For Professional Advisors
We are here to work with you and/or your clients to simplify their charitable giving and to deepen their impact through one of our short or long-term fund options.
Getting Started*
We will establish a relationship with your client, working at their pace to move through the following steps:
- We meet with you and/or your client to learn more about your client’s interest in charitable giving.
- We offer advice on various Donor or Community Advised Fund types to help match your client to the fund type that best meets their vision for philanthropy.
- We sign a Deed of Gift (legal agreement) with your client that sets out the fund's name and the roles and responsibilities of the Foundation and the donor.
- Your client makes their initial contribution.
The minimum starting balance to set up a fund ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. Invested funds target a return of 6.5% over time. The expense allocation for invested funds ranges from 1.25% to 1.5%. The expense allocation for short-term (non-invested) funds is determined by the activity of the fund and ranges from 4% - 5%.
*Community and Donor Advised Funds are invested and administered in accordance with the relevant policies of VCF as amended from time to time.
What to Expect
Once a fund has been established, your client will:
- Be invited to create an online fund page and may (if they wish) set up online giving
- Receive periodic statements that include their fund balance, available granting, and a list of donors and grantees for the fund
- Receive occasional communications from VCF about programs, events, impact stories, and more.
An Investment Strategy Focused on People and Planet
Vancity Community Foundation pools and invests the capital of our long-term funds (Donor Designated Funds, Community + Donor Advised Funds and Agency Self-Sustaining Funds) for greater impact:
- 10% of the portfolio is invested directly, without sacrificing financial returns. These investments are mainly in the Affordable Community Housing Accelerator Fund, which supports the creation of climate-ready community-owned affordable rental housing by working with not-for-profit, co-operative and Indigenous organizations to fund affordable housing development projects.
- Approximately 90% of the capital is invested in socially responsible investments with Vancity Investment Management (VCIM). Socially responsible investments screen out harmful practices and industries, including fossil fuels. VCIM invests in responsible, progressive companies with competitive growth potential. Once a company is selected, it is actively monitored for its environmental, social and governance (ESG) progress. In areas where companies can do better, VCIM actively uses shareholder advocacy and resolution processes to encourage companies to continually improve their practices. Working with VCIM allows us to make a difference through our investments. You can read more about the difference that we make with VCIM through their impact stories and shareholder advocacy reports.
For information about investment performance, visit By the Numbers.
How We Can Help
The Philanthropy team is available to support your client with:
- Charitable giving knowledge: We are available to support your client with creating a giving strategy that meets their unique needs and interests.
- Knowledge of the charitable and non-profit sector: Over time, and through our relationship with Vancity credit union, we’ve developed deep community connections, grassroots knowledge, and awareness of a broad range of charities. VCF is uniquely positioned to offer advice and support to your clients to identify opportunities to support charities. We are especially keen to work with donors interested addressing affordability and climate change and/or to support Black, Indigenous, and other equity denied communities.
- Flexible ways to give: Your clients can donate online or give in various ways, including through appreciated securities, life insurance, and beneficiary designations or bequest gifts in their will.
- Planned Giving: Your client may choose to give after their lifetime, by establishing a Legacy Fund, or they may choose to leave a gift in their will to a fund that has been activated during their lifetime.
- Ease of Administration: We take care of the details: Setting up a Donor Advised Fund is an alternative to a private foundation. We take care of all the investment, accounting, and reporting responsibilities and issue charitable tax receipts. This allows your clients to focus on supporting charities through their annual grant recommendations.
- We provide the tax receipts: While your client’s fund may support multiple charities, your client only receives tax receipts for contributions into their fund. For many clients this simplifies tax time, as there are fewer receipts to administer.
For more information or to make a client referral, please contact:
Terran Bell
Manager, Donor Relations
terran_bell@vancity.com
604-877-6584