SAVING AND GIVING

Charitable Giving

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) provides a simple and accessible way for your organization and employees to give back.

Simplify Giving with a Donor Advised Fund

DAFs can help companies and employees pursue their philanthropic goals via a simple, streamlined, digital experience. DAFs allow donors to donate cash or other assets, and potentially receive federal income tax benefits for their charitable giving (1). The funds can be invested for potential capital appreciation while the donor recommends how they should be donated. Corporate donors may also offer their employees the opportunity to recommend charities to receive donations.

The Morgan Stanley at Work Charitable Giving Program

Our Charitable Giving offering features two types of DAF accounts—referred to as “giving accounts”— that support both your company’s philanthropic objectives as well as individual employee giving. With low fees and a variety of investment options backed by the knowledge of Morgan Stanley's investing experience, our giving accounts make donor advised funds more accessible to your workforce. We help to break down barriers of entry and simplify the process, so you can empower your organization and employees to pursue their philanthropic goals. (2)

Corporate Giving Account
Corporate clients can open an account and contribute assets, then recommend how to invest the funds, how to grant funds and/or allocate rewards so employees can recommend how funds are used. (3)(4)
Individual Giving Account
Employees of corporate clients will have the opportunity to open their own Individual Giving Account, with a $250 minimum contribution amount, to recommend on how funds are disbursed.

Encouraging Philanthropy in the Workplace

Today’s employees live their values—and they expect their employers to do the same. Workplace charitable giving programs represent effective vehicles to give, grow and do good, helping to benefit companies and employees alike.

71%

of employees globally say societal impact is a strong expectation when considering a job.1 (5)

~$5B

is raised through workplace giving annually. (6)

Let’s Start the Conversation

Connect with us to learn more about how Morgan Stanley at Work may be able to help your business.

If you are an employee looking for help with your account, visit support.

Enabling Organizations and Teams to Do Good

Offering our charitable giving solution to your employee base can provide a variety of potential advantages:

  • Potential recruitment and retention of philanthropic-minded employees.
  • Capital appreciation potential for donated funds. (7)
  • Potential income tax benefits from contributions, as with contributions to any 501(c)(3).
  • Morgan Stanley-created education around charitable gifting.
  • Flexibility and accessibility of charitable gifting.
  • Ability to promote company philanthropic priorities.
  • A DAF program, including gifting and investment capabilities, from an experienced provider  with 20 years of experience.

We’re Here to Help

Our Charitable Giving offering is designed to help make workplace giving simple and seamless.

  1. Resources you need, all in one place.

    Our digital donation portal makes it simple to open a corporate giving account for your organization, or let individual employees open their own—with low account deposit minimums.(8)

  2. Modern user experience.

    The portal allows users to view their account, become familiar with charity details and set up granting preferences intuitively.

  3. Transparency at every step.

    Participants can view their grant history, access income tax information and investment performance overviews and more, all on an accessible digital platform.

  4. Education on giving.

    We provide educational resources to help employees learn about charitable giving, the benefits of donor-advised funds, and how to get started with their giving account.

Insights for a Modern Workplace

Get the latest thinking from our experienced thought leaders. Discover new trends and unique perspectives to motivate your employees and fuel your business.

Disclosures

(1) Employees who recommend donations for their employer’s contributions would not be eligible to receive a federal income tax deduction for such donations. Note that contributions are eligible for a federal income tax deduction only in circumstances where the taxpayer itemizes deductions and that income tax deductions for charitable contributions are subject to certain limitations.

(2) Once funds are deposited into a DAF account, the donated capital is owned by Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. (MS GIFT), the entity that will manage donations to eligible organizations at the request of the donor. The funds are irrevocable once deposited in the account.

(3)  Corporate DAFs have a $100,000 minimum donation and Individual DAFs have a $250 minimum donation. Employees who recommend donations for their employer’s contributions would not be eligible to receive a federal income tax deduction for such donations.

(4) Contributions to individual DAFs are eligible for an income tax deduction only in circumstances where the taxpayer itemizes deductions and that income tax deductions for charitable contributions are subject to certain limitations.

(5)  For Momentum, 2024 Social Impact Stats, https://formomentum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/for-momentum-stats-options-20240503-web.pdf

(6) America’s Charities, 7 Facts About Workplace Giving Effectiveness, https://www.charities.org/7-facts-about-workplace-giving-effectiveness(opens in a new tab)

(7) As with any investments, there is also a potential for capital loss and donor does not own capital appreciation or losses.

(8) Corporate DAFs have a $100,000 minimum donation and Individual DAFs have a $250 minimum donation.

Not all products and services are available in all jurisdictions.​        

The Morgan Stanley at Work Charitable Giving Program leverages the Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. (“MS GIFT, Inc.”), which is an organization described in Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. MS Global Impact Funding Trust (“MS GIFT”) is a donor-advised fund. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC provides investment management and administrative services to MS GIFT.

While we believe that MS GIFT provides a valuable philanthropic opportunity, contributions to MS GIFT are not appropriate for everyone. Other forms of charitable giving may be more appropriate depending on a donor’s specific situation. Of critical importance to any person considering making a donation to MS GIFT is the fact that any such donation is an irrevocable contribution. Although donors will have certain rights to make recommendations to MS GIFT as described in the Donor Circular & Disclosure Statement, contributions become the legal property of MS GIFT when donated.​

Please note that contributions to Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are irrevocable and do not necessarily result in a tax deduction. As contributions become the legal property of the DAF when contributed, the donor does not own profit/losses. show less

The Donor Circular & Disclosure Statement describes the risks, fees and expenses associated with establishing and maintaining an MS GIFT account. Read it carefully before contributing. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their own tax and legal advisors (a) before donating to a Charitable Giving account, and (b) regarding any potential legal, tax, and related consequences of any donations, investments or other transactions made with respect to their donation.

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