We know you have many choices when it comes to organizing your charitable giving and partnering with someone to fulfill your philanthropic goals. The Indianapolis Foundation has giving vehicles and concierge services that rival any other charitable partner you could choose. Our knowledge of the community’s needs and issues, along with our legal and impact advising expertise, you get the best team to support your giving. Together, we are committed to helping you make the greatest positive impact, allowing your contributions to reach further and last longer.
Maximize Convenience and Impact with a Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a flexible and tax-efficient way to give, allowing individuals, families, or organizations to support the causes they care about over time. When you establish a DAF at the Indianapolis Foundation, you receive an immediate tax deduction and can recommend grants to qualified nonprofits at your own pace. A DAF is also a cost-effective alternative to establishing a private foundation, offering streamlined giving with minimal administrative burden.
You can fund your DAF with cash, stock, real estate, or other non-cash assets, including closely held business interests. Properly transferring these assets to a DAF can help you avoid capital gains taxes, ensuring that 100% of the proceeds go toward charitable giving. There is no minimum for additional contributions, allowing you to build your fund over time.
As a DAF advisor, you’ll be partnered with a staff donor services advisor and have access to our Donor Portal, where you can monitor your fund’s balance and recommend grants at any time. Our team is also here to support your philanthropic goals, and you can designate successors—such as children or other family members—to continue your charitable legacy after your lifetime.
How It Works
- No minimum to get started. Open a donor-advised fund with any amount.
- Easy contributions. Add to your fund at any time through our online portal, Donor Connect.
- Low administrative fees. DAFs with balances of $25,000 or more are subject to a 1%-tiered annual fee, assessed quarterly. Unlike commercial DAF providers, all fees support our mission to make Central Indiana a more equitable place to live, work, and thrive.
- Simple setup. Fill out the form below to get started. Once we receive your application, our team will connect with you to finalize your fund agreement.
To learn more about establishing a Donor Advised Fund at the Indianapolis Foundation, contact us today.
Rob MacPherson
Vice President of Development & Strategy
robm@indianapolisfoundation.org
Grace Findley
Chief Development and Partnerships Officer
gracef@indianapolisfoundation.org
Leveraging IMPACT Funds
IMPACT Central Indiana is a collaborative initiative established by the Indianapolis Foundation, Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and the Hamilton County Community Foundation. Its mission is to facilitate social impact investments into businesses, funds, entrepreneurs, and not-for-profit organizations that generate positive and measurable social impact within the community.
Unlike traditional grantmaking, IMPACT Funds through IMPACT Central Indiana allows for investments in both for-profit and not-for-profit entities, provided they have a social or charitable component. These investments can take the form of loans, equity investments, and flexible capital arrangements, offering the potential for financial returns. Returns on these investments flow back into IMPACT Central Indiana and can be redeployed into future endeavors, effectively "recycling" philanthropy.
IMPACT Funds can be used for any social impact investment you want to make or you can also invest along with the Indianapolis Foundation in various strategic areas for us, including:
- Affordable housing
- Inclusive economic growth
- Philanthropic innovation
- Community-rooted businesses
By addressing these focus areas, IMPACT Central Indiana aims to create sustainable and equitable opportunities that benefit the broader Central Indiana community.
For individuals interested in participating, an IMPACT account can be created from an existing donor-advised fund or through new assets. This provides donors with the flexibility to support initiatives that align with their philanthropic goals while potentially receiving financial returns that can be reinvested into future projects.
Through IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation and its affiliates are pioneering a new approach to philanthropy that combines charitable giving with strategic investments, amplifying the positive effects on the community.
Compounded Giving for a More Vibrant Marion County Forever
Endowment for Indianapolis
Thousands of donors over the past 109 years have contributed to a permanent endowment fund that is used exclusively to make people’s lives better and investing in the needs and opportunities of Marion County. This $125 million fund enables the Indianapolis Foundation to make grants annually to effective nonprofits serving our neighbors and making Indianapolis a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. These investments, usually made through legacy and planned gifts, the Indianapolis Foundation has granted more than $500 million to charitable organizations since 1916. We invite you to join us as we “pay it forward” and make sure that Indianapolis and Marion County always has a permanent philanthropic fund for the changing needs and opportunities of the place we call home.
For information on how to make a current or future gift to the Endowment for Indianapolis, contact
Rob MacPherson
Vice President of Development & Strategy
robm@indianapolisfoundation.org
Grace Findley
Chief Development and Partnerships Officer
gracef@indianapolisfoundation.org
“ I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver ”
Other Fund Types and Giving Strategies
Scholarship Funds - You help students pursue their educational dreams and in turn, change the trajectory of their and their families lives forever.
With a scholarship fund, you can support educational opportunities for tomorrow’s leaders. You may specify an area of study, geographic area, and/or academic or financial requirement. Scholarships can provide one-time or multi-year support.
Designated Funds - You support your favorite nonprofits automatically on an annual basis.
A designated fund allows you to directly support the nonprofits listed in a fund gift agreement. We distribute grants annually based on your fund’s available grant dollars.
Field of Interest Funds - You support evolving community needs and a variety of nonprofits focused on your preferred area of interest.
A field of interest fund, typically created after your lifetime, allows you to support the causes you are most passionate about – from arts and culture and education to racial equity and inclusion and more – the choice is yours well into the future. You can rely on our staff’s expertise, which is based on data, community insights and greatest community needs, to select effective nonprofits working in those areas.
Private Foundation Transfer to DAF - You transition all or part of your private foundation to a donor-advised or other fund at the Indianapolis Foundation.
A fund at the Indianapolis Foundation can make your charitable giving through your private foundation more efficient, cost effective, and impactful. Whether it is your annual payout or closing and transitioning your foundation completely into a fund at the Foundation, we handle all the investment and administrative details your foundation used to handle, provide customized charitable advising and family engagement, and more, allowing you to focus on strategically supporting the causes most important to you.
Agency Endowment Funds – Nonprofit organizations can create a permanently endowed, flexible board designated, or cash reserve funds.
A charitable organization can invest its financial reserves with the Indianapolis Foundation and take advantage of our best-in-class investment managers, competitive investment returns, and endowment planning services while avoiding administrative overhead.
To discuss fund options and explore giving strategies, contact:
Rob MacPherson
Vice President of Development & Strategy
robm@indianapolisfoundation.org
Grace Findley
Chief Development and Partnerships Officer
gracef@indianapolisfoundation.org