Philanthropy With Purpose, Partnership, and Integrity

Donors today are asking more of their philanthropic partners — and they should be. As the conversation around donor-advised funds evolves nationally, more and more people are examining not just where their charitable dollars go, but who is stewarding their assets and what values guide that work.

At The Community Foundation, our commitment to values-aligned philanthropy isn't new. It's reflected in how we've built our programs, how we show up for our communities, and now, how we've formalized that commitment in updated policies that put our values into practice through our grantmaking and investment portfolio.

A grantmaking framework grounded in values

At The Community Foundation, due diligence has always been at the heart of how we process donor recommended grants. For every grant recommendation, we conduct due diligence to verify that recipient organizations are registered 501(c)(3)s in good standing and do not appear on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

Our Values-Alignment Grantmaking Policy builds on that foundation, adding a clear framework to ensure that grants recommended through donor funds support the communities we serve in furtherance of our shared values.

We recognize that our donors support a wide range of social and policy-related causes across the broad spectrum of thought and belief, and we are committed to honoring that. Grantmaking determinations are never based on an organization's political affiliation, ideology, or membership in a protected class. What guides our framework is a shared commitment to the wellbeing of the people and communities we serve — and a belief that philanthropy should always be a force for good.

If a question ever arises about a particular grant recommendation, our Donor Services team will reach out to work through it together with the donor.

Values-aligned investing — not just values-aligned giving

We have always believed that how we invest and steward charitable assets is just as important as our grantmaking. Recent updates to our Investment Policy Statement put that belief into practice — directing our pooled investment portfolios away from companies whose core business activities undermine the communities we serve, including tobacco, civilian firearms manufacturers, private prisons, predatory lenders, gambling operations, and adult entertainment, and toward more sustainable, ESG-oriented strategies.

The way we steward assets is inseparable from the mission and values those assets are meant to serve. We are also taking proactive steps to ensure that our own organizational assets are held with institutions whose values align with ours. For that reason, we are working with our Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees to move any limited funds currently held with national commercial providers to comparable investment options within our investment platform.

We approach these changes thoughtfully and responsibly, working with our OCIO and Investment Committee to ensure that values-aligned strategies continue to deliver competitive returns that support the long-term growth of our donors' funds. Doing good and investing well are not in conflict — and our updated IPS is designed with both in mind.

What a community foundation offers that commercial DAF providers don’t

If you hold a donor-advised fund with a national commercial DAF provider and are wondering whether your current sponsor shares your values, we want you to know that you have options with some meaningful advantages.

Here’s what’s different about a fund at The Community Foundation:

More fund options.

We offer donor-advised, designated, disaster relief, field of interest, scholarship, memorial funds, and more — all of which can be endowed. As your philanthropic goals evolve, we can help you determine the right kind of fund for you.

A broader range of assets accepted.

We accept publicly traded and closely held securities, business interests, real estate, life insurance, and gifts through wills, trusts, and retirement plan assets — giving you more ways to make a meaningful contribution now or in the future.

Fees that go back to the community.

At commercial providers, administrative fees cover operational costs. At The Community Foundation, our support fees are reinvested into our charitable mission — directly advancing the work we do together in this region.

Personalized service and local knowledge.

You have access to a dedicated team member with real expertise in the Greater Washington region — its nonprofits, its needs, and its opportunities.

Legacy and succession planning.

We provide personalized support to document and fulfill your wishes, including succession planning and transition guidance.

Networking and learning.

Our fundholders have access to peer networks, local nonprofit site visits, and educational programming focused on the issues that matter most in this region.

For a full side-by-side comparison, download our DAF Comparison Chart.

Transferring is simpler than you think

You will find that we can make it easy to move your fund — or even a portion of it — to The Community Foundation. And for many donors, that shift makes their giving significantly more meaningful.

National DAF providers offer real benefits: tax advantages, flexibility, and investment growth. But they can also be transactional. For donors who want a stronger connection to their philanthropy — and a partner who shares their values — that can feel limiting.

At The Community Foundation, you get the same core benefits — with a personalized approach and the flexibility to help deepen your philanthropy and maximize your impact.

Transferring is straightforward, and our Donor Services team will walk you through every step. To start a conversation, contact us at [email protected] or call 202-955-5890.