Education & Resources
Learn to Give More Strategically
ECF’s education platform brings together live events, structured programs, expert webinars, video and podcast libraries, case studies, and in-depth written resources — everything you need to become a more effective and informed philanthropist.
Quarterly Events
Philanthropy Touch Event Series
Quarterly in-person gatherings bringing together fund holders, philanthropists, advisors, and industry leaders for focused conversation at the intersection of philanthropy and culture. Held at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club.
Celebrity Philanthropy: An Insider’s Guide
An insider’s look at how celebrities structure charitable campaigns, establish named funds, and create lasting philanthropic legacies.
Music & Philanthropy
Exploring how the music industry intersects with charitable giving — from artist-driven funds to royalty donations and music-focused fiscal sponsorships.
Sports Philanthropy
How athletes, sports organizations, and leagues are building impactful charitable platforms — from scholarship funds to community initiatives.
Health & Wellness Philanthropy
A focused evening on charitable giving in the health and wellness sector — disease research, mental health advocacy, and wellness-driven fund structures.
Programs
Accelerator & Coaching Programs
Developed by ECF Founder Kent Seton, the Accelerator series teaches the “Business of People” — a framework for scaling charitable enterprises through relationships, storytelling, and strategic social capital.
Webinar Series
Charitable Structures Deep Dive
Expert-led webinars for financial advisors and fund holders navigating donor advised funds, private foundations, and charitable giving structures.
Navigating Charitable Structures Like a Pro
Kent Seton and Kirk Scott joined Investment News — a preeminent wealth management publication — for a live deep dive into charitable fund structures. Ideal for advisors looking to elevate philanthropic conversations with high-net-worth clients.
Digital Library
Video & Podcast Resources
On-demand content covering fiscal sponsorship, DAF structures, philanthropy strategy, and written guides — built for newcomers and experienced fund holders alike.
Video Library
Educational Video Series
Short-form video guides covering fiscal sponsorship models, DAF structures, 501(c)(3) basics, and the differences between fund types.
7 Videos Available
Podcast
PhilanthropyTouch Podcast
Conversations on charitable giving, fund strategy, and the intersection of philanthropy with business, culture, and impact.
Episodes + Teasers
Blog
Written Articles & Guides
In-depth articles on fiscal sponsorship agreements, DAF limitations, charitable fund structures, and compliance.
10+ Articles
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers covering fund types, compliance, costs, earmarking rules, and the application process — organized by topic.
Organized by Topic
From the Blog
Recent Articles & Guides
Practical knowledge on charitable fund structures, fiscal sponsorship law, and philanthropic strategy — written by ECF Founder Kent Seton and the ECF team.
Donor Advised Funds: An Overview
What’s wrong with Donor Advised Funds? Absolutely, nothing. Drew Lindsay of the Chronicle of Philanthropy (the leading publication on all things related to current events of philanthropy) published in an Article January 17, 2019, that assets under the management of donor advised funds have grown to over 110 billion dollars in 2017. In the National […]
Showing 6 of 10+ articles — covering fiscal sponsorship, DAFs, compliance, and charitable strategy.
Case Studies
ECF Fund Success Stories
Real examples across fund types, industries, and client profiles — from Silicon Valley incubators and celebrity campaigns to international grant-making and NBA scholarship funds.
ECF served as the charitable umbrella for a leading incubator’s social enterprise portfolio — including oversight of a multi-million dollar Gates Foundation grant.
A high-net-worth donor used ECF’s flexible DAF to invest charitable funds in real estate — a deal that has since grown more than 25% while supporting a youth charity.
ECF helped award close to $1M in prizes to young female social entrepreneurs under 18 — including a 14-year-old who built an AI app for Alzheimer’s patients.
ECF helped an A-list celebrity raise hundreds of thousands in micro-donations via crowdfunding in just 30 days — disbursing to a disease charity.
A highly regarded NBA athlete established a named scholarship fund under ECF’s umbrella — funding underprivileged youth without the overhead of a standalone 501(c)(3).
ECF partnered with a private foundation unable to make foreign grants to execute international disbursements with full compliance — opening a compliant path to global philanthropy.
Showing 6 of 9 case studies — covering DAFs, fiscal sponsorships, international giving, and more.
ECF Projects
Innovative & Corporate Charitable Projects
A showcase of the nonprofits and corporations that have established charitable projects under the ECF umbrella — spanning tech, education, food, media, environment, and more.
Fundraising tools that powered the 2022 Jingle Jams — raising over €3.4M — and doubled the National Children Alliance’s initial fundraising goal.
Delivered a free research program for high school students covering pandemics and epidemiology during COVID-19.
Defending the rights of children and women worldwide through media while educating the industry about these critical issues.
Funded over $1.5M in free classes for families in need during COVID-19, serving tens of thousands of students and 4,000+ teachers.
On a mission to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone.
A new model for funding early stage startups — working intensively for three months to shape companies and refine pitches.
Funding research, encouraging collaboration, and raising awareness to identify a cure for Visual Snow Syndrome.
Building an inclusive economy to accelerate women tech entrepreneurs and close the funding gap.
Showcasing ECF’s innovative and corporate charitable project portfolio — across tech, education, environment, media, and more.
FAQ
Common Questions
The most frequently asked questions from fund holders and their advisors. The full FAQ goes deeper on fund types, compliance, and costs.
What is a fiscal sponsor fund?
ECF operates under Model A (comprehensive) and Model C (pre-approved grant) sponsorships. ECF is the recognized 501(c)(3) umbrella — receiving all funds, ensuring charitable disbursements, and filing the annual Form 990 on behalf of fund holders.
Can funds be earmarked for specific individuals?
No — earmarking for a specific individual is not permitted under charitable law for either DAFs or fiscal sponsorships. DAFs may support qualified charities that assist individuals, while fiscal sponsorships have slightly more flexibility, though the same core restriction applies.
Can one 501(c)(3) umbrella run both a DAF and a fiscal sponsor fund?
Yes. ECF allows fund holders to operate both a donor advised fund and a fiscally sponsored project simultaneously under its umbrella. Each structure has distinct rules, and ECF is structured to support both.
Whose income is it when the sponsor receives funds?
Per industry standards, all proceeds received by a fiscal sponsor on behalf of any charitable fund are treated as income of the sponsor at the time of receipt. This is consistent across virtually all fiscal sponsor agreements.
Ready to Put Your
Philanthropy to
Work?
Whether you’re opening a fund, enrolling in a program, or want to speak with an advisor — the next step starts here.