For Andy, a Pike Place Market resident, buying healthy food close to home can be difficult on a limited income. The Protein Bucks program matches a portion of his food benefits, giving him more to spend on fish, meat, eggs, and dairy at participating Market businesses. 

“Pike Bucks gives me extra money so I can last through the month. Otherwise, I don’t have any money left at the end of the month for food.” ~ Andy 

The program helps Andy stretch his budget while also supporting the Market merchants he buys from.  

Andy is one of many people who call Pike Place Market home. Known around the world for its fish, flowers, restaurants, and crafts, it is also a place where people live, work, learn, and raise families. Residents, farmers, craftspeople, and small business owners all help shape its daily life.  

With your support, the Pike Place Market Foundation helps people in this community connect with critical services and resources to thrive. That means healthy food, a safe place to live, and a doctor when they need care. It means childcare, a job, and a chance to pursue their goals. And it means feeling part of a community that cares. 

These parts of life affect one another. Affordable food can leave more room in a household budget for rent or a doctor’s visit. Childcare gives children a place to learn while their parents work. Having people to turn to can make it easier to find help when life gets challenging.  

The Foundation works with trusted community partners and supports programs that respond to these connected needs. 

For many years, supporters have given to the Foundation through donor-advised funds, or
DAFs. Together with other donations, these gifts help fund its Legacy  Partners, which provide food, healthcare, early learning and childcare, assisted living, and activities that help older adults stay active and connected. 

This support also helps the Foundation respond as needs emerge. After the floods of 2025 affected many Market farmers, the Foundation launched the Farm Fund. To date, the fund has distributed more than $800,000 in grants to help farmers cover the costs of equipment, seeds, and bulbs so they can keep farming and earning a living. Support from across the broader community, including DAF grants, helped make this response possible.  

With DAF Day approaching on October 8, we’ve partnered with longtime corporate supporter Brighton Jones, whose work centers on helping people align their wealth with their passions and purpose. Together, we’re sharing how donor-advised funds can help you support the causes and communities you care about. 

What is a donor-advised fund? 

A donor-advised fund (DAF) works like a charitable savings account. The donor contributes money or investments, which may be eligible for a tax deduction in that year (subject to applicable tax rules and limitations). They can then recommend grants to specific charities whenever they’re ready, whether that’s next month or over the next decade.

DAFs are generally offered through custodians and community foundations and can often be easily opened online. A donor’s advisor can help decide where to open one and whether funding it with appreciated stock, rather than cash, make sense for the donor.  

Your contribution is permanent: DAF contributions are irrevocable. The donor may retain advisory granting privileges, but the sponsoring organization has legal control over the assets.  

Brighton Jones highlights several ways a DAF can help you plan your giving: 

• Support causes on your schedule. Contribute to the account, then recommend grants to one or more charities when you’re ready. 

• Make giving a regular habit. Some sponsors offer automatic monthly or annual grants, making it easier to provide steady support. 

• Allow for potential growth. Funds may be invested before grants are made, with the potential to increase the amount available for charitable giving. For the avoidance of doubt, invested assets can also lose value, and the amount available for future grants is not guaranteed. 

• Plan for possible tax benefits. Contributions may qualify for a deduction in the year you contribute to the DAF, even if grants go to charities later. Eligibility and limits depend on your circumstances. 

To explore whether a DAF fits your giving plans, read Brighton Jones’ guide to donor-advised funds. A qualified tax or financial advisor can help you understand your options. 

However you choose to give, your support helps the Foundation connect people to what they need to live healthy lives, pursue their goals, and care for one another. It’s how we support the people at the heart of Pike Place Market. 

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Thank you to Brighton Jones for sharing their expertise on donor-advised funds.  

Brighton Jones helps individuals and families align their resources with their values, passions, and purpose. Its approach to financial planning and charitable giving helps clients pursue their goals and support the causes and communities they care about. That commitment extends to the firm’s own community investments, including its longstanding support for food access and small businesses through the Pike Place Market Foundation. 

Learn more about Brighton Jones’ approach to financial wellbeing and purposeful giving.  

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. For individualized advice tailored to your specific circumstances, please consult with your adviser.  

A note on privacy: The name used in the Protein Bucks story has been changed to respect the individual’s privacy.