Frequently Asked Questions
Below you can find answers to the most common questions we field. If you have an outstanding inquiry, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
The Analyst Pledge
1.1. What is The Analyst Pledge?
We are a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of New York. Our mission is to motivate young professionals to start giving back today. Our donors are primarily young professionals who have pledged 1% of their bonus to charity every year.
1.2. If you are a nonprofit, why are you not registered as a 501(c)(3)?
Not registering The Analyst Pledge as a 501(c)(3) allows us to reduce legal and administrative costs, which in turn allows us to guarantee that 100% of your donation will flow to charitable causes.
1.3. What are your goals?
Our goal is to encourage young professionals to start giving back today.
1.4. Are you asking me to donate to The Analyst Pledge?
No - we are simply asking you to take and honor the pledge by donating either through our donor advised fund or directly to the charity of your choice. If, however, you would like to help our organization cover administrative costs, you are welcome to do so here.
1.5. How can I keep track of what happens to my contribution?
Upon taking the pledge, you will regularly be notified of any updates through our newsletter and personal correspondences. If you choose to support The Analyst Advised Fund’s Diversified Impact Portfolio (see 2.6), you can track the performance of the underlying portfolio here.
2. The Analyst Advised Fund
2.1. What is The Analyst Advised Fund?
The Analyst Advised Fund is a donor-advised fund created in conjunction with our partners at Impact Charitable. The fund allows our members to pool their contributions, which scales our collective impact.
Unlike other donor-advised funds, we are able to guarantee 100% of pledged funds will flow through to charitable causes.
2.2. What is a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund (“DAF”) is a giving vehicle established with a public charity. It allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Donors can contribute to the fund as frequently as they like, and then recommend grants to their favorite charities whenever it makes sense for them.
2.3. How does The Analyst Advised Fund differ from other donor-advised funds?
We are able to guarantee 100% of pledged funds will flow through to charitable causes. All administrative expenses are covered by our leadership team and generous donations directly to our organization. We also offer both public and private market investment opportunities.
2.4. How can I contribute to The Analyst Advised Fund?
We recommend a bank transfer as this incurs no fees. We also accept PayPal and credit / debit cards, with the payments processor taking a 1.9% fee.
2.5. Do you accept contributions in stock?
Yes. Please get in touch with us if you wish to discuss the mechanics.
2.6. What are my options once I have contributed to The Analyst Advised Fund?
Once you have contributed to The Analyst Advised Fund, you have three options:
(a) Diversified Impact Portfolio
Publicly-traded ESG investments managed by Cornerstone Capital, experts in social impact investing led by Erika Karp, the former Head of Global Sector Research at UBS Investment Bank.
(b) Direct Deals
Targeted private equity or debt investments in individual projects or businesses, sourced directly by Impact Charitable. This hands-on investment approach works directly with leading entrepreneurs solving our world’s most pressing issues.
(c) Grants
When you are ready, you can make a direct grant to a charity of your choice. Please note grants to international charities not registered as a United States 501(c)(3) public charity will incur a fee.
2.7. What sorts of returns can I expect my contribution to accumulate?
All contributors to The Analyst Advised Fund will receive quarterly portfolio updates.
The Diversified Impact Portfolio is benchmarked against the MSCI All Country World Index, which has a 10-year annualized return of 8.47% (as of May 2020). You can view up-to-date returns through Cornerstone Capital.
Direct Deals, due to their bespoke nature, have a more varied return profile. Historically, investors have seen a financial return of 3 - 5%.
2.8. Can I pull investment returns out of The Analyst Advised Fund?
Because the assets in the donor advised fund have been donated, they can’t be transferred back to you for your personal gain. However, the returns generated from your impact investments will allow you to ultimately give more away!
And don't forget, you are doubling your impact: first through the investment, and then through the grants you can give with the investment returns.
2.9. Do I have to contribute to The Analyst Advised Fund?
Not at all. We recommend The Analyst Advised Fund for members who are not yet sure which charitable cause they would like to support. If you have already made up your mind, we recommend donating directly to the charity of your choice. Both options fulfill your commitment to the pledge.
3. Taking the pledge
3.1. What does it mean to ‘take the pledge’?
“Taking the pledge” means that every year, you will be pledging 1% of your performance bonus to either the charity/charities of your choice or to our donor-advised fund (all of which will be going towards charitable causes). In addition, 100% of our incoming analysts pledged to give away 1% of their signing bonus.
3.2. Is this legally binding?
No, your pledge is not legally binding. Our goal, however, is to get as many members as possible to honor their pledge. We will send you periodic reminders via email to bring that goal to fruition.
3.3. What causes or charities can I contribute to?
As a donor, you can decide where to donate. Through our donor-advised fund, you can donate to one or more of our recommended charities. Alternatively, you can also donate directly to the charity of your choice. Both fulfill your commitment to the pledge.
3.4. I’m not sure what causes or charities I want to contribute to. Can you help me?
Of course! If you are unsure, a member of our team will reach out to you, so we can decide on a charity / charities that align(s) with your interest.
3.5. Why should I take the pledge instead of donating myself?
As a Pledge Member, you are under no obligation to donate through us – we are here to act as a support, resource, and encouragement tank. You can still donate yourself if you wish to send a check directly to a charity.
We are here to make it easier, more impactful, and provide you with add-on benefits. We will provide you with a curated list of charities we find are making a tangible impact, and gently remind you of your commitment to donate. Additionally, we will offer you access to our DAF, The Analyst Advised Fund, should you choose to invest in collective impact.
3.6. I’m already giving back. Why should I take the pledge?
It’s great that you are already giving back! Taking the pledge formalizes a longer-term commitment, and psychological studies (e.g. by Nobel laureate and behavioral economist, Thomas Schelling) have shown such types of commitment significantly increase the likelihood of sticking with one’s goals.
In addition, while no charitable effort is ever wasted, some are more impactful than others. Unfortunately, some charities have great causes but lack the efficiency and agency to fulfill their objectives. By way of careful research and evaluation of different global charities, we believe we can help you put your dollar where it will make the most difference.
Finally, if you choose to donate to The Analyst Advised Fund, the pooling of all our donations can scale up our collective impact.
3.7. I’m not an analyst. Can I still take the pledge?
Of course – you can hold any position at any company and still take the Pledge. Our name, The Analyst Pledge, is not a strict guideline on who can or cannot pledge. It is representative of the pledge and donor network we are initially targeting.
4. Membership
4.1. How do I become a member of The Analyst Pledge?
There are two types of membership: Pledge Membership and Donor Membership. To become a Pledge Member, click here – all you have to do is fill out the form. To achieve Donor Membership status, you have to provide proof of your charitable donation – either through our DAF or by sending us a receipt of your donation to an external charity.
4.2. What are my benefits as a member?
As a Pledge Member, you will have access to a large donor network across several firms and carefully researched information on how to maximize charitable impact. We will be reaching out you directly as well as sending newsletters.
Donor Member benefits are elaborated upon here and include tax-deductibility, bespoke charity evaluation and access to invite-only events.
4.3. I’m not yet ready to become a member, but I would like to help. What can I do?
That’s okay – not everyone is yet in a position to become a member! If you are a student, you can help by spreading the word. We also encourage you to take the pledge, so that once you are working you will be well-positioned to contribute.
If there is anything else holding you back, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here.