“Why I Give Through My Donor-Advised Fund—And Why It Matters for Children With Disabilities”

Many people don’t realize they already have access to a powerful charitable tool through places like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, Thrivent, or their local community foundation. These organizations manage something called a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) —  a special charitable account that offers significant tax benefits, allowing for immediate deductions on contributions (cash or appreciated assets), avoiding capital gains taxes on the donated appreciated assets (like crypto or private stock), and providing tax-free growth for even larger future grants.

Supporters like Randy Wilcsek, use their DAF to consistently fuel Kupenda’s work of reducing stigma and transforming communities for children with disabilities.

For nearly eight years, Randy has been one of Kupenda’s most committed champions. What began as a desire to support children in need has grown into a sustained partnership that helps us tackle the root causes of exclusion: stigma, misinformation, discrimination, and harmful cultural beliefs. Randy’s monthly DAF gift helps Kupenda train faith leaders, teachers, health workers, and government officials, equipping them to challenge stereotypes, dismantle myths, and create communities where children with disabilities are safe and welcomed

But Randy doesn’t just give— he inspires others to give. At our house parties and events, he often shares why he chooses to use his DAF to support Kupenda’s work.

“A Donor-Advised Fund makes it easy to give and manage donation funds,” Randy says. “I love knowing that my monthly DAF gift helps Kupenda train community leaders, change harmful mindsets, and build a culture where children with disabilities are welcomed instead of excluded.”

Why Randy Gives Through His DAF

After learning how children with disabilities are often hidden, neglected, or excluded from school because of stigma, not just poverty, Randy decided he wanted his support to be intentional and sustained. A DAF gave him the structure to do that.

“Setting up recurring gifts through my DAF has been incredibly simple,” Randy explains. “It helps me focus on the mission not the administrative details- and ensures that I’m consistently supporting Kupenda’s work to help these children survive and thrive.”

Why Your DAF Gift Matters

When you recommend a DAF grant to Kupenda, you help fuel the essential work of:

• Training faith leaders, teachers, health workers, and local officials Supporting families to understand and embrace their children
• Countering myths about curses and witchcraft
• Changing community norms that put children at risk
• Strengthening policy implementation and disability rights systems

These investments have a ripple effect: when one leader speaks up, when one family learns the truth, when one community changes its mindset-the lives of hundreds of children can shift forever.

Join Randy in Transforming Communities

If you hold a DAF with Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, Thrivent, or a community foundation linking then granting to Kupenda is simple and immediate. And if you’ve never used a DAF before, your financial provider can help you set one up quickly. This is one of the easiest ways to support stigma-reduction work that changes community beliefs, protects children, and empowers families.

To recommend a grant, search for: Kupenda for the Children (Tax ID: 16-1644867)

Your generosity can help build a world where children with disabilities are not hidden but welcomed, celebrated, and included.