How Donor-Advised Funds Can Help More Children Reach the Medical Care They Need

For families with a child facing serious medical needs, accessing specialized care can be overwhelming—emotionally, financially, and logistically. Helping Wings exists to lift some of that burden by providing free flights to children who need to reach life-changing and often life-saving treatment.

As more donors explore strategic ways to support causes they care about, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have become one of the fastest-growing methods of charitable giving. Even if you’ve never heard of them before, there’s a good chance that someone you know uses one. And if you already have a DAF, you can use it to make a meaningful impact on the children and families we serve.

Here’s how DAFs work—and how they can directly support our mission.

What Is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)?

A donor-advised fund is like a charitable investment account. Donors contribute assets—such as cash, stocks, or other investments—to a DAF sponsor (like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or a local community foundation). They receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund to nonprofits over time.

In short, a DAF makes it simple for donors to give strategically while supporting the causes closest to their hearts.

 

Tip: Reach out to your child’s hospital social worker — they can connect you to trusted mental health professionals and local parent networks.

You Can Support Helping Wings Through Your DAF

 Even if you don’t see Helping Wings listed in your DAF’s online search tool, you can still recommend a grant. Most DAF sponsors allow you to enter a nonprofit’s information manually.

 

Here’s what you need:

Legal Name: Helping Wings
EIN: 33-3273314
Address: 3594 Medina Road Box 110 Medina, Ohio 44256
Email: Jason@helpingwings.org

 

Your DAF sponsor will handle the rest. Grants are then sent directly to Helping Wings to support our mission of flying children to the medical care they need.

How DAF Gifts Directly Impact Families

DAF grants allow Helping Wings to:

  • Increase the number of flights available to families

  • Offset the rising costs of fuel and aircraft maintenance

  • Support volunteer pilots in completing safe, reliable missions

  • Expand our reach so children who live far from specialized hospitals can still access care

  • Respond quickly when urgent transportation is needed

Every grant—large or small—helps us say “yes” to more families who are scared, hopeful, and trying to navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Already Have a DAF? You Can Make a Difference Today

Helping Wings accepts grants from:

  • Fidelity Charitable

  • Schwab Charitable

  • Vanguard Charitable

  • National Philanthropic Trust

  • Community foundations (including those in Medina, OH)

  • Corporate giving platforms such as Benevity and YourCause

If you need assistance recommending a grant or would like to discuss how your gift can support a specific program, our team is here to help.

Your Support Helps Us Reach More Children

For the families we serve, every mile matters. Every flight matters. And every donor makes a difference.

 

If you have a Donor-Advised Fund—or are considering opening one—we invite you to partner with Helping Wings in bringing hope, help, and healing to children who urgently need medical transportation.

 

Together, we can lift families up—one flight at a time.