts. Select program services such as grant tracking and grantee research are available for additional fees.
Donors may advise on the investment of funds in their DAF accounts.
DonorsTrust offers a variety of low-cost investment options as well as several managed options from Merrill Lynch. Accounts of more than $1 million have the option to recommend an outside investment advisor to follow a customized investment plan. Contact us for more details, or click below to review the investment options and their performance.
Newsletter for Financial Advisors
Lukas Dwelly shares philanthropic insights directly related to financial advisors, CPAs, and estate-planning attorneys in his monthly newsletter. Sign up here.
Comparing DonorsTrust
| Feature/Concern | DonorsTrust | Big-Box Donor-Advised Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Approvals | Gives only to organizations that do not work against the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise. | May give to causes that conflict with your principles. May deny grants for ideological reasons. |
| Donor Intent and Legacy Protection | Written donor intent statements honored during life and forever after death. | No binding commitment to follow donor intent beyond legal minimums. Future boards may redirect funds. |
| Values Alignment | Focuses solely on conservatives, libertarian, and faith driven donors and their charities. | No mission alignment guarantees. |
| Grant Review Process | Every grant is vetted to ensure it aligns with the donor’s stated principles. | Review is typically limited to legal compliance which means that funds could be applied to causes that work against a donor’s values. |
| Personal Service | Personalized guidance with direct access to senior staff and expertise; no call centers or AI chatbots. | Limited personal relationships, call centers, and virtual assistants. |
| Community | A network of like-minded donors and experienced staff providing opportunities for collaboration and idea sharing. | No shared values-based donor community. |
| Tax Benefits | Immediate tax deduction, capital gains savings, and growth potential. | The same – but without values alignment, community expertise, or donor intent protections. |
| Privacy and Anonymity | Donor names are never publicly listed and grants can be made anonymously. | Grantor information can be disclosed in public reports or via 990 filings. |
| Feature/Concern | DonorsTrust | The Other Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy Planning | Ensures donor intent and principles live on after death through managed legacy accounts. | Legacy often diluted by later generations’ shifting values or management. |
| Cost Efficiency | No startup costs; low administrative fees; no annual excise taxes. | Significant setup and annual costs including legal, accounting, and staffing. |
| Compliance Headaches | No 5% payout deadline. | A private foundation’s 5% payout deadline is 12 months after the end of its tax year. This means if the foundation has a calendar year tax year, it must distribute at least 5% of its previous year’s assets by December 31st of the following year. |
| Complete Privacy | Grants can be made anonymously and donor names are not publicly disclosed. | Must file public IRS Form 990 with donor and grantee details. |
| Values Alignment | Grants only to organizations that align with liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise–never to groups that undermine them. | Depends entirely on family oversight; can drift from founding values over generations. |
| Community and Network | Experienced advisors with deep connections connecting you with grantees that can help you achieve your goals and are aligned with your values. | Isolated to family and internal trustees. |
| Feature/Concern | DonorsTrust | Community Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Values Alignment | Grants only to organizations that align with liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise–never to groups that undermine them. | Generally broad and often supporting progressive causes; no guarantee of ideological alignment. |
| Protection of Donor Intent | Donor intent is rigorously documented and protected for life and beyond through written intent statements and governance structures. | Often no formal mechanism to protect intent once the donor passes. |
| Complete Privacy | Grants can be made anonymously and donor names are not publicly disclosed. | Typically lists donor names publicly; limited anonymity options. |
| Cost Efficiency | No startup costs and low administrative fees. | Moderate fees, often higher than DonorsTrust. |
| Flexibility and Control | Donors retain full advisory privileges—decide when and where to give, with expert support from senior staff | Moderate control; grants must align with the foundation’s community priorities. |
| Legacy Planning | Ensures donor intent and principles live on after death through managed legacy accounts. | Legacy merges into general funds or is redirected at the foundation’s discretion. |
| Community and Network | Experienced advisors with deep connections connecting you with grantees that can help you achieve your goals and are aligned with your values. | Broad, ideologically diverse donor community with no shared philosophical base. |
