Donor-Advised Funds
Your Generosity Simplified and Elevated
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a simple and flexible way many families organize their giving so they can give thoughtfully, consistently, and with purpose. The Great Commission Donor Advised Fund (GCDAF) from Cru Foundation is a convenient, a centralized way to organize your giving — freeing you to focus on the joy of generosity rather than the burden of administration.
With a GCDAF, you manage your giving decisions separately from your tax obligations, creating space for prayerful, intentional stewardship. Contribute cash, appreciated stock, real estate, or other assets. Receive your tax deduction immediately. Then direct grants to the ministries and charities you love — on your timeline, with full flexibility.
Since 1972, Cru Foundation has helped families across the nation steward more than $2.9 billion of God’s resources. We bring the same trusted guidance — rooted in biblical values — to every GCDAF account we serve.
Is a Donor-Advised Fund Right for You?
A donor-advised fund is an excellent fit for families who:
- Give regularly to multiple organizations and want to simplify the process into one account
- Hold appreciated assets — stock, real estate, or cryptocurrency — and want to give more without triggering capital gains taxes
- Experience income variability — a high-earning year creates an opportunity to make a large, deductible contribution now and distribute grants over time
- Want to give as a family— the GCDAF makes it easy to involve your children and grandchildren in giving decisions, passing on a legacy of stewardship
- Care deeply about where their money goes— and want an account managed by advisors who share their biblical values and Kingdom priorities
- Give to multiple ministries and organizations — and want to eliminate the year-end scramble of collecting receipts and reconciling contributions
If any of these describe your family, the Great Commission Donor Advised Fund may be one of the most impactful stewardship decisions you make this year.
Not sure yet? Our team is here to help you explore your options.
Exploring the Great Commission Donor Advised Fund? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
As you think about how to steward what God has entrusted to you, questions like this are rarely just financial.
A donor-advised fund can be a helpful tool, but the more important question is how it fits into your broader calling as a steward.
If it would be helpful to talk it through, our team is here to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and help you explore what makes sense for your situation.
Start a conversation by filling out the form.
Start A Conversation
Open a Fund Account
Discover an easy, flexible way to expand your impact and simplify your giving.
Apply
Complete our secure online application to get started. Most accounts are open within one business day.
Contribute
Donate cash, stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, or even a portion of your business — and receive an immediate tax receipt for the full fair-market value of your contribution.
Disburse
Use your online account to recommend grants anytime, to any IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organization — Cru ministries, your church, or any other charitable cause the Lord leads you to support.
Immediate Income Tax Deduction
You can receive a tax-deductible receipt in the year you contribute, regardless of when you disburse the funds. This flexibility can allow you to 'bunch' multiple years of charitable giving into a single high-deduction year, potentially exceeding the standard deduction threshold and helping you steward the tax implications of your giving more intentionally.
No Administrative Fees
Cru Foundation charges no administrative fees, annual service fees, or account balance fees. Your gifts go further. We also offer low-cost investment options so your fund can grow while you decide where to give. Learn more about our investment options here.
Investment Options
You advise how contributions are invested across six distinct investment profile options — from conservative to growth-oriented. Your fund can grow tax-free while you prayerfully consider where to direct your grants.
Simplicity
Consolidate your giving into a single, user-friendly online account. Log in anytime to view your statement, track contributions, review your grant history, and recommend new grants — all without the year-end scramble of collecting individual receipts from a dozen different organizations.
Flexibility
You advise the amount and timing of every grant distribution — to Cru, your church, or any qualified charitable organization of your choosing. You may also grant anonymously when the situation calls for it.
At Your Service
You'll receive personalized attention from Cru Foundation specialists who share your Christian values and are committed to helping you reach your stewardship goals. Learn more about our team.
No Minimum Balance
There is no minimum required in the fund, and no minimum required to be distributed throughout the year. Open your account and give at whatever pace fits your family's calling.
Shared Values
You'll have peace of mind knowing your gifts are manage by specialists who share your biblical values and understand the Kingdom purposes behind your generosity. This isn't a secular financial account. It's a stewardship tool built for the Great Commission.
Grant-Making Freedom
There are no required grants to Cru. You have full freedom to recommend grants wherever the Lord leads — to the local church, international missions, relief work, or any other qualified ministry.
One Family's GCDAF Testimony
For the Norlings, their Great Commission Donor-Advised Fund is a powerful tool that helps them simplify their giving and live out their Christian values — generation after generation.
Use a GCDAF to rev up your strategic stewardship and accumulate gospel presentations.
3.3 gospel presentations per second through Cru. Your donor-advised fund can help make every one count.
How a Donor-Advised Fund Accelerates Your Giving Goals
A donor-advised fund isn’t just a tax tool. It’s a giving strategy. With a GCDAF, you can make a substantial contribution during a high-income year, take the deduction in the year of the contribution, and then thoughtfully distribute grants over months or years as the Spirit leads.
This separation of “giving” from “granting” gives your family the room to be deliberate. You can respond to time-sensitive opportunities without rushing your decision-making. You can plan generational giving together as a family. And you can do all of it through one account, with one team, guided by one mission.
By utilizing the GCDAF with Cru Foundation, you can rest assured your generosity is growing strategically. Take it a step further and work with our Estate Design team to build a giving strategy aligned with your long-term legacy goals.
Join us today in making an eternal impact as we help people discover and grow in the grace of Jesus Christ — through strategic, generous, Kingdom-focused giving.
Donor-Advised Fund vs. Writing Checks: What's the Difference?
If you’re currently giving by writing checks or using a credit card, here’s how the GCDAF changes the experience:
- Tax receipt
- Tax timing
- Appreciated assets
- Year-end admin
- Giving flexibility
- Family giving
- Advisor relationship
- Investment growth
Writing Checks / Direct Giving
- One receipt per organization, per gift
- Deduction only when you give to the charity
- Must sell first, pay capital gains, then give cash
- Collecting receipts from every organization
- Give when you have the money and the decision made
- Typically one person manages it
- None
- Funds leave your account immediately
Great Commission Donor Advised Fund
- Single receipt for all contributions in a year
- Deduction in the year you fund the account, even if grants go out later
- Contribute assets directly, which can help you avoid capital gains and receive a fair-market deduction
- One statement, one account, one place
- Fund now, decide later — no rush
- Shared account that can involve your whole family
- Personalized guidance from advisors who share your values
- Contributions can grow tax-free until you recommend grants
More Stories from People Like You
A Christian Approach to Donor-Advised Funds
Most donor-advised funds are financial products. The Great Commission Donor Advised Fund is something different: it’s a stewardship tool designed for families who believe that everything they have ultimately belongs to God.
That distinction changes everything about how the account is run.
At Cru Foundation, we start from the conviction that generosity isn’t a transaction. It’s a discipleship practice. The GCDAF is designed to support that journey. Our advisors are ministry-minded. Our investment options are carefully selected. There is freedom built into every account — no required grants to Cru, no minimum balances, no administrative fees. That reflects our belief that you are the steward, and we are here to serve you.
The biblical principle of stewardship runs throughout everything we do. When you open a GCDAF, you’re not just opening a giving account — you’re trading the burden of ownership for the freedom of stewardship, and positioning your family to make a generational impact for the Kingdom of God.
What sets a faith-based
donor-advised fund apart:
- Shared values — our specialists understand the Great Commission and the spiritual dimensions of giving, not just the financial mechanics
- Kingdom-oriented guidance — We help you think through giving strategy in light of eternity, not just tax efficiency
- No competing agenda — Fidelity Charitable, Schwab, and Vanguard are financial institutions. Cru Foundation is a ministry.
- A giving community — You’re joining thousands of families across the country who have made the GCDAF the center of their generosity — and who are collectively sending the gospel to the ends of the earth
Why Give Stock or Assets Instead of Cash?
When you give appreciated assets — stock, mutual funds, real estate, or business interests — directly to your Great Commission Donor Advised Fund, you can avoid capital gains taxes and may receive a tax deduction for the full fair-market value.
Example: If you purchased stock for $10,000 that is now worth $50,000, a direct gift to your GCDAF means:
- Can help you avoid capital gains tax on the $40,000 appreciation
- A potential deduction of the full $50,000 fair-market value
- Your favorite ministries can receive the full asset value, not a reduced, post-tax amount
This example is hypothetical and for educational purposes only. It does not constitute tax or financial advice. Actual tax benefits depend on your individual circumstances. Please consult your professional advisor.
This strategy is one of the most effective ways to significantly increase your generosity without increasing your out-of-pocket cost. Our team can walk you through the process for gifts of stock, mutual funds, real estate, cryptocurrency, or other appreciated assets.
How to Set Up a Donor-Advised Fund with Cru Foundation
Opening a Great Commission Donor Advised Fund takes less than 15 minutes. Here’s what to expect:
Complete the Online Application
Visit our secure application page and fill out your account information. You'll designate your account name (many families use a family name, like "The Johnson Family Fund") and select your initial investment profile.
Make Your First Contribution
Fund your account with cash (check, wire transfer, or online bill pay), appreciated stock or mutual funds, cryptocurrency, or other accepted assets. You can receive a tax-deductible receipt in the year of your contribution.
Choose How Your Fund is Invested
Select from six investment profile options to determine how your contributions grow while in the fund.
Recommend Your First Grant
Log in to your online account and recommend a grant to any IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organization. There's no minimum grant amount and no deadline — give at whatever pace reflects your prayerful discernment.
Questions?
Our team is here to help. Contact us at
Address
100 Lake Hart Drive, #3600 Orlando, FL 32832
Contact
- Phone (800) 449-5454
- Fax (407) 541-5106
- hello@crufoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions About Donor-Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows you to make a tax-deductible contribution, invest those funds for potential growth, and recommend grants to qualified charities over time. Think of it as a dedicated giving account: you contribute when it makes financial sense, and you distribute when the time is right. The Great Commission Donor Advised Fund from Cru Foundation is designed specifically for Christian families who want to align their giving with Kingdom purposes.
You open an account, make a contribution of cash or assets, and receive an immediate tax deduction. The funds are held in your account — where they can be invested and grow — until you recommend grants to the charitable organizations you want to support. You control the timing and destination of every grant, with no annual distribution requirements.
When you contribute to a donor-advised fund, you can receive a charitable tax deduction in the year of the contribution, even if you don’t distribute the funds until a later year. Contributions of appreciated assets (stock, real estate, cryptocurrency) may be deductible at full fair-market value, and you can avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. This combination of a potential upfront deduction and reduced capital gains liability can make a DAF one of the most tax-efficient giving vehicles available.
Contributions to a donor-advised fund are irrevocable — once made, they must be used for charitable purposes. Grants may only be recommended to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities; they cannot benefit the account holder directly or be used for personal expenses. The account holder has advisory privileges over grant recommendations, which the sponsoring organization (Cru Foundation) formally approves. There is no annual distribution requirement, though consistent grant activity is encouraged.
The GCDAF accepts: cash (check, wire transfer, online bill pay), publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), cryptocurrency, real estate, closely-held business interests, and other illiquid assets. Gifts of appreciated assets are particularly powerful because they can help eliminate capital gains taxes while preserving the potential deduction.
Yes — as long as your church is registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity (most congregations are), you can recommend grants to it from your GCDAF account. Many Cru Foundation account holders use their funds to give to their local church, Cru ministries, international missions organizations, and other charitable causes they care about.
Most donor-advised funds are managed by secular financial institutions with no shared faith perspective. The Great Commission Donor Advised Fund is administered by Cru Foundation — a ministry of Cru — by a team of specialists who share your Christian values and understand the biblical call to stewardship. There are no required grants to Cru, no administrative fees, and no minimum balance. Your giving is guided by people who believe, as you do, that everything we have belongs to God.
Complete the secure online application on our website. Most accounts are open within one business day. Once your account is open, you can make your first contribution and begin recommending grants immediately. Our team is available at (800) 449-5454 or info@crufoundation.org to help you get started.
How to Make GCDAF Contributions
Gifts of appreciated stock and mutual funds are one of the most powerful ways to fund your GCDAF. By donating shares directly — rather than selling first and giving cash — you can avoid capital gains taxes and may receive a deduction for the full fair-market value. Our team will guide you through the transfer process.
If you have any questions about non-cash contributions into a GCDAF, please email us at info@crufoundation.org or call us at (800) 449-5454.
Learn More About
Looking to support a specific ministry of Cru long term?
Discover Endurance Funds.
An Endurance Fund allows you to make a single gift that generates ongoing support for a specific Cru staff member or ministry — year after year
Looking for a gift that generates income?
Explore Charitable Gift Annuities.
A Charitable Gift Annuity from Cru Foundation allows you to make a generous gift while receiving fixed income payments for life — a powerful way to give and receive.
Use a GCDAF to rev up your strategic stewardship and accumulate gospel presentations.
3.3 gospel presentations per second through Cru. Your donor-advised fund can help make every one count.
How a Donor-Advised Fund Accelerates Your Giving Goals
A donor-advised fund isn’t just a tax tool. It’s a giving strategy. With a GCDAF, you can make a substantial contribution during a high-income year, take the deduction in the year of the contribution, and then thoughtfully distribute grants over months or years as the Spirit leads.
This separation of “giving” from “granting” gives your family the room to be deliberate. You can respond to time-sensitive opportunities without rushing your decision-making. You can plan generational giving together as a family. And you can do all of it through one account, with one team, guided by one mission.
By utilizing the GCDAF with Cru Foundation, you can rest assured your generosity is growing strategically. Take it a step further and work with our Estate Design team to build a giving strategy aligned with your long-term legacy goals.
Join us today in making an eternal impact as we help people discover and grow in the grace of Jesus Christ — through strategic, generous, Kingdom-focused giving.
Donor-Advised Fund vs. Writing Checks: What's the Difference?
If you’re currently giving by writing checks or using a credit card, here’s how the GCDAF changes the experience:
Writing Checks / Direct Giving
Great Commission
Donor-Advised Fund
- Tax receipt
- Tax timing
- Appreciated assets
- Year-end admin
- Giving flexibility
- Family giving
- Advisor relationship
- Investment growth
- One receipt per organization, per gift
- Deduction only when you give to the charity
- Must sell first, pay capital gains, then give cash
- Collecting receipts from every organization
- Give when you have the money and the decision made
- Typically one person manages it
- None
- Funds leave your account immediately
- One receipt per organization, per gift
- Deduction only when you give to the charity
- Must sell first, pay capital gains, then give cash
- Collecting receipts from every organization
- Give when you have the money and the decision made
- Typically one person manages it
- None
- Funds leave your account immediately