A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that can be established through a sponsoring investment firm.  Donate assets into a DAF and recommend how those assets should be invested.  Your contribution is tax deductible and the assets in the DAF grow tax-free.  Grants to your favorite charities such as HAVEN are directed by you and can be made over time.  A contribution to a DAF is irrevocable and can only be used to make grants to charities.

Benefits of a Donor Advised Fund:

• Your donations to a DAF are generally eligible to take a tax deduction in the year of the contribution.
• Contribute appreciated assets that have been held for more than a year without paying capital gains taxes, and receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of the assets donated
• In addition to cash and stocks, DAF can accept many other public and non-publicly traded assets such as private business interests, cryptocurrency and private company stock.
• Donations to a DAF can be invested, potentially growing your donation tax-free, making available even more money for charities.
• Donations can be made upfront or ongoing

There is no fixed annual DAF contribution limit; charitable deduction limits generally depend on your AGI and the type of property contributed.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a distribution of funds from your IRA to a qualified charitable organization.  Because the gift goes directly to the charity without passing through your hands, the dollar amount of the gift may be excluded from your taxable income up to a maximum of $111,000 in 2026 per taxpayer annually, $222,000 if a married couple files jointly, are both 70 ½ or older, when the distributions are made, and each makes a QCD from their own IRA.  While a QCD cannot be made directly from an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401k, 403b, or employee SEP plan, you can roll over funds (tax free) from one of these retirement plans to an IRA, which distributions may then qualify as a QCD

Who is eligible to make a QCD: 

• If you are 70 ½ or older, when the distributions are made, you can make tax-free donations from your IRA through a QCD.
• QCD checks aren’t technically considered distributions until they are received and cashed by the charity. Therefore, we recommend writing all checks by the end of November to ensure they are cashed before year-end.

Benefits of a QCD:

• A QCD is a great way to make a meaningful gift while also avoiding the taxes associated with traditional IRA distributions.
• Normal distributions from your IRA are taxable income (including required minimum distribution or RMD). By making a QCD, the dollar amount of the gift may be excluded from your taxable income, up to a maximum of $111,000 for 2026 per tax payer per year. 
• These transfers offer eligible older Americans a great way to easily give to charity before the end of the year.
• This amount can also be used to satisfy all or part of the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.

• Transfer assets to an irrevocable trust that can provide income to you or other beneficiaries for a specified period or for life, with the remainder ultimately benefiting HAVEN.
• May provide a partial charitable income-tax deduction and other potential tax benefits, depending on the trust and the assets contributed.

• Provides charitable payments to HAVEN for a specified period, with the remaining assets ultimately passing to designated non-charitable beneficiaries.
• Depending on how the trust is structured, it may provide potential gift-tax, estate-tax, or income-tax benefits.

Will or Trust:

Including HAVEN in your will or trust is one of the greatest gifts you can make and ensures a meaningful impact.

• A bequest is a gift from your estate – a transfer of cash, securities or other property, made through your will or trust.
• Your gift may be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the remainder after all other provisions ae specified
• Qualifying charitable bequests generally are eligible for an estate-tax charitable deduction.
• Provides an opportunity to create a lasting legacy supporting HAVEN's mission.

How to name HAVEN in your will or trust:

To Leave a specific dollar amount: “I bequeath, ___________________(specific dollar amount) to HAVEN, Inc., a nonprofit corporation currently located at 801 Vanguard Drive, Pontiac, MI  48341, tax ID:                38-2426175 , or its successor thereto”

To leave a percentage of your estate after specific bequests have been paid: “I give, bequeath and devise ____________(all, or a percentage) of my estate of HAVEN, INC., a nonprofit corporation currently located at 801 Vanguard Drive, Pontiac, MI  48341, tax ID: 38-2426175 , or its successor thereto”

Beneficiary Designation:

While many assets transfer through a will or trust, IRAs, 401ks, 403(b)s, other retirement plans, and life insurance policies are governed by separate documents, and have specific beneficiaries listed.  Naming HAVEN as a beneficiary helps support our mission and can provide tax relief for your loved ones.

• Name HAVEN as a beneficiary of an IRA, retirement plan, life insurance policy, or other account.
• An individual who inherits an IRA, 401k, 403(b) or other retirement assets will be required to pay income tax on withdrawals of these funds. Instead, by naming HAVEN, Inc. as a beneficiary, these income taxes can be avoided and all of the bequest will go to HAVEN.  Consider leaving your loved ones less heavily taxed assets and leaving your retirement plan assets to HAVEN.
• Provides an opportunity to create a lasting legacy supporting HAVEN's mission.

Note: Tax benefits and eligibility requirements vary depending on individual circumstances and may change as tax laws change. Please consult your tax, legal, or financial advisor before making a charitable gift.