You cannot deduct a contribution to a donor advised-fund if the sponsoring organization is a war veterans' organization, a fraternal society, or a nonprofit cemetery company. There are also other circumstances in which you cannot deduct your contribution to a donor-advised fund.

Generally, a donor-advised fund is a fund or account in which a donor can, because of being a donor, advise the fund how to distribute or invest amounts held in the fund. For details, see Internal Revenue Code section 170(f)(18).

Additional information is available at the IRS website Donor-Advised Funds.