Donor Advised Fund (DAF)–Matching Grants

 
 

INTRODUCTION

The following information is provided to the Clubs, Committees and Official Entities recognized as such within District 5840. This information is intended to provide an explanation of the purpose of the funds. Additionally these instructions inform organizations about the following critical aspects:
  • History of the Donor Advised Fund
  • Process for submitting the required application for use of Donor Advised Funds
  • The cycles in which grant applications are to be submitted for consideration
  • When the grant applications will be acted upon by the Grant Committee (Click here to download the DAF Grant Application.)

GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED

The document which established the Donor Advised Fund explains that the:
“...geographic area for the advisory committee’s grant recommendations shall be to qualified charitable organizations which serve the counties in Texas comprising Rotary District 5840 as exists in 2002, being 44 counties, or other areas outside of District 5840 that may include Mexico as deemed appropriate by the advice and consent of the District Governor or his advisory committee.”

HISTORY & PURPOSE

The 2001 Rotary International Convention was held in San Antonio, Texas. The 2001 Rotary International Convention Host Organizing Committee (HOC) planned, organized and hosted the International Convention. The 2001 Host Organizing Committee was chaired by Jim Berg. PDG Duncan Wimpress was the Vice Chairman.
 
After the International Convention there was $320,000 remaining in the account of the Host Organizing Committee. The 2001 Rotary International Convention Host Organizing Committee (HOC) determined it would offer an irrevocable gift of the remaining funds to District 5840 to establish a fund, the proceeds of which would benefit the District in the future.
 
Jim Berg, Chair of the HOC, and District Governor Dick Baggett worked with the Rotary Foundation to establish Rotary Foundation’s first-ever Donor Advised Fund account. Governor Baggett and HOC Chair Jim Berg announced the formation of the DAF account at the 2001-2002 District Conference in Kerrville, Texas.

BOARD OF DISTRICT 5840 DONOR ADVISED FUND

PDG Dick Baggett, Chair (San Angelo Sunrise)
PDG Jim Berg (San Antonio)
PDG Wayne Merrill (San Angelo)
PCDG John Peterson (Boerne)
PDG Sherri C. Muniz (San Antonio)
 

PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING DAF FUNDS

The following are procedural steps that must be followed by Sponsoring Organizations wishing to receive available DAF Grants.
  • The tax laws that govern Donor Advised Funds and grant distributions require funds to be paid to and distributed by ONLY a legitimate 501(c)(3) entity. Therefore a club, district committee or official entity must have a 501(c)(3) organization to handle the funds for them if they have not become a 501(c)(3) entity themselves.
  • The Sponsoring Organization must match from their own funds the amount of the DAF Advisory Committee allocation being requested. (Example: If a Sponsoring Entity has requested $1,500 of DAF money, it must also be contributing at least $1,500 of its own funds to the project.)
  • The maximum DAF Grant allocation to be provided to a Sponsoring Entity per year will be $5,000.
  • A Sponsoring Organization can receive only one DAF Grant allocation per year. This means that once the Sponsoring Organization receives grant funds, it must wait for one year thereafter prior to receiving further DAF funds.
  • A majority of the voting members (3 of 5) of the Donor Advised Fund Advisory Committee must be present or voting via email/fax to act on a DAF Grant Application request. Their decision will be binding.
  • PDG Dick Baggett, Chairman,  will ensure all applications are completed prior to submission to the full Donor Advised Fund Advisory Committee for consideration.
  • The business of the Donor Advised Fund Advisory Committee may be conducted by members being either physically present in one location or by Teleconference, by email or a combination of these methods.
  • A member of the Donor Advised Fund Advisory Committee may also submit in writing, prior to the meeting, their determination on any business that is to come before the Committee at its next meeting/communication. This written document will become a part of the minutes of the meeting in which an application for funds was considered.
  • These rules and the official DAF Grant Application form will be available from the Chairperson of the Donor Advised Fund Advisory Committee or from the District 5840 web page (download capacity).