Glossary
Board of Directors
The leadership group that guides a nonprofit’s strategy and financial stewardship.
Capital Campaign
A fundraising initiative for big, long-term investments — like endowments or facility improvements.
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
A company’s efforts to give back — often through employee giving, partnerships, or matching gifts.
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
A giving account where you make a contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend donations to nonprofits over time.
Financial Advisor
A professional who helps individuals manage their money — often guiding clients in making charitable donations or setting up legacy gifts.
Financial Planner
A licensed expert who helps individuals make decisions about money — including charitable giving and estate planning.
Impact Report
A summary of what your donation helped achieve — often including metrics, stories, and financial transparency.
Legacy Giving
A planned gift made through your estate, will, or trust — a powerful way to leave a lasting impact on the causes you care about.
Matching Gift
When an employer matches an employee’s donation to double (or sometimes triple!) its impact.
Mission-Aligned Giving
Support directed toward organizations whose values and goals match your personal or philanthropic vision.
Planned Giving
A form of giving arranged in advance through financial or estate planning, often offering long-term benefits for both the donor and the nonprofit.
Private School
A school providing preschool, elementary, middle and/or high school to students, and charges tuition. The school relies primarily on tuition and private donations from individuals and foundations, with minimal support from state or federal funds.
Private School Scholarship
Financial aid that helps families afford private school tuition, often based on income eligibility. The BASIC Fund specializes in providing these opportunities to low-income families in the Bay Area.
Public Charter School
A school providing elementary, middle and/or high school to students at no charge. The school relies both on state and federal funds, but also private donations from individuals and foundations.
Public District School
A school providing elementary (K-5th grade), middle (6th-8th grade) and/or high (9th-12th grade) school to students at no charge. The school relies primarily on state and federal government funds.
Restricted Gift
A donation that’s earmarked for a specific purpose or program (e.g., scholarships in a certain region).
Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)
A nonprofit that provides scholarships to help students attend private schools. In some states, donations to SGOs may qualify for tax credit. If ECCA passes, a tax credit will be available in every state for donations to certain SGOs.
School Choice
The ability for families to choose the educational path that best fits their child — whether public, private, or charter — often supported through programs like The BASIC Fund.
Tax-Advantaged Giving
A donation strategy designed to reduce your tax liability while making a meaningful impact — for example, giving through an SGO or donor-advised fund.
