Guidelines for Donor-Advised Funds
at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

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Help Protect Iowa's Natural Resources by
Creating a Donor Advised Fund

Donor-advised funds are usually created when a donor wishes to contribute a large amount in a single year, to be disbursed to conservation projects over one or more years in the future. The donor also may want INHF staff to help them identify projects worthy of support which match the donor's personal interests.

INHF donor-advised funds must match INHF's mission and goals. Supported projects must be related to conservation or natural resource protection, and they should be focused on Iowa or its adjoining watersheds or viewsheds. Before the fund is created the donor outlines the fund's purpose, including any geographic restrictions or specific types of projects to be supported (i.e. trails, wetlands, water quality, environmental education).

All funds are disbursed at the discretion of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Once or twice each year the donor may recommend projects to support through the fund, but contribution decisions are made exclusively by the INHF board of directors.

To establish a donor-advised fund, a gift valued at $25,000 or more is required. The donor may make additional contributions to the fund over time. Disbursements from the fund must be $500 or more.

The donor-advised fund is established for the life of the donor or a named successor, or for a specific number of years.

The donor can choose whether a gift from the fund is given in the INHF name alone (providing anonymity for the donor), or credited to the fund and its donor along with INHF.

INHF and the donor sign a letter agreement when the donor-advised fund is created. The letter agreement outlines all the terms described above, plus any terms or restrictions unique to that fund.

Those interested in knowing more about the Gunderson Family Fund or how to establish a donor-advised fund for conservation you may contact Anita O'Gara, INHF Director of Development, or call her at (800) 475-1846.