EFTA00598164.pdf

,7 COUNCIL on FOUNDATIONS Is the Fund a Donor-Advised Fund? The flowchart on the following pages is designed to help community foundations determine which funds should be classified as donor-advised under the Pension Protection Act of 2006. For more information about the definition of a donor-advised fund, see the document entitled "Definition of a Donor-Advised Fund." Summary A fund is only a donor-advised fund if: • A donor or person appointed or designated by the donor has, or reasonably expects to have, advisory privileges with respect to distributions or investments (Step 1); • The fund is separately identified by reference to contributions of donor(s) (Step 2); and • The fund does not fall within an exception established by the Act (Step 3). The information provided here is based on our continuing analysis of the bill. Every efTort has been made to ensure accuracy of these documents. However, due to the complexity of the hill and the fact that many of these provisions introduce issues that are new to the Internal Revenue Code, please understand that this information is subject to change. The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax or other professional advice and we strongly encourage grantmakers and donors to work with their counsel to determine the impact of this legislation on their particular situations. This information may not be relied upon for the purposes of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. EFTA00598164  Step 1: Does a donor or person appointed or designated by the donor have, or reasonably expect to have, advisory privileges with respect to distributions or investments? Is the donor's role limited solely The fund is not a donor-advised fund. to designating the fund's purpose in the fund agreement? Yes No Is the dono 's role limited to recommending individuals with expertise to advise the community The fund is not a donor-advised fund so long as foundation with respect to the recommendation is based upon objective investments or distributions of the criteria. Yes fund? No Does the fund agreement indicate that the donor (or a person appointed or designated by the The fund may be a donor-advised fund. donor) can provide advice Proceed to Step 2. regarding investments or Yes distribution ? No Does the conduct of the community foundation and the donor either at the time of the gift or subsequent to the gift indicate that the donor may provide advice The fund may be a donor-advised fund. regarding investments or Proceed to Step 2. Yes distributions. No The fund is not a donor-advised fund. Frequently Asked Question: Are these donor-advised funds? A company established a fund but does not contribute to the fund. The fund is namedfor the company and advised by a top company official. A family established a frind to honor a deceased child but the family is not a donor to thefrind. All contributions are raised throughfundraising activities but the family makes grant recommendations. Neither the Act nor the legislative history provides a clear answer to the question of whether these are examples of donor- advised funds. Without clear guidance, the conservative approach is to treat these funds as donor-advised until additional guidance is provided. Community foundations should work with their professional advisors to determine the best approach for handling the classification of these funds. EFTA00598165  Step 2: Is the fund separately identified by reference to contributions of donor(s)? Is the fund named after a donor to the fund? The fund may be a donor-advised fund. Yes Proceed to Step 3. I No Is the fund named after an individual or entity related to a -O. The fund may be a donor-advised Yes fund. Proceed to Step 3. donor to the fund? I No Is the fund treated on the books of the community foundation as -O. The fund may be a donor-advised fund. attributable to funds contributed Proceed to Step 3. by specific donor(s)? Yes No Is there other evidence that the fund operates as if contributions are separately identified? -O. The fund may be a donor-advised fund. Proceed to Step 3. Yes No The fund is not a donor-advised fund. Frequently Asked Question: Who are "related parties"? While the Act and its legislative history provide no definition, immediate family members (i.e. spouse, children) would likely be considered related parties. Businesses controlled by donors also are likely to be considered related. EFTA00598166  Step 3: Does the fund fall o ithin an exception established by the Act? Does the fund only make This is not a donor-advised fund even if the distributions to a single identified donor has advisory privileges with respect to organization or government entity? Yes investments or distributions within the identified organization. I No Is the fund advised by a committee? The fund is a donor-advised fund. No I Yes Does the donor, donor's designees or persons related to the donor serve on the committee or have any other -► The fund is not a donor-advised fund. advisory privileges with respect to No the fund? I Yes Does the donor or persons related to a donor control the committee -► The fund is a donor-advised fund. Yes directly or indirectly? No Is the fund established to provide The Treasury Secretary has the authority to assistance to individuals for travel, -► exempt other committee-advised funds from the study or other similar purposes? No treatment as a donor-advised fund. Unless so exempted, the fund is a donor-advised fund. I Yes Is the donor's advice given solely as a member of the committee? The fund is a donor-advised fund. No Yes Does the community foundation appoint all of the members of the The fund is a donor-advised fund. selection committee? No Yes Has the community foundation's board approved a procedure for The fund is a donor-advised fund. awarding grants on an objective and No nondiscriminatory basis? I Yes The fund is not a donor-advised fund. EFTA00598167