A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable giving vehicle that allows individuals, families and organizations to make tax-deductible contributions to a fund managed by a charitable organization. As a Fund Advisor to your Donor Advised Fund, you receive tax benefits for the same year you donate while planning, giving and facilitating grants to registered charities that match your vision for meaningful impact.
For over 20 years, MakeWay has been home to hundreds of advised funds. Our unique approach to philanthropy enables nimble, transformative giving, amplifying community-led solutions through flexible tools.
Support community-led initiatives with lasting impact
Break down systemic barriers in philanthropy
Foster innovative solutions for people and the planet
“Through the fund, we have been able to move from concept and vision to action on initiatives that are crucial to Gitanyow. The fund is set up so that the community advisors talk about our activities from year to year, but it’s not a burdensome proposal-driven process. It just shows a great trust that we’re going to do this work and it’s much less paternalistic than other types of funding.”
– Tara Marsden, Gitanyow Wilp Sustainability Fund (Advised Fund at MakeWay)
Partnering with MakeWay isn’t just a transaction; we provide personalized philanthropic advisory services to every Fund Advisor we collaborate with.
All new funds are aligned with one or more of our organizational priority areas, giving funder partners access to MakeWay’s deep relationship-based networks and experience.
We believe all investments should generate social and environmental returns. That’s why our fossil-fuel-free investment portfolio includes the ImpactDAF—Canada’s first customizable donor advised fund 100% invested for impact.
We create shared learning opportunities for our funder partners to grow philanthropy’s impact. From workshops to collaborative forums, we’re fostering meaningful connections between donors and communities.
Shift more power to community with community advised funds
Aim to reach a 5% minimum disbursement rate for all advised funds, increasing that rate year over year
Provide strategic philanthropic support for fund partners to increase flexible funding
Heighten transparency around purpose, value, disbursements, and investments of advised funds
Provide peer learning opportunities for fund partners
MakeWay is the only Donor Advised Fund in Canada with integrated philanthropic advisory services included in your fund’s overhead fees. This means our team is with you on your philanthropic journey, every step of the way.
As a MakeWay partner, you will benefit from:
Our philanthropic advisory team is committed to supporting your journey, honoring your values, and helping you steward your giving in alignment with your goals. We believe that philanthropy is most impactful when it follows the natural rhythms of reflection, intention, generosity, and renewal.
Explore DAFs and CAFs at MakeWay (click through to view fund purpose and donate).
Note: funds accepting public donations are highlighted in green.
To increase transparency, all grants from DAFs and CAFs are posted quarterly to our grants listing including: grant amount grantee name, and grant purpose
444S Fund for the Environment
7th Generation Fund
Artemis and Petunia Fund
Bealight Fund
Burton Family Fund
Chauvel Fund
Chosen Waters Fund
Christopher Robin Fund
CPAWS Nova Scotia Conservation Fund
Dark Horse Fund
David J. Sokol Endowment Fund
Division of UBC PM&R Fund
DLN Fund
Don Rubenstein Housing Fund
Dr. Bik May Wai & Dr. Chung Nin Lam Endowment Fund
Draimin-Haddon Endowment Fund
Elements Fund
Equinox Fund
Équiterre Fund
ESP Fund
GHD Foundation STEAM Horizons Fund
Harbinger Fund
House of Numst’ Fund
Illahie Fund
Jantzi Research Fund
Joel and Dana Solomon Fund
John Kenneth Galbraith Prize Endowment Fund
Jokabeca Foundation Fund
Jon Gates Foundation Fund
Kremen and Fineman Giving Fund
Kremen and Fineman Invested Giving Fund
Nonprofit Centers Fund
OnePull Fund
Power of Giving Fund
Prescription for Change Canada Fund
Renewal Funds Charitable Giving Fund
Reverence for Life Legacy Fund
Rights of Canadian Nature Fund
Roses Fund
SHLF Endowment Fund
Social Innovation Conference Series
Terrevive Fund
Tlatsini Conservation Endowment Fund
Transformation Fund
Twin Island Protection Fund
V. Paul Lee Family Foundation
Valerie Elia Fund
Vancouver Bicycle Fund
Vancouver Tomorrow Fund
Vern’s Community Fund
Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund
*All of the below fund types can be advised by donors or communities.
Giving Fund | Invested Giving Fund | Impact Fund | |
|---|---|---|---|
Consider opening this type of fund if… | You are looking to make a high volume of donations in and grants out. | You are looking for a long-term investment with a financial return, making between 5 and 10 grants from the fund each year. | You are looking for a customizable impact investing solution. |
Time horizon | 1-2 years | 1-10 years | 5-10 years |
Minimum opening donation | $5,000 | $25,000 | $1 million |
Costs | Donations of less than $1,000: 6% of their value Donations of more than $1,000: 1.75% of their value | Prorated monthly: 1.75% on first $500,000 1% on the next $2 million 0.5% on the next $2.5 million + investment management fees | 1.75% annually based on the Fund balance + investment management fees |
Learn more about MakeWay’s unique approach to advised funds, leveraging them to enable nimble, transformative philanthropy and build momentum for community-led solutions.
A donor advised fund (DAF) is a philanthropic giving vehicle that allows donors to contribute financial assets, receive tax benefits for the same year the donation is made, and recommend grants to charities over time. At MakeWay, DAFs are structured to support social, environmental, and economic well-being in support of community-led initiatives.
A DAF is a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to a private family foundation, which is a particular type of private foundation. With a DAF, donors do not need to establish a separate legal entity, handle administrative duties, or manage compliance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations—MakeWay manages these aspects. Private foundations require more significant administrative oversight, legal setup, and ongoing compliance but offer complete control over granting and investment decisions. DAFs allow donors to engage in philanthropy while benefiting from MakeWay’s expertise, compliance oversight, and governance structures.
Conventional DAFs are often transactional and inflexible, primarily serving as holding vehicles for charitable assets. In contrast, MakeWay’s DAFs are designed to be flexible, mission-aligned, and invested for purpose. Our funds are focused on advancing equity and supporting community-led solutions. Unlike conventional DAF-sponsoring institutions, MakeWay provides hands-on philanthropic advisory support to guide donors in their giving journey while ensuring that undeployed funds are actively invested for transformative change.
Donors agree to a fund purpose (similar to a mission) that guides where grants from their fund can go. All grants must align with MakeWay’s charitable purposes and Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) legislation, regulation, and policy.
Your fund can support registered Canadian charities, Indigenous governing bodies, and other qualified donees.
MakeWay promotes annual granting with a suggested minimum of 5% of the fund’s balance, in accordance with CRA requirements. We recognize that there may be situations where preserving funds for future years is sensible, and we will do our best to accommodate those specific circumstances.
Yes, donors can choose to disburse their funds over a specific timeframe or distribute grants indefinitely, depending on their philanthropic goals. Our Philanthropic Advisory team is here to help you set and achieve goals based on your vision.
We do not endow funds on a perpetual basis, as community needs can evolve over five, ten or even 20 years. We aim to allow philanthropists the flexibility to respond to shifting social, environmental, and economic conditions. Therefore, we engage in annual strategic fund planning discussions to assess whether the plan continues to meet its goals. We collaborate with fund advisors to make necessary adjustments. We believe this level of flexibility is highly valued.
MakeWay primarily supports registered Canadian charities, but international grants may be possible through partnerships or by funding registered Canadian charities working globally.
Yes, as long as the supported organizations engage in advocacy or policy work that aligns with MakeWay’s charitable mission and is permissible under CRA legislation, regulation, and policy.
To establish a Giving Fund, the minimum donation is $5,000; for an Invested Giving Fund, it’s $25,000; and for an ImpactFund, the minimum is $1 million.
MakeWay accepts a variety of assets, including cash, publicly traded securities, and bequests. Each type of donation is evaluated to ensure it aligns with MakeWay’s goals and policies.
Yes, MakeWay accepts bequests, gifts of life insurance, and other estate donations, allowing donors to leave a lasting legacy.
All assets that remain undeployed have consistently been invested in fossil-fuel-free options. Additionally, MakeWay’s Investment Policy enables impact-investing choices that align with social, environmental, and economic equity, ensuring that funds not used through philanthropy lead to a net-positive impact.
Yes, donors can select a name for their fund. The name may be a family name, a symbolic reference, or a purpose-driven title.
Yes, donor information is kept confidential unless the donor chooses to be publicly recognized.
Donors can choose to be recognized or remain anonymous when grants are made.
MakeWay charges a fee for fund administration, investment management, and grantmaking support. The fee varies depending on the size and complexity of the fund.
Yes, donors may transfer their fund balance to another registered charity if needed.
Yes, donors can designate a Successor Advisor to manage the fund after the passing of the Fund Advisor.
Yes, MakeWay is a registered 501(c)(3) and can receive gifts from U.S. donors either directly or through its partner organization, RSF Social Finance.
Connect with our Philanthropic Services Team today to start your journey. Complete the intake form below and someone will be in touch shortly to schedule a call.
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