Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund is the big kahuna of donor-advised funds. Created in 1991, the fund ranks as the largest donor-advised fund in the United States. It even outweighs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation based on the value of grants made for the most recent fiscal year. Assets totaled $34.5 billion as of June 30, 2020.
As I covered in my recent article, donor-advised funds have several advantages. Donor-advised funds are public charities that qualify as section 501(c)(3) organizations. That means donors can benefit from an immediate tax deduction when they contribute cash or other assets to the fund. Although contributions are irrevocable (meaning you can’t withdraw donations if you change your mind or need extra cash), the donor retains some control over how to invest the assets and how much to contribute to various charities over time.