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Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

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3. The fund is “donor advised” in the sense that the public charity has agreed<br />

to take into account input from the donor or persons designated by the<br />

donor regarding distributions. However, the agreement with the donor<br />

states that these suggestions are not legally binding on the public charity<br />

which retains ultimate discretion regarding the fund, provided that all of<br />

the fund's assets are used for its exempt charitable purposes.<br />

B. Restrictions on Activities. Like private foundations, a donor advised fund is<br />

subject to a number of rules and requirements to prevent certain abuses. A<br />

violation of these rules results in the imposition of stiff excise taxes.<br />

1. Taxable Distributions. A penalty tax is imposed on any taxable<br />

distribution, which would include (1) a distribution to an individual, or (2)<br />

a distribution to an organization for a non-charitable purpose. IRC<br />

§ 4966(c).<br />

2. Prohibited Benefits. A tax is imposed on any distribution that results in a<br />

benefit to the donor, a member of the donor’s family, or a 35% controlled<br />

entity of the donor or the donor’s family. IRC § 4967(a)(1).<br />

3. Excess Benefits Transactions. An excess benefit transaction includes any<br />

“grant, loan, compensation, or other similar payment from a fund to a<br />

disqualified person.” IRC § 4958(c)(2). A disqualified person includes the<br />

donor and the donor advised fund advisors (with attribution). IRC<br />

§ 4958(1)(E).<br />

4. Excess Business Holdings. To prevent past perceived abuses, a donor<br />

advised fund is generally not permitted to own “more than 20% of a<br />

corporation’s voting stock, less the percentage owned by all “disqualified<br />

persons.” See I.R.C. 4943. For this purpose a donor advised fund includes<br />

the donor advisors on that fund and the donor, the donor’s family, and a<br />

35% entity controlled by one of those previously listed.<br />

C. Tax Treatment of Contributions.<br />

1. General Rule. Contributions to a donor advised fund are subject to a 50%<br />

AGI ceiling for cash gifts (and a 30% ceiling for other property gifts) on<br />

contributions since it is considered a public charity.<br />

2. Nature of Gift.<br />

a. Cash. The full amount qualifies, subject to 50% of AGI ceiling.<br />

b. Stock and real estate. Appreciated long-term stock and real<br />

estate are deductible at their fair market value up to 30% of AGI.<br />

22

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