Philanthropy

The most important quality of the so-called 501(c)(4) organization boils down to one word: control.

Donor-advised funds are under scrutiny for providing a tax break but not funneling money to charities.

The flow of money from private foundations to donor-advised funds has jumped substantially in recent years, highlighting the increasing use of a controversial loophole in charitable law, a new audit shows.

Donor-advised funds, favored by rich businessmen and celebrities, rack up tax benefits while delaying charitable giving.

DAFs have been receiving more than half their contributions from complex assets such as shares of public and private companies, real estate and cryptocurrency in the past five years.

The guidelines can help planners with charitably minded clients steer clear of compliance thickets and run-ins with the IRS.

The award from Invest in Others, a nonprofit whose board features prominent financial firms, honors practices with extensive volunteering and charitable giving.

Donor-advised funds increased their donations to charities last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting the biggest levels in over a decade.

A new report raises questions about how much money is being shuttled between DAFs, rather than distributed to charity.

DAFs come with a potential upfront tax deduction, allowing newly empowered investors to consolidate their giving flows, writes Tom Brilli.

Holders of donor-advised funds increased their disbursements last year in response to urgent demands for greater charitable contributions to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It may seem counterintuitive, but paying appreciably more taxes in 2020 could save families a lot of money down the road.

Depending on the economy and the election, they could be on the chopping block as soon as 2021.

New regulations have altered advice for Social Security, Roth conversions, tax code, estate planning and much more. Financial plans must be crafted with enough flexibility to change with the times.

Here's an at-a-glance guide to the candidates' positions on individual taxes.

Many clients have seen the value of their investment accounts drop, making this a good time for planners to prove their value

Strategies include utilizing charitable trusts to split benefits between multiple beneficiaries and taking advantage of donor-advised funds.

The rule change is designed to have an impact in the fight against COVID-19 and applies only to donations made to charitable organizations, an expert says.