Frequently Asked Questions

Set Up a Giving Account

New! The Fidelity Charitable iPhone® App

Contributions to a Fidelity Charitable Giving Account

Tax Deductions

Grant Recommendations

Investment Options

Miscellaneous



Set Up a Giving Account

How do I set up a Giving Account?

To set up a Giving Account, simply complete a Donor Application and submit it along with your contribution to Fidelity Charitable (minimum initial contribution of $5,000 for individual Giving Accounts and $25,000 for corporate Giving Accounts) in cash equivalents, securities, or select real estate. You can get started right now:

What should I read before setting up a Giving Account and making a charitable contribution?

Read the Fidelity Charitable Policy Guidelines (PDF). You will be required to agree to these policies upon signing the Donor Application.

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New! The Fidelity Charitable iPhone App

What is the Fidelity Charitable iPhone App?

The Fidelity Charitable iPhone App makes supporting your favorite charities even easier. Once you have downloaded the app and logged in to your Giving Account®, you can recommend grants, check your balances, and view the status of grant recommendations and contributions — wherever you are.

How do I download the app?

There are two ways to download the app — on your phone, or on your desktop.

On your phone: Open the app titled "App Store" and touch the "Search" icon at the bottom of the screen. In the search field type "Fidelity Charitable" and touch "Search" on your keypad. Once it appears, touch the icon for the app and then touch "Install."

On your desktop (or phone): In your internet browser, go to itunes.com/apps/fidelitycharitable. On your desktop, this will open iTunes (you can only download apps if iTunes is installed on your computer). Click the "Free App" button to install. If you enter the URL on your phone, it will open the App Store referred to above.

How do I know if I have access to the app?

All Account Holders and authorized interested parties with full transactional access can use the iPhone App. Those with "view only" access, corporate/organization contacts, and advisors cannot log in at this time.

Can my Giving Account be accessed by multiple iPhones at the same time?

Yes.

Is the app available on other smartphones?

No, the app is only available for the iPhone.

Can I view my entire transaction history in the app?

Currently, the app allows you to view two years (730 days) of your transaction history. Your entire history can be viewed by logging in to your Giving Account on FidelityCharitable.org.

I've been locked out of my Giving Account, what do I do?

If you enter your password incorrectly three times you will be automatically locked out of your Giving Account. You need to go to FidelityCharitable.org to reset your password.

How do I know if a grant recommendation was approved?

Go to the Summary section, swipe the navigation wheel until GRANTS is displayed. Previous grant recommendations will display "Pending," "Approved," "Not Approved," or "Check Voided" in the Status column. Touch the row to view details about the grant. Swipe to the left to view the date it was recommended and the date it was approved, if applicable.

How do I view the future grants I have recommended?

Go to the Summary section, swipe the navigation wheel until FUTURE GRANTS is displayed.

How do I know if a contribution has settled?

Go to the Summary section, swipe the navigation wheel until CONTRIBUTIONS is displayed. The contributions listed there will display "Pending" or "Processed" in the Status column. Touch the row to view details about the contribution. Swipe to the left to view the date it was made and the date it was processed, if applicable.

How do I view which pools my Giving Account is invested in?

Go to the Summary section, swipe the navigation wheel until BALANCES is displayed.

How do I access my Favorite Grants list?

The Favorite Grants list is not available on the app. However, it's easy to view and reuse any information from previous grants by touching the Grant icon at the bottom of your screen. The "Previous" list allows you to select from all charities you have supported in the past two years. Selecting a charity from this list pre-fills all the data from the most recent grant to that charity. You can touch any row on the screen to modify that information or select from other previously used contacts, designations, or acknowledgments.

Why can't I see the confirmation number for my grant recommendations?

It is not necessary for referencing as we are able to locate your grants without using the confirmation number. For simplicity, we eliminated it from the display.

Can I go back from the Grant Preview page to make changes if needed?

Yes. The Grant Preview page is displayed so you can read everything you entered and view the necessary disclosures before submitting the grant recommendation. Select the Back button in the upper left-hand corner of the page if you need to make any changes.

When will I be able to make a contribution to Fidelity Charitable through the app?

We are currently working to make mobile charitable contributions available.

Can I recommend pool exchanges on the app?

No. However, once you've recommended a grant, you can log in to your Giving Account on FidelityCharitable.org or call a Fidelity Charitable representative at 800-262-6039 to recommend a pool exchange to rebalance your current allocation.

Can I modify a grant on the app?

No. You need to call a Fidelity Charitable representative at 800-262-6039 to modify a grant.

Can I change my address on the app?

No. You need to log in to your Giving Account on FidelityCharitable.org or call a Fidelity Charitable representative at 800-262-6039 to make modifications to your profile information.

Can I view miscellaneous transactions, like Giving Account adjustments, on the app?

No. You need to log in to your Giving Account on FidelityCharitable.org to view miscellaneous transactions.

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Contributions to a Fidelity Charitable Giving Account

Does Fidelity Charitable require specific contribution amounts?

Individuals may set up a Giving Account with a minimum initial contribution to Fidelity Charitable of $5,000, and corporations may set up a Giving Account with a minimum initial contribution to Fidelity Charitable of $25,000.

What happens when Fidelity Charitable receives my contribution?

When a contribution is received and accepted, Fidelity Charitable will allocate the proceeds of the contribution to your Giving Account, and will purchase units of each investment pool recommended for the Giving Account. Units will be purchased on the business day (each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business) Fidelity Charitable receives cash or the proceeds from the sale of the contributed assets.

Will Fidelity Charitable send me a receipt for my contribution?

Yes, we will provide written confirmation of your contribution. This confirmation will serve as your receipt for tax purposes. If you make your contribution online, you will receive an email notice immediately confirming the receipt of your request and a second email notice once the transaction (sale of the contributed asset) has settled. Please note since you become eligible for a tax deduction at the time you make your contribution to Fidelity Charitable, any other receipts or acknowledgements you may receive (e.g., from a public charity to which you recommended a grant) are duplicative and cannot be used for tax purposes.

How often may I contribute to Fidelity Charitable?

As often as you would like. Some donors like to make additional contributions to Fidelity Charitable immediately after recommending grants. Others make regular contributions to build up the Giving Account for future grant making. The flexibility of Fidelity Charitable lets you determine your giving timetable.

Are additional contributions to Fidelity Charitable tax-deductible?

Yes. You will be eligible to take an itemized income tax deduction for a charitable contribution on the date the contribution is made to Fidelity Charitable. This is subject to the deductibility limitations set by law. Please consult your legal or tax advisor to review your personal situation. You will receive a consolidated statement of your annual contributions and granting activity at the end of each calendar year. Please note that since you become eligible for a tax deduction at the time you make your contribution to Fidelity Charitable, any other receipts or acknowledgements you may receive (e.g., from a public charity to which you recommended a grant) are duplicative and cannot be used for tax purposes. Grant recommendations made to individual charities, though they may be acknowledged by the charity, are not eligible for additional tax deductions by you.

What types of assets can I contribute to Fidelity Charitable?

Cash equivalents, publicly traded stock, mutual fund shares, bonds, certain private or restricted stock and select real estate are eligible for contribution to Fidelity Charitable. We will be glad to discuss proposed contributions with you. To contribute assets held outside of Fidelity, you can begin online by logging in through the
Giving Account log in page or by downloading a Contribution Form (PDF). You can also request these forms by calling us at 800-952-4438 for assistance. You can contribute assets held at Fidelity online by logging in through the Giving Account log in.

Can I contribute privately held company stock to Fidelity Charitable?

Contributions of privately held company stock are reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us at 800-952-4438 for assistance.

Can I contribute real estate to Fidelity Charitable?

Contributions of appreciated real estate are reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us at 800-952-4438 for assistance.

Would it be a good estate planning idea to leave my IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account to Fidelity Charitable?

You should always check with your own tax advisor or trusts and estates attorney because individual situations vary substantially. It is permissible to leave your IRA or other tax-deferred account to charity. At your death, the full value of the account will be included in your estate, but since it is being transferred to a charity, it will qualify for the unlimited charitable deduction.

With any employer-sponsored retirement plan (e.g., a 401(k)), there must be spousal consent to leave the balance of your retirement account to a charity. You also must bear in mind the minimum required distribution rules, the needs of your beneficiary, and your financial needs during your lifetime.

What about contributing from my retirement account now?

Again, it is important to speak with your tax advisor or attorney about your personal situation. In general, during your lifetime, whenever you take money out of your tax-deferred account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.), the distribution is considered income to you and is a taxable event. Therefore, you would have to pay the taxes due upon the value of the distributed assets and the remaining money would go to the charitable organization. However, there may be certain exceptions for "employer securities" (shares of an employer's stock, or "company stock") held in a 401(k) account. If you are interested in contributing this type of security, contact one of our representatives at 800-952-4438.

Can I give a variable annuity to Fidelity Charitable?

We can accept variable annuities that are nonqualified. However, most variable annuities ARE qualified, which means they are equal to pre-tax dollars. Therefore, the owner must create a taxable event (i.e., sell the variable annuity) before donating the money. At death, annuities bring up the same considerations as retirement plans, although there are no minimum required distribution rules to consider. (See previous two questions for more on contributing from a retirement account.) This is another instance in which it is important to consult with a tax advisor to evaluate your individual situation. This answer should not be construed as tax advice.

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Tax Deductions

The Fidelity Charitable Policy Guidelines (PDF) are a good reference for detailed tax questions. This section addresses only federal taxes. Rules and regulations regarding tax deductions for charitable giving vary at the state level. In addition, certain additional rules or limitations may apply with respect to your tax treatment depending on your specific circumstances. Please consult with your tax advisor.

What does "immediate tax deduction" mean?

Fidelity Charitable donors may be eligible to take an itemized deduction valued on the date their charitable contribution to Fidelity Charitable is made, subject to the general limitations described in "What are the limitations on charitable deductions?", below. Your deduction will depend, in part, on the type of asset that you contribute. Please check with your tax advisor. Deduction amounts follow:

  • Check/wire/Electronic Funds Transfer: Your deduction is generally the amount of your cash contribution.
  • Publicly traded securities: For publicly traded securities held for more than one year, your deduction generally will be the fair market value of the securities on the day of the contribution.
  • Securities that are not publicly traded: For securities not publicly traded that have been held for more than one year, your deduction will be the fair market value determined by you in a reasonable manner on the date the contribution is made. The IRS will require you to obtain a qualified independent appraisal in certain circumstances.
  • Real Estate: For contributions of real estate, your deduction will be the fair market value determined by you in a reasonable manner on the date the contribution is made. The IRS will require you to obtain a qualified independent appraisal in certain circumstances.

What are the limitations on charitable deductions?

Under the Internal Revenue Code, deductions for charitable contributions are subject to certain "percentage limitations" that limit the deductions that can be taken to a stated percentage of adjusted gross income ("AGI") in the year the deduction is taken. (Contributions in excess of these percentage limitations may be carried forward up to five subsequent years.) Because Fidelity Charitable is a public charity, the percentage limitations that apply are generally the most favorable charitable deductions available under IRS regulations.

  • Deductions for contributions of long-term capital gain property (such as appreciated securities held for more than one year) are limited to 30% of AGI.
  • Deductions for all other contributions (including contributions of cash) may be taken up to 50% of AGI.

Your ability to take itemized deductions may be subject to certain other limitations. Please contact your tax advisor to determine your tax deductibility limits.

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Grant Recommendations

Can I make grant recommendations to foreign charities?

Fidelity Charitable does not grant directly to foreign charities. However, many foreign charities receive funding from U.S. public charities that support international causes. In certain circumstances, Fidelity Charitable donors may make grant recommendations to benefit foreign charities through these existing U.S. public charities. Certain conditions, grant minimums, and fees may apply. If you are interested in supporting a particular foreign organization, we suggest you ask a representative of that organization to recommend a U.S.-based nonprofit that sends funds to the foreign group. In addition, there are many U.S. nonprofits that provide services in foreign countries. You can research your options in our online Charitable Planning area. All grants are subject to standard due diligence policies and procedures.

Is there a minimum grant amount? Are there other guidelines for grant recommendations?

The Trustees have set minimums on grant distributions to maintain cost-effectiveness and to encourage charitable giving. The minimum grant is $50. Grants must be made in $5 increments. For information on other grant making guidelines, please refer to the Fidelity Charitable Policy Guidelines (PDF).

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Investment Options

How do Fidelity Charitable Trustees choose the funds included in Fidelity Charitable pools?

Fidelity Charitable Trustees have engaged Strategic Advisers, Inc. a Fidelity Investments company, to be the investment manager for Fidelity Charitable. The Trustees meet regularly with Strategic Advisers, Inc. to review our investment pools, and the underlying investment options, as well as the investment performance.

Do you offer any pools that draw exclusively on "socially responsible" investments?

No, at this point Fidelity Charitable does not offer such pools.

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Gift4Giving®

What is a Gift4Giving eGift?

A Gift4Giving eGift is a unique charitable gift that a Fidelity Charitable donor can send to a friend, family member or colleague, via email, which allows grant/gift recommendation privileges over a portion of his/her Giving Account. This is a great way to get others involved in charitable giving and to learn about donor-advised funds.

How does the program work?

After the donor requests a Gift4Giving eGift online from their Giving Account, the recipient then receives an email from Fidelity Charitable (with the name of the person who sent the Gift4Giving in the subject line of the email), containing a link to a web page that will give him/her the opportunity to recommend one or more gifts of $50 or more to support his/her favorite charities.

How do I request and/or send a Gift4Giving eGift?

A Fidelity Charitable donor can follow the simple steps below to request that a Gift4Giving be sent.

  • Log in to your Giving Account and select Send a Gift4Giving from the Select Action dropdown menu
  • Enter recipient email information and gift message
  • Select the Gift4Giving amount (minimum $50; maximum $5,000) and recommend the investment pools from which the Gift4Giving amount should be drawn
  • Review and submit your Gift4Giving request

Are there any fees to send a Gift4Giving eGift?

There are no fees associated with sending a Gift4Giving eGift.

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What happens if the recipient loses the Gift4Giving email?

Fidelity Charitable is not responsible for Gift4Giving emails that are misdirected, misplaced, lost, or stolen. If a Gift4Giving recipient deletes the email sent by Fidelity Charitable, he/she can ask the donor who gave the Gift4Giving to re-send the original email from the donor’s Giving Account. The Fidelity Charitable donor can have the email re-sent by logging into his/her Giving Account at CharitableGift.org and going to the Gift4Giving Detail page.

How do I know if the recipient has recommended gifts to charity from his/her Gift4Giving?

Transaction information — including when the Gift4Giving email notification was sent by Fidelity Charitable, been recommended to a charitable organization or whether it has expired — is viewable in your Gift4Giving History.

Can I order a plastic "Gift Card"?

Fidelity Charitable sends electronic “gift cards”, distributed by email, rather than plastic “gift cards”, distributed by U.S. mail or in person, for two reasons. First, our electronic cards are delivered to the recipient quickly. Second, emails are environmentally friendly.

If I request a Gift4Giving eGift, will the email be sent to me or to the Gift4Giving recipient?

The Gift4Giving email will be sent directly to the recipient.

Can I have the Gift4Giving email sent to me instead of the recipient?

No. The Gift4Giving email sent by Fidelity Charitable may only go to the Gift4Giving recipient. The donor does have the ability to resend the Gift4Giving online from their Giving Account.

Does the Gift4Giving eGift expire?

A Gift4Giving eGift will expire 180 calendar days after the email is sent to the recipient. At expiration, Gift4Giving amounts that have not been recommended and granted to qualified public charities will be reallocated to the donor's Giving Account and will be invested according to the Giving Account's current allocation.

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What are the minimum and maximum amounts of a Gift4Giving eGift?

A Fidelity Charitable donor may designate a minimum of $50, and up to the maximum of $5,000 (in increments of $50), from his/her Giving Account balance to a Gift4Giving recipient to be used towards a gift recommendation.

Can value be added to a Gift4Giving eGift?

No, once the original Gift4Giving balance has been depleted a new Gift4Giving eGift will need to be requested by the Donor and issued by Fidelity Charitable.

How do I (recipient) access a Gift4Giving eGift?

A Gift4Giving eGift recipient can follow the simple steps below to access a Gift4Giving and to recommend one or more gifts to charity.

Please note: A Gift4Giving eGift must be accessed online through the email that is sent to the Gift4Giving recipient from Fidelity Charitable.

  • Step1: Locate charities by name or tax ID, then select the charities to which you would like to recommend a gift
  • Step 2: Select the amount of your gift recommendation
  • Step 3: Chose to be acknowledged by the gift recipient charity or to remain anonymous
  • Step 4: Review and submit your gift recommendation

What charities can I choose to support?

Gifts can be made to 501(c)(3)IRS-qualified public charities found in the Fidelity Charitable database of qualified gift recipient charities.

Do I receive a tax deduction when a gift is made by Fidelity Charitable to a public charity?

Gift4Giving recipients are not eligible for charitable deductions for these gifts, since the gift is made by Fidelity Charitable. Donors received a tax deduction at the time of their initial contribution to Fidelity Charitable.

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Miscellaneous

Are you a nonprofit organization? Where do staff salaries come from?

Fidelity Charitable is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The administrative fee charged to all Giving Accounts goes toward operating expenses, which include staff salaries.

Do you have any statistics that show whether Fidelity Charitable is increasing the level of philanthropy in the U.S.?

While there is no way for us to track the amount that would have gone somewhere else had circumstances been different, we do know that as of March 31, 2012, Fidelity Charitable has helped donors grant more than $13 billion to more than 150,000 nonprofit organizations.

Will my company match my gift that I recommend out of a Giving Account?

Check with your employer to ascertain its policy on making matching gifts to grants recommended from donor-advised funds.

Why do nonprofits continue to solicit me even though I've already recommended a grant to them from Fidelity Charitable?

When you recommend grants to a nonprofit organization, your name may appear on the letter sent by Fidelity Charitable to accompany the grant check. Some charities will take your name from this letter and add you to their mailing lists. One way to avoid this is to recommend grants anonymously. Anonymity options are available whether you recommend grants online, by phone, or on paper.

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What is Electronic Funds Transfer?

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is an easy, convenient, and secure way to contribute to Fidelity Charitable directly from your personal checking or savings account.

Is there a fee for EFT?

Fidelity Charitable does not charge a fee for using EFT; however, your bank may charge a fee.

What types of bank accounts are eligible for EFT?

For an individual Giving Account, Fidelity Charitable will accept contributions from your personal savings or checking accounts with any U.S. bank. Your Social Security Number should match the corresponding Social Security Number on your bank account.

For a Corporate Giving Account, Fidelity Charitable will accept contributions from a corporate account with any U.S. bank. The corporate bank account must be an account for which you are authorized to act on behalf of the corporate entity.

How do I set up EFT?

Log in to your Giving Account and go to your Profile section to enter your bank account information, or enter your bank account information during the Contribute to Fidelity Charitable process.

What bank information do I need to provide?

You will need to provide your bank account number and the bank’s nine-digit routing number (also known as the ABA number). This information is typically located at the bottom of your check or deposit slip.

Some banks use different numbers for their EFT service so you may want to verify with your bank.

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How long does it take to set up EFT?

It takes only a few minutes to complete the set up process. Our immediate funding option lets you set up EFT during the contribution process.

How do I make a contribution using EFT?

Log in to your Giving Account and select Contribute from the Select Action dropdown menu. Electronic Funds Transfer will be one of the contribution options.

When will the funds be available for grant recommendations?

The funds are generally available in your Giving Account 3-6 business days after you initiate your contribution.

Are there restrictions on the amount of money that can be contributed via EFT?

The maximum amount is $100,000. Additional restrictions apply depending on your situation.

You will be provided with an explanation of these and other terms of use in the donor agreement and Electronic Funds Transfer Disclosures (PDF) during the EFT set up process.

Can other account holders on my Giving Account see my bank account information?

No. The detailed bank account information is only viewable by the account holder who enters it. The Contribution Detail page in the History section displays only the bank name.

Can I set up EFT over the phone?

No, donors can only set up EFT online.

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Can I set up EFT using a form?

No. At this time, donors can only set up EFT online.

Can other authorized parties, such as my financial advisor, use EFT established on my account?

No. EFT is only available for Account Holders.

Can I set up automatic recurring contributions from my bank account?

Yes. Log in to your Giving Account and select Contribute from the Select Action dropdown menu. On the Select Contribution Type page, choose the Electronic Funds Transfer option, select a Bank Account (or Add a Bank Account) and enter Contribution Amount, then select Make this a recurring contribution and follow the instructions.

How frequently can I schedule a future recurring contribution?

Recurring contributions may be scheduled weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.

Do I need to select a specific end date for recurring contributions?

No. You can choose to set up a recurring EFT that will continue until further notice (indefinitely).

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How are future recurring contributions allocated among the investment pools?

The pool allocation selected or in place at the time the initial recurring contribution was set up will be in effect for each future contribution.

How do I change a pool allocation or modify the amount or timing/frequency for future recurring contributions?

To change the pool allocation, or to modify the amount or timing, of any recurring contributions, you will need to remove that recurrence and add a new one. Log in to your Giving Account, go to the Recent Contributions tab and select Remove from the RECURRING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT section. Same-day contributions on business days can be removed up until 4 pm ET.

If I remove a recurrence, will this affect my Bank Account Information on file?

No.

What will happen when I remove a bank from my Bank Account Information in the Profile tab?

Once a bank is removed, all subsequent recurrences linked from this bank account to your Giving Account will be removed as well.

How are recurring contributions processed when Fidelity Charitable is closed?

EFT contributions are processed prior to 4 pm ET on business days. If a recurring contribution date falls on a weekend, holiday, or beyond the end of the month (29th, 30th, 31st), the contribution will be processed on the next available business day.

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Fidelity Charitable is the brand name for the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund, an independent public charity with a donor-advised fund program. Various Fidelity companies provide investment management and administrative services to Fidelity Charitable.

Speak with a representative:1-800-262-6039

Set Up a Giving Account



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