About University Impact
University Impact (UI) is a nonprofit that invests in companies and nonprofits solving social and environmental problems. Investments are focused on funding the most promising social ventures.
We host the Triple DAF, Donor-Advised Fund, helping donors amplify the impact of their philanthropic giving.
Our goal is to create the next generation of social impact leaders and provide capital to social ventures solving social and environmental problems.
UI does this by providing undergraduate and graduate students with an immersive, hands-on learning experience in impact investing and philanthropy. Our associates learn to perform rigorous due diligence and measure social impact through debt and equity investments. Students can then use their experiences to do social good throughout the entirety of their careers.
UI hosts the unique Triple Donor-Advised Fund and helps you create the most impact with your investments.
What is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) and the University Impact Triple DAF
A DAF is a giving vehicle that allows donors to make a charitable contribution with an immediate tax deduction. At University Impact, donors are able to recommend grants and impact investments from their Triple DAF to organizations solving social and environmental problems in the U.S. and internationally. Donors can contribute to their DAF and recommend grants and investments as frequently as they would like.
How a Donor-Advised Fund Works
The Triple DAF is University Impact’s unique DAF offering, including:
- An immediate tax deduction
- Personalized impact and giving strategy with opportunities proactively brought to you
- Empowering the next generation of leaders
We work with you to create a tailored philanthropic impact strategy:
- Find the most impactful nonprofits and social ventures
- Perform financial and impact due diligence
- Track the financial and impact results over time
Donor-Advised Fund Tax Deduction
DAFs provide an immediate tax deduction for donors while providing them with the flexibility to donate at their convenience.
There are many people that could benefit from a DAF that are currently not taking advantage of the opportunity. These are some situations where a DAF can be especially beneficial:
- Liquidity event (selling business, appreciated stock, etc.)
- Unexpected income (bonus, inheritance, etc.)
- Charitable bunching (popular with new tax code)
- Passionate about solving social problems
- Currently making donations to multiple charities (simplifies giving)
- Generational giving – younger generations are focused on making impact
DAF vs a Private Foundation
DAFs were designed to help individuals in their charitable giving. DAFs have lower administrative fees and higher tax deductibility.
| DAF | Private Foundation | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees & Setup |
- Low administration fees and startup costs - Min. contribution = $5,000 |
- High administrations fees and startup costs - Min. contribution $1M + legal costs |
| Causes to support |
- Cannot make grants to individuals - Allows grants to 501(c)(3) - Allows grants to international nonprofits - Allows grants to for-profit entities for charitable purposes with certain procedures |
- Grants to individuals - Allows grants to 501(c)(3) - Allows grants to international nonprofits - Allows grants to for-profit entities for charitable purposes with certain procedures |
| Tax benefits |
- Up to 60% AGI tax deductibility (cash) - Up to 30% AGI tax deductibility (public securities) - All securities deducted at Fair Market Value |
- Up to 30% AGI tax deductibility (cash) - Up to 20% AGI tax deductibility (public securities) - Securities deducted at the Cost Basis (no appreciation) |
| Succession plan |
- Can name individuals, businesses, or charities as successor advisors for the DAF |
- Successors and officers confirmed only by vote of the board |
| Distributions |
- No required distributions |
- IRS requires 5% distributions assets per year |
| Anonymity |
- Anonymous contributions possible |
- All contributions are made public |
University Impact (UI) actively curates opportunities for our Donor-Advisors based on their philanthropic strategy, including factors such as impact areas, geographic preference, and investment preferences. We are like a personal family foundation, activating your giving in thoughtful and innovative ways.
• Desired financial returns
• Geographies of interest
• Preferred UN SDG targets
• Select individual investments or strategic grants
• Make investment through a University Impact Fund
• Tailored giving and investment opportunities
• Impact reports
• Impact Financial reports
Impact investing is investing into an organization with the intention of generating positive financial and impact returns. Impact investments can target a range of returns, based on the investors’ financial and impact goals, impact investments. They are made in both emerging and developed markets.
When you make an impact investment from your University Impact Triple DAF, the financial returns are recycled back into your DAF account for future giving.
How do We Think About Impact?
University Impact uses the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as targets for impact. These goals were created by the UN to focus efforts towards solving the most pressing problems afflicting people around the world.
Student associates perform research to identify and compare opportunities for creating social impact. These research reports then guide the opportunity sourcing and screening process to ensure companies meet best-in-class standards and practices for scaling social impact.
About University Impact Student Programs: Training the Next Generation of Leaders
University Impact trains and hires university students to work as investment associates. Our associates gain practical experience by performing rigorous due diligence and measuring social impact through strategic grants and impact investments. Students can then use their experiences to do social good throughout the entirety of their careers.
Students are recruited from the top universities from around the globe to go through our the University Impact curated impact investing training program. Here they learn the same content taught in elite business schools. In addition, they gain real-world experience as they meet with entrepreneurs, perform due diligence, attend industry conferences, consult social ventures, and work for portfolio companies.
After this initial training program, students return home where they are able to work remotely, continuing to build on the skills gained over the summer.
Through this experience, students are placed on an accelerated career trajectory by doing meaningful work with real-world implications.
Are you a university student interested in UI training? Share your information here.
“At University Impact I was able to learn so much, take on a large degree of responsibility and work with a diverse range of interesting people in a friendly and dynamic environment. The experience certainly helped me to develop many skills and unlock new opportunities.”
Rohan Jain
Oxford
“The University Impact Bootcamp has been amazing so far, completely transformative. I learned so much every day from everyone involved, from the other students to the guest speakers to the management team, everyone has taught me so much. I wake up everyday thinking, ‘oh my goodness, I get to do something that I love today.'”
Sophie de Bruyn
University of Cape Town
“I’ve learned so much from my internship at University Impact, a US impact venture capital firm. We enjoyed an excellent programme, involving training, guest speakers, and real project work. We learned to evaluate management and analyse financials, all while hopping from sub-Saharan Africa to Latin America (and back again!) – all online and over a period of just four weeks!”
Peter Wallich
Oxford
Partner with University Impact
We partner with nonprofits and social impact companies to make large social and environmental change possible where it is needed most.
Individuals and Family Offices
We partner with you to help you accomplish your impact and philanthropic goals. Our team will help you craft a personalized philanthropic impact strategy. University Impact then focuses on actively curating impact investment and strategic grant opportunities based on your impact, geographic, and investment preferences. You can think of us as your personal “family foundation” team, helping you to find and fund the most impactful organizations worldwide. We also perform all the financial and impact due diligence for you and submit it to our Investment Committee.
Financial Advisors
The first place many people turn to when thinking about philanthropy and impact investing is their trusted financial advisor. Many of your clients may already be contributing to social ventures and nonprofits they care about. University Impact works with donors to help them create a plan to achieve greater impact, identify the best impact opportunities, provide due diligence and ongoing tracking.
The University Impact team are available to make presentations on Donor-Advised Funds, charitable giving, and impact investing strategies at your firm or help support a client event. We will work with you to make the experience in social impact engaging, meaningful, and simple.
University Impact hosts educational events and seminars for professional advisors on topics relating to charitable giving, impact investing, impact measurement, and your clients’ philanthropic needs. Our advisor newsletter includes information about upcoming events, charitable giving legislation, articles by experts, and updates on our latest activities. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please sign up below.
Email contact@uitripledaf.org to set up a call.
University Impact is always looking for impactful companies and nonprofits around the world to join us and our donors in creating meaningful change.
If your organization is seeking funding click here to see our criteria:
Companies that meet our criteria will undergo due diligence so University Impact can determine if funding would be appropriate.
Submit information here.
Email: contact@uitripledaf.org
Address: 3305 N University Ave #275, Provo, UT 84604