FundSvcs Community

Hi - Looking to see if others have had a recent experience with Fidelity Charitable.  We have a donor who recommended a grant to the wrong fund.  The fundraiser doesn't want to have the donor go back to Fidelity to issue a changed letter so asked me to reach out to them.  Since Fidelity is the legal donor, we err on needing a letter from Fidelity okaying the change of the designation of the gift.  A practice that was in place at many institutions I worked at.  I call anyways doing my due diligence and was told that we legally don't have to abide by the designation Fidelity gives us when it submits grants and so I followed up in writing and was told the same thing.  Do other institutions not adhere by the designation that is sent by the DAFs without any sort of followup? See below: 

Hello Alayna,

Thank you for contacting the Fidelity Giving Marketplace!

Yes, that is correct!

Regards,

Keita

Fidelity Giving Marketplace Charity Support

Email: CharitySupport@Fidelity.com

  #REFA674013#

To enroll or learn more, visit givingmarketplace.com

Also, be sure to check out our FAQs and help videos

From: Brinkley, Alayna <Alayna.Brinkley@chtrust.org>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 11:02 AM
To: Fidelity Charity Support <CharitySupport@fidelity.com>
Subject: Donor Designation

NOTICE: This email is from an external sender - do not click on links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello,

I'm writing from Boston Children's Hospital around a donor DAF situation.  I called last week and spoke to someone at your 800 number who indicated information I need confirmed.  Fidelity sent us a grant recommended by the (Donor Name) for a particular fund.  When I called to say that I have documentation from the (Donor Name) to put the gift to a different fund and would that suffice to have Fidelity create a letter changing the designation, I was told that once we receive the money we don't have to legally honor the designation sent by Fidelity and can put it where we want.  Is that accurate? 

Thanks,

Alayna

Alayna Brinkley she/her/hers
Director, Gift Services
w: 617.355.8868 |  Boston Children's Hospital Trust

Boston Children's Hospital

Where the world comes for answers.

Hi Alayna - 

This has also been our policy to ask donors to ask for a new letter from Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard to change the designation of their gift. Have you had any interaction with other DAF's to confirm their policies? Super helpful to know this for our institution going forward. 

Wendy 

Hi - Looking to see if others have had a recent experience with Fidelity Charitable.  We have a donor who recommended a grant to the wrong fund.  The fundraiser doesn't want to have the donor go back to Fidelity to issue a changed letter so asked me to reach out to them.  Since Fidelity is the legal donor, we err on needing a letter from Fidelity okaying the change of the designation of the gift.  A practice that was in place at many institutions I worked at.  I call anyways doing my due diligence and was told that we legally don't have to abide by the designation Fidelity gives us when it submits grants and so I followed up in writing and was told the same thing.  Do other institutions not adhere by the designation that is sent by the DAFs without any sort of followup? See below: 

Hello Alayna,

Thank you for contacting the Fidelity Giving Marketplace!

Yes, that is correct!

Regards,

Keita

Fidelity Giving Marketplace Charity Support

Email: CharitySupport@Fidelity.com

  #REFA674013#

To enroll or learn more, visit givingmarketplace.com

Also, be sure to check out our FAQs and help videos

From: Brinkley, Alayna <Alayna.Brinkley@chtrust.org>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 11:02 AM
To: Fidelity Charity Support <CharitySupport@fidelity.com>
Subject: Donor Designation

NOTICE: This email is from an external sender - do not click on links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello,

I'm writing from Boston Children's Hospital around a donor DAF situation.  I called last week and spoke to someone at your 800 number who indicated information I need confirmed.  Fidelity sent us a grant recommended by the (Donor Name) for a particular fund.  When I called to say that I have documentation from the (Donor Name) to put the gift to a different fund and would that suffice to have Fidelity create a letter changing the designation, I was told that once we receive the money we don't have to legally honor the designation sent by Fidelity and can put it where we want.  Is that accurate? 

Thanks,

Alayna

Alayna Brinkley she/her/hers
Director, Gift Services
w: 617.355.8868 |  Boston Children's Hospital Trust

Boston Children's Hospital

Where the world comes for answers.