Marty Bask has always been a helper. 

That call to "do something" was ignited in 2002 when his son, Tyler, watched his best friend, Alex, battle non-Hodgkin lymphoma and receive a wish for a special golf experience. Seeing the impact the wish had, not only on Alex but also on his own son, was unexpected and life-changing. 

"That experience really helped my son get through some very hard days after his friend passed away," Marty said. 

Witnessing the impact a wish could have, not only on a child but also on their family and friends, inspired Marty to roll up his sleeves so others could experience that same gift. 

Over the years, Marty created a fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish, started a nonprofit that supported wish granting, served as a Make-A-Wish trustee, and eventually became a wish-granting volunteer. 

Even in retirement, he hasn't stopped giving back. 

Recently, Marty established a donor-advised fund (DAF) to support organizations he cares about, including Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. He's passionate about sharing his experience and hopes more people will learn about the benefits of DAFs. Here are a few highlights from a recent conversation with Marty. 

Q: What are DAFs?  

A: A DAF is a mechanism to allow people to put money aside for nonprofit donations all at once for future charitable donations vs. making individual donations ad hoc over the years.  

Q: What are the benefits of DAFs?  

A: You receive a tax deduction at the time of the contribution so it can lower your tax liability when you set it up. The money grows, just like other investment accounts, and you pay no taxes on that growth. 

Q: Is it hard to donate from a DAF?  

A: No. I just have to submit a request to the company that sponsors my DAF when I want to make a donation to Make-A-Wish. They look it up, they make sure it's a nonprofit, they approve it, and then they send the check. 

Q: Do you need to be wealthy to have a DAF?  

A: Five years ago, I would have said yes, but I think in today's world all kinds of people are recognizing that it is a great tool to reduce the taxes that you may owe and allow you to continue to give donations to nonprofits in the future. I would say anybody who has an interest in giving money to nonprofits, should consider a DAF. And they don't have to be huge. There's lots of DAFs in the $10,000-$20,000 range that people start and add to over time.  

To give through a DAF, simply call your fund manager and recommend a grant, or login to your fund and make a grant online. Please ask your financial institution to include your name and address when they send a grant from your fund, so we can properly thank you for your support. You can also notify us of your plans directly.