FundSvcs Community

Hi everyone,

If our institution received a check that is directed to general operating support, but there is a fundraising need to increase an endowment, what things do we need to take into consideration if the Advancement lead wants those funds redirected?  Since the donor advised the organization to make a donation to our institution, would the Advancement leader be able talk to the donor to ask for the gift to be redirected, or is there a complication, and they would also need the organization who sent the funds to be contacted as well?

Appreciate any insight.

Hi everyone,

If our institution received a check that is directed to general operating support, but there is a fundraising need to increase an endowment, what things do we need to take into consideration if the Advancement lead wants those funds redirected?  Since the donor advised the organization to make a donation to our institution, would the Advancement leader be able talk to the donor to ask for the gift to be redirected, or is there a complication, and they would also need the organization who sent the funds to be contacted as well?

Appreciate any insight.

Hi there!  Hoping to pick up this thread from about a month ago.  When I try to explain that the DAF - the legal donor - must be the entity to decide or approve a change to a designation on a gift received from them (the DAF), I'm being told that when the DAF is a larger entity such as a Fidelity or Morgan Stanley, that the DAF is so large they can't possibly respond at such a granular level and be expected to approve or authorize such a change. It has even been suggested to me that the DAF doesn't really "care" where the money goes.  I am being told that the donor who requested the DAF can speak into a change. I disagree, but am curious if anyone has experience with reaching out to, say a Fidelity, for approvals on changes in designations? What was that experience like? If you try enough times unsuccessfully, is that sufficient grounds to move ahead with the change anyway as long as you document your efforts to gain approval from the DAF? Thanks much!

Hi everyone,

If our institution received a check that is directed to general operating support, but there is a fundraising need to increase an endowment, what things do we need to take into consideration if the Advancement lead wants those funds redirected?  Since the donor advised the organization to make a donation to our institution, would the Advancement leader be able talk to the donor to ask for the gift to be redirected, or is there a complication, and they would also need the organization who sent the funds to be contacted as well?

Appreciate any insight.

Hi there!  Hoping to pick up this thread from about a month ago.  When I try to explain that the DAF - the legal donor - must be the entity to decide or approve a change to a designation on a gift received from them (the DAF), I'm being told that when the DAF is a larger entity such as a Fidelity or Morgan Stanley, that the DAF is so large they can't possibly respond at such a granular level and be expected to approve or authorize such a change. It has even been suggested to me that the DAF doesn't really "care" where the money goes.  I am being told that the donor who requested the DAF can speak into a change. I disagree, but am curious if anyone has experience with reaching out to, say a Fidelity, for approvals on changes in designations? What was that experience like? If you try enough times unsuccessfully, is that sufficient grounds to move ahead with the change anyway as long as you document your efforts to gain approval from the DAF? Thanks much!

Hi everyone,

If our institution received a check that is directed to general operating support, but there is a fundraising need to increase an endowment, what things do we need to take into consideration if the Advancement lead wants those funds redirected?  Since the donor advised the organization to make a donation to our institution, would the Advancement leader be able talk to the donor to ask for the gift to be redirected, or is there a complication, and they would also need the organization who sent the funds to be contacted as well?

Appreciate any insight.