A Fully Outsourced Solution
Complete back-office.
Zero operational burden.
ECF assumes full 501(c)(3) operational responsibility — accounting, HR, legal, compliance, reporting, and grants management — so you and your clients can focus on doing good.
Proven Track Record
$350M
Deployed in charitable funds
18
Years of expertise
What ECF Assumes
- Full accounting & financial reporting
- HR, payroll & fiduciary oversight
- Legal compliance & contract review
- Domestic & international grants management
- Governance & regulatory oversight
ECF's fully outsourced platform is unmatched — removing the operational burden and regulatory risk associated with managing 501(c)(3) charitable funds, all at a fair and reasonable cost.
Charity Navigator
4 out of 4 stars
Independently audited 501(c)(3)
Accounting & Finance
Full-charge accounting,
handled entirely
Our comprehensive accounting approach handles every dimension of your clients’ charitable finances — from daily transactions to year-end filings — with precision and full transparency.
Bill Payment & Receivables
Full management of accounts payable and receivable — all vendor payments, invoices, and incoming funds processed on behalf of each fund through a secure bill payment portal with full tracking.
Payroll, W-2 & 1099 Reporting
Complete payroll processing, W-2 preparation for employees, W-9 collection, and 1099 reporting for contractors and vendors — all filed accurately and on time in full compliance with IRS requirements.
Monthly Financial Statements
Clear, professionally prepared financial statements delivered monthly — giving clients and their advisors a complete picture of fund activity, balances, and disbursements at all times.
Bank Account Management
Full management of fund bank accounts including transaction monitoring, authorization controls, and ongoing reconciliation — ensuring every dollar is tracked and accounted for at all times.
Bank & Investment Reconciliations
Monthly bank and investment account reconciliations to ensure accuracy across all fund balances, including investment account reconciliations for funds with managed portfolios. *
Charitable Receipt Generation
IRS-compliant charitable gift receipts generated and issued for all donor contributions — ensuring donors have proper documentation for their tax deductions and funds maintain required records.
End-of-Year Reporting
Comprehensive year-end financial reporting packages prepared for each fund, providing clients and their advisors with everything needed for annual review, tax filing, and planning for the year ahead.
Non-Cash Gift Reporting
Specialized reporting for non-cash charitable gifts — including stock, real estate, and other in-kind contributions — ensuring accurate valuation, acknowledgment, and IRS-compliant documentation. *
Domestic & International Grants
Full grant disbursement accounting for both domestic and international grants — including tracking, documentation, and compliance with IRS rules governing international grant-making from U.S. 501(c)(3)s.
* Denotes services subject to additional requirements or fund type eligibility. Contact ECF for details.
Grants Management
Domestic & international grants, fully managed
ECF handles the complete grants lifecycle — from charity verification and due diligence through disbursement, documentation, and IRS reporting — for both domestic and international grant-making.
Domestic Grants
U.S.-based charitable disbursements
Full management of all domestic grant-making — ensuring every disbursement meets IRS requirements, is properly documented, and is reported accurately in fund financial statements.
- Grant recipient due diligence & eligibility verification
- Instant Charity Check tool for real-time IRS status verification
- Grant agreement preparation and execution
- Disbursement processing and payment tracking
- Grant accounting and statement documentation
- Grants oversight and reporting compliance
International Grants
Cross-border charitable disbursements
ECF navigates the complex IRS rules governing international grant-making from U.S. 501(c)(3)s — including equivalency determination, expenditure responsibility, and proper documentation protocols.
- International grants rules compliance & oversight
- Equivalency determination for foreign grantees
- Expenditure responsibility procedures
- Foreign recipient due diligence & verification
- Cross-border disbursement processing
- IRS reporting and documentation for international grants
Human Resources & Administration
Full HR responsibility,
fully outsourced
ECF assumes complete HR and administrative responsibility under our 501(c)(3) — eliminating the burden and liability of managing employees and contractors within a charitable structure.
Human Resources
All employee and contractor administration managed under ECF’s framework
- HR Administration & Policy Management
- Payroll Processing & Direct Deposit
- W-2 Preparation & Filing
- W-9 Collection & Vendor Management
- 1099 Reporting for Contractors
- Employee Benefits Coordination
- Compensation Compliance & Rules Adherence
- Fiduciary Oversight Under 501(c)(3)
General Administration
Operational management so nothing falls through the cracks
- HR Administration & Policy Management
- Payroll Processing & Direct Deposit
- W-2 Preparation & Filing
- W-9 Collection & Vendor Management
- 1099 Reporting for Contractors
- Employee Benefits Coordination
- Compensation Compliance & Rules Adherence
- Fiduciary Oversight Under 501(c)(3)
ECF assumes HR, fiduciary, administrative, and operational responsibility under our established 501(c)(3) framework — so you and your clients can focus entirely on having a positive philanthropic impact.
Unparalleled Expertise
Unparalleled
regulatory expertise
.
ECF offers unparalleled expertise, support, and resources surrounding 501(c)(3) compliance — with a team that actively monitors ever-evolving rules and applies best practices across every area of charitable law.
ECF's Commitment
ECF assumes full legal and compliance responsibility — so your clients are always protected, always current, and never exposed.
Areas of Compliance Expertise
General Administration & Governance
Core 501(c)(3) oversight and operational governance
General 501(c)(3) Administration
Governance & Reporting
Attorney General Rules Adherence
Best Practices
Do's & Don'ts
Tips & Tricks for Doing Good
Financial & Tax Rules
IRS, investment, and deductibility compliance
Donor Advised Fund Rules
Charitable Gifts Deductibility
Investment Rules
Self-dealing Rules
Compensation Rules
Fundraising Rules & Regulations
Grants & Legal Review
Grant compliance, contracts, and international rules
International Grants Rules
Grants Oversight
Contract Review
Legal Compliance Review
Instant Charity Check Tool
Educational Events
Governance & Risk Protection
Full governance
assumed by ECF
ECF takes on the full fiduciary and governance responsibility that comes with operating a 501(c)(3) — protecting your clients from the exposure that comes with mismanagement, errors, or regulatory non-compliance.
Managing a charitable fund without professional oversight creates serious exposure. Self-dealing violations, governance failures, improper compensation, and reporting deficiencies carry significant legal and financial risk. ECF eliminates that risk entirely by assuming operational responsibility under our established 501(c)(3) umbrella.
Self-Dealing Protection
ECF actively monitors and guards against self-dealing violations — one of the most common and costly compliance failures for private foundations and donor advised funds. Full protection built in.
Full-Charge Accounting
Bill payment, payroll, receivables, bank reconciliations, investment account reconciliations, and reporting for non-cash charitable gifts.
Proprietary Technology
Purpose-built software with secure client portal, real-time dashboards, AI integrations, automated reconciliations, and white-label capability.
Disbursements & Grants
Weekly checks, wires, and ACH disbursements. Domestic and international grants managed with full charity check verification and oversight.
HR & Payroll
Complete human resources infrastructure — payroll, W-2s, 1099 reporting, compensation rules compliance, and contract review managed end-to-end.
Educational Events
Ongoing philanthropic education — accelerator programs, webinars, events, and direct access to best practices from a team with 100+ years of combined experience.
ECF assumes HR, fiduciary, administrative, and operational responsibility under our established 501(c)(3) framework — so you and your clients can focus entirely on having a positive philanthropic impact.
The Case for Outsourcing
Why leading advisors
partner with ECF
Managing a 501(c)(3) is a full-time compliance exercise — and that’s not where your firm’s value lies. ECF is the gold standard outsourced back-office for fiscal sponsorship and donor advised funds, trusted by business managers, RIAs, family offices, and wealth managers nationwide.
Risk Mitigation
Full protection from self-dealing issues, compensation errors, accounting deficiencies, governance failures, and tax compliance exposure — handled entirely under ECF's 501(c)(3) framework.
Outsourced Governance
ECF assumes HR, fiduciary, administrative, and operational responsibility under our established 501(c)(3) so you and your clients can concentrate on philanthropic strategy and impact.
Transparent Reporting
Monthly financial statements and year-end reporting deliver clarity, financial oversight, and disciplined transparency that builds trust with donors, advisors, partners, and your teams.
Operational Efficiency
Removes administrative burden and streamlines charitable operations through proven systems, best practices, and purpose-built technology — eliminating friction and reducing errors.
White-Glove Support
A dedicated, highly responsive team that understands each client's unique philanthropic mission, goals, and circumstances — providing personalized support at every stage.
Complete Service Reference
Every service,
in one place
The full exhaustive list of back-office services ECF provides — organized by category for easy reference. Every service below is included within ECF’s outsourced platform.
Accounting & Finance
12 Services
Full-Charge Accounting
Bill Payment
Receivables Management
Monthly Financial Statements
End-of-Year Reporting
Bank Account Management
Bank Reconciliations
Investment Account Reconciliations
Charitable Receipt Generation
Invoice Tracking
Expected Donations Tracking
Reporting for Non-Cash Charitable Gifts
Payroll, HR & Administration
8 Services
HR Administration
Payroll Processing
W-2 Preparation & Filing
W-9 Collection
1099 Reporting
Compensation Compliance
Fiduciary HR Oversight
General 501(c)(3) Administration
Legal & Compliance
16 Services
Compliance & Governance Oversight
Legal Compliance & Contract Review
Attorney General Rules Adherence
Self-dealing Rules Monitoring
Donor Advised Fund Rules
Charitable Gifts Deductibility
Investment Rules Compliance
Fundraising Rules & Regulations
Compensation Rules
Governance & Reporting
Fiduciary Oversight
Best Practices Advisory
Do's & Don'ts Guidance
Instant Charity Check Tool
Educational Events
Human Resources Compliance
Grants Management
8 Services
Domestic Grants Management
International Grants Management
International Grants Rules Compliance
Grants Oversight & Monitoring
Charity Eligibility Verification
Grant Agreement Management
Disbursement Processing & Tracking
Gifts & Grants Tracking (Platform)
Reporting & Transparency
8 Services
Monthly Financial Statements
End-of-Year Financial Reporting
Governance & Compliance Reporting
Donation & Disbursement Tracking
Automated Reconciliations & Reporting
Financial Statements Archive
Access to Relevant Legal Documents
Charitable Fundraising Event Tracking
Client Support & Service
4 Services
White-Glove Support Team
Dedicated Client Relationship Management
Philanthropic Advisory Support
Educational Events & Resources
* Investment account reconciliations and non-cash gift reporting are subject to additional requirements. Contact ECF to confirm eligibility for your fund structure.
Get Started Today
Ready to outsource
the rest?
Join the advisors, family offices, and business managers who trust ECF to handle the complete back-office for their clients’ charitable funds — at a fair and reasonable cost.