Tina Podlodowski is a board member of the Jefferson Community Foundation. Each month, Tina will be sharing some of the different ways a that a Community Foundation works to build resilience and bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities and play a key role in identifying and solving community problems.
It’s my honor to be the newest member of the Board of the Jefferson Community Foundation, and to “walk the talk” in investing in our county as a JCF Community Builder and DAF fund-holder. (More on DAFs below, and why you should start one at JCF!)
I’m a long-time Marrowstone Island resident (and part of the founding team that revitalized the Nordland General Store!) and have had a fortunate life as a executive at both technology and communications companies, a nonprofit executive director, a local elected official, an advocacy and electoral leader, and a mom to three kids and two dogs. (Well behaved kids, but badly behaved but lovable dogs.)
I believes that JCF is uniquely positioned to give voice and resources to the people making positive change in Jefferson County through our individual, organizational, and community based efforts. Given the uncertainty in our nation, JCF is needed now more than ever! It’s our 20th anniversary year, and we have invested over $10 Million into the universe of 132 non-profit organizations in our county? Name an organization or cause near and dear to your heart, or desperately needed by JeffCo resident and the Jefferson Community Foundation has been there to help!
The core of our giving lies in donor advised funds or DAFs.
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account where donors contribute assets (this can be cash, stocks, real estate, even art and cars!), receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to nonprofits immediately, annually or over time. The sponsoring organization manages the funds, allowing donors to support causes flexibly while investments grow tax-free, allowing for even MORE giving year after year. And, or course, donors can add to those DAFs any time.
But there is a huge difference between where the management FEES for DAFs go at for-profit institutions like Fidelity, Schwab or Vanguard. Unlike a community foundation, like JCF, where your fees go back into the community, DAFs at for-profit financial institutions like Fidelity Charitable are managed by national sponsors who primarily focus on investment growth at whatever cost to maximize fees that go to THEIR bottom line. These sponsors offer less personalized service and flexibility regarding donor intent, especially after the donor’s death, compared to community foundations.
In contrast, community foundations are nonprofit organizations rooted in specific regions, offering more tailored support, flexibility, and oversight to ensure grants align with a donor’s charitable wishes and local needs, including multi-generational management and honoring legacy intentions the better or similar investment outcomes at the for-profits.
As of 2025, DAFs in the United States collectively hold about $251.5 billion in assets. Of this, less than 15% is held by community foundations like JCF. Can you imagine the POWER those for-profit fee dollars could infuse into our town and counties if all those dollars were held at community foundations? Time to do a little math…most for-profits charge both administrative and investments in the range of 1.5 to 2.5% annually, or with every transaction. I’ll let you figure out that dollar amount!
It’s one reason why I’m so proud to be a part of the work of JCF, why our family has a DAF at JCF, why we do our charitable giving through JCF, AND why we include JCF in our wills as a legacy for the future of Jefferson County.
Will you join me in our 20th Anniversary year with starting a DAF of your own, transferring a DAF from a “for-profit” financial institution, and/or including JCF in your will through our planned giving program? You’ll be funding the heart of our mission for now, and the future by doing so: connecting diverse people, ideas and resources to build a future of opportunity for all in Jefferson County. We serve as hub for our community to GIVE donations informed with local knowledge & strategy, BUILD strong and collaborative nonprofits, and SOLVE regional issues by working together on solutions.
