I've used them for many years.....though I send highly-appreciated Mutual Fund shares to Fidelity Charitable.
You report the initial $$ donation as going to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund. The $$ are used immediately as a tax-deductible donation for that year, even if some of your donation$$ aren't actually "granted"-out until a later year.
Anything that goes out from the donor advised fund is not recorded in your taxes.
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The gift fund then allows you to send out $$ anonymously to charities (if you choose to do so).......which I also do for special situations (Hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, Maui Fires...etc) which thus allows you to NOT get on their annoying mailing lists for the next 50 years (other than the ones you are already on)
____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
