Transferring a Private Foundation

Private foundations can be a powerful way for an individual or family to create a philanthropic legacy. However, for some people the management of a private foundation (hiring staff and investment managers, running a grant making program, fulfilling legal/reporting requirements) becomes unmanageable.

For those who want to experience the joy of making a difference while retaining their ability to recommend charitable grants and leave a named legacy, a private foundation transfer to a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation could be the answer.

The chart below compares and contrasts a private foundation with the donor advised fund alternative.

Donor Advised Fund at Community Foundation vs. Private Foundation

Next Steps

If you are interested in transferring your private foundation to a donor advised fund, below are the primary required steps. You or your advisors are encouraged to call us with questions.

1. Board Approval
   Once the Community Foundation consents to accepting a transfer of your private foundation assets, your governing board can approve the transfer to a donor advised fund according to the provision of your governing documents (i.e., bylaws, articles of incorporation and/or declaration of trust) and applicable state law.
2. Fund Set Up
   You create a donor advised fund by completing a fund agreement (template provided by Community Foundation) in which you name the fund and name current advisors and successor advisors.
3. Manage Your Liabilities
   Pay private foundation’s outstanding taxes, grants, debts, etc. before transferring assets to Community Foundation. Create a reserve for any other anticipated expenses. Once assets are transferred to a donor advised fund, they can be granted to charitable projects and organizations but they cannot be used to cover the private foundation’s past expenses and obligations.
4. Corporate or Trust Dissolution
   Once the transfer to the community foundation is approved by the board, the fund is set up with the community foundation and liabilities managed – but before transfer of assets – if the private foundation is a nonprofit corporation then it should file a corporate dissolution with the Secretary of State or other applicable staff office depending on the state. If the private foundation is a trust, then a local court of appropriate jurisdiction should approve the dissolution of the trust and transfer to the community foundation.
5. Asset Transfer
   The Community Foundation is a public charity, so it can receive a donation of the private foundation’s assets by simply writing a check. The donor advised fund can also accept gifts of stock, mutual funds, personal property and more.
6. Final Tax Filing
   The final 990-PF is filed reporting the dissolution of the private foundation, attaching a copy of the court order (if trust) or dissolution document (if nonprofit corporation) as well as the new donor advised fund agreement with the Community Foundation. Schedule O may be used to explain the timing and other details of the dissolution and transfer.

IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP NOTE: If the private foundation operated a scholarship fund that it wants the Community Foundation to continue in addition to other charitable grant making, then the Community Foundation would have to separate assets transferred for the scholarship fund from assets transferred for the donor advised fund, and a separate scholarship fund agreement made. Donor advised funds cannot award scholarships.