What is a Donor-Advised Fund?
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving tool where individuals or families donate cash or assets to a public charity, which then manages the funds and grants them to other qualified charities as recommended by the donor(s) or as directed by the fund’s guidelines.

Tax Advantages of a DAF
Donors can receive an immediate tax deduction for their contribution and can then spread out their giving over time, making it a flexible and potentially tax-smart way to support charitable causes.

CFO & CFL
Community Foundation of the Lake (CFL) is a volunteer organization that acts as an affiliate arm associated with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). CFL works locally with Lake-Area donors and vetted non-profit organizations to provide vital administrative support associated with fund management, grantmaking, and scholarship awards. CFO acts as the “public charity” mentioned in bullet #1. CFL is the local affiliate that helps vet qualified charities within the Lake-Area.

Fund Investment Options
CFO offers four different investment options for your DAF. Performance reports for each investment option can be found in the “Fund Investment Options” section on this page.

Fund Performance
Performance reports for each investment option can be found in the “Fund Investment Options” section on this page.

CFO & Fiducient Advisors
Fiducient Advisors has served as the outsourced Chief Investment Officer for all funds managed by CFO and its affiliates since July 2019.

You can review their 2024 Year-End Review and 2025 Outlook here.

Guiding Principles for Investments
The CFO’s Investment Policy Statement and performance reports for your selected investment option are great resources to dive into the details of how Fiducient and CFO combine to deliver stewardship of your charitable gifts with integrity and purpose.

Earnings and Fees
Investment Management Fees for each Fund Investment Option are as follows:

• Diversified/Growth Pool: 69 basis points

• ESG Aware Pool: 46 basis points

• Balanced Pool: 50 basis points

• Cash: No fee
  

Investment Fund Flexibility
If your fund is eligible for a different investment option, you can change your selection once over a year’s time. You will need to sign a new investment form to begin the investment allocation transfer.

Investment allocation transfers will be made quarterly in January, April, July and October. Your fund would then remain in that investment option for at least one year from the month of transfer. If you request a transfer outside of those months, it would be made the following quarter. For example, a transfer requested in August would be made in October.

If you would like to transfer your investment allocation, please contact your fund steward or email support@cfozarks.org.

Once a new investment form is signed, moving charitable funds from one investment pool to another takes about five business days.

Distributing from a Donor-Advised Fund
Grants or distributions can be requested at any time. Grant checks are processed within three business days of receiving the request.