Frequently Asked Questions.
Neta is a 501(c)(3) public charity that offers a next-generation Donor Advised Fund (DAF) platform. Unlike traditional DAFs, Neta lets donors make GrantVestments™—catalytic, impact-driven investments that blend philanthropy and venture capital. Think of us as the turnkey engine running an entirely new asset class. We provide the systems and infrastructure to fast-track investment in ambitious science or projects often overlooked by traditional investors.
A GrantVestment is a hybrid between a philanthropic grant and an investment (most often, though not exclusively, venture style). It deploys philanthropic capital (i.e., money in your DAF) to causes or technologies that aim to create an important and lasting impact on humanity (including deep tech and scientific research) with the potential for financial return—which goes back into your DAF for reinvestment or future grants.
Neta is a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. Among other activities, Neta manages DAFs and deploys capital under IRS rules while innovating on how that capital can be used.
Correct, Neta can make for profit investments as long as they are aligned with our mission.
Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. You get an upfront tax deduction when contributing cash, appreciated securities, or other assets into your Neta DAF—just like with any major DAF provider. For private foundations, contributions to a Neta DAF count towards the 5% yearly mandatory distribution.
Any financial return from a GrantVestment flows back into your Neta DAF—so you can redeploy it into additional philanthropic or impact opportunities. Just as with any other DAFs, you are not allowed to personally benefit from investment returns.
No. GrantVestments are made via your DAF using philanthropic capital, therefore accreditation is not required. Neta itself is the investing entity and is an accredited investor.
You can recommend investments in high-impact startups, mission-aligned funds, or existing or expanded projects being conducted at university and breakthrough research facilities. Neta as a platform can also scope and create a GrantVestment based on your areas of focus and desired impact. The platform focuses on breakthrough opportunities in sectors that usually attract philanthropic capital, such as healthcare/health-tech, climate-tech, education, and financial inclusion.
Investors are typically compelled to invest with a mix of the following factors:
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Flexibility & transparency of the platform.
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Desired impact and personal mission alignment with a fund, startup, or project.
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Tax optimization and efficiency,
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Opportunistic investing into early, access-constrained, and often high-impact deals.
The most common response we hear from investors: “I didn’t know my DAF could do that!”.
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We have interesting and diverse opportunities across funds and startups - available to invest in today. You can learn more and explore here: https://www.netafoundation.org/grantvestments.
Given Neta is a 501(c)(3) public charity, you can recommend a grant from your existing DAF to Neta (just like you would recommend a grant to any other charity). This transfers your philanthropic capital into your Neta DAF, enabling you to make GrantVestments.
Just like other DAFs, we charge fees based on the assets you hold with us. Differently from asset managers, these fees are not to enrich us (we are a non-profit!), but rather to support our operational budget. Think of these fees as a grant to us to support our operations. If our fees exceed what we need to operate on a sustainable basis, we rebate them back to you. The more we grow, the lower the fees.
We can work with you in a variety of ways. At the most basic level, you can pick from our pre-screened and curated list of GrantVestments. Or you can suggest your own investment that you would like to make and Neta will screen it, and if accepted, make the investment from your DAF, and even allow for other donors to join in if they like it. At the other end of the spectrum, some donors come to us with an area of impact that they want to tackle and we will get involved hands on with identifying GrantVestments to meet their needs.
You can set up a DAF with Neta and recommend GrantVestments with just a few clicks. No personal KYC, no investment docs, no legal friction.
The Neta platform provides a donor dashboard where you can discover, track, and receive updates on your GrantVestments, including goal progress, metrics, and data room.
Neta handles all execution, aggregation, and compliance—so you don’t have to.
Neta acts like a single investor (similar to a special purpose vehicle), streamlining cap table management. Founders don’t need to handle multiple small investors or additional legal docs. You only onboard Neta once and there is no look-through to who is behind the recommendation to invest.
Yes. Neta can invest alongside other investors at every scale and stage, and your fundraising documentation can remain as it is. Despite being a non-profit, we look and feel like a “normal” for-profit investor.