Donor-Advised Funds and UCS

Give to UCS through your donor-advised fund today—or tomorrow.

Grants from donor advised funds provide critical support for our work to ensure a healthy planet, safer world, and more just society.

What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

A donor advised fund is a charitable giving account administered by a sponsoring organization (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable are common examples). Generally speaking, DAFs allow you to make a charitable contribution to the sponsor, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from your fund over time to the nonprofits you want to support. Donor advised funds have grown in popularity because they can help donors manage their charitable giving and receive certain tax benefits, without the costs and administrative obligations of a private foundation.

How to give to UCS via Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

There are two primary ways for supporters to give to UCS via DAFs:

  1. Give today: Contact your donor advised fund sponsor to recommend a one-time grant or an additional gift. You may also recommend a recurring monthly (or quarterly) gift to provide long-term, sustainable support.
  2. Give for the future by making a succession plan: The contract you completed when you created your donor advised fund governs the final distribution of the assets remaining in your fund after your lifetime. Contact your donor advised fund sponsor to name UCS the beneficiary of your fund, or designate UCS to receive a portion of the account value, leaving the remainder for your children or grandchildren to continue your legacy of philanthropy.

For both options, you can find your fund sponsor to make your gift in the following ways:

  • Simply type in your fund provider name and the automated system will guide you through to the login page for your donor advised fund sponsor:

Please use our legal name and Federal Tax ID number:
Union of Concerned Scientists
Two Brattle Square, 6th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138-3780
Federal Tax ID number: #04-2535767

Note: Many donor advised fund grants arrive anonymously or without identifying information, so please be sure to instruct your fund administrator to include your full name and address with the check so that we can credit your gift. If you have any questions about supporting UCS through your donor advised fund or other giving vehicle—or wish to share the details of your gift, including the amount name of the sponsoring institution (e.g. Fidelity Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, etc.) sending the check—please contact the Member Services team at the phone number or email below. Specific legal and tax questions, however, should be directed to a professional advisor.

UCS Membership Services
(800) 666-8276
[email protected]

Looking to help in other ways? Visit our Ways to Give page for the many ways you can support UCS, or our Planned Giving page for more information on planning your legacy.