Dear neighbor,
This is our promise: At the Cambridge Community Foundation, advancing community is our north star.
We are a steadfast supporter of the nonprofit sector and a committed philanthropic partner to our donor community. In this time—as always—we stand firm in our commitment to address community needs and to walk in partnership with our donor-advised fund (DAF) holders as their partner in giving.
Last week, The New York Times reported that Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable, two of the largest DAF providers in the country, chose to block their fundholders from making grants to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), citing a Department of Justice investigation, even though SPLC's 501c3 status is still active. SPLC is a nonprofit organization with a robust history of championing critical civil rights work in this country.
This story caught our attention because of our constant drive towards equity and justice, and the bigger question it raises about what power our DAF holders have and what agency they should have to make decisions about where their money goes. As a foundation that believes in trust-based philanthropy, whether it is a national or local issue, we would not block grants based on a pending legal investigation. We are committed to empowering our donors to invest in the world they want to see.
CCF will continue to support our DAF holders in expressing their values through their philanthropic giving. In a precarious economic environment—where nonprofits have never been asked to do more—we remain steadfast in our century-old promise: we are your mission-aligned philanthropic partner. And, we always will be.
Our DAF holders play a critical role in ensuring positive social change can flourish in Cambridge and beyond. In 2025, they made 279 grants to nonprofits, investing in our community's wellbeing and the organizations they care most about. We thank them for their trust in us, and we return that trust in kind.
If you'd like to learn more about DAFs at the Cambridge Community Foundation, please contact Michal Rubin, vice president of philanthropic partnerships, at [email protected] to start the conversation.
In partnership,
Geeta Pradhan
President & CEO
