Donor-Advised Funds and UCS

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.

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:

• You may log on to your DAF account directly from your own account portal or request a grant directly from your DAF sponsor.
• You can also click the links directly below if you have a donor advised fund with any of the following organizations:
• Fidelity Charitable
• Schwab Charitable (now DAFgiving360)
• Vanguard Charitable

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]