Edward Charles Foundation

Edward Charles Foundation

The Gold Standard in Outsourced Philanthropy

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General Info

For Advisors

Philanthropic infrastructure for your clients' giving.

Edward Charles Foundation partners with financial advisors, attorneys, CPAs, family offices, and wealth managers — providing the back-office, compliance, and administrative infrastructure that lets your clients give more effectively.

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100+

Years Combined Experience

8

Charitable Fund Structures

Full

Back-Office & Compliance

501(c)(3)

Established Sponsor

Who We Work With

Your clients want to give.
We make it possible.

Edward Charles Foundation teams up with advisors and knowledgeable professionals to assist and consult on charitable projects. The increased ease and dexterity of our charitable structure maximizes the impact of your client’s charitable dollars — and their enjoyment in giving.

We help you understand the philanthropic landscape and the various charitable vehicles available so you can make the best recommendations possible. Our role is to act as an expert infrastructure partner — never to compete with your advisory relationship.

We help our funds vet charitable recipients, consult with top professional philanthropy consultants, and event producers to maximize impact and satisfaction. ECF oversees and administers funds at the direction of your team and your client.

Professionals We Partner With
  • ◈Lawyers & Estate Attorneys
  • ◈CPAs & Accountants
  • ◈Business Managers
  • ◈Wealth Managers & RIAs
  • ◈Family Offices
  • ◈Agents & Talent Managers
  • ◈Philanthropic Consultants
  • ◈Investment Bankers & Bankers
  • ◈Event Producers
How It Works

A true back-office partner

Our model is built to extend your advisory team’s capacity — not replace it. Here’s what working with ECF looks like in practice.

01

Structure Selection

We consult with you and your client to identify the right charitable structure from ECF’s full suite of 8 fund types — from fiscal sponsorship and DAFs to supporting organizations and legacy funds.

02

Fund Establishment
ECF handles all setup, legal structuring, IRS compliance, and onboarding. Your client’s fund is established under ECF’s 501(c)(3) umbrella quickly and compliantly.

03

Ongoing Administration
From grant disbursements and financial reporting to compliance filings and donor communications — ECF handles the infrastructure so your team stays focused on strategy and relationships.
04
Recipient Vetting
We assist in researching and vetting charitable recipients to ensure alignment with your client’s philanthropic goals and all IRS regulations governing fund distributions.

05

Reporting & Transparency
Full financial accounting and reporting is provided to your team and your client. Custom reporting cadences available for family offices and institutional relationships.
06
Client Portal Access
Fund holders access their charitable activity, statements, and grant history through ECF’s secure client portal — giving advisors and clients real-time visibility into fund performance.
Full-Service Infrastructure

What ECF handles for your clients

We provide the complete back-office so your clients can focus on the impact of their giving, not the administration behind it.

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Financial Accounting & Reporting

Full fund-level bookkeeping, transaction recording, statement preparation, and custom financial reports delivered on your cadence.

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Legal & Compliance

IRS compliance, 990 preparation, state charity registrations, grant agreements, and ongoing regulatory monitoring — all managed by ECF.

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Grants Management

Processing, vetting, and administering grant disbursements to charitable recipients. ECF handles due diligence and all documentation.

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Governance & Risk

Board documentation, fund governance policies, conflict of interest protocols, and risk management frameworks tailored to each fund type.

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Donor & Stakeholder Communications

Acknowledgment letters, tax receipts, annual summaries, and donor-facing communications prepared and distributed by ECF.

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Technology & Portal Access

Secure online portal for fund holders and advisors to view balances, activity, and reports — with white-label capability for larger advisor relationships.

Scope & Boundaries

What ECF does not do

Our role is clearly defined — and intentionally so. ECF operates as a charitable administrator and fiduciary. We are never in competition with your advisory relationship.

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We are not wealth managers

We do not manage, advise on, or direct investment assets. That remains entirely with you and your client’s investment team.

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We do not solicit your clients
ECF does not market to or solicit your clients independently. All client relationships are managed through you.

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We act as accountants & administrators
ECF’s role is to manage the charitable fund infrastructure — accounting, compliance, reporting, and disbursements — at the direction of your team.

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We act as fiduciaries
ECF serves as a fiduciary in managing charitable funds, ensuring all activity is in the best interest of the fund and compliant with IRS requirements.

Full-Service Infrastructure

Your brand,
our infrastructure.

For RIAs, family offices, and wealth management firms with significant philanthropic volume, ECF offers a white-label partnership model. Your clients experience a seamless branded philanthropic platform — powered entirely by ECF’s back-office.

This option is ideal for firms looking to deliver a proprietary charitable giving experience without building the compliance and administrative infrastructure from scratch.

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Branded client portal and documentation

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Custom reporting and communications templates

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Dedicated ECF relationship manager

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Volume-based fee arrangements available

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Suitable for multi-client philanthropic programs

How the Partnership Works

1

Initial Consultation

We meet with your team to understand your client base, volume, and program goals.

2

Agreement & Setup
Partnership terms are established. Branding, reporting formats, and workflows are configured.

3

Fund Onboarding

Client funds are onboarded under your branded program with ECF handling all back-end administration.

4

Ongoing Operations

ECF manages all fund activity. You receive consolidated reporting and dedicated advisor support.

Resources for Advisors

Tools to support
 your conversations

Resources to help you understand ECF’s capabilities and confidently introduce charitable giving to your clients.

Transparency

ECF Financials

Audited financials, Form 990s, Charity Navigator rating, and governance documents for advisor due diligence.

View Financials →

Client Materials

Materials for Your Clients

Leave-behind documents, fund overview sheets, and explainers you can share directly with philanthropic clients.

Download Materials →

Education

Fund Types Overview

A full breakdown of all 8 charitable fund structures ECF administers — with comparisons and use-case guidance.

Explore Fund Types →

Reference

FAQ

Answers to common advisor and client questions — covering fund structures, compliance, costs, and the setup process.

Read the FAQ →

Decision Tool

Advisor Charitable Fund Quiz

A structured decision tool that helps advisors identify the best charitable vehicle for specific client scenarios.

Take the Quiz →

Service

Philanthropic Advisory

High-touch strategic giving advisory for HNW clients — cause alignment, giving plans, and impact evaluation.

Learn More →

Ready to refer a client or explore a partnership?

Whether you’re opening a fund, enrolling in a program, or want to speak with an advisor — the next step starts here.

Schedule a Consult
Contact the Team