Values Aligned Investing With Brooklyn Org DAFs

We lead with our values at Brooklyn Org—from our grantmaking to our donor services, investment portfolio, and Donor Advised Funds. As the year draws to a close, many people begin to reflect on their charitable giving, what causes matter most to them, how they want to make a difference, and ultimately what they hope their generosity will say about their values.

Brooklyn Org is here to be your partner and help you align your philanthropy with your values using Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), an increasingly popular tool for that kind of thoughtful giving. DAFs allow donors to set aside charitable dollars now, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants whenever they are ready. Yet many donors are asking a deeper question: can the dollars sitting in a DAF do good even before grants are made?

At Brooklyn Org, we believe the answer is yes. When you open a fund with us, your charitable dollars are invested through a values-driven approach called Full Consequence Investing. This strategy recognizes that every investment has social, environmental, and economic impacts, and that those impacts should reflect our donors’ priorities and the long-term health of our borough. Our portfolio focuses on areas that strengthen Brooklyn—economic opportunity, health and wellness, affordable housing, and more—while avoiding sectors like predatory lending and private prisons that conflict with our shared values.

For DAF holders, this means your charitable assets begin making a difference immediately. Instead of sitting idle, your resources are already at work—growing tax-free, reinforcing your values. At Brooklyn Org, your philanthropic dollars express your values from the moment they are contributed.

Options For Contributing To Your DAF

As you consider your year-end giving, this season may also be a strategic time to contribute appreciated stock to your DAF. Doing so can provide significant tax advantages and maximize your charitable impact. For donors aged 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA is another tool that may fit into your giving plan—though QCDs cannot be added to a DAF and must be directed straight to Brooklyn Org or other qualifying nonprofits. Together, these giving strategies can help you meet personal financial goals while strengthening your philanthropic commitments.

Developing A Holistic Philanthropy Strategy With Unrestricted Gifts

Many donors also use this moment to think about unrestricted gifts—contributions that allow Brooklyn Org to respond quickly to emerging needs across the borough. These flexible dollars fuel innovation, support urgent community initiatives, and strengthen efforts like our Brooklyn Backs Brooklyn campaign to bolster frontline nonprofits that are defending democracy, advancing racial justice, and ensuring no Brooklynite is left behind. Our community of supporters is meeting this moment with urgency, resolve, and local solutions, and you can join us.

Such unrestricted giving can complement a DAF, a planned gift, or annual giving, creating a more complete and responsive philanthropic strategy that meets both immediate and long-term community needs.

Year-end giving may come with deadlines, but it also offers a chance to reflect on your values and the future you want your generosity to help shape. At Brooklyn Org, we’re honored to partner with donors who believe their giving and investments should work together. Through values-aligned investing and thoughtful grantmaking, we steward every charitable dollar with care. Whether you already have a DAF with Brooklyn Org or are considering one, we’re here to help you align your philanthropy with what matters most.

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