In our seventh Family Philanthropy Series session, we learned about the work Greater Twin Cities United Way does to drive innovative and equitable strategies for responding to homelessness and housing instability, and how community members can get involved in driving change through a Donor Infusion Fund (DIF).
Jay Wagner, Senior Program Officer on the holistic grantmaking team, started us off with an intriguing question: “What does stable housing mean to you?” A variety of responses were shared by our audience in the chat, including safety, security, predictability and a sense of community among neighbors.
Our vision is that homelessness is prevented whenever possible and to ensure that when and if it does occur, it’s rare, brief and nonrecurring. We work toward this vision by investing deeply and broadly in seven key areas to address urgent needs and create lasting change:
One of the most efficient and impactful ways to support our vision is through a Donor Infusion Fund (DIF). Mala Thao, Vice President of Donor Diversification and Advancement Strategies, shared similarities and differences between a DIF and a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
We were honored to be joined by Lynne Harrington, supporter and former board member at Greater Twin Cities United Way. She shared her personal experience with a DIF, “putting [our money] in the Donor Infusion Fund helped smooth out our tax issue, but also allowed United Way to put that money to work in the community right away — in a meaningful way”, she stated.
The session concluded with a case study that shed light on a common scenario involving tax burdens associated with family inheritance. It demonstrated how directing funds through a Donor Infusion Fund can be a flexible strategy to maximize your philanthropic goals while having an impact in community today, tomorrow and in years to come.
Watch the recording to learn more:
It’s our goal to provide valuable learning opportunities to our donors and our community, including through Family Philanthropy Series virtual learning sessions. See the full Family Philanthropy Series playlist.
When you include a gift as part of your overall estate and financial planning, you ensure we make meaningful strides toward achieving our vision. Visit gtcuwlegacy.org to learn more.
