Should I use a donor advised fund for my philanthropy?

Another option for making charitable gifts within your estate plan is to use a donor advised fund or annuity. A donor advised fund works by first transferring gifted assets into the fund. Although you will no longer own the assets, you will be able to direct how the funds are used. If you gift to an annuity, you will also be able to choose the beneficiary who will receive the benefits from the annuity.