Understanding Foundations, DAFs, And Other Forms of Philanthropy

Presented by: Don Kramer, Editor and Publisher, Nonprofit Issues 

Moderated by: Tish Mogan, Standards for Excellence Director, PANO

If you are a donor, a grant-seeker, a philanthropic manager, or a professional adviser to anyone in these roles, you need to know the rules that distinguish various philanthropic structures. This webinar will focus on private foundations and their special requirements, but will compare private foundations with donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and other forms of charitable activity.

This 90-minute session will cover:

• The 2% excise tax on investment income
• Self-dealing (compared to excess benefits)
• Minimum distribution requirement
• Excess business holdings
• Jeopardy investments and socially responsible investments
• Taxable expenditures, including the limitations on lobbying
• Relevant tax information returns and what one can learn from their disclosures 
• Termination of a private foundation or a donor-advised fund
• Why many "conversion foundations" formed from the sale of charitable hospitals elected to become community foundations to avoid the limitations on lobbying
• Private foundation rules not only from the perspective of private foundation managers seeking to comply, but also from the perspective of grant-seekers looking to fit their projects within the limitations of a private foundation's program
• Alternate means for charitable activity, including the Chan Zuckerberg limited liability company, the gift of the Philadelphia Inquirer to The Philadelphia Foundation, and how the Newman's Own Foundation resolved its excess business holdings dilemma