A donor advised fund for the Church and its institutions is administered by the Deseret Trust Company. You sign appropriate documents and then transfer cash or marketable securities to Deseret Trust Company. Each year, you and those family members you select advise Deseret Trust Company as to those charitable causes that you wish to receive income and any principal you desire to give. Your decisions may differ from year to year. You should be sure your financial and legal advisors are part of your gift strategy team. Use of a donor-advised fund is only effective as a part of an overall financial and estate plan. The professional staff at Philanthropies, a department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, can assist you and your advisors in participating in the donor-advised fund.
There are many advantages of a donor-advised fund:
There are also some disadvantages of a donor-advised fund: