DAF Spotlight: Baton Roots

Baton Roots: Powered by Generosity & Growing the Future

On November 25, 2024, The Walls Project received a generous $25,000 Donor Advised Fund (DAF) gift, anonymously directed through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, to support our Baton Roots program. This flexible funding came at the perfect moment, right before we launched our very first Agroforestry Apprenticeship cohort.

The gift allowed us to continue programming our monthly Sow Good Saturday events, where neighbors and volunteers come together to grow thousands of pounds of fresh produce in gardens with no fences...just food for all. These gatherings not only nourish families but also deepen our engagement with local residents, strengthening Baton Roots as a hub of community ownership and connection.

At the same time, these funds helped us lay the foundation for the Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program, a year-long workforce development initiative equipping participants with hands-on skills in horticulture, arboriculture, and green infrastructure. In partnership with Baton Rouge Green and local experts, apprentices train at Baton Roots Community Farm and other community sites, planting trees, maintaining gardens, and assisting with educational outreach. By merging agriculture and forestry, agroforestry promotes biodiversity, improves soil quality, and builds climate resilience, while preparing the next generation for green careers.

What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable giving account that allows donors to make a contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants to nonprofits over time. Think of it as a flexible philanthropic tool that makes giving easier, more strategic, and often more impactful.

DAFs are one of the fastest-growing vehicles for philanthropy in the U.S., and they give donors the ability to support organizations like The Walls Project in ways that are both timely and transformative.

Do You Have a Donor Advised Fund?

You can recommend a grant from your DAF directly to The Walls Project and put your wealth to work building murals, food forests, and after-school safe spaces across Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado.

How to give through your DAF:

1. Contact your fund sponsor (such as Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or Vanguard Charitable).

2. Recommend a grant to The Walls Project (Tax ID/EIN: 45-5485171).

3. Let us know so we can thank you and share the impact of your gift!

Have questions? Email us at support@thewallsproject.org.