Trend to Watch: Donor Advised Funds

As you move forward, it’s essential to monitor and assess organization-specific results while keeping an eye on other factors and trends in philanthropy that will undoubtedly come into play in the next three-to-five-year development strategies.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS (DAFs): National Philanthropic Trust’s DAF Report counts $34.67 billion being given from DAFs to charities of every size. More donors are selecting DAFs as their “charitable bank account,” and while the payout rate is increasing, there are still billions of dollars held in accounts not being used.

Organizations can make a stronger and more strategic effort to engage with donors who hold DAF accounts and ask for larger from these donors.

DAFs are no longer a niche and should be included in the strategic conversations for membership, major gifts, and planned giving.