# Chariot — full content > Donor-advised fund infrastructure for nonprofits. Full markdown of all published resources. # Pages ## About - Source: https://givechariot.com/about - Published: 2025-11-10 > Learn how Chariot is transforming DAF giving with modern technology, education, and industry collaboration to help unlock more impact. ### Connecting the giving ecosystem.. ### Building momentum for modern giving ### Technology ### Education ### Campaigns ### Purpose-built technology. Purpose-driven thinkers. ### Closing the feedback loop ### The power of proactive giving ### If at first you don’t succeed ### Giving infrastructure for greater impact ### Made to move missions forward. **Chariot started with a simple idea: give 10% of our income to charity. But managing that commitment on spreadsheets quickly showed us how outdated and fragmented the giving infrastructure really was.** Our founders, first built MyTen, a dedicated card to help people hit their 10% giving goal together. Along the way, they learned that Donor\-Advised Funds help a fast\-growing number of people with their giving goals — but also fall short of their full potential since they couldn’t be used like the MyTen card wherever someone is inspired to give online. Salo Serfati, Aaron Kahane & Drew Schneider applied to Y\-Combinator with the idea of a DAF payment option to unlock more generosity. After being accepted to the renowned start\-up accelerator, they quit their jobs and Chariot was officially off to the races. The team kept learning more from donors, nonprofits and DAFs, evolving their mission from a payment option to a purpose\-built financial infrastructure that makes giving seamless for donors and sustainable for nonprofits. ### Our story ### Backed by the best. Leading with purpose. ### Recognized for DAF giving innovation ### The most innovative companies of 2025 ### Why Charities Need DAF Donations ### Donors Who Give Through DAFs Tend to Be Generous Contributors ### The guiding principles 
behind everything we build ### Protection ### Passion ### Performance ### Build the infrastructure to activate $326B in giving --- ## Booking Confirmation - Source: https://givechariot.com/booking-confirmation - Published: 2026-03-10 ### Booking confirmed! ### Resources that keep on giving ### With DAFpay, Blood Cancer United Builds New $2.6 Million Channel with 1,700+ donors. ### AI & Gift Processing: How Nonprofits Are Automating Gift Coding ### Chariot Launches First Gift Processing Platform for Nonprofits ### Unprecedented Insights into Donor Advised Fund Giving ### What’s Ahead in DAF Fundraising 2026 --- ## Careers - Source: https://givechariot.com/careers - Published: 2025-11-10 > Join Chariot and shape financial infrastructure for the DAF industry. Empower nonprofits to achieve their visions. Explore our open roles today. ### Build the future of giving with us ### Work that matters. People who care. ### If Chariot wins, the world might become a much better place. ### Why you have so much to gain from taking a bet on yourself. ### If at first you don’t succeed ### Impact you can
shape every day ### Widely adopted Chariot is powering generosity at scale with 60,000 nonprofits \- and we’re just getting started. ### Transformative outcomes Nonprofit organizations doing good are doing better on Chariot. Don't just take our word for it. ### Recognized as innovators Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and Time’s Best Inventions of 2025. ### Backed by |purpose-driven fintech investors| ### Chariot is built for builders Our team includes alumni from Palantir, MongoDB, Bain, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, AWS, and more — over 25% of our team are former founders. ### Hear it from our team ### Benefits you'll only find here ### Nonprofit Volunteering ### DAF Matching & Daily Giving ### Offsites ### Hackathons ### Everything else you need to thrive ### 100% employer paid medical benefits ### 18 days PTO and 13 holidays ### Dinner is on us after 8PM ### 100% paid parental leave, including 12 weeks for primary caregivers ### 401Ks for employees to contribute pre-tax dollars ### Weekly team lunches and monthly team building events --- ## Chariot Pricing - Source: https://givechariot.com/chariot-pricing - Published: 2026-03-16 ### Flexible pricing that works for you Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. ### Gift Processing Receive payments and donation data automatically from our grantmaker partners that send Disbursements through Chariot. Organize and display your gift data using advanced filters, customizable tables and saved workflow views. Connect additional payment sources to Chariot \(e.g., Fidelity, Benevity, CyberGrants, YourCause, PayPal, and Ren\). Receive and manage mailed checks digitally, with Chariot handling check deposits and donation data extraction. Standard bank fees apply as outlined in your [Deposit Account Agreement.](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-daa) Automate workflows and gift coding rules \(e.g., campaign codes and constituent IDs\) using configurable AI agents. Automatically transfer funds to an external financial account on a set schedule. Save export templates with donation data formatted to match your reporting needs. Build custom integrations using Chariot’s developer API. Sync donation data directly with your CRM and accounting software. ### DAFpay Add DAFpay to your existing donation forms through a fundraising platform integration. Platform fees and the standard 2.9% DAFpay fee per gift initiation may apply. Explore our [available integrations.](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup) Embed DAFpay anywhere on your website using flexible copy\-and\-paste components. ### Support Get help from our team via email with 1\-3 day response times. Ready\-made templates to help promote DAF giving to your donors. A dedicated Chariot contact focused on your organization’s success. Expert support to help set up and configure Chariot. Dedicated support for legal and compliance questions. Direct access to the Chariot team through a shared Slack or Microsoft Teams channel. --- ## DAFpay - Source: https://givechariot.com/dafpay - Published: 2025-10-24 > DAFpay is the industry's first DAF payment option. Join 100,000+ nonprofits and enable DAFpay on your donation forms to raise more & steward better. ### Raise more from DAF donors ### Leading nonprofits |raise more with DAFpay| ### Donate in just a few clicks ### Select ### Login ### Submit ### The potential of Donor Advised Funds is enormous. ### DAF giving
that's better for everyone ### Frictionless for donors ### Greater generosity ### Rapid Stewardship ### DAFpay volume grew 46% in 2025 to over $5 million. ### DAFpay converts donors at 8-50x their prior gift size ### College alumni are prime DAFpay users ### Secure by design ### Protected ### Compliant ### Trusted ### Are you a fundraising platform? ### Are you a donor? ### Are you a Donor Advised Fund? --- ## DAFpay Setup - Source: https://givechariot.com/dafpay-setup - Published: 2025-12-11 > Check if your fundraising platform supports DAFpay. Search 50+ integrations including GiveButter and GoFundMe. ### DAFpay Integrations ### Free Access ### Enterprise ### Can't find what your looking for? ### Turning DAFpay On With 4 A Good Cause ### Turning DAFpay On With Almabase ### Turning DAFpay On With Anthology ### Turning DAFpay On With Better Giving ### Turning DAFpay On With BetterUnite ### Turning DAFpay On With BetterWorld ### Turning DAFpay On With Blackbaud (Luminate Online & Team Raiser) ### Turning DAFpay On With Blackbaud (Luminate Online & Team Raiser) ### Turning DAFpay On With Boost My School ### Turning DAFpay On With CauseMatch ### Turning DAFpay On With Chabad One ### Turning DAFpay On With Charidy ### Turning DAFpay On With CharityEngine ### Turning DAFpay On With CrowdChange ### Turning DAFpay On With Custom Donations ### Turning DAFpay On With DonorDock ### Turning DAFpay On With DonorDrive ### Turning DAFpay On With DonorFuse ### Turning DAFpay On With DonorPerfect via Givecloud ### Turning DAFpay On With Donor Wrangler ### Turning DAFpay On With Double ### Turning DAFpay On With Encoura ### Turning DAFpay On With Engaging Networks ### Turning DAFpay On With EveryAction ### Turning DAFpay On With Every.org ### Turning DAFpay On With EvolvArts ### Turning DAFpay On With FlexFormz ### Turning DAFpay On With Fundnation ### Turning DAFpay On With Funraise ### Turning DAFpay On With Funraisin ### Turning DAFpay On With Generously ### Turning DAFpay On With Givebutter ### Turning DAFpay On With GiveCampus ### Turning DAFpay On With GiveCentral ### Turning DAFpay On With Givecloud ### Turning DAFpay On With GiveForms ### Turning DAFpay On With GiveHub ### Turning DAFpay On With Give Lively ### Turning DAFpay On With Give Suite ### Turning DAFpay On With Givergy ### Turning DAFpay On With The Giving Block ### Turning DAFpay On With Giving Docs ### Turning DAFpay On With GoFundMe ### Turning DAFpay On With Gravyty ### Turning DAFpay On With Handbid ### Turning DAFpay On With ibidmobile.net ### Turning DAFpay On With Kavua ### Turning DAFpay On With Kind Kiosk ### Turning DAFpay On With Kindest ### Turning DAFpay On With LevCharity ### Turning DAFpay On With Maaser ### Turning DAFpay On With MatchNice ### Turning DAFpay On With Milaap ### Turning DAFpay On With Neon One ### Turning DAFpay On With Oath ### Turning DAFpay On With OneCause ### Turning DAFpay On With Our Community ### Turning DAFpay On With Overflow ### Turning DAFpay On With PBCS Technology ### Turning DAFpay On With Pledge (Pledgeling) ### Turning DAFpay On With Rayze.it ### Turning DAFpay On With SensePass ### Turning DAFpay On With Soapbox Engage ### Turning DAFpay On With Springboard (Jackson River) ### Turning DAFpay On With Summa ### Turning DAFpay On With The Chesed Fund ### Turning DAFpay On With Tiltify ### Turning DAFpay On With Ziggby --- ## Digital Mailbox Addendum - Source: https://givechariot.com/digital-mailbox-addendum - Published: 2026-01-26 > Legal terms for Chariot's Digital Mailbox service. Covers mail processing, check deposits, and service obligations. ### Digital Mailbox Addendum _Last updated: January 28, 2026_ This Chariot Digital Mailbox Addendum \("Addendum"\) forms a contract between Chariot \(referred to as “Chariot”, “we”, “us”, or “our”\) and individuals and the nonprofit organizations they represent, as well as visitors to our Platform \(referred to as “Client”, “you” or “your”\) and is to be incorporated into and considered to be a part of the [Nonprofit Terms of Service](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit) as it relates to your use of Chariot Digital Mailbox. Definitions for any capitalized terms in this Addendum not included herein can be found in the Nonprofit Terms of Service. ## 1. About Chariot Digital Mailbox​​​ **1.1 ​Chariot Digital Mailbox Services: **If enabled for your Chariot Account, you hereby authorize Chariot and the Mail Processor, if any, to perform the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service, including: 1.1.1 Establishing a PO Box in your name; 1.1.2 Receiving and opening all Mail received to such PO Box; 1.1.3 Scanning the contents of all Mail; 1.1.4 Extracting and uploading data from and images of the scanned Mail to your Mailroom; 1.1.5 Endorsing checks received in Mail on your behalf and submitting them for deposit to your Chariot Deposit Account; and 1.1.6 Identify Non\-Standard Mail items to open, image and process in accordance with your written instructions pursuant to Section 1.7.​ **​1.2 Check Processing Authorization:** You hereby grant Chariot a limited power of attorney, solely for the purpose of endorsing checks received via the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service and submitting them for deposit into your Chariot Deposit Account. This authorization is a standing authorization for all checks received as part of the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service. You acknowledge and agree that Chariot is not responsible for the validity, collectability, or authenticity of any checks received. You shall bear all risk of loss, and shall be solely liable for any losses, damages, or claims arising from or related to the rejection, return, or non\-payment of any check by the issuing bank, including but not limited to insufficient funds, stop payment orders, forgery, or fraud, unless such rejection, return, or non\-payment is directly caused by Chariot’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in handling the check after receipt. **1.3 Cash:** You acknowledge and agree that the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service does not include cash of any currency sent by Mail. If cash is received by Mail it will be forwarded to your primary office address at your expense. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Chariot shall not be liable for any losses relating to cash received by Mail. **1.4 Data:** Data shall be refreshed in your Mailroom once per Business Day. **1.5 Use of Mail Processor: **We shall ensure that the Mail Processor, if any, is subject to written contractual obligations to protect your confidential information. We shall remain fully responsible for the performance of any Mail Processor and any acts or omissions thereof. You acknowledge that the Mail Processor is acting as a subcontractor to us, and not as an agent or representative of you. **1.6 Performance Standards:** We agree to process Mail items \(other than Non\-Standard Mail\) as measured over a calendar month, as follows: open and scan 95% of Mail items that are received by the Mail Processor by 7:00 am local time within three Business Days and open and scan 99% of Mail items that are not received by the Mail Processor by 7:00 am local time within four Business Days of receipt \(the “Performance Standards”\). **1.7 Non\-Standard Mail: **In the event that we or the Mail Processor receive a non\-standard mail item that does not have an existing process established regarding imaging or data capture \(“Non\-Standard Mail”\), we will notify you of such Non\-Standard Mail item and request additional instructions on how to process the Non\-Standard Mail. Effective three Business Days following your initial instruction on how to process the Non\-Standard Mail and the Mail Processor’s agreement to such instructions, all future Mail items subject to those instructions shall be subject to the Performance Standards. **1.8 Failure to Meet Performance Standards:** 1.8.1 In the event that we do not open and scan Mail items \(other than Non\-Standard Mail\) in accordance with the Performance Standards, we shall open and scan but not invoice you for any Mail items within the 99% where the Performance Standard was not met, up to an aggregate value of $5,000 per month. The imaging of Mail items at no charge due to our failure to meet the performance standards shall constitute your sole and exclusive remedy for our non\-compliance with the Performance Standards for that month. 1.8.2 In measuring performance, we will exclude delays resulting from \(i\) late or incorrect Client instructions and \(ii\) the delay or interruption of its performance of obligations under this Addendum \(except for any payment obligations hereunder\) due to any act of God, pandemic, communicable disease outbreak, act of governmental authority, act of terrorism, war \(whether or not declared\), machinery breakdown despite ordinary maintenance, delays of carriers or suppliers, riot, flood, fires, civil commotion, insurrection, strikes, lockouts, embargoes, severe weather conditions, failures of public utilities or the Internet, software viruses or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the party delayed \(“Event of Force Majeure”\); provided that we shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance of the affected Services as soon as possible following an Event of Force Majeure. **1.9 Document Retention:** We will retain original copies of all Mail for thirty days following receipt. You agree that following this retention period, we will dispose of the documents in a secure manner. Scanned images of such documents shall remain available in your Chariot dashboard until this Addendum is terminated or expires. **1.10 Representations and Warranties:** We represent and warrant that we will perform the Chariot Digital Mailbox Services in a professional and workmanlike manner, consistent with industry standards. We also represent that we have implemented and will maintain reasonable administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect Client’s confidential information. With respect to each party’s performance under this Addendum, each party represents and warrants to the other that it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in all material respects relating to the operation of their respective businesses. ## 2 Client Obligations **2.1 Monthly Volume Forecasts:** Upon request by Chariot, but in no event more than monthly, you shall provide to us a rolling three month good faith volume estimate for the number of Mail items to be processed through Chariot Digital Mailbox \(a “Volume Forecast”\). You acknowledge and agree that if your actual monthly volume materially exceeds your Volume Forecast \(15% variance or more for a given month\), we shall make commercially reasonable efforts to timely process all Mail, but the Performance Standards shall not apply for that month. **2.2 Fees:** In addition to the fees set forth in the Chariot Subscription Order Form, you agree to pay costs incurred by Chariot in connection with providing you the Chariot Digital Mailbox, including costs of shipping and handling, taxes \(other than taxes on the income or property of Chariot\) and courier charges, to Chariot within 15 days of receipt of invoice setting forth such costs in reasonable detail. ## 3. No Guarantee of Data Accuracy; Limitation of Liability; and Indemnity​ **3.1 No Guarantee of Data Accuracy:** We do not represent or warrant that any scanned images, extracted data, or processed information resulting from the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service will be complete, accurate, error\-free, or suitable for any particular purpose. All data and content are provided “as is” and “as available.” You acknowledge that errors, omissions, or distortions may occur in the handling, scanning, digitizing, or data entry processes. Chariot does not verify the authenticity, negotiability, or validity of any check received, scanned, or deposited as part of the Chariot Digital Mailbox Services. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall have no liability for any loss, damage, or claims arising from or related to errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in any data processed or uploaded as part of the Chariot Digital Mailbox Services, whether caused by human error, technical malfunction, third\-party vendor performance, or otherwise. You shall also be responsible for regularly reviewing the uploaded data and check deposits for accuracy and completeness. You shall promptly notify us of any discrepancies or issues. **3.2 Limitation of Liability:** TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND SOLELY AS IT RELATES TO THE CHECK PROCESSING SERVICES, CHARIOT, ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, AND/OR AGENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, LOST OR INACCURATE DATA, FAILURE OF SECURITY MECHANISMS, FINANCIAL LOSSES, INCLUDING AS A RESULT OF CHECK FRAUD, LOST, STOLEN OR MISHANDLED MAIL OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, RELIANCE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND. CHARIOT’S LIABILITY FOR ANY BREACH UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE EITHER, AT CLIENT’S OPTION, \(i\) A RE\-PERFORMANCE OF THE CHECK PROCESSING SERVICES IN QUESTION WITHOUT CHARGE OR \(ii\) LIMITED TO THE ACTUAL AND PROVEN DIRECT DAMAGES OF CLIENT RESULTING FROM THE BREACH, NOT TO EXCEED, IN THE AGGREGATE, THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US TO USE THE PLATFORM, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ARISING OUT OF CHARIOT’S OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE, FRAUD, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY. **​3.3 Indemnity:** To the fullest extent permitted by law, each party agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any third party claims, actions, and demands, and the associated liabilities, damages, and expenses \(including reasonable attorneys' fees\) arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected with or related to \(1\) the other party’s material breach of this Addendum, \(2\) the other party’s breach of any representations or warranties in this Addendum, or \(3\) the other party’s violation of any law or the rights of a third\-party in connection with your use of the Chariot Digital Mailbox Services; provided, however, that neither party shall have the obligation to indemnify the other party to the extent any claim arises from such party’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of this Addendum. ## 4. General Provisions​ **4.1 Term and Termination:** **4.1.1 Duration:** This Addendum remains in effect through the defined Service Term, if applicable, or until terminated. Consistent with our rights under the Nonprofit Terms of Service, at any time in our sole discretion, Chariot may terminate or suspend this Addendum \(or your use of the Platform\) with or without notice and for any or no reason, including if Chariot suspects that you have violated this Addendum and/or any applicable law. Chariot will have no liability to you for any termination or suspension, nor will such action limit any other rights or remedies Chariot may have. **4.1.2 Post\-termination Assistance: **Notwithstanding the foregoing, Chariot acknowledges that designating a new Nonprofit Address and authorizing change\-of\-address actions may take time. So long as it is not prohibited by applicable law, in the event of the termination or expiration of this Addendum, the parties agree to cooperate in good faith to transition any affected Services in a commercially reasonable manner.  Chariot will have no obligation to take any action in relation to any Mail that continues to be delivered to Chariot after the termination or expiration of this Addendum and associated post\-termination transition assistance. **4.1.3 Termination:** Terminating this Addendum does not automatically terminate the Nonprofit Terms of Service. The Nonprofit Terms of Service must be separately terminated following their specific termination procedures. **4.2 Conflict Resolution: **The terms and conditions of this Addendum are supplemental to, and not in lieu of, the Nonprofit Terms of Service. In case of conflict, this Addendum prevails over the Nonprofit Terms of Service for matters related to Chariot Digital Mailbox. **​4.2 Severability:** Whenever possible, each provision of the Addendum shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Addendum is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the Addendum shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a valid or enforceable provision. --- ## Disbursements - Source: https://givechariot.com/disbursements - Published: 2025-10-24 > Send faster, easier, and safer disbursements to eligible nonprofits on Chariot’s platform with built-in nonprofit verification and smart check fallback. ### Grow your grantmaking. Not your team’s workload. Reduce the time and operational complexity of grant payments. ### Trusted by |leading grantmakers| who send over $1 Billion annually ### Send digital payments and checks in one place. With Chariot Disbursements\*, grantmakers can send full grant details and funds to all eligible 1.4M\+ domestic nonprofits ### Submit grant details ### Upload a CSV or use the API ### Sit back and track progress ### We handle the rest ### Electronic account transfers ### Mailed Checks ### How we securely deliver every grant ### Eligibility - Validate good standing with the IRS - Screen OFAC / AML lists - Surface state\-level requirements ### Bank Account Verification - Verify identity of the account owner  - Confirm account owner is a valid Control Person - Monitor and revalidate on a recurring basis ### Check Protection - Diligence mailing addresses  - Stop Pay and Positive Pay protections standard   - Transparent, real\-time tracking en route ### Support - Rapid response to grantee questions - Handling returned or voided checks  - On\-demand technical support for grantmakers ### Chariot Compliance Explained ### Chariot's compliance program sets a new industry standard ### More features grantmakers love ### Custom Grant Letters ### Check Returns ### Nonprofit Database ### Approvals Workflow ### Grant Notifications ### Church Payments ### Don't just take our word for it ### Built to work the way you do ### Dashboard Fits with your existing systems. No integration required to get started. ### API Custom\-built to plug right into your stack. --- ## Disbursements Addendum - Source: https://givechariot.com/disbursements-addendum - Published: 2026-01-27 > Legal terms for Chariot's Disbursements product. ### Disbursements Addendum _Last updated: January 28, 2026_ This Disbursements Addendum \("Addendum"\) forms a contract between Chariot \(referred to as “we”, “us”, or “our”\) and individuals and the nonprofit organizations they represent, as well as visitors to our Platform \(referred to as “Client”, “you” or “your”\) and is to be incorporated into and considered to be a part of the [Nonprofit Terms of Service](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit)  as it relates to your use of Disbursements. Definitions for any capitalized terms in this Addendum not included herein can be found in the Nonprofit Terms of Service. 1. **About Disbursements ** 2. 1. **General Use:** General use of Disbursements is limited to approved Payment Sources as determined by Chariot at our sole discretion. Nonprofits with certain IRS Foundation Codes, including IRS Foundation Codes 09 and 18, will automatically be considered ineligible for Disbursements services. All Banking Services including holding of assets and delivery of Outbound Payments are provided by our Bank Partner. Once a Chariot Deposit Account is established, Chariot will provide both API Documentation as well as a Chariot Account for you to use when searching for a Nonprofit Recipient or initiating an Outbound Payment.  2. **Verification and Transaction Processing:** Chariot will maintain and verify a database of eligible Recipient Nonprofits and their associated Nonprofit Addresses. Chariot maintains this database at our sole discretion, in line with our strict compliance standards and in coordination with our Bank Partner. Chariot will not pay any Nonprofit that does not pass our compliance eligibility standards and is thus ineligible to be a Recipient Nonprofit. Chariot will process Outbound Payments to Recipient Nonprofits from your Chariot Deposit Account at your sole discretion. Your Account Owner may assign other Admins Users permission settings to also initiate Outbound Payments. Chariot is not responsible for any errors in decisions made by you or your permissioned Nonprofit Users in selecting which Recipient Nonprofit to pay or other transaction details you provide, including amount or donor information, in association with an Outbound Payment request.   3. **Outbound Payments:** Payments to any Recipient Nonprofit will be sent to the Nonprofit Address on file in the following ways: 4. 1. Electronic Payments: If a digital bank account address is available, including account and routing number, then electronic payment of funds will be used. Electronic payments may include ACH Credit, FedNow, or a Book transfer as applicable. 3. **Mailed Checks:** If a digital bank account address is unavailable then a check will be mailed to the verified address on file for the Recipient Nonprofit.  4. **Receipt of Mailed Checks: **Chariot will facilitate payouts to the Recipient Nonprofit as requested by you. You acknowledge that for Mailed Checks, Chariot is not responsible for any deliverability issues resulting from services provided by USPS. Chariot cannot guarantee the nonprofit’s ultimate receipt of funds, including as a result of check fraud or other issues upon delivery. All Mailed Checks issued by Chariot will include Positive Pay Protections and Stop Payment functionality for the benefit of Disbursements users.  5. **Outbound Payments Status:** Each Outbound Payment will include a status for each transaction so you can see if the grant payment is pending, canceled, or complete. Names and types of transaction statuses are subject to change as the Disbursements offering is improved.  6. **Funding your Account: **You are solely responsible to keep your Chariot Deposit Account funded in excess of the transaction value of the Outbound Payments you are requesting. You can choose to fund your Chariot Deposit Account via ACH Credit, ACH Debit, or FedWire. While we recommend funding your Chariot Deposit Account on a weekly basis to limit associated transaction fees, the rate at which you fund your Chariot Deposit Account prior to initiating Outbound Payments is up to you. You can fund your Chariot Deposit Account with your External Financial Account on file.   7. **Insufficient Funds:** If your Chariot Deposit Account lacks sufficient funds to cover the gift and any related transaction fees at the time of processing Chariot will immediately notify you, either via an error response in your API request or directly in your Chariot Account, that you have insufficient funds. Any requested Outbound Payment will not be processed until the required funds are deposited into your Chariot Deposit Account. You bear all responsibility and liability for missed or delayed payments due to insufficient funds. 8. **General Provisions** 9. 1. **Disclaimer of Liability: **Chariot’s responsibility is limited to verifying a Nonprofit Recipient as eligible for payment, confirming the Nonprofit Address, and initiating the Outbound Payment to the Nonprofit Address on your behalf via our Bank Partner. Disbursements does not guarantee the final delivery or ultimate use of funds by Recipient Nonprofits. Chariot will not be held liable for: 2. 1. Non\-Delivery: Check Payments that fail due to incorrect nonprofit information or issues with mailing services provided by third\-parties.  2. Fraud: Issues such as check fraud or unauthorized access once payment has been initiated. 3. Delayed Acceptance: Delays caused by Recipient Nonprofits failing to process or accept payments. 3. **Branding Requirements: **All references to the Disbursements services must include the phrase "powered by Chariot" or use Chariot's designated branding as it may be updated from time to time.  4. **Term and Termination:** 5. 1. Duration: This Addendum remains in effect through the defined Service Term, if applicable, or until terminated. Consistent with our rights under the Nonprofit Terms of Service, at any time in our sole discretion, Chariot may terminate or suspend this Addendum \(or your use of the Platform\) with or without notice and for any or no reason, including if Chariot suspects that you have violated this Addendum and/or any applicable law. Chariot will have no liability to you for any termination or suspension, nor will such action limit any other rights or remedies Chariot may have.  2. Termination: Terminating this Addendum does not automatically terminate the Nonprofit Terms of Service. The Nonprofit Terms of Service must be separately terminated following their specific termination procedures.  6. **Conflict Resolution:** The terms and conditions of this Addendum are supplemental to, and not in lieu of, the Nonprofit Terms of Service. In case of conflict, this Addendum prevails over the Nonprofit Terms of Service for matters related to Disbursements. 7. **Severability: **Whenever possible, each provision of this Addendum shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Addendum is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Addendum shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a valid or enforceable provision. --- ## Enterprise Pricing - Source: https://givechariot.com/enterprise-pricing - Published: 2026-04-20 ### Enterprise pricing Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. **Subscription Price: **Subscription pricing shown on a monthly basis. All subscription fees billed annually. Subscription pricing does not include implementation costs which will vary based on implementation specifications. Any miscellaneous bank charges will be listed within a formal order form and/or Deposit Account Agreement. ### Enterprise Features ### Gift Processing ### DAFpay ### Support --- ## Enterprise Pricing (S1 & S2) - Source: https://givechariot.com/enterprise-pricing-s1s2 - Published: 2026-04-20 ### Enterprise pricing Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set amount of DAFpay volume per year. If you go over, gifts still process normally—an additional 2.9% fee applies to the overages. Plans include a set number of processed donations per year. If you exceed the limit, donations are still processed — an additional 1.0% fee applies to the overages. **Subscription Price: **Subscription pricing shown on a monthly basis. All subscription fees billed annually. Subscription pricing does not include implementation costs which will vary based on implementation specifications. Any miscellaneous bank charges will be listed within a formal order form and/or Deposit Account Agreement. ### Enterprise Features ### Gift Processing ### DAFpay ### Support --- ## esign-disclosures-2025 - Source: https://givechariot.com/esign-disclosures-2025 - Published: 2026-01-27 > Chariot's electronic communications consent. Learn about receiving digital documents, disclosures, and notices. ### Consent To Receive Electronic Disclosures _Last updated: January 1, 2025_ Note: This Electronic Communication Disclosure \(“E\-SIGN Consent”\) applies to any and all communications and/or disclosures that we are legally required to provide to you in writing in connection with your Account and any related products and services \(“Communications”\). This E\-SIGN Consent supplements and is to be construed in accordance with the terms contained in the Chariot Nonprofit [Terms of Service](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit) \(“Account Agreements”\) you received when you obtained the Account. The words "we," "us," and "our" refer to Chariot Giving, Inc.  The words "you" and "your" or “Account holder” mean the Company. The word “Company” means the commercial business that has applied for the Account or for which the Account is established. As used in this E\-SIGN Consent, "Account" means the applications used to access our products or services that you have or have applied for with us. **1. Consent for Electronic Signatures, Records and Disclosures** By agreeing to and accepting this E\-SIGN Consent, you acknowledge you will receive all Communications in electronic form, rather than in paper form. The Account is intended for use only by person\(s\) who are willing and able to receive Communications exclusively through electronic means. If you do not agree to receive the legally\-required notices and communications described herein in electronic and not in paper form, then you may not open an Account. Similarly, if after providing your consent hereunder, withdraw such consent and request paper communications and/or disclosures as described below, we reserve the right to terminate your Account and participation in the program. We suggest you read this document and print a copy for your reference. **2. Scope of Communications to Be Provided in Electronic Form** Your consent to receive electronic Communications and transactions includes, but is not limited to: - All legal and regulatory disclosures and communications associated with your Account and any related products and services, including statements;  - Your Account Agreements and any notices about a change in terms;  - Privacy policies and notices; - Error Resolution policies and notices; - Responses to claims filed in connection with your Account;  - Notices regarding insufficient funds or negative balances; and - Any other communications between us and you concerning your Account and any related transactions, products, or services. **3. Method of Providing Communications to You in Electronic Form** All Communications that we provide to you in electronic form will be provided either \(a\) by access to our website or web\-app or \(b\) by e\-mail to the e\-mail address associated with your Account. **4. How to Update Your Records** It is your responsibility to provide us with a true, accurate and complete e\-mail address, your contact information, and other information related to this E\-SIGN Consent and your Account, and to maintain and update promptly any changes in this information. You may update your information by logging into your Account and updating your profile. We are not responsible for any delay or failure in your receipt of the Communications if we send the Communications to the last email address you have provided to us. **5. Hardware and Software Requirements** In order to access, view, and retain electronic Communications that we make available to you, you must have the following software and hardware: A PC or Mac compatible computer or mobile device capable of accessing the Internet and an Internet Browser software program that supports at least 128 bit encryption. To read some documents, you may need a PDF file reader. If these requirements change while you have an active Account, we will notify you of these changes. You will need a printer or a long\-term storage device, such as your computer’s disk drive, to retain a copy of the E\-SIGN Consent for future reference. **6. Requesting Paper Copies** We will not send you a paper copy of any Communication, however, we reserve the right, but assume no obligation, to provide a paper \(instead of electronic\) copy of any Communication that you have authorized us to provide electronically. **7. Communications in Writing** All Communications in either electronic or paper format from us to you will be considered "in writing." You should print or download for your records a copy of this E\-SIGN Consent and any other Communication that is important to you. **8. Federal Law** You acknowledge and agree that your consent to electronic Communications is being provided in connection with a transaction affecting interstate commerce that is subject to the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, and that you and we both intend that the Act apply to the fullest extent possible to validate our ability to conduct business with you by electronic means. **9. Termination/Changes** ​We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to discontinue the provision of your electronic Communications, or to terminate or change the terms and conditions on which we provide electronic Communications. We will provide you with notice of any such termination or change as required by law. **10. How to Withdraw Consent** You may withdraw your consent to receive Communications in electronic form at any time by sending us a written request by mail to Chariot Giving, Inc 575 8th Ave, Floor 20, New York, NY 10018.  If you withdraw your consent, your Account and all associated Services will be closed in accordance with the Account Agreements and we will send subsequent required communications and disclosures to you in writing to the most current address we have on file. We will not impose any fee to process the withdrawal of your consent to receive electronic Communications. Any withdrawal of your consent to receive electronic Communications will be effective only after we have a reasonable period of time to process your withdrawal. In the meantime, you will continue to receive Communications in electronic form. If you withdraw your consent, the legal validity and enforceability of prior Communications delivered in electronic form will not be affected. --- ## Gift Processing - Source: https://givechariot.com/gift-processing - Published: 2025-10-24 > Streamline DAF, incl workplace giving, end-to-end. Unify grant payments in one portal. Use AI to automatically code donations and sync with your CRM. ### Conquer the chaos of gift processing ### Built with gift processors at |leading| nonprofits ### The first Gift Processing Platform for nonprofits ### Fundraisers have a CRM ### Accountants have an ERP ### Gift Processors now have ### All of your workflows in one platform ### Unify payment sources ### Enrich donations ### Sync ### Unify all your portals ### Receive your payments in one place ### One platform for all your offline gifts ### Checks handled for you ### Data maps automatically ### Skip the internal back and forth ### Enrich donations with your data ### Gifts arrived reconciled ### Configurable to your workflows ### All of your unique codes ### Save time coding gifts ### Sync coded gifts with your other systems ### Native integrations ### Flexible API ### Custom export templates ### Get Started --- ## Home - Source: https://givechariot.com/ - Published: 2025-10-16 > With Chariot, nonprofits can raise more from Donor-Advised Funds and save time on gift processing. ### DAF giving, simplified. ### Inspiring DAF Giving ### Increase revenue with the only DAF payment option. ### Transform gift processing with a unified, AI-powered platform. ### Modernize grant payments with one flexible workflow. ### Award-winning technology ### "The friction-free option has proved 'transformative' for many charities" ### "[Chariot] has shown to improve and streamline giving" ### Solving "unique challenges for the social impact industry" ### Building the future of charitable giving ### Get started today ### DAFpay Increase revenue with the only DAF payment option. ### Gift Processing Transform gift processing with a unified, AI\-powered platform. ### Disbursements Modernize grant payments with one flexible workflow. --- ## Legal DAA - Source: https://givechariot.com/legal-daa - Published: 2026-01-27 > Commercial deposit account agreement containing the terms and conditions governing the deposit account made available and provided by Column National Association, member FDIC. ### Commercial Deposit Account Agreement _Last updated: July 2026_ **IMPORTANT \- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION PROVISION REQUIRING ALL CLAIMS TO BE RESOLVED BY WAY OF BINDING ARBITRATION.** Customer service contact information Servicer: Chariot Giving, Inc. Mailing address:  575 8th Ave, Floor 20, New York, NY 10018 Support email: [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) This agreement \(the “**Agreement**”\) contains the terms and conditions governing the deposit account \(the “**Account**”\) made available and provided by Column National Association, referred to as “**Bank**,” “**we**,” “**our**,” and “**us**.” Bank is a nationally chartered depository financial institution and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation \(“**FDIC**”\). “**Account Owner**” refers to the legal owner of the Account. “**You**” and “**your**” means the Account Owner, authorized signer, and any other person authorized to operate your Account. When we say “**We may**” or “**Bank may**” do something, that means you authorize us and agree to such action. You may submit a request to open the Account via the Chariot Dashboard \(as defined in this Agreement\). Chariot Giving, Inc. \(“**Servicer**”\) is a service provider that performs certain services related to your Account on our behalf. Bank may refuse to process any transaction\(s\) that it believes may violate the terms of this Agreement or Applicable Law. Your deposits with us are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum limits allowed by law. Information and tools describing how deposit insurance coverage works are provided by the FDIC at [www.fdic.gov](https://www.fdic.gov) or by calling 1\-877\-ASK\-FDIC or 1\-800\-925\-4618 \(for the hearing impaired\). By agreeing to these terms, you agree to be bound by the Bank's Privacy Notice \(available at https://column.com/legal/privacy\-notice\). By agreeing to these terms, you acknowledge that you have or will have agreed to the terms contained in the following documents: - Chariot Terms of Service \(available at https://www.givechariot.com/legal\-nonprofit\)  - Chariot Privacy Policy \(available at https://www.givechariot.com/privacy\) 1. **Definitions** “Applicable Law” means, with respect to either party and as may be amended and in effect from time to time, any applicable laws, statutes, regulations, rulings, orders, and/or guidance, including the Rules, that legally apply to either party. “Authorized Users” means individuals for whom you may request and assign Login Credentials to access your Account. “Business Day” means Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. “Eligible Instruction” means any funds transfer or transaction request, payment instruction, or other instruction related to your and your Authorized Users' use of the Account that is submitted in compliance with the Security Procedures through the Chariot Dashboard. “Login Credentials” means the unique username and password that you create for access to your Account through the Chariot Dashboard. “Principal Protection USD” means a wire transfer request for the beneficiary to receive the principal amount sent in USD or other designated currency. “Security Procedures” means the Login Credentials and Servicer’s dual\-factor authentication process for use in securely accessing your Account through the Chariot Dashboard. “Chariot Account” means your account with Servicer. “Chariot Dashboard” means Servicer’s software application that allows you to access your Account on a mobile device and/or the Chariot Website. “Chariot Website” means Servicer’s website at [https://www.givechariot.com/](https://www.givechariot.com/) that allows you to access your Account online. “USD” means United States Dollars. 1. **General provisions** a\) Account Eligibility The Account is available to legal entity commercial customers located in the fifty United States, its territories and possessions, and the District of Columbia. No sole proprietorships are eligible. You must have and maintain in good standing a Chariot Account to be eligible for an Account. We may decline to open an Account for you for any reason, or for no reason; this includes if you have had or currently have any other relationships or accounts that you did not maintain in a satisfactory manner. We are not liable for any damages or liabilities resulting from the refusal of Account. You must agree to accept electronic, rather than paper communications and can retrieve account information through the Chariot Dashboard. By requesting the Account, you acknowledge and agree: - **That your use of the Account is for a commercial or business purpose and you will not use the Account for any consumer \(personal, family, or household\) purpose.** - **That if you are an individual executing this Agreement on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any corporation, partnership, or other entity with which you are associated, that you represent and warrant that you have the legal authority to bind such organization to this Agreement.** - **That you are of legal age in the jurisdiction where you live and have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement.** **IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT. **TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT FIGHT THE FUNDING OF TERRORISM AND MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES, FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES ALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO OBTAIN, VERIFY, AND RECORD INFORMATION THAT IDENTIFIES EACH PERSON WHO OPENS AN ACCOUNT.** WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: **WHEN YOU OPEN AN ACCOUNT, WE WILL ASK FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY YOU, INCLUDING CERTAIN IDENTIFYING DOCUMENTS. WE MAY USE INFORMATION FROM THIRD PARTIES TO HELP US DETERMINE IF WE SHOULD OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT OR KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT OPEN. b\) Electronic documents To the fullest extent permitted by law, this Agreement, notices and other communications \(collectively, “Communications”\) from Bank to you regarding your Account\(s\) and related services with Bank may be provided to you electronically, and you consent and agree to receive Communications in an electronic form. You may print a paper copy of or download any electronic communication and retain it for your records. All Communications in electronic format will be considered to be “in writing,” and to have been received on the day of posting, whether or not you have received or retrieved the Communication. Bank reserves the right to provide Communications in paper format at its discretion. Your consent to receive Communications electronically is valid until you revoke your consent by notifying Bank of your decision to do so by contacting Servicer through the email address above. If you revoke your consent to receive Communications electronically, Bank reserves the right to terminate your right to use the Account and related services, and you accept sole liability resulting from such termination of your Account and related services, to the extent permitted by law. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, Bank may mail, send electronically, or otherwise make Communications available to you. If Communications are mailed to you, they will be delivered to you at the postal address on file. If Communications are sent to you electronically, they will be delivered to you at the email address on file or otherwise made available to you, including through the Chariot Dashboard. Bank retains printable versions of notices to the extent required by Applicable Law. Regardless of the method in which a Communication is delivered or made available to you, you agree to review Communications promptly. c\) Telephone Communication By providing a phone number, you are expressly consenting to receive Communications at that number from Bank and Bank’s agents, including Servicer. Such Communications may include, but are not limited to, text messages, prerecorded or artificial voice message calls and/or calls made by an automatic telephone dialing system. This express consent applies regardless of the call’s purpose. d\) Telephone monitoring / recording Bank and Servicer may monitor and/or record telephone calls between you and Bank or Servicer, including to assure the quality of Bank's or Servicer’s Account service team or as required by Applicable Law. You agree that any recorded communications may be admitted as evidence in any litigation, arbitration, controversy, hearing, or other proceeding. 1. **Account ownership and use** a\) Purpose Your Account is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement will cover all of your Accounts with us and a single Rate and Fee Schedule will apply to your Accounts. Your Account is offered under this Agreement for the purposes of conducting deposit, withdrawal, and funds transfer transactions. The individual executing this Agreement must provide us, through the Chariot Dashboard, with evidence to our satisfaction of the authority of the individuals who act on behalf of the Account Owner. With regard to any transactions or other matters involving the Account, we may act on the instructions of the person\(s\) authorized in the resolutions, banking agreement, or certificate of authority to act on behalf of the Account Owner. You agree to notify us in writing of any changes in the person\(s\) authorized or the form of ownership. If we receive conflicting instructions or a dispute arises as to authorization with regard to the handling of the Account, you agree we may place a hold on the Account until such conflict or dispute is resolved to our satisfaction and we will not be liable for dishonored items as a result of such hold. You are liable to us for all debit balances in the Account, including, without limitation, overdrafts and account charges, and promise to pay, upon demand, any and all debit balances, all fees and charges, and Bank's reasonable attorneys’ fees and all costs and expenses of collection, including, but not limited to, those incurred at trial and on any appeal. b\) Ownership Your Account shall be owned and titled in the name of one \(1\) legal entity who shall solely retain the right to direct the deposit or transfer of funds. c\) Use Your use of the Account is subject to all applicable rules and customs of any clearinghouse or other association involved in transactions.  d\) Multiple Bank Accounts If you open multiple Accounts with Bank, this Agreement will cover all of your Accounts with us and a single Rate and Fee Schedule will apply to your Accounts. You agree to provide Bank with up\-to\-date and accurate Account Owner information and any such information as Bank may request, in connection with each request to open an Account. Bank may refuse to open any Account for any reason, including if you do not provide Bank with such information in a timely manner or which Bank determines in its sole discretion is not responsive or complete. 1. **Security procedures** a\) General You may only access your Account through the Chariot Dashboard and subject to the Security Procedures. b\) Login Credentials You are solely responsible for safeguarding your Login Credentials. c\) Authorized Users In addition to your own Login Credentials, you may request and assign Login Credentials to a maximum of ten \(10\) Authorized Users. You are solely responsible for causing your Authorized Users to safeguard their Login Credentials and to use them only in accordance with this Agreement, and you are solely responsible for disabling Login Credentials for any individual that is no longer authorized to access the Chariot Dashboard and initiate transactions on your Account on your behalf. You, and not Bank, are responsible for any use or misuse of your or your Authorized Users’ Login Credentials, and you must promptly notify Servicer of any confidentiality breach or unauthorized use of your Login Credentials or your Account. d\) Eligible Instructions Any instruction communicated to Bank will be effective as your instruction, whether or not authorized, and regardless of the actual identity of the sender thereof, if it is an Eligible Instruction accepted by Bank in good faith. Bank is not obligated to act on any instruction other than Eligible Instructions. You are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of each Eligible Instruction. 1. **Rate and fee schedule** Information on applicable rates and fees is set forth in Exhibit 1. You authorize Bank to access your Account to debit any fees, charges, or costs owed to Bank, even if doing so creates an overdraft. 1. **Deposits** The following terms apply to deposits made to your Account: a\) Deposit Methods You may deposit funds to your Account by initiating a funds transfer from another bank account. You may also deposit funds to your Account by Mobile Check Deposit, if enabled by Bank for your Account.  b\) Cash, ATM, or Foreign Currency Deposits You cannot deposit cash or any form of deposit denominated in a foreign currency into your Account. Any attempt to mail us any deposit consisting of cash or foreign currency will be sent back to the address we have on file for you. We are not liable if you do not receive the returned funds. You may not make deposits into your Account at any automated teller machine \(“ATM”\). c\) Mobile Check Deposit If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may deposit funds to your Account by Mobile Check Deposit, pursuant to Bank’s terms and conditions for mobile check deposit \(See Exhibit 2\). d\) Right to Refuse Deposits We may refuse a deposit, or part of a deposit, at any time and for any reason. We also may refuse a deposit after initially accepting it. We will not be liable to you for refusing a deposit, even if it causes us to decline any transactions you have already made. e\) Deposit Discrepancies When you make a deposit to your Account, we will credit your Account for the amount of the deposited items. We reserve the right to review the deposit and confirm the amount you deposited but are not required to do so. If after any review we determine that the amount credited to your Account is incorrect, we may adjust your Account for the amount of the discrepancy but reserve the right not to do so if the discrepancy would not be a disadvantage to you. f\) Deposit Liability Bank is not liable for any deposits not received by Bank. 1. **ACH Transactions** The Automated Clearing House \(“ACH”\) is an electronic funds transfer system allowing money to be transmitted between participating banks. These transfers are governed by the operating rules, guidelines, and guidance in effect from time to time of the National Automated Clearing House Association \(“NACHA”\) \(collectively, the “Rules”\). Unless otherwise defined, all capitalized terms used in this section have the meanings assigned in the Rules. In connection with ACH transactions on your Account, you agree that:  a\) Applicable Law We may accept on your behalf payments to your Account, which have been transmitted through ACH and which are not subject to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Your rights and obligations with respect to such payments shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California, which are applicable to ACH transactions involving your Account. You authorize any ODFI to initiate, pursuant to the Rules, ACH debit entries to your Account, including for electronic presentment or re\-presentment of checks written or authorized by you. b\) Provisional Credit If your Account receives funds via ACH, then any credit to the Account for such funds is provisional until Bank receives final settlement through a Federal Reserve Bank or has otherwise received payment as provided under the Uniform Commercial Code, Section 4A\-403\(a\), as adopted by the State of California. If Bank does not receive final settlement or payment of an ACH credit, you are hereby notified and agree that Bank is entitled to recover from the Account or you, without prior notice or demand, the amount of the provisional credit, in whole or in part, and any applicable returned fee \(even if it results in an overdraft on your Account\) and the party originating the payment will not be considered to have paid you the amount of the credit.  c\) Notices We are not required to give you a separate notice of our receipt of an ACH transfer. To determine if a transfer has been credited to your Account, you can review transactions on your Account via the Chariot Dashboard or you can contact Servicer at the contact information above. ###### **8. Withdrawals ** The following terms apply to withdrawals from your Account: a\) Manner of Withdrawal You may make withdrawals from your Account in any manner that is permitted by us for the type of Account that you have opened. We may refuse to accept any check other than standard checks provided by us, or other checks approved by us in advance. Withdrawals and transfers from your Account may be restricted as provided in the Agreement or by Applicable Law. b\) Withdrawal Restrictions / No Overdrafts We may refuse or restrict withdrawals and transfers from your Account in our sole discretion for any purpose permitted by Applicable Law. You are not permitted to overdraw your Account. If there are available funds to cover some, but not all, of the withdrawals or other debits to your Account on a single business day, we may post the withdrawals or debits in any order we may choose at Bank’s sole discretion. If there are insufficient funds available in your Account to cover a withdrawal or debit presented against your Account, we may reject such withdrawals in our sole discretion. Even if we choose to pay one or more overdrafts as a courtesy to you, in our sole discretion, we are not obligated to cover any future overdrafts and fees or interest may apply to any overdraft we permit. If your Account balance becomes negative for any reason, you must make a deposit immediately to cover the negative balance. If your Account has a negative balance for thirty \(30\) calendar days or more we reserve the right to close the Account. In the event you fail to pay the amount of any overdraft and Bank refers your overdrawn Account to an attorney for collection, you agree to pay all reasonable expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs incurred by Bank as a result of your account being overdrawn. c\) Request for Information Before permitting a withdrawal or other transaction, we may request that you provide us with additional information or documentation that we deem necessary to confirm your identity or to prevent illegal activity. We may refuse the transaction if you do not comply with our request. d\) Check Withdrawals If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may request individual preauthorized checks be remitted as payments to third parties \(“Check Withdrawal Requests”\) through the Chariot Dashboard. Check Withdrawal Requests may be submitted as an Eligible Instruction in the Chariot Dashboard, must follow the instructions provided in the Chariot Dashboard, and must include a payee address located within the fifty \(50\) states of the United States. You must pre\-fund the Account prior to submitting a Check Withdrawal Request, and Bank shall have no obligation to execute any Checks requested by you for which funds are not available in the Account. Check Withdrawal Requests to remit checks to an international address will be denied. Once requested and approved, a paper check will be generated and sent to the payee name and address provided by you. You are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in a Check Withdrawal Request and Bank and Servicer are not liable for checks sent to an incorrect address or payee. Checks deemed undeliverable will be returned to you at the postal address we have on file for the Account. You agree and acknowledge that Bank and Servicer are not liable for any damages incurred by you arising from, or related to, any Check Withdrawal Requests, including any damages arising from an incorrect address or refusal of a payee to accept a check drawn on the Account as payment e\) Postdated Items You agree that when you submit a Check Withdrawal Request, you may not request to date the check in the future. If you do and the check is presented for payment before the date of the check, we may pay it or return it unpaid. You agree that if we pay the check, the check will be posted to your Account on the date we pay the check, even though the posting date is prior to the date of the check. You further agree that we are not responsible for any loss to you in doing so. f\) Stale Checks We reserve the right to pay or dishonor a check more than ninety days old without prior notice to you. g\) Stop Payment Order Against a Check or Other Item A stop payment request against a check or other item payable from your Account \(“Stop Payment Order”\) will be effective if we receive the order at such time and in such manner as to afford us a reasonable opportunity to act upon the order. A Stop Payment Order is effective for six \(6\) months, but it lapses after fourteen \(14\) calendar days if the original Order was oral and was not confirmed in writing within that period. A Stop Payment Order may be renewed for additional six \(6\) month periods if renewed during a period within which the Stop Payment Order is effective. You must provide the date, the amount, and the number of the item or authorization, together with the name of the payee, for a Stop Payment Order to be complete and effective. If you give us incomplete or incorrect information, Bank and Servicer will not be liable for failing to stop payment on the item or authorization. Our acceptance of a Stop Payment Order will not constitute a representation that the item or authorization has not already been paid or that we have a reasonable opportunity to act upon the order. You may not stop payment on an official, certified, cashier's, or teller's check issued by us, or request us to stop payment if we have otherwise become accountable for the item or authorization. In addition, you may not stop payment on payment methods governed by a separate agreement. Further you may not stop payment on an item or authorization after acceptance of the same by us. 1. **Funds Availability** a\) Transaction posting order Bank reserves the right to decide the order of the items Bank will pay and which items will be returned \(if any\). Bank’s posting order may not be the same as the order in which you conducted a transaction and could result in overdraft fees if you do not have available funds at the time the item is paid. Generally, Bank posts the following transaction types \(to the extent applicable to your Account\) after the close of each Business Day in the following order: - Deposits and credits Bank receives before the close of each Business Day will be posted before any withdrawals. - Your debits and withdrawals will be posted in date/time order, based on the date and time associated with each transaction. b\) Funds Availability Bank makes funds available according to the type of deposit and when the funds are applied or credited to your Account and in accordance with Applicable Law. Some types of deposits may not be available for immediate use. When Bank delays the availability of funds or places a hold on a deposit made to your Account, you may not withdraw those funds, and Bank will not use them to pay any debits. Bank has the right to refuse any deposit. The length of the delay in the availability of funds varies depending on the type of deposit. If final payment is not received on any item you have deposited into your Account, you agree to pay Bank the amount of the returned item if such item has already been credited to your Account. You may only deposit funds that are immediately available. Bank receives deposits each Business Day. If you make a deposit by electronic payment before 5pm Pacific Time on a Business Day, we will consider that day to be the day of your deposit. However, if you make a deposit after 5pm Pacific Time or on a non\-Business Day, we will consider that the deposit was made on the next Business Day. Deposits made by electronic payment, excluding those by ACH debit transactions, will be made available to you the day that the deposit is received but no later than the first Business Day after the day that the deposit is made. Deposits made by any other permissible deposit method, excluding deposits by Mobile Check Deposit,  will be made available no later than the second Business Day after the day that the deposit is made. If enabled by Bank for your Account, the availability of deposits made by Mobile Check Deposit are subject to the terms of the Mobile Check Deposit Addendum. We reserve the right, subject to Applicable Law, to hold funds pending settlement or for such period of time as we deem necessary, in our sole discretion, to cover items which may be returned unpaid. c\) Special rules for new accounts Accounts open less than thirty \(30\) days may be limited in functionality. Funds credited to your Accounts may be made available provisionally or delayed for a reasonable amount of time in accordance with Applicable Law. Certain transfer limits may be lower during this time for certain features and services, or as allowed under Applicable Law or regulation. 1. **Funds transfers** a\) Initiating funds transfers You may only initiate funds transfers \(through any method permitted for your Account\) by submitting Eligible Instructions and you authorize Bank to honor, accept, execute, and initiate any Eligible Instructions it receives. You acknowledge and agree that the submission of Eligible Instructions represents a commercially reasonable method of providing security against unauthorized transactions. Bank has no obligation, and shall not be liable or responsible for its refusal to act on any instruction or transaction request that is not an Eligible Instruction. You acknowledge that the purpose of transacting through Eligible Instructions is to verify authenticity and not to detect an error in the transmission or content of a transaction or instruction. You and Bank have not agreed upon any procedures for the detection of errors and you are solely responsible for any errors not caused by Bank. Bank may screen and reject any funds transfer request in good faith, including because Bank believes that the funds transfer, if executed, would not comply with Applicable Law or would exceed the amount of funds in your Account or any established limits on your Account. Bank is not liable for failing to complete a transaction from your Account on\-time or in the correct amount. b\) Limitation on amount of transactions Bank may impose and adjust transaction limits on your Account, in its sole discretion. Applicable transaction limits will be disclosed to you through the Chariot Dashboard. c\) Accuracy of information When you originate any funds transfer request through any method made available to you by Bank \(including wire or ACH transfers\), you are responsible for providing accurate payment information. Bank and any other financial institution involved in the transaction may rely on all identifying numbers \(e.g., account and routing numbers\) you provide to make payment. Bank may rely on the number even if it identifies a financial institution, person or account other than the one named. Bank will process the funds transfer request based solely on the information you provide to us and expressly disclaims any obligation to review any such request for errors or inconsistent or duplicative information. It is your obligation to verify the information you provide to us including, but not limited to, the identity and relationship of the receiving party, account number, and routing number. Bank is not responsible for any loss or damage you incur from your request for a funds transfer. d\) Bank's liability for failure to complete transactions You acknowledge that you are responsible for reconciling all transactions and balances against those maintained by Bank. e\) Wire transfers If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may be able to send or receive a wire transfer request. You acknowledge that Bank may, in its sole discretion, clear and settle any payment order arising from a wire transfer request through one or more intermediary banks, including through the use of correspondent accounts held at such banks. You agree to reimburse Bank for all costs, fees, and other expenses incurred by Bank in transmitting any payment order through any such intermediaries. You further agree to indemnify Bank and hold it harmless for all of Bank’s liabilities, including any claims, and other obligations that it may have to such intermediaries. Please be advised that wire transfer requests may not be recalled or amended once they have been sent to Bank. Wire transfer requests will only be accepted and processed if you have sufficient and available funds in your Account at the time the request is received and processed. Bank reserves the right to reject or cancel any wire transfer in our sole discretion and will not be held liable for any losses or damages that may arise due to our right to cancel or reject the wire transfer. f\) Real Time Transfers If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may be able to initiate funds transfers \(“Real Time Transfers”\) through the real time transfer networks \(“RTT Networks”\) to deposit accounts at participating financial institutions in real\-time, twenty\-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty\-two weeks a year \(the “RTT Service”\). The RTT Service enables you to initiate credit transfers through the RTT Networks \(“RTTs”\) from your Account to accounts at RTT Network beneficiaries’ banks and to send and receive RTT\-related messages to and from such beneficiaries as may be permitted by Bank from time to time. Please be advised that RTT requests may not be recalled or amended once they have been sent to Bank. RTT requests will only be accepted and processed if you have sufficient and available funds in your Account at the time the request is received and processed. Bank reserves the right to reject or cancel any RTT request in our sole discretion and will not be held liable for any losses or damages that may arise due to our right to cancel or reject the transfer. g\) ACH transactions If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may be able to initiate funds transfers through ACH transactions, pursuant to Bank’s terms and conditions for ACH Origination \(See Exhibit 3\).  h\) Funds Transfer System You acknowledge that any payment orders governed by this Agreement may be governed by the rules of any funds transfer system through which any payment order is made, including the Fedwire Funds Service, National Settlement Service, any other Federal Reserve payment system, NACHA, payment systems offered by The Clearing House, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, or any other funds transfer system \(each and collectively a “Funds Transfer System”\). By submitting a funds transfer request, you agree to and accept any rule of such Funds Transfer System, to the extent applicable to any transaction. The beneficiary’s bank must be a member of the Funds Transfer System, or ultimately have a correspondent bank that is a member or participant of the Funds Transfer System, as applicable to the funds transfer request. i\) Exchange Rates If enabled by Bank for your Account, you may be able to request wire transfers to send funds to a beneficiary’s bank in a currency other than USD, subject to applicable fees and exchange rates. In addition to any applicable fees, we may charge a fee when we convert one currency to another currency for you \(the “Exchange Rate”\). The Exchange Rate is set at our sole discretion and disclosed to you on the Chariot Dashboard in connection with your wire transfer request. The Exchange Rate includes, as applicable, the costs, fees, and other expenses incurred by Bank in transmitting any payment order through any intermediaries as well as a markup designed to compensate us for several considerations including, without limitation, costs incurred, market risks, and our desired return. The applicable Exchange Rate does not include, and is separate from, any applicable fees described in Exhibit 1. The Exchange Rate we provide to you may be different from exchange rates you see elsewhere and you may receive different rates for transactions that are the same or similar. j\) Your liability for unauthorized transfers You agree to be bound by all Eligible Instructions accepted by Bank in good faith and will be liable for all losses, expenses, and liability, resulting from, related to, or caused by Bank's processing or execution of an Eligible Instruction, regardless of whether such losses, expenses, or liability occur due to unauthorized, incorrect, incomplete, or fraudulent transactions. You acknowledge and agree that because this is a commercial\-purpose account, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and any similar protections available under consumer financial protection laws **do not apply to your Account**. Contact Servicer immediately if you believe your Login Credentials have been compromised or if you believe someone has transferred or may transfer money from your Account without your permission. You are responsible for monitoring and reconciling all activity in your Account. You must report any suspected unauthorized transaction to us immediately. 1. **Deposit Sweep Program** ###### When you open an Account, you agree to participate in Bank’s deposit sweep program \(“Deposit Sweep Program”\) and agree to be bound by the [Deposit Sweep Program terms and conditions](https://www.givechariot.com/sweep-agreement) \(the “Sweep Agreement”\). Pursuant to the Sweep Agreement, you agree to appoint Bank as your agent and custodian for the limited purpose of depositing Account funds into deposit accounts \(each a “Deposit Sweep Account”\) at one or more other depository institutions \(each, a “Network Institution”\). Deposits that we place for you in Deposit Sweep Accounts \(“Deposit Sweep Balances”\) are “deposits,” as defined by Applicable Law, at the Network Institutions. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sweep Agreement, your Deposit Sweep Balances may be eligible for FDIC insurance. Refer to the Sweep Agreement for more details.  **12. Miscellaneous provisions** a\) Notice Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in the event you must contact Bank or send Bank any notice required by this Agreement, you must do so by contacting Servicer.  Servicer’s contact information is set forth at the top of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, Bank is not required to act upon any communication, notice, or instruction received from you or any other person or to provide any notice or advice to you or any other person with respect to any matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Bank acts upon any communication, notice, or instruction, then Bank has a reasonable time in which to act, after actual receipt of the notice or instruction. b\) No waiver Bank does not waive its rights by delaying or failing to exercise them at any time. c\) Illegal transactions, account restrictions, account closures You may not use your Account for any illegal or unlawful transaction, and we may decline to authorize any transaction that we believe poses an undue risk of illegality or unlawfulness. We reserve the right to place a hold on your Account if we suspect irregular, fraudulent, suspicious, unlawful or otherwise unauthorized activity. We may attempt to notify you of such a hold but are not required to provide notice prior to placing the hold or thereafter. We also may attempt to contact you to obtain additional information regarding the activity in your Account. We reserve the right to maintain any hold and restrict access to the Account until we receive the requested information. You agree that we may maintain such hold until all issues, including claims against you or us, concerning the funds held in your Account have been resolved fully to our sole satisfaction. We also reserve the right to reject any incoming credit transaction that we suspect is involved in fraudulent or suspicious activity. Bank will not be held liable for any loss you incur if your Account is restricted or subject to a hold. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may collect on any debt arising out of any illegal or unlawful transaction, to the extent permissible under Applicable Law. d\) Unlawful internet gambling transactions prohibited You certify that you do not engage in, and during the life of this Agreement will not engage in, any activity or business that is unlawful under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, 31 USC 5361, et seq., \(the “UIGEA”\). You may not use your Account or any other service we offer to receive, transfer, or credit funds, instruments or proceeds that arise out of a business that is unlawful under the UIGEA. You agree that if anyone asks us to process a transaction that we believe is restricted under the UIGEA, we may block the transaction and take any other action we deem to be reasonable under the UIGEA and this Agreement. You may not use your Account for online gambling or any illegal transactions. Bank may refuse to process any transaction that it believes may violate the terms of this Agreement or Applicable Law. You acknowledge and agree that Bank has no obligation to monitor, to review or to evaluate the legality of your transactions. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to pay for any transaction that you authorized, even if that transaction is determined to be illegal. e\) Holds We may place administrative holds on the funds in your Account \(refuse payment or withdrawal of the funds\) if they become subject to a claim adverse to \(A\) your own interest; \(B\) others claiming an interest as survivors or beneficiaries of your Account; or \(C\) a claim arising by operation of law. The hold may be placed for such period of time as we believe reasonably necessary to allow a legal proceeding to determine the merits of the claim or until we receive evidence satisfactory to us that the dispute has been resolved. We will not be liable for any items that are dishonored as a consequence of placing a hold on funds in your Account for these reasons. f\) Right to set off If your Account balance becomes and remains negative or you are determined to owe Bank any amounts for any reason, Bank can use the funds in your Account or any other account that you own at the Bank to repay any amount owed without further notice to or demand on you. This means Bank has the right to set off any liability, direct or contingent, past, present or future that you owe against any account you have with Bank. Further, you grant Bank a lien on and security interest in the funds on deposit in each of your Account\(s\) as security for the entirety of your liabilities and obligations to Bank, now or in the future. g\) Backup withholdings You acknowledge that this Account cannot be opened if you are currently subject to backup tax withholding. h\) Legal processes affecting accounts If legal action such as a garnishment, levy or other state or federal legal process \(“Legal Process”\) is brought against your Account, Bank may refuse to permit \(or may limit\) withdrawals or transfers from your Account until the Legal Process is satisfied or dismissed. Regardless of the terms of such garnishment, levy or other state or federal process, Bank has first claim to any and all funds in your Account for your liability under this Agreement. Bank will not contest on your behalf any such Legal Process and may take action to comply with such Legal Process as Bank determines to be appropriate in the circumstances without liability to you, even if any funds Bank may be required to pay out to comply with the Legal Process leaves insufficient funds to pay a transaction that you have authorized. Payment is made after satisfying any fees, charges or other debts owed to Bank. You agree that you are responsible for any expenses, including legal expenses and fees Bank incurs due to any Legal Process on your Account. Bank may charge these expenses to your Account. You will indemnify Bank for any losses if it does this. i\) Account inactivity and escheatment An Account that is inactive for eighteen \(18\) months may be considered dormant. Each state has varying laws as to when an account is subject to escheatment and Bank may be required to send the balance in your Account to the state of your last known address. You understand that if your Account is inactive \(dormant\), we may close your Account. We reserve the right to refuse to return any unused balance amount less than $1.00. You agree that we are relieved of all responsibility if your Account balance is escheated in accordance with Applicable Law. Your Account will become inactive unless you have conducted activity in your Account, such as depositing or withdrawing funds. j\) Confidentiality Bank may disclose information to third parties about your Account or the transactions: - To Servicer, as necessary to provide the services to you. - Where it is necessary for completing transfers. - To verify the existence and condition of your Account for a third party, such as a credit bureau or merchant. - To comply with government agency, court order, or other legal or administrative reporting requirements. - If you consent by giving Bank your written permission. - To Bank's employees, auditors, affiliates, service providers, or attorneys as needed. - As otherwise necessary to fulfill Bank or Servicer's obligations under this Agreement. k\) Account termination, cancellation, or amendment Bank may amend or change the terms and conditions of this Agreement at any time by posting the amended Agreement on the Chariot Dashboard, and any such amendment shall be effective upon such posting to the Chariot Dashboard, unless additional advanced notice is required under Applicable Law. You will be notified of any amendment\(s\) in the manner provided by Applicable Law prior to the effective date of the amendment\(s\). However, if the amendment\(s\) is made for security purposes or your benefit, Bank may implement it without prior notice. Bank may cancel or suspend your Account or this Agreement at any time. You may cancel this Agreement by contacting Servicer to close your Account. Your cancellation of this Agreement will not affect any of Bank's rights or your obligations arising under this Agreement prior to cancellation. If your Account is cancelled, closed or terminated for any reason, we will return the remaining balances to you via ACH transfer to one of your external accounts on Bank's records or via paper check to the address on file. For security purposes, you may be required to supply identification, external account, and address verification documentation prior to issuing an ACH refund or refund check. Bank reserves the right to refuse to return any unused balance amount less than $1.00. l\) No warranty of availability or uninterrupted use From time to time, services related to the Account may be inoperative. You agree that, except as required by Applicable Law, Bank will not be responsible for temporary interruptions in service due to maintenance, website changes, or failures, nor shall Bank be liable for extended interruptions due to failures beyond Bank's control, including, but not limited, to the failure of interconnecting and operating systems, computer viruses, forces of nature, labor disputes and armed conflicts. m\) Bank's relationship with you This Agreement and the deposit relationship do not create a fiduciary or agency relationship with Bank. The relationship between Bank and you is that of creditor and debtor and under no circumstances will Bank owe you any fiduciary or other duty. n\) Systems and software We shall not be responsible to you for any loss or damages suffered by you because of the failure of systems and software used by you to interface with our systems or systems and software utilized by you to initiate or process banking transactions whether such transactions are initiated or processed directly with our systems or through a third\-party service provider. You acknowledge that you are solely responsible for the adequacy of systems and software utilized by you to process banking transactions and the ability of such systems and software to do so accurately. o\) No warranty regarding goods or services Bank is not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or any other aspect of any goods or services you purchase using your Account. p\) Survival All provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement or closure of your Account by either party for actions arising in connection with this Agreement or your Account\(s\). q\) Governing law This Agreement shall be governed by federal law and, to the extent not superseded by federal law, the laws of the State of California. You understand that we must comply with Applicable Law, as well as the operating rules of any applicable Funds Transfer System. You agree that if there is any inconsistency between the terms of the Agreement and any Applicable Law, the terms of the Agreement will prevail to the extent any such law, regulation, or rule may be modified by agreement. If otherwise, Applicable Law shall govern but only to the extent of such inconsistency. r\) Severability If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any rule, law, or regulation of any governmental agency, local, state, or federal, the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement \(or any prior agreement you may have had with us\) shall not be affected. s\) Assignability The Account established under this Agreement are not assignable or transferable except with our consent. We must approve any pledge of the Account and any such pledge remains subject to any right we have under the Agreement and applicable state and federal law. If ownership is proposed to be transferred, we may require the Account be closed and a new account opened in the name of the transferee or pledgee. 1. **Limitation of liability** Except as required by applicable law, Bank shall have no liability to you if Bank is unable to complete a transaction for any reason beyond Bank's control. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, Bank, Bank's affiliates, Servicer, and their employees, contractors, officers, directors, and assigns, along with the parties with whom Bank contracts in order to offer your Account and related services, are neither responsible nor liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising out of or relating in any way to your Account, any products or services purchased using Account, or this Agreement \(as well as any related or prior agreement you may have had with Bank\). You waive all claims and any right to recover from Bank on any claim of negligence, breach of any implied covenant, breach of fiduciary duty, commercial unreasonableness, loss of business, or loss of business opportunity or advantage. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, Bank’s liability for any act or omission will not exceed your direct losses. 1. **Indemnification ** **You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Bank and its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, employees, contractors, officers, directors, and assigns against any and all claims, suits, damages, costs, lawsuits, fines, penalties, liabilities, and expenses \(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees\) that arise from your use of the Account, your acts or omissions, or your violation of this Agreement, Applicable Law, or any third\-party rights or your fraud or willful misconduct. Bank reserves the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate in asserting any available defenses.** 1. **Dispute resolution** **YOU AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AND BANK ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND. YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THIS CLASS ACTION WAIVER BY CONTACTING BANK AT 1110 GORGAS AVE, SUITE A4\-700 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94129 WITHIN THIRTY \(30\) DAYS AFTER YOU FIRST ACCEPT THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, STATING THAT YOU \(INCLUDE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME\) DECLINE THIS CLASS ACTION WAIVER.** **EXCEPT FOR DISPUTES THAT QUALIFY FOR SMALL CLAIMS COURT, ALL DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ASPECT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND BANK, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT \(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE\), STATUTE, FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR INSTEAD OF IN A COURT BY A JUDGE OR JURY AND YOU AGREE THAT BANK AND YOU ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY A JURY. YOU AGREE THAT ANY ARBITRATION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS; CLASS ARBITRATIONS AND CLASS ACTIONS ARE NOT PERMITTED AND YOU ARE AGREEING TO GIVE UP THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.** The arbitration will be administered by JAMS under its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures \(“Comprehensive Rules”\). The Comprehensive Rules are available online at [http://www.jamsadr.com/rules\-comprehensive\-arbitration/](http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-comprehensive-arbitration/). Any in\-person appearances will be held at a location which is reasonably convenient to both Parties with due consideration of their ability to travel and other pertinent circumstances. If the Parties are unable to agree on a location, such determination should be made by JAMS or by the arbitrator. The arbitrator's decision will follow this Agreement and will be final and binding. The arbitrator will have authority to award temporary, interim, or permanent injunctive relief or relief providing for specific performance of this Agreement, but only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the individual claim before the arbitrator. To reduce the time and expense of the arbitration, the arbitrator will not provide a statement of reasons for his or her award unless requested to do so by all Parties. The award rendered by the arbitrator may be confirmed and enforced in any court having jurisdiction thereof. An arbitration award and any judgment confirming it apply only to that specific case; it cannot be used in any other case except to enforce the award itself. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will preclude you from bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies and, if the law allows, they can seek relief against Bank for you. This Dispute Resolution Provision will survive termination of your Account, this Agreement and any bankruptcy by you or us. If any portion of this Dispute Resolution Provision is deemed invalid or unenforceable under any principle or provision of law or equity it will not invalidate the remaining portions of this Dispute Resolution Provision, this Agreement or any prior agreement you may have had with us, each of which will be enforceable regardless of such invalidity. **IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT ACTIVATE OR USE THE ACCOUNT.** **EXHIBIT 1** **FEES** **EXHIBIT 2** **MOBILE CHECK DEPOSIT ADDENDUM** This Mobile Check Deposit Addendum \(“**Check Addendum**”\) establishes the terms and conditions under which **Column National Association** \(“**Bank**”\) agrees to process check deposits to your Account. This Check Addendum supplements, amends, and forms a part of your Commercial Deposit Account Agreement with Bank \(the “**Agreement**”\). If there is any conflict between this Check Addendum and the Agreement, this Check Addendum shall govern with regard to the Mobile Check Deposit Services, but only to the extent of such inconsistency. By using the Mobile Check Deposit Services, you agree that you are bound by and will comply with the terms and conditions of this Check Addendum, as well as the Agreement, Applicable Law, and any other terms, conditions, or agreements pertaining to Bank’s provision of the Mobile Check Deposit Services to you. 1. **Definitions**.  Unless otherwise defined in this Check Addendum, all capitalized terms have the meanings assigned in the Agreement. “Check Image” means a legible picture of the front and back of the Original Check. “Electronic Check” means a digital representation of the Original Check. “Original Check” means the negotiable paper check payable in U.S. dollars. “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in California. 1. **Mobile Check Deposit Services**.  You can deposit checks to your Account remotely by endorsing the Original Check with your name and the legend “For Electronic Deposit at Column Only” and submitting the Check Image as an Eligible Instruction to Bank. Bank does not accept checks for deposit through any channel other than Mobile Check Deposit such as deposits in bank branch locations or via U.S. Mail. Any checks received through any channel other than Mobile Check Deposit will be returned to you through U.S. mail and we will not be liable for any checks that may become lost in the mail. If the Check Image is accepted for deposit by Bank, we will notify you via the Chariot Dashboard. 1. **Check Image Requirements** The Check Image must contain and clearly indicate an amount to be paid, a preprinted bank routing number, account number, and serial number, be payable to you, and be endorsed for deposit only to the Account. The Check Image must accurately reflect all information on the front of the Original Check as drafted and the back of the check as endorsed by you at the time the Original Check was photographed. You are responsible for ensuring that the Check Image submitted by you, your employees, or agents meets Bank’s image quality requirements. 1. **Method of Presentment**  Bank may attempt to collect the funds by presenting the Check Image or converting the Check Image into an Electronic Check. You acknowledge that the manner in which checks are cleared or presented for payment is in our sole discretion. We reserve the right to select the clearing agent\(s\) through which we clear Items. You agree to be bound by any clearing house agreements, operating circulars, image exchange agreements or any other related agreements to which we are a party. 1. **Prohibited Checks**.  You may only use Mobile Check Deposit to submit eligible checks that are made payable to you, with authentic and authorized signatures, that are not altered. The following checks are ineligible and may not be deposited using Mobile Check Deposit: - - Checks payable for greater than $1 million USD for deposit;  - Returned deposit checks;  - Checks drawn on banks located outside the U.S.;  - Checks payable in a currency other than USD; and  - Checks payable to a third party. 1. **Duplicate Presentment**  Unless we advise you otherwise in writing, you will not submit for deposit through Bank’s Mobile Check Deposit Services any check \(either the Original Check or Electronic Check\) that has been previously submitted for deposit at Bank or any other financial institution, nor will you submit for deposit at any other financial institution any check \(either the Original Check or Electronic Check\) that has been submitted for deposit to Bank. You will employ commercially reasonable security measures and firewalls sufficient to protect transmissions and storage to ensure no unauthorized access or duplicate presentment. 1. **Funds Availability** Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any agreement or representation between you and Bank, by using Mobile Check Deposit, you acknowledge that deposits submitted using Bank’s Mobile Check Deposit are not subject to the funds availability requirements of Federal Reserve Board Regulation CC. Check Deposits are deemed as made when you submit the Check Image as an Eligible Instruction and the Check Image is accepted by Bank. If you make a deposit before 5pm Pacific Time on a Business Day that we are open, we will consider that day to be the day of your check deposit. However, if you make a check deposit after 5pm Pacific Time or on a non\-business day, we will consider that the check deposit was made on the next business day. Funds from deposits made via Mobile Check Deposit generally will be made available by the third Business Day after the day that the deposit is made. We also may, at our discretion, apply additional delays on the availability of funds from deposits made via Mobile Check Deposit based on any other factors as determined by us in our sole discretion. When you make a check deposit to your Account, we will credit your account for the amount of the deposited item\(s\). We reserve the right to review the check deposit and confirm the amount you deposited but are not required to do so. If after any review we determine that the amount credited to your Account is incorrect, we may adjust your Account for the amount of the discrepancy. We may return or refuse to accept all or any part of a deposit to your Account using Mobile Check Deposit at any time and for any reason. We will not be liable to you for refusing or returning a check deposit, even if it causes outstanding checks or other debits to your account to be dishonored or returned or for us to decline any other transactions you have already requested or made. 1. **Mobile Check Deposit Limit** The maximum amount you may deposit through the Mobile Check Deposit Service is $10,000,000 per day or $100,000,000 in any rolling 30 day period. However, we may allow transactions that exceed your limits, and if we do so, we may increase or decrease that amount \(but not below the disclosed limits\) without notice. We may temporarily reduce your limits below these disclosed limits without notice for security reasons. We reserve the right to modify the foregoing limits, and/or impose limits on the number of deposits that you transmit using the Mobile Check Deposit service from time to time, and will notify you to the extent required by law. 1. **Accountholder Warranties**  You will comply with Applicable Law. Each time you use Mobile Check Deposit, you make all the warranties set forth in and subject to the terms of the UCC for the check as if it were an item subject to the terms of the UCC. You make the following warranties and representations with respect to each image of an Original Check you transmit to us using Mobile Check Deposit: - - Each Check Image transmitted to us is a true and accurate rendition of the front and back of the Original Check \(at the time it was transmitted\), without any alteration, and the drawer of the check has no defense against payment of the check;  - The amount, the payee, signature\(s\), and endorsement\(s\) on the original check are legible, genuine, and accurate; - You are only transmitting eligible checks you are entitled to endorse; - All checks include all signatures required for their negotiation; - You are using Mobile Check Deposit only for your own deposits and have not allowed the use of Mobile Check Deposit for the benefit of any third party;  - No person will receive presentment or otherwise be charged for a check submitted for deposit at Bank \(either the Original Check or Electronic Check\) such that the person will be asked to make payment based on a check that has already paid; - Other than the Check Image that you remotely deposit through Mobile Check Deposit, there are no other duplicate images of the Original Check;  - You have possession of each Original Check deposited using Mobile Check Deposit;  - You have ensured that each Original Check was authorized by the drawer in the amount stated on the Original Check and to the payee stated on the Original Check; - The information you provided for your Account remains true and accurate, and in the event any such information changes, you will immediately notify us via Servicer of the change; and - Files and images transmitted to us contain no viruses or any other disabling features that may have an adverse impact on our network, data, or related systems. 1. **Deposited Checks Returned Unpaid** We may reverse any credit to the Account for any check that is not paid because \(i\) it is returned by the financial institution on which it was drawn; \(ii\) there is a claim that a required endorsement is forged; or \(iii\) there is a claim the check has been altered. In the event that a check that you submit to us for deposit for credit to your Account is dishonored, rejected, or returned for any reason, you authorize us to debit the amount of the check from your Account, or offset the amount from any of your other accounts with us, and assess appropriate fees per the Agreement and this Check Addendum. You acknowledge that the returned deposit activity may result in the cancellation of your Mobile Check Deposit privileges. You agree that we are not liable for any loss, costs, or fees you may incur as a result of the returned deposit activity. 1. **Your Responsibility for Maintenance and Destruction of Original Items** Once your check deposit has been credited to your Account you must mark the Original Check as “VOID” and retain the check for sixty \(60\) days You agree that you shall be solely responsible for the Original Check, including storage, retrieval, and destruction. You are solely responsible for all damages arising out of your failure to appropriately safeguard the original checks or failure to destroy them in a timely manner. 1. **Fees** Fees for Mobile Check Deposit Services are set forth in the Agreement. 1. **Deposit Liability** Bank is not liable for any check deposits not received by Bank. 1. **Termination of Service** We reserve the right to terminate Bank’s provision of Mobile Check Deposit Service at any time without notice to you. 1. **Miscellaneous** If you receive notice of any claim regarding Bank’s Mobile Check Deposit Service, you shall promptly provide Servicer with a written notice of it. **EXHIBIT 3** **ACH ORIGINATION ADDENDUM** This ACH Origination Addendum \(“**ACH Addendum**”\) establishes the terms and conditions under which **Column National Association** \(“**Bank**”\) acting as Originating Depository Financial Institution \(“**ODFI**”\) agrees to process automated clearinghouse \(“**ACH**”\) transactions you originate as Originator \(the “**ACH Services**”\). This ACH Addendum supplements, amends, and forms a part of your Commercial Deposit Account Agreement with Bank \(the “**Agreement**”\). If there is any conflict between this ACH Addendum and the Agreement, this ACH Addendum shall govern with regard to the ACH Services, but only to the extent of such inconsistency. By using the ACH Services, you agree that you are bound by and will comply with the terms and conditions of this ACH Addendum, as well as the Agreement, Applicable Law, and any other terms, conditions, or agreements pertaining to Bank’s provision of the ACH Services to you. 1. **Definitions**  Unless otherwise defined in this ACH Addendum, all capitalized terms have the meanings assigned in the Agreement and/or the Rules. “ACH Security Framework Rule” means the security requirements set forth in Section 1.6 of the Rules. “Cut\-Off Time” means 5pm Pacific Time on a Business Day. “Login Credentials” means each username and password \(or other credentials\) used by any User to access your Account through the Chariot Dashboard. “Losses” means any and all causes of action, charges, suits, assessments, damages, claims, demands, losses, liabilities, fines \(including fines levied in connection with Rules violations\), unauthorized Return Entry fees and expenses \(including attorney’s fees and court costs\). “NACHA” means the National Automated Clearinghouse Association. “Person” means any individual or legal entity, including a general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, company, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, or unincorporated organization. “Protected Information” means the non\-public personal information, including financial information, of a natural person used to create, or contained within, an Entry and any related Addenda Record, as set forth in the Rules. “Regulatory Authority” means any federal, state, or local regulatory or other government agency or authority with jurisdiction over a party. “Rules” means the rules, regulations, guidelines, advisories, policies, or instructions of NACHA in effect from time to time, including the operating rules thereof. “Settlement Date” with respect to a credit or debit Entry, the date an exchange of funds with respect to an Entry is reflected on the books of the applicable Federal Reserve Bank\(s\), and with respect to a Non\-Monetary Entry, the date specified in the “Settlement Date” field of the Entry. 1. **Customer Obligations**  In using the ACH Services, you will comply, and cause your employees, officers, directors, and agents, including your Authorized Users, to comply with \(1\) Applicable Law, \(2\) the Rules and any related advisories, policies, or instructions issued by NACHA, Bank, or any regulatory authority; and \(3\) the Agreement and this ACH Addendum. You adopt and make to Bank all representations and warranties of an Originator under the Rules, including that you will not initiate Entries in violation of Applicable Law. You acknowledge that you have access to a copy of the Rules, have reviewed your obligations thereunder, and have subscribed to receive revisions to the Rules directly from NACHA. You are responsible for all tariffs, duties, or taxes that may be imposed by a Regulatory Authority in connection with your use of the ACH Services. You agree to provide Bank such information as Bank may reasonably request in connection with the underwriting process. In addition, you agree to provide such other information as Bank may reasonably request in connection with your use of the ACH Services. You acknowledge and agree you are not authorized to act as a Third\-Party Sender pursuant to this ACH Addendum not to submit for processing any Entries for which you are not the Originator. Entries you initiate shall be in accordance with the procedures and specifications set forth by Bank in the Agreement, this ACH Addendum, and the Chariot Dashboard. Entries accepted and processed by Bank will be reflected in the transactions on your Account viewable via the Chariot Dashboard. You shall review the transactions on your Account on the Chariot Dashboard and notify Servicer of any discrepancies or errors, including unauthorized Entries, as set forth in the Agreement. You agree not to transmit an Entry to Bank or to otherwise use or attempt to use the ACH Services to: \(i\) engage in any illegal purpose, transaction, or activity or to violate any Applicable Law, \(ii\) breach any contract or agreement by which you are bound; \(iii\) engage in any internet or online gambling transaction, whether or not gambling is legal in any applicable jurisdiction; or \(iv\) engage in any transaction or activity that is not specifically authorized and permitted by this Addendum. You acknowledge and agree that Bank has no obligation to monitor your use of the ACH Services for transactions and activities that are impermissible or prohibited under the terms of this ACH Addendum; provided, however, that Bank reserves the right to decline to execute any transaction or activity that Bank believes violates the terms of this ACH Addendum. 1. **Processing** You authorize Bank to and agree that Bank shall process Entries, including debit and credit Entries, received in accordance with this ACH Addendum, transmit such Entries as an ODFI to the Federal Reserve Bank as the ACH Operator, and settle such Entries as provided in the Rules. Bank shall transmit such Entries to the ACH Operator prior to the effective entry date shown in the Entries, provided that: \(i\) such Entries are received by Bank on a Business Day before Bank’s daily Cut\-Off Time; \(ii\) the effective entry date is at least two \(2\) days after such Business Day; and \(iii\) the ACH Operator is open for business on the effective entry date. Any Entry or File initiated after the Cut\-Off Times will be deemed made on the next Business Day. The ACH Services are subject to the Bank’s daily Cut\-Off\-Time. Any Entry or File initiated after the Cut\-Off Times will be deemed made on the next Business Day. Entries shall be deemed received by Bank at such times as the applicable requirements have been met with respect to such Entries. If you fail to comply with any Bank procedure or requirement set forth by Bank in the Agreement, this ACH Addendum, and the Chariot Dashboard, Bank may, but shall not be required to, process such Entries. 1. **Permissible Entry Types** You may elect to originate a Same Day Entry, which may trigger fees for same day processing. An Entry received for credit to an account maintained with Bank \(an “On\-Us Entry”\) shall not be transmitted to the ACH Operator but shall be credited or debited to the Receiver’s account in the amount of such Entry on the effective entry date contained in such Entry. An On\-Us Entry may not be processed through the ACH Network, but Client is deemed to make all representations and warranties as if the Entry were not an On\-Us Entry. You may only initiate Entries for Standard Entry Class \(“SEC”\) Codes that have been approved by Bank in writing. Approved SEC Codes include CCD and PPD but may be restricted or amended by Bank in its sole discretion. You will comply with account validation requirements under the Rules for Debit WEB Entries. You are not permitted to originate International ACH Transactions \(“IAT”\) and Bank shall have no obligation to act on IAT Entries or Entries Bank determines should have been coded as IAT Entries. 1. **Accuracy of Information and Bank Reliance** In using the ACH Services, you are responsible for providing accurate information. Bank, Servicer, and any other financial institution involved in an ACH Services transaction is entitled to rely without confirmation on any information provided by you, included in an Entry, request, or on any written notice or other written communication believed by it in good faith to be genuine and authorized by you. Bank may rely on a number you provide even if it identifies a financial institution, Person, or account other than the one named. Bank will process your Entries, requests, and any other communications based solely on the information you provide to us and Bank expressly disclaims any obligation to review any such request, Entry, or communication for errors or inconsistent or duplicative information. It is your obligation to verify the information you provide to us including, but not limited to, the identity and relationship of the receiving party, account number, and routing number. 1. **Returned Entries** Servicer shall notify you of a Returned Entry within one \(1\) Business Day of the receipt of such Returned Entry from the ACH Operator. Bank shall have no obligation to retransmit a Returned Entry. Servicer shall notify you of any Notification of Changes \(“NOC”\), including refused NOCs or corrected NOCs received by Bank no later than two \(2\) Business Days after receipt. You must respond to NOCs by investigating incorrect data and making corrections within six \(6\) Business Days of receipt of the NOC information or prior to initiating another Entry to the Receiver’s account, whichever is later. You shall indemnify and hold harmless Bank against any Losses incurred by Bank, Servicer, or any other Person arising out of your failure to make such change as required by this ACH Addendum or Applicable Law. This indemnification obligation will survive any termination of the ACH Services. If an Entry is returned as unauthorized or authorization is revoked, you will contact the necessary parties and resolve any dispute. During this process, you may ask Bank via Servicer to request from the RDFI a copy of the “Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit.” Bank will attempt to obtain the form and deliver it to you. You agree not to re\-originate any transaction returned as unauthorized or as authorization revoked unless and until the Receiver reauthorizes the Entry or Entry stream. In the event the rate of unauthorized transactions exceeds the permissible limit based on the calculations noted in the Rules, you will share the data requested by Bank based on the Rules and will immediately begin the process of bringing the rate below that threshold. 1. **Rejection, Correction of Entries** Bank may reject any Entry for any reason whatsoever. Servicer shall notify you of such rejection no later than the Business Day such Entry would otherwise have been transmitted by Bank to the ACH Operator or, in the case of an On\-Us Entry, its effective entry date. Bank shall have no responsibility or liability to you in connection with the rejection of any Entry or for failing to provide notice of a rejection. Bank is not obligated to pay you interest for the period before you receive the notice of rejection. If an Entry is rejected for any reason, it is your responsibility to correct the Entry that you intend to resubmit. If the amount of any Entry or Entries received by Bank does not agree with any corresponding transmittal information provided by you pursuant to this Addendum, Bank may in its sole discretion reject or correct the Entry or Entries. If Bank determines in its sole discretion to correct an Entry, you shall be deemed for purposes of this Addendum to have delivered the Entry to Bank as it has been corrected by Bank pursuant to this section. 1. **Cancellation, Reversal, or Amendment by You** You shall have no right to cancel, reverse, or amend any Entry after its receipt by us. However, if a request for cancellation, reversal, or amendment is received by Bank prior to transmitting the Entry to the ACH Operator, Bank may use reasonable efforts to act on such a request but shall have no liability if such request is not or cannot be effected. Your request must include the reason for the cancellation, reversal, or amendment. You agree to indemnify Bank in connection with any such request from you. Obligations under this section will survive the termination of this Service. 1. **Authorization** Prior to submitting an Entry, you will obtain written authorization as required by the Rules and Applicable Law from the Receiver. The authorization must have clear and understandable terms and inform any consumer Receiver of the method and terms for revoking such authorization. The authorization must identify the Receiver’s account and the RDFI where such account is maintained. With respect to any Entries involving consumer accounts, you shall comply with any applicable requirements of the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act and its implementing rules under Regulation E. 1. **Credit Entries** Credit Entries you initiate may be transmitted through the ACH system. Your rights and obligations as the Originator of such Entries are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Any credit given by the RDFI to the Receiver of your credit Entry is provisional until the RDFI has received final settlement through a Federal Reserve Bank or otherwise has received payment as provided for in Section 4A\-403\(a\) of Article 4A of the UCC. If the RDFI does not receive payment for the Entry, the RDFI is entitled to a refund from the Receiver in the amount of the credit to the Receiver’s account and you will not be considered to have paid the amount of the credit Entry to the Receiver. 1. **Provisional Credit** Bank shall not be required to pay you the amount of any Debit Entry or credit reversal before Bank receives final settlement for such Entry. Any payment by Bank as credit to your Account prior to final settlement shall be provisional and Bank shall have the right, without prior notice or demand by Bank, to immediate repayment by you of the amount of such credit upon Bank’s receipt of notice that final settlement has not occurred. In addition, Bank shall have the right, without notice or demand, to immediate repayment by you of the amount of any Debit Entry returned or rejected and any adjustment Entry for which Bank is required to settle under the Rules and for which you have previously received credit, at the time Bank receives such rejection, return, or adjustment Entry, as applicable, or notice thereof. 1. **Bank’s Right to Debit**.  Bank may, without prior notice or demand, obtain payment of any amount due and payable to it under this Addendum by debiting your Account, even if such debit results in an overdraft on your Account. With respect to a Debit Entry that is returned, reversed, or adjusted for any reason by the RDFI, you specifically authorize Bank to debit your Account for such Debit Entry, plus any related costs incurred by Bank, or take such other action as would be appropriate under the circumstances. Bank will notify you accordingly. If your Account does not have adequate funds to cover return, reversal, or adjustment of such Debit Entry, then Bank may either \(i\) overdraw your Account or \(ii\) debit your Collateral Account to cover the return, reversal, or adjustment of such Entry. If Bank releases funds after your death and is required to pay tax or reclamation claims to a government agency as a result, your estate is responsible for reimbursing Bank for an amount equal to the cost of such claims. 1. **Notice** Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, Bank shall not be required to act upon any notice or instruction received from you or any other Person, or to provide any notice or advice to you or any other Person with respect to any matter. 1. **Security Procedures**.  You may only submit ACH Entries through the Security Procedures defined in the Agreement. You agree to comply with the Security Procedures and you acknowledge that such security procedures are acceptable and a commercially reasonable method of providing security against unauthorized Entries. Bank reserves the right to change the Security Procedures in its sole discretion. You acknowledge that the purpose of the Security Procedures is to verify authenticity and not to detect an error in the transmission or content of an Entry. Bank and you have not agreed upon any procedures for the detection of errors and you are solely responsible for any errors not caused by Bank. Any Entry \(or request for cancellation or amendment of an Entry\) communicated to Bank will be effective as your instruction, whether or not authorized, and regardless of the actual identity of the sender thereof, if it is an Eligible Instruction accepted by Bank in good faith. Bank is not obligated to act on any instruction other than Eligible Instructions. You are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of each Eligible Instruction. You agree to and will cause your Third\-Party Service Providers \(if applicable\), to develop, implement, and update policies, procedures, and systems as necessary to ensure compliance with the ACH Security Framework Rule and to protect the integrity and confidentiality of Protected Information. You will not, and will ensure any Third\-Party Service Providers do not, disclose Protected Information except as necessary and permitted by the Rules to facilitate the ACH Services. You agree to keep your Login Credentials safe and secure and not disclose them to anyone other than a Person authorized and permitted by you to send Entries to Bank on your behalf. You will immediately give notice to Bank via Servicer upon determining that any breach of confidentiality has occurred, including because any unauthorized Person has gained access to Protected Information. 1. **Risk Exposure Limits and Prefunding** Your use of the ACH Services may be subject to underwriting criteria imposed by Bank from time to time in its sole discretion. Bank may establish limits on your use of the ACH Services for any reason, including based on your financial condition or historical or anticipated transaction levels. These limits may include limits on the size, frequency, or number of transactions you may make in a given period. Any limits will be disclosed to you through the Chariot Dashboard. You acknowledge that any limit imposed is solely for the protection of Bank and its assets. Bank may suspend or reject processing of any Entry or File that exceeds any applicable limits Bank has imposed. You may not reinitiate Entries except as permitted by the Rules. You understand that requests for Entries exceeding any limits are honored solely at the discretion of Bank. Requests not honored may be communicated by Bank to you. Regardless of any limits imposed by Bank, you are required to pre\-fund your Account prior to the Settlement Date of any Credit Entries you initiate to ensure adequate funds are available. In addition, Bank may require, in its sole discretion, that you establish reserves with the Bank prior to any continued use of the ACH Services. 1. **Record Retention** You shall retain data on file adequate to permit remaking of Entries for five \(5\) days following the date of their transmittal by Bank and shall provide such data to Bank upon request. You will maintain records of: \(1\) information provided to Bank in connection with an Entry for a period of six \(6\) years after the date of submission; and \(2\) each authorization in its original form while it is in effect and an original form or copy for two \(2\) years after termination or revocation of the authorization, or such longer period as may be required by the Rules. Upon request, you will provide such records to Bank via Servicer promptly, but no later than five \(5\) days following the date of the request. All Entries, Security Procedures, and related records used by Bank for transactions contemplated by this Addendum shall be and remain Bank’s property. Bank may, at its sole discretion, make available such information upon your request. You shall pay any expenses incurred by Bank in making such information available to you. You and Bank agree that all telephone conversations or data transmissions between you and Bank made in connection with this Addendum may be electronically recorded and retained by Bank by use of any reasonable means. Bank shall not be obligated to make such recordings. 1. **Compensation and Fees** Fees for the ACH Services are set forth in the Agreement. 1. **Representations, Warranties, and Covenants** You represent and warrant to Bank that: - - You have access to a copy of the Rules, have reviewed your obligations thereunder, and have subscribed to receive revisions to the Rules directly from NACHA;  - In using the ACH Services, regardless of whether an Entry is sent through the ACH network, you will comply and will cause your directors, officers, employees, and agents to comply with Applicable Law, the Agreement, and this Addendum;  - You adopt and make to Bank all representations and warranties of an Originator under the Rules;  - Each Person identified as the Receiver on an Entry submitted to Bank has authorized the Entry pursuant to the Rules, such authorization has not been revoked, and you shall furnish the original or a copy of the authorization to Bank or any other affected Participating DFI immediately upon request;  - Each Entry contains all information required by the Rules;  - Each credit Entry is timely and each debit Entry satisfies an obligation, corrects an error, or reclaims an amount received after death or legal incapacity;  - Banking information for the Entry is transmitted securely;  - You have used commercially reasonable procedures to verify that all information contained in an Entry, including routing numbers, is accurate and valid; and  - Entries transmitted to Bank are limited to those types of Entries set forth by Bank in the Agreement and this ACH Addendum.  1. **Authorized Users** You may appoint Authorized Users pursuant to this Addendum and the terms governing your use of the Chariot Dashboard. You agree that you are solely liable for: - - Your Authorized Users’ compliance with your obligations under this Addendum;  - All transactions initiated by your Authorized Users, unless you have given notice that an Authorized User is no longer authorized to use the ACH Services as provided in this Addendum; and  - Any Losses Bank incurs as a result of the activities or omissions of your Authorized Users. It is your responsibility to train Authorized Users on their obligations and to appropriately safeguard Login Credentials.  1. **Audit and Risk Assessments** If required by the Rules, you agree to conduct an annual audit of your compliance with the Rules and shall retain documentation supporting such audits for six \(6\) years from the date of the audit. You shall provide such documentation upon request by Bank or NACHA within five \(5\) Business Days of such request. In addition, you agree that Bank or a third party appointed by Bank shall have the right to audit your compliance with the Rules upon not less than ten \(10\) Business Days prior notice. 1. **Termination** Bank may terminate or suspend the ACH Services and this ACH Addendum at any time in its sole discretion, including for breach of the Rules, in a manner that permits Bank to comply with the Rules. This Addendum may be terminated by you at any time by giving Servicer not less than thirty \(30\) days’ prior written notice. Your obligations arising under this Addendum survive termination and this Addendum shall continue in full force and effect with respect to all Entries and transactions which were in process. 1. **Amendments** Bank may amend, revise, supplement or otherwise modify this Addendum from time to time upon notice to you through the Chariot Dashboard. Your continued use of the ACH Services thereafter shall constitute your acceptance of any modified terms. 1. **Indemnification** You agree that you shall indemnify and hold Bank and Servicer harmless from and against any and all Losses, which may be claimed against Bank for any alleged or actual breach of warranty relating, directly or indirectly, and in whole or in part, to an Entry transmitted by you to Bank or for any other act or omission of Bank pursuant to this Addendum. 1. **Limitation of Liability**.  Bank shall not be responsible for your acts or omissions including the amount, accuracy, timeliness of transmittal or due authorization of any Entry received from you or the acts or omissions of any other Person, including without limitation any ACH Operator, including transmission or communications facilities, any Receiver or RDFI, including the return of an Entry by such Receiver or RDFI, and no such Person shall be deemed Bank’s agent. NONE OF BANK, ITS AFFILIATES, SERVICER, NOR ANY OF ITS OR THEIR AGENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR SHALL INCUR ANY LIABILITY \(WHETHER ARISING BY CONTRACT, TORT, STATUTORY DUTY, OR OTHERWISE\) TO YOU, THE RECEIVER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY FOR: \(1\) THE PERFORMANCE OF, OR DELAYS IN, OR FAILURE TO EXECUTE, ANY OF ITS OR THEIR UNDERTAKINGS UNDER THIS ADDENDUM; OR \(2\) ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ADDENDUM, EXCEPT: \(i\) WHERE SUCH LIABILITY IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO BANK, OR ITS AFFILIATES’, OR ANY OF ITS OR THEIR AGENTS’ FRAUD, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT; OR \(ii\) WHERE SUCH LIABILITY MAY NOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY LAW. BANK’S, ITS AFFILIATES’, AND ITS OR THEIR AGENTS’ AGGREGATE LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ENTRY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF SUCH ENTRY. YOU SHALL REMAIN SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL FINANCIAL TRANSACTION RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR ACCOUNT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS, AND TRANSACTIONS RESULTING FROM IMPROPER INPUT DATA ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACH SERVICES. --- ## Legal Nonprofit - Source: https://givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit - Published: 2025-11-05 > Review Chariot's Terms of Service for nonprofits. Covers DAFpay, Gift Processing, Disbursements, and account usage. ### Chariot Terms of Service _Last updated: January 28, 2026_ Chariot Giving, Inc. \(hereinafter “Chariot”, “we”, “us”, or “our”\) operates a platform of web properties and services \(collectively “Platform” or “Chariot Platform”\) to initiate, facilitate and process payments\* between individuals, Nonprofits, and other organizations in the philanthropic ecosystem. These Nonprofit Terms of Service form a contract between individuals and the nonprofit organizations they represent, as well as visitors to our Platform \(each “you” or “your”\) and Chariot, and govern your use of our Platform and the associated Services. References to “Nonprofit Terms” or “Terms” mean this agreement and any terms and agreements incorporated herein by reference, which includes, but is not limited to Chariot’s [Privacy Policy](https://www.givechariot.com/privacy), [Electronic Communications Delivery Policy](https://www.givechariot.com/esign-disclosures-2025) and, if applicable to your Chariot Account, [Disbursements Addendum](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements-addendum) and [Chariot Digital Mailbox Addendum](https://www.givechariot.com/digital-mailbox-addendum). By accessing our Websites, creating a Chariot Account, and/or using our Platform, you agree: - That you are 18 years of age or older; - To be bound by these Nonprofit Terms both as an individual and as an entity which you represent in connection with your use of the Platform; and - If you are accepting on behalf of your employer or another entity \(which may be a corporation, not\-for\-profit corporation, trust, or any other type of organization which is associated with a Chariot Account\), you represent and warrant that: \(i\) you have full legal authority to bind your employer or such entity to these Nonprofit Terms; \(ii\) you have read and understand these Nonprofit Terms; and \(iii\) you agree to these Nonprofit Terms on behalf of the party that you represent. If you do not have the legal authority to bind your employer or the applicable entity, you are not permitted to use the Platform on behalf of that entity. If you do not agree to these Nonprofit Terms, you may not use our Platform or the associated Services. THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION OF THESE TERMS, SECTION 5, CONTAINS PROVISIONS THAT GOVERN HOW CLAIMS THAT YOU AND WE HAVE AGAINST EACH OTHER ARE RESOLVED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CLAIMS THAT AROSE OR WERE ASSERTED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE TERMS. IN PARTICULAR, THIS SETS FORTH OUR ARBITRATION TERMS WHICH WILL, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, REQUIRE DISPUTES BETWEEN US TO BE SUBMITTED TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION. UNLESS YOU OPT OUT OF THE ARBITRATION TERMS: \(1\) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE CLAIMS AND SEEK RELIEF AGAINST US ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION; AND \(2\) YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO SEEK RELIEF IN A COURT OF LAW AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON YOUR CLAIMS. THE ARBITRATION TERMS COULD AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PENDING PROPOSED CLASS ACTION LITIGATION. PLEASE SEE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THESE ARBITRATION TERMS, THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THESE ARBITRATION TERMS, AND HOW TO OPT OUT OF THE ARBITRATION TERMS. ## **1. Defined Terms** Capitalized terms in these Nonprofit Terms are defined as follows. ### 1.1 Chariot Services and Platform “Chariot Services” or “Services” means: - The display and support for the Chariot Platform including Chariot Accounts and associated dashboard displays and available Nonprofit User or DAF Donor actions; - Any connections to, and integrations with, third party services, including any Fundraising Platforms or DAF Providers, as it relates to the Platform, including any pass\-through account verification services or mechanisms;  - Activities underlying the operation of the Platform, including Chariot’s Customer Relationship Management Infrastructure, and integrations with third\-party compliance vendors like Footprint and Unit21; - All activities, functions, and operations related to the facilitation of DAFpay, Gift Processing, or Disbursements; and - The related operations of Chariot to deliver, update, evolve, and maintain the Platform, including without limitation to initiate or process donations and data from individuals or Payment Sources to Nonprofits, or to send payments from Payment Sources to Nonprofits. “Chariot Platform” or “Platform” means the Services along with the collective web properties or apps offered by Chariot including: - The websites available at [www.givechariot.com](http://www.givechariot.com/), [www.dafpay.com](http://dafpay.com), [www.dafday.com](http://www.dafday.com) and all content thereon \(collectively referred to as “Websites”\);   - DAFpay, including the DAFpay button and all DAFpay components, as installed on a Nonprofit website either directly or by a Fundraising Platform whether as a standalone HTML code snippet or via an API key; - Any donation facilitation requests initiated by, or other interactions with, DAFpay, allowing DAF Donors to easily access their funds anywhere they are inspired to give and to initiate a donation to a Nonprofit, including to manage the distribution of charitable funds through our Services to Non\-User Nonprofits; - Functions used in the course of effecting donations that also track and verify those donations; - A Chariot Account which includes dashboards that shows among other things, donation history, received payments, sent payments, reconciled transactions, data manipulations or transformations, and data exports;  - Payment processing functions to initiate, receive, or send donations; - Any databases or procedures maintained, established, or aggregated by Chariot including, but not limited to, lists of DAF providers, lists of Nonprofit Information including Nonprofit Addresses, and Compliance protocols used to facilitate our Services and operate our Platform - Chariot’s access to, data collection from, and any activity on third\-party DAF Providers, including by accessing and collecting information on behalf of DAF donors and sharing such information as specified by non\-anonymous donors to their nonprofit recipient of choice - Access to and monitoring of donation status and details, such as the date and amount of a donation ### **​**1.2 Other Defined Terms “Bank Partners” refers to the FDIC\-insured financial institution partner\(s\) providing the underlying Banking Services which you access through your Chariot Deposit Account. "Banking Services" means deposit accounts, payment services, and related banking functionality provided through our Bank Partners. “Chariot Account” means the profile created by a Nonprofit Control Person and accessed by Nonprofit Users to engage with the Chariot Platform, the associated Nonprofit dashboard, and all related Services. “Chariot Deposit Account” means a demand deposit account opened with Bank Partners pursuant to the Commercial Deposit Account Agreement. “Chariot Digital Mailbox” means the Service offered by Chariot to receive, open, scan, and read Mail, to upload related data to the Mailroom within the Nonprofit dashboard, and, provided through our Bank Partners, to deposit checks on the Nonprofit’s behalf into your Chariot Deposit Account. “Customer Relationship Management Infrastructure” means all the tools and third\-party services Chariot uses to manage communication with Nonprofits or partners including for example: Email, Slack, and Hubspot. “DAF” means a Donor Advised Fund. “DAFpay” means Chariot’s donor\-facing DAF grant request initiation tool embedded by Nonprofits or Fundraising Platforms on their websites to facilitate seamless DAF donations for Donors. “DAFpay Network” means the registered 501\(c\)\(3\) organization that Chariot uses as a third\-party nonprofit to facilitate payments only when Non\-User Nonprofits do not have a Chariot Deposit Account. “DAF Donors” means an individual who has a DAF account with a DAF Provider. “DAF Provider” or “Donor Advised Fund Provider” means any organization offering or providing DAF administration services to individuals or organizations. “Disbursements" means the Service offered by Chariot to streamline the way in which Payment Sources find, identify, validate, and send payments and related transaction data to Recipient Nonprofits. “External Financial Accounts” means any account held and owned by the Nonprofit at a financial institution and authorized for withdrawals of funds available in the Chariot Deposit Account. “Fees” means charges to you for use of our Platform or Services. “Fundraising Platform” means any third\-party organization used by an individual or Nonprofit, whether online or in person, to engage with individuals or donors in an effort to collect or manage donations. “Gift Processing” means the Service offered by Chariot to streamline the way in which Nonprofits receive, collect, transform, and export the payments and data received from Payment Sources. “Mail” refers to any checks, correspondence, or documents received through the Chariot Digital Mailbox. “Mail Processor” refers to any approved third\-party lockbox provider. “Nonprofit” means any tax\-exempt organization registered with the IRS \(Internal Revenue Service\) and listed in the Exempt Organizations Business Master File Extract. “Nonprofit Address” means a physical mailing address or a digital bank account address used to send payments to a Nonprofit. “Nonprofit Information” means all the unique data tied to a Nonprofit collected or generated by Chariot, including new electronic Nonprofit Addresses and organizational identities. “Nonprofit Control Person” means any individual who has been verified as a registered control person with authorized signatory permissioning for a Nonprofit. “Nonprofit User” or “User” means any individual who has been verified to access or use our Platform and Services on behalf of an eligible Nonprofit, including any Nonprofit Control Person. “Non\-User Nonprofit” means a Nonprofit who has yet to create a Chariot Deposit Account or verify a Nonprofit User, but has received a gift from a donor utilizing DAFpay and/or the DAFpay Network. “Notice” means any physical, voice, or electronic communication, including legal messages, tax or account statements, transaction confirmations, or service updates that are provided or directed to Nonprofit or Nonprofit Users and/or your Chariot Account, including via email, in\-app notifications, SMS/text, and phone numbers associated with mobile phones or devices. “Order Form” means any agreement \(including supplements, addendums, exhibits, appendices and/or any amendments to the agreement or any of foregoing\) agreed between Nonprofit and Chariot for Services, which may include Fees for the use of such Services and impose specific terms and conditions on Nonprofit’s use of Services. The terms and conditions of Order Forms are supplemental to, and not in lieu of, these Nonprofit Terms.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of an Order Form and these Nonprofit Terms, the terms of the Order Form shall govern. “Outbound Payment” means the transaction dollar value and associated data a Default Payment Source sends to a Recipient Nonprofit via Disbursements. “Default Payment Sources” means any Payment Sources that use the Disbursements Service, which will be connected by default to a Nonprofit's Chariot Deposit Account for the receipt of data and payments. “Payment Sources” means any Nonprofit, including DAF Providers, foundations, and grantmakers as well as other Nonprofit types, that send payments to other Nonprofits, including Default Payment Sources, who a Nonprofit connects within their Chariot Deposit Account for the receipt of data and payments. “Payment Method” means any payment source or information owned by your Nonprofit including a bank account and/or credit card information, that you provide to pay Fees. “Positive Pay Protection” refers to the check management service that helps prevent check fraud by reviewing checks cashed and authorizing or rejecting them based on discrepancies in amount, name, etc., between the check that was issued and checks presented. “Prohibited Person” means any individual or organization that is subject to sanctions in the United States, identified on any lists maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, or is subject to any law, regulation, or other list of any government agency that prohibits or limits us from providing a Chariot Deposit Account or Services to such individuals or from otherwise conducting business with the person. “Recipient Nonprofits” means any nonprofit that has been approved to receive payments via Disbursements. Recipient Nonprofits will be limited to U.S.\-based, IRS\-recognized public charities or equivalent organizations with a Nonprofit Address that has been validated and approved by Chariot. “Stop Payment” means the functionality that allows a Default Payment Source or Chariot to withhold payment on a specific check that has not yet been processed, thereby preventing the funds from being cashed. “User Information” means any personal or organizational information or documentation provided by a Nonprofit User to Chariot. ## **2. Opening a Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account** ​ ### **​**2.1 Eligibility To open and maintain a Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account, you are required to provide User and Nonprofit Information \(collectively, “Account Information”\) as determined by us. We provide Account Information to Bank Partners and other third\-party service providers to determine your eligibility for access to certain Services. We rely on the accuracy of the Account Information you provide us when opening and maintaining your Chariot Deposit Account. You shall keep all Account Information accurate, complete, up to date at all times, and we shall keep all Account Information securely stored at all times. We may require additional information from you and retain the right to freeze or suspend Services to you, or close your Chariot Deposit Account, if your Account Information is out of date, incomplete, or inaccurate, whether during initial account creation or thereafter. To use the Services, you may also be required to agree to terms and conditions with our other third\-party service providers, which may be linked from these Nonprofit Terms or as may be provided to you from time to time. This includes Footprint, our KYC/KYB onboarding provider, whose terms of service can be [found here](https://onefootprint.com/terms-of-service). If required by such third parties, you agree to sign or acknowledge such terms and conditions by separate agreement \(whether in writing or electronically\). You can only become a Nonprofit User if you are an authorized representative of a registered 501\(c\)\(3\) organization in good standing with any jurisdiction where it is registered and/or operates, or are generally eligible for receipt of grants from most DAF Providers. No Prohibited Person may become a Nonprofit User. If, following the creation of a Chariot Deposit Account, the nature of your Nonprofit changes, including by losing your tax\-exempt and/or charitable status, you agree to promptly notify Chariot by emailing [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). ### **​**2.2 Chariot Account Requirements and User Representations You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to use your Chariot Account with the Platform, that you are the owner of and have all rights to input and grant us a license to the User Information, and that you have any and all right necessary to submit the User Information in connection with the Platform. As a Nonprofit User, you represent and warrant, on your own behalf and on behalf of the Nonprofit, that: - That your status as a 501\(c\)\(3\) or other exempt organization is active and in good standing in all applicable jurisdictions where you operate; - That you conduct and will conduct, on a timely basis, any legally\-required audits; - That you file and will file, on a timely basis, annual reports on Form 990 or other periodic reporting required by any jurisdiction in which you operate; - That your use of donated funds is, and at all times will be, in accordance with the requirements of law for tax\-exempt organizations, including without limitation under Section 501\(c\)\(3\) of the Internal Revenue Code; - That your use of any funds donated through the Platform will be in accordance with the representations and statements made on the website where any Platform components are installed and used, and in any event for a permissible charitable purpose; - That your use of DAFpay will be limited to instances where DAF donations are eligible as required by the Internal Revenue Code, government regulators, and relevant DAF provider third\-party policies; - That any representations or statements made about your operations or use of donated funds on the website where Platform components are installed are accurate and complete at all times; - That there are no pending or threatened claims of material wrongdoing, misrepresentation, or noncompliance against the Nonprofit; - That the email, Chariot Account, and Account Information are at all times up to date, accurate, and complete, and that you will update your Chariot account promptly if there are any changes; - That you consent to, and have the right to consent to, allow Chariot to update Chariot Account credentials; - That you will provide additional access credentials to the Platform only to those agents of your organization who agree to comply with these Terms; - That you will comply with the terms applicable to your use of any third party platforms \(for example, a Customer Relationship Management platform or Fundraising Platform\) which you choose to integrate with our Services; and - That, in the event you collect any personal information from a donor who uses the Chariot Platform, you have and will do so in accordance with all applicable law and with sufficient user consent. If you do not agree to each of the user representations above, you are not permitted to open or maintain an Account in connection with the Services. ### 2.3 User Compliance Requirements and Restrictions You agree to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to your use of the Platform, as well as any rules and guidelines that we post or display through the Platform. You must not \(1\) use or access anyone else’s DAF Donor data or Chariot Accounts or Chariot Deposit Accounts or related data, \(2\) submit information about anyone else’s identity or Chariot Accounts or Chariot Deposit Accounts or that violates any third\-party rights or \(3\) use the Platform for any fraudulent, illegal or misleading purpose. You also agree not to \(a\) modify, reverse engineer or seek to gain unauthorized access to the Platform or related systems, data or source code, \(b\) bypass or circumvent measures designed to prevent or limit access to any part of the Platform, \(c\) rent, lease, provide access to, or sublicense any elements of the Platform to a third party or use the Platform on behalf of or to provide services to third parties, \(d\) copy, modify or create derivative works of the Platform or remove any of Chariot’s proprietary notices, \(e\) access the Platform for competitive purposes or publish any benchmark or performance information about the Platform, \(f\) use the Platform in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the functioning of the Platform or interfere with, disrupt or negatively affect other End Users, \(g\) use a Chariot Account or Chariot Deposit Account for any personal, family, or household use, \(h\) use aChariot Account or Chariot Deposit Account for any transaction involving any [Prohibited Activities](https://www.givechariot.com/restricted-activities-2025), \(i\) provide or use the Chariot Account or Chariot Deposit Account for any transaction involving an individual, organization, country, or jurisdiction that is blocked or sanctioned by the United States, including those identified on any lists maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control \(OFAC\) or the U.S. Department of State, or \(j\) use the Platform for any purpose not related to the business of a Nonprofit or in line with these Nonprofit Terms. ### 2.4 Reserve Right to Terminate Affiliation We may terminate Chariot Accounts and Chariot Deposit Accounts that we know or believe are engaged in any [Prohibited Activities](https://www.givechariot.com/restricted-activities-2025) or otherwise do not comply with the restrictions in this section, as determined in Chariot’s sole discretion. Chariot may limit Nonprofit’s or other authorized parties’ use of or access to certain Services or require that you provide additional information to open or maintain your Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account where Nonprofit is engaged in [Prohibited Activities](https://www.givechariot.com/restricted-activities-2025), as determined in Chariot’s sole discretion. We value the principles and ethos upon which our company was built. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to remove, discontinue, or terminate any Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account if a User or its affiliates engages in any activity or conduct which, in Chariot’s sole discretion, reflects materially and unfavorably upon our reputation. Such a decision will be communicated formally and may result in immediate termination of any affiliations, partnerships, or agreements. We may update the lists of [Prohibited Activities](https://www.givechariot.com/restricted-activities-2025) at any time by posting a revised version to our Website. The revised version will be immediately effective upon posting and it is your responsibility to ensure you do not violate these terms. ## **3. Managing Your Chariot Account** ​ ### **​**3.1 Owners, Admins and Users The Nonprofit Control Person who first creates your Chariot Account will be defaulted as the primary Owner for your Nonprofit’s Chariot Account. You may request to change the Account Owner at any time by contacting [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). Owners may take a variety of actions including inviting other Nonprofit Users to become Admins with similar control oversight to an Account Owner. Admins can add, remove, or manage additional Admins and Nonprofit Users; apply for or remove additional Services; connect and authorize withdrawals to External Financial Accounts; and consent to new and updated terms, if applicable. Admins must not authorize the use of the Chariot Account, Chariot Deposit Account or the Services by any Prohibited Person. More details about Owner or Admin permissions are available within your Chariot Account, and we may change these permissions from time to time by updating our Platform or otherwise providing you Notice. Certain Services include additional permission levels and authorizations, in which case Admins will be able to authorize and assign Nonprofit Users these permission levels and authorizations. ### 3.2 Profiles and User Information You agree that we may collect, store, and use certain identifying information, including your name, your email, your EIN number, a profile photo, and/or your logo \(collectively, “User Information”\). You hereby consent to the data handling practices described in our [Privacy Policy](https://www.givechariot.com/privacy) in connection with any User Information you choose to submit to us. You agree that Chariot may use or disclose User Information when required by a court order or verified request of a governmental authority, including the Internal Revenue Service. ## **4. Using Chariot Services** ### 4.1 DAFpay When DAFpay is used by a DAF Donor to request a gift be initiated to you, the method by which Chariot manages the grant request initiation process varies depending on if you have a Chariot Deposit Account or if you are a Non\-User Nonprofit. ​Chariot will use our reasonable efforts to initiate grant requests promptly, but you acknowledge and agree that only the DAF Provider, and not Chariot, can guarantee your receipt of any donation at any particular time. **DAFpay for Nonprofits with a Chariot Deposit Account** Nonprofits with a Chariot Deposit Account will have their grants sent directly to them from the DAF Donor’s DAF Provider. These funds may arrive via ACH or a mailed check, depending on the DAF Providers payout methods and any Nonprofit Address provided by the Nonprofit to the DAF provider or independently sourced by the DAF Provider. **DAFpay for Non\-User Nonprofits** Chariot utilizes the DAFpay Network, Inc. \(“DAFpay Network”\) to facilitate payments to Non\-User Nonprofits who do not have a Chariot Deposit Account. The DAFpay Network will hold the funds temporarily before facilitating the transfer of the funds to the final nonprofit recipient. All transfers and holding of funds through the DAFpay Network will be subject to the [Terms and Conditions](https://www.dafpaynetwork.org/nonprofit-terms) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.dafpaynetwork.org/privacy-policy) of the DAFpay Network. Chariot will receive confirmation from the DAFpay Network upon successful transfer of the funds to the designated nonprofit organization. Chariot and the DAFpay Network agree to maintain transparency in the fund distribution process. For the Terms governing a DAF Donor’s use of DAFpay please see DAFpay’s [Terms of Service](https://www.dafpay.com/donor-terms-of-use) and DAFpay’s [Privacy Policy](https://www.dafpay.com/privacy-policy). ### 4.2 Gift Processing Services offered in connection with Gift Processing are facilitated within your Chariot Deposit Account. By adding additional Payment Sources beyond Default Payment Sources within your Chariot Deposit Account you authorize Chariot to update your Nonprofit Address and other necessary Nonprofit Information within the relevant Payment Source portal. You further authorize Chariot to collect, transform, and display the relevant Payment Source transaction data and payments to permissioned Nonprofit Users associated with your Chariot Deposit Account. You acknowledge that Chariot makes no guarantee to when, how, or if you’ll receive funds from a Payment Source and that receipt of funds may be subject to specific terms and conditions of the relevant Payment Source. If enabled for your Chariot Account, Gift Processing also includes the Chariot Digital Mailbox. Please review the [Chariot Digital Mailbox Addendum](https://www.givechariot.com/digital-mailbox-addendum) for additional terms governing your use of the Chariot Digital Mailbox Service. Gift Processing includes workflow automations \(including through artificial intelligence mechanisms\) which provide the ability to process Mail, automatically apply tags, transform data, or export data or payments based on rules established by you or other Nonprofit Users within your Chariot Account. You acknowledge that any automations or logic you establish may have errors and will not hold Chariot responsible for any business disruptions that occur as a result of workflow automations associated with your use of Gift Processing within your Chariot Account. In order to withdraw funds held with the Bank Partner associated with your Chariot Deposit Account, you must connect an External Financial Account. Only Account Owners will be able to connect an External Financial Account. All External Financial Accounts must be owned by your Nonprofit. You authorize us to verify that the account details you provide for your External Financial Accounts are correct, properly authorized, and belong to your Nonprofit. Access to certain Services within Gift Processing may be limited and may require agreement to an additional Order Form for upgraded Services. ### 4.3 Disbursements If enabled for your Chariot Account, eligible Payment Sources may also use Disbursements. Please review the [Disbursements Addendum](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements-addendum) for additional terms governing your use of the Disbursements Service. ### 4.4 Fees You understand and agree that by using the Platform or Services, you agree to pay any and all Fees when due, including as set forth in all applicable Order Forms you enter into with Chariot. We will disclose Fees to you on our Websites, when opening your Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account, when you start using a new Service, via an Order Form, or by updating these Nonprofit Terms. You agree that Chariot may charge or debit the amount of any Fees due from either a Payment Method connected to your Chariot Account or your Chariot Deposit Account directly. You may change or update Payment Methods through your Chariot Account. You agree to be responsible for covering any fees charged by your Payment Method in association with your payment of Fees. If you connect a Payment Method, you agree to at all times maintain accurate and up to date information regarding the Payment Method you provided for your Chariot Account. **DAFpay Fees** You will pay the applicable DAFpay Fees per your agreements with any Fundraising Platforms, or if no such agreements exist, you will pay 2.9% \(rounded to the nearest whole dollar\) of the amount of any donation made through DAFpay \(collectively, the “DAFpay Fees”\). Chariot may choose to decrease or limit the instances in which it charges DAFpay Fees in which case you will automatically pay the reduced fee rate. You may also remove DAFpay Fees entirely by electing to adopt sign up for Chariot Subscription \(see below for additional information\), which can include DAFpay volume with no DAFpay Fees as governed by your Chariot Subscription Order Form. Chariot may collect DAFpay Fees in multiple ways. - Chariot may prepare and deliver to you a monthly invoice for DAFpay Fees incurred in the relevant prior month period;  - Chariot may have DAFpay Network deduct DAFpay Fees as governed by its relationship with the DAFpay Network for payments to Non\-User Nonprofits; - Chariot may charge a Payment Method associated with your Chariot Account; or  - Chariot may debit funds directly from your Chariot Deposit Account. Please see Late Fees and Account Deductions below. **Chariot Subscription** Chariot offers advanced features and functionality via subscriptions for your Chariot Account as part of Chariot Subscription. Your Chariot Account features, Fees, and Services available may vary depending on your subscription level and will be governed by supplemental Order Forms agreed to by you when signing up for Chariot Subscription, whether facilitated directly by the Chariot team or done by you directly within your Chariot Account. **Late Fees and Account Deductions** Fees, other than amounts disputed in good faith, are due within 15 days once received by you and are subject to a finance charge of 0.5% per month on any outstanding balance, or the maximum permitted by law, whichever is lower. You authorize Chariot or Bank Partners to debit your Chariot Deposit Account in the amount of any Fees owed after 45 days. ## **5. Dispute Resolution** ###### **PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY. IT REQUIRES YOU TO ARBITRATE DISPUTES WITH CHARIOT AND LIMITS THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU CAN SEEK RELIEF. THIS DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS THE “ARBITRATION AGREEMENT” OR “AGREEMENT”.** \(a\) Scope of Arbitration Agreement. You agree that any dispute or claim relating in any way to your access or use of the Services as a User of the Services, to any advertising or marketing communications regarding Chariot or the Services, to any products or services sold or distributed through the Services that you received as a User of our Services, or to any aspect of your relationship or transactions with Chariot as a User of our Services will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that \(1\) you may assert claims in small claims court if your claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual \(non\-class, non\-representative\) basis; and \(2\) you or Chariot may seek equitable relief in court for infringement or other misuse of intellectual property rights \(such as trademarks, trade dress, domain names, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents\). This Arbitration Agreement shall apply, without limitation, to all claims that arose or were asserted before the Effective Date of this Agreement. \(b\) Informal Resolution. You and Chariot agree that good\-faith informal efforts to resolve disputes often can result in a prompt, low\-cost and mutually beneficial outcome. You and Chariot therefore agree that, before either you or Chariot demands arbitration against the other, we will personally meet and confer, via telephone or videoconference, in a good\-faith effort to resolve informally any claim covered by this mutual Arbitration Agreement. If you are represented by counsel, your counsel may participate in the conference, but you shall also fully participate in the conference. The party initiating the claim must give notice to the other party in writing of its, his, or her intent to initiate an informal dispute resolution conference, which shall occur within 60 days after the other party receives such notice, unless an extension is mutually agreed upon by the parties. To notify Chariot that you intend to initiate an informal dispute resolution conference, email [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com), providing your name, telephone number associated with your Chariot Account \(if any\), the email address associated with your Chariot Account, and a description of your claim. In the interval between the party receiving such notice and the informal dispute resolution conference, the parties shall be free to attempt to resolve the initiating party’s claims. Engaging in an informal dispute resolution conference is a requirement that must be fulfilled before commencing arbitration. The statute of limitations and any filing fee deadlines shall be tolled while the parties engage in the informal dispute resolution process required by this paragraph. \(c\) Arbitration Rules and Forum. This Arbitration Agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act \(“FAA”\) in all respects. If for whatever reason the rules and procedures of the FAA cannot apply, the state law governing arbitration agreements in the state in which you reside shall apply. Before a party may begin an arbitration proceeding, that party must send notice of an intent to initiate arbitration and certifying completion of the informal dispute resolution conference pursuant to paragraph 12\(b\). If this notice is being sent to Chariot, it must be sent by email to the counsel who represented Chariot in the informal dispute resolution process, or if there was no such counsel then by mail to Attn: Legal \- 575 8th Ave, Floor 20, New York, NY 10018. The arbitration will be conducted by an independent third party arbitration provider selected by Chariot under such third party arbitrator’s rules and pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Arbitration demands must include \(1\) the name, telephone number, mailing address, and e\-mail address of the party seeking arbitration; \(2\) a statement of the legal claims being asserted and the factual bases of those claims; \(3\) a description of the remedy sought and an accurate, good\-faith calculation of the amount in controversy, enumerated in United States Dollars \(any request for injunctive relief or attorneys’ fees shall not count toward the calculation of the amount in controversy unless such injunctive relief seeks the payment of money\); and \(4\) the signature of the party seeking arbitration. Disputes shall be subject to the rules of the independent Arbitrator. You may choose to have the arbitration conducted by telephone, video conference, based on written submissions, or in person in the county where you live or at another mutually agreed location. \(d\) Arbitrator Powers. The arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Arbitration Agreement including, but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Arbitration Agreement is void or voidable. All disputes regarding the payment of arbitrator or arbitration\-organization fees including the timing of such payments and remedies for nonpayment, shall be determined exclusively by an arbitrator, and not by any court. The arbitration will decide the rights and liabilities, if any, of you and Chariot. Except as expressly agreed to in this Arbitration Agreement, the arbitration proceeding will not be consolidated with any other matters or joined with any other proceedings or parties. The arbitrator will have the authority to grant motions dispositive of all or part of any claim or dispute. The arbitrator will have the authority to award, on an individual basis, monetary damages and to grant any non\-monetary remedy or relief available to an individual under applicable law, the arbitral forum’s rules, and this Agreement \(including this Arbitration Agreement\). The arbitrator will issue a written statement of decision describing the essential findings and conclusions on which any award \(or decision not to render an award\) is based, including the calculation of any damages awarded. The award shall be binding only among the parties and shall have no preclusive effect in any other arbitration or other proceeding involving a different party. The arbitrator shall follow the applicable law. The arbitrator has the same authority to award relief on an individual basis that a judge in a court of law would have. The arbitrator’s decision is final and binding on you and Chariot. \(e\) Waiver of Jury Trial. YOU AND CHARIOT WAIVE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS TO SUE IN COURT AND RECEIVE A JUDGE OR JURY TRIAL. You and Chariot are instead electing to have claims and disputes resolved by arbitration, except as specified above. There is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is limited. \(f\) Waiver of Class or Consolidated Actions. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY AGREED TO IN SECTION\(G\) OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, YOU AND CHARIOT AGREE TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO RESOLVE CLAIMS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT ON A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE BASIS. ALL CLAIMS AND DISPUTES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT MUST BE ARBITRATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT ON A CLASS OR COLLECTIVE BASIS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION \(G\). CLAIMS OF MORE THAN ONE CUSTOMER OR USER CANNOT BE ARBITRATED OR LITIGATED JOINTLY OR CONSOLIDATED WITH THOSE OF ANY OTHER CUSTOMER OR USER EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION \(G\). If, however, this waiver of class or consolidated actions is deemed invalid or unenforceable with respect to a particular claim or dispute, neither you nor Chariot is entitled to arbitration of such claim or dispute. Instead, all such claims and disputes will then be resolved in a court as set forth in Section 6.12. This provision does not prevent you or Chariot from participating in a class\-wide settlement of claims. \(g\) Batch Arbitrations. To increase efficiency of resolution, in the event 100 or more similar arbitration demands against Chariot, presented by or with the assistance of the same law firm or organization, are submitted to an arbitration provider selected in accordance with the rules described above within a 30\-day period, the arbitration provider shall \(i\) group the arbitration demands into batches of no more than 100 demands per batch \(plus, to the extent there are less than 100 arbitration demands left over after the batching described above, a final batch consisting of the remaining demands\); and \(ii\) provide for resolution of each batch as a single arbitration with one set of filing and administrative fees and one arbitrator assigned per batch. You agree to cooperate in good faith with Chariot and the arbitration provider to implement such a batch approach to resolution and fees. \(h\) Opt Out. Chariot’s updates to these Terms do not provide a new opportunity to opt out of the Arbitration Agreement for customers or Users who had previously agreed to a version of Chariot’s Terms and Conditions and did not validly opt out of arbitration. Chariot will continue to honor the valid opt outs of customers or Users who validly opted out of the Arbitration Agreement in a prior version of the Terms and Conditions. If you are a customer or User who creates a Chariot Account for the first time on or after July 18, 2022, you may opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. If you do so, neither you nor Chariot can force the other to arbitrate as a result of this Agreement. To opt out, you must notify Chariot in writing no later than 30 days after first becoming subject to this Arbitration Agreement. Your notice must include your name and address, your Chariot username \(if any\), the email address you currently use to access your Chariot Account \(if you have one\), and a CLEAR statement that you want to opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. You must send your opt\-out notice to: [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). If you opt out of this Arbitration Agreement, all other parts of this Agreement will continue to apply to you. \(i\) Survival. This Arbitration Agreement will survive any termination of your relationship with Chariot. \(j\)  Modification. Notwithstanding any provision in the Agreement to the contrary, we agree that if Chariot makes any future material change to this Arbitration Agreement, it will not apply to any individual claim\(s\) that you had already provided notice of to Chariot. ## **6. General Provisions** ### 6.1 Term and Termination ​These Nonprofit Terms are effective once you access Chariot’s Platform or Services and continue until terminated by either you or us, in accordance with these Nonprofit Terms. At any time in its sole discretion, Chariot may terminate or suspend these Terms \(or your use of the Platform\) with or without notice and for any or no reason, including if Chariot suspects that you have violated these Terms and/or any applicable law. Chariot will have no liability to you for any termination or suspension, nor will such action limit any other rights or remedies Chariot may have. All sections of these Nonprofit Terms which by their nature should survive termination will survive termination, including, without limitation, Chariot’s accrued rights to payment, confidentiality obligations, intellectual property ownership, warranty disclaimers, indemnification obligations, and limitations of liability, together with the Service\-specific provisions herein that identify continuing obligations, and the agreements, terms, and policies incorporated herein giving rise to continuing obligations of the parties. You may terminate your Chariot Account at any time on thirty \(30\) days prior written notice to Chariot at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). You acknowledge and agree that Chariot will affect any donations a DAF initiated prior to such termination. You acknowledge and agree that following the termination of a Chariot Account, \(i\) you will lose access to your Chariot Account and Chariot Deposit Account  including your nonprofit dashboard and associated Bank Partner and Banking Services, \(ii\) you are required to immediately remove any and all Platform functionality from your website, \(iii\) you will still be obligated to pay any Fees incurred prior to the effective date of termination of your Chariot Account, \(iv\) you will not be entitled to any refunds for any Fees paid prior to termination, and \(v\) you authorize Chariot to receive payment through automated means using your Payment Method, or charging an External Financial Account on file, for any Fees incurred but not paid prior to termination. ### 6.2 Rights to the Platform Chariot owns all rights, title and interest \(including intellectual property rights\) in and to the Platform and Services \(including but not limited to DAFpay, API Keys and/or HTML code snippets that power DAFpay, our nonprofit dashboard, our DAF Provider interaction functionality, Gift Processing including all associated workflows, Disbursements\) and our related websites and technology. If you choose to give us feedback, suggestions or other inputs about the Platform or Services, we may use them without restriction. ​ Subject to your timely payment of any and all Fees, Chariot grants to Nonprofit Users a limited, non\-exclusive, non\-transferable, non\-sublicensable, revocable license during the term of these Terms to copy and use our API keys and functionality and certain HTML code snippets accessed from our website for the sole purpose of installing DAFpay and accessing our Platform and Services. ### 6.3 Content License ​You hereby grant to Chariot a worldwide, transferable, sublicensable, royalty\-free, fully paid\-up right and license to copy, use, store, display, and distribute your Nonprofit Information and any feedback you choose to offer us in connection with the operation, maintenance, optimization, and improvement of Chariot’s Platform and the delivery of the Services to you. As a Nonprofit User, the foregoing consent includes your permission and a license to display your organization’s logo on and in connection with the Platform, including without limitation a license to use and display any trademarks contained therein. ### 6.4 Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” AND ANY USE IS AT YOUR DISCRETION AND RISK. CHARIOT, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS, MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, TITLE, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SECURITY, OR NON\-INFRINGEMENT. CHARIOT DOES NOT WARRANT THAT USE OF OUR PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR\-FREE, THAT ANY OF YOUR DATA WILL BE ACCURATE OR COMPLETE OR THAT CHARIOT WILL MAINTAIN ANY DATA WITHOUT LOSS. Liabilities for our Platform. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CHARIOT, ITS AFFILIATES AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, AND/OR AGENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR: \(A\) ANY LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, LOST OR INACCURATE DATA, FAILURE OF SECURITY MECHANISMS, FINANCIAL LOSSES, OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, RELIANCE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR \(B\) ANY DAMAGES OR AMOUNTS EXCEEDING, IN THE AGGREGATE, THE GREATER OF \(1\) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US TO USE THE PLATFORM AND \(2\) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS \(US $100\). ### 6.5 Modification Chariot may modify these Terms from time to time. Unless we specify otherwise, modifications take effect \(and govern future use of the Platform\) when we post the modified version. Chariot will use reasonable efforts to notify you of material modifications, and you may be required to agree to the modified version. Continued use of Platform or Services constitutes acceptance of all modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modifications, your sole remedy is to cease using the Platform or Services. ### 6.6 Transferability These Terms may not be transferred or assigned by you without Chariot’s prior written consent. Chariot may assign or transfer these Terms to its affiliates or in connection with a merger, sale, reorganization or other change of control. In addition, Chariot’s affiliates, contractors and service providers may exercise Chariot’s rights or fulfill its obligations under these Terms. Waivers must be in writing and no waivers will be implied. If any provision of these Terms is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions will remain unaffected and in full force and effect. These Terms are the final, complete and exclusive agreement between you and us relating the subject matter of these Terms and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings and agreements relating to such subject matter, whether oral or written. In these Terms, headings are for convenience only and the term “including” \(and similar terms\) will be construed without limitation. ### 6.7 Indemnification To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Chariot, its parent, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors and affiliates, and their respective partners, officers, directors, agents, representatives, contractors, licensors, service providers, subcontractors, suppliers, interns, and employees, from and against any and all claims, actions, losses, liabilities, damages, expenses, demands and costs of any kind, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected with or related to \(1\) your breach of the Terms of Service, and the documents they incorporate by reference; \(2\) your breach of any representations or warranties in this Terms of Service; or \(3\) your violation of any law or the rights of a third\-party. ### 6.8 Severability In the event that any provision of this Terms of Service is determined to be unlawful, void or unenforceable, such provision shall nonetheless be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and the unenforceable portion shall be deemed to be severed from this Terms of Service. Such determination shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any other remaining provisions. ### 6.9 Chariot Deposit Account Inactivity and Escheatment Chariot Deposit Accounts inactive for an extended period may be considered dormant and subject to escheatment. Each state has varying escheatment laws requiring us to send unclaimed funds to the state of your last known address. We are not responsible for funds escheated according to applicable law. ### 6.10 Telephone Communications By providing a phone number, you expressly consent to receive communications at that number from Chariot and Chariot’s agents, including text messages and automated calls. This consent applies to all communications regardless of the call’s purpose. ### 6.11 Marketing Communications You can opt out of receiving promotional communications from us at any time by following the instructions as provided. In emails you can click on the unsubscribe link. Please note that you cannot opt\-out of non\-promotional emails, such as those about your Chariot Account or Chariot Deposit Account, transactions, servicing, or our ongoing business relations. If you have opted in to receiving text or SMS messages related to your use of the Services, you can opt\-out at any time by texting "STOP" to the short code. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. Text messaging originator opt\-in data and consent will not be shared, sold, rented or otherwise disclosed by us for marketing purposes. ### 6.12 Governance These Nonprofit Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Except as otherwise provided in the Dispute Resolution section, any disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in New York County, New York and you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts. ### 6.13 Notices Chariot may provide notices or communications to you through the email associated with your Nonprofit User, your Chariot Account, or through other reasonable methods. All notices, requests, and other communications to Chariot under these Terms must be in writing to Chariot Giving, Inc., Attention: Legal, 575 8th Ave, Floor 20, New York, NY 10018. \(with a courtesy copy to contact@givechariot.com\) and will be deemed given when delivered. For any questions or additional information please contact Customer Support by email at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) --- ## Nonprofit Advisory Council - Source: https://givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council - Published: 2025-11-10 > Nonprofit leaders help shape Chariot's products and strategy, keeping our work grounded in real fundraising and operations needs. ### Shaping the future of DAF giving ### Built with (not just for) nonprofits ### Advises on product direction & nonprofit needs ### Offers feedback on early features & roadmap priorities ### Surfaces emerging trends in giving & operations ### Keeps us deeply connected to a range of orgs & missions ### Meet the advisors My career began working in Information Technology in operations and software development, following graduation from Villanova University. After working in the for\-profit world for about 10 years, I applied my system implementation and integration skills in the non\-profit sphere at Learning Ally, an organization committed to providing audiobooks to those who were unable to read standard print materials. This was followed by a move to the New York Publick Library performing complex data analysis and system integrations. Presently, I am the Director of Development Information Systems at the Central Park Conservancy where I oversee multiple platforms in support of the Philanthropy team's donor management, gift processing, prospect research, and complex data analysis. I’m deeply rooted in the nonprofit tech world, leading the charge in digital operations at Memorial Sloan Kettering's Development Department for over 11 years. My role centers around managing our mar\-tech stack, ensuring seamless data integrations, and bolstering the digital facets of MSK's fundraising efforts. Outside of work, living in Brooklyn, I indulge in my love for cooking, blending creativity with the precision I apply in my professional life. Jay Jump is the SVP, Digital Product for the American Cancer Society. In this role, Jay is responsible for providing leadership and vision for the American Cancer Society’s entire digital ecosystem, including cancer.org, fundraising properties, microsites, etc. Prior to joining the American Cancer Society, Jay spent the last decade in digital product and innovation at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/ALSAC. Rounding out his more than 20 years of experience, Jay has also led digital product development at Amerigroup, GEICO, and Radiant Systems. Karyn is the VP of Major, Principal, and Planned Giving at March of Dimes and has been with the nonprofit since 2000. She has raised over $200M and secured some of the largest gifts from individuals in the history of the organization. Karyn led the March of Dimes California Chapter for several years, which was a top chapter in mission, advocacy, fundraising, communications, and operations. She then moved into the Major Gifts department and was quickly asked to serve as the VP. Karyn is a fierce advocate for donors and has extensive experience in field management, strategy, integration, and execution. Meghan Lee is the Associate Director for Impact Giving at the ACLU, where she leads strategies for growth and stewardship across the full donor pipeline. A passionate strategist with over 15 years of experience in nonprofits, Meghan loves promoting mission\-oriented institutions, helping them develop efficient systems, data\-driven analytics, and meaningful connections with their audiences and staff. Michael is a career fundraising professional who has worked for various national organizations in different leadership capacities for nearly 20 years. Currently Michael serves as the Senior Vice President for Advancement at Blood Cancer United \(fka Leukemia & Lymphoma Society\) where he leads the organization's philanthropy program. In this role, Michael oversees a team of more than 50 individuals that make up the organization's teams of major giving, principal giving, planned giving, and foundation teams. Michael is also dedicated to helping move the field of philanthropy forward by serving in various committee roles with both CFRE International and AFP International. Michele Sommer is the Pan\-Mass Challenge’s CFO, overseeing the organization’s financial, fundraising and administration. Her focus is on ensuring that the PMC continues to be the leading peer\-to\-peer athletic fundraiser and a model for efficiency and transparency in the nonprofit industry. Prior to joining the PMC, Michele was a partner at PwC and ran her own company. She first rode the PMC in 1999 and joined the PMC full time staff in 2012. Monique Canada has over 15 years of experience in marketing, with a career spanning both corporate and nonprofit sectors. She found her most meaningful engagement after transitioning into the nonprofit world, now serving at DonorsChoose, where she helps drive impact for teachers and students nationwide. Shayla L. Titley serves as the lead strategist for integrated, multi\-channel initiatives to cultivate and acquire potential supporters, as well as steward and retain current donors for The Public Theater. She is also responsible for developing and expanding the organization’s planned giving program. With nearly two decades of experience in direct response fundraising, individual and planned giving, stewardship, and events, Ms. Titley has built her career working with iconic New York institutions that provide free access to knowledge, nature, and culture to New Yorkers. She is a member of The Nonprofit Alliance's \(TNPA\) Steering Committee and serves on the board of the Direct Marketing Fundraising Association \(DMFA\), where she co\-chairs the Diversity, Inclusion, and Systemic Change Committee. Sharon leads the International Rescue Committee’s work securing legacy gifts and engaging advisors. She has spent her career in fundraising in higher ed, health, and humanitarian aid organizations, and is passionate about building meaningful relationships with donors and championing Planned Giving within larger development operations. Shirley is the Director of Planned Giving at The Michael J. Fox Foundation and has been with the Foundation since 2016. She is passionate about empowering donors’ philanthropic journey and ensuring they have the best experience. She is responsible for securing long\-term and short\-term funding for the Foundation through complex gifts. Shirley has been in the Planned Giving space for over 10 years and is always excited to connect with fundraising professionals. Theresa Scordo is the Donor Stewardship Associate Director at Wounded Warrior Project \(WWP\), where she is leading the development of a new mid\-level team while supporting major gifts, planned giving, and foundation teams efforts. She also oversees the stewardship of all DAF and Annuity donors, ensuring lasting relationships that drive philanthropic impact. With a passion for connecting people, Theresa excels at forging alliances with donors, sponsors, and internal teams to create meaningful partnerships. She believes in leveraging technology and collaboration to maximize impact, strengthen relationships, and turn visions into reality—all in support of WWP’s mission to honor and empower our nations wounded warriors. Trish is a nonprofit leader with a proven track record in major gifts, mid\-level giving, and national stewardship. As Vice President of Major Gifts & Planned Giving at Susan G. Komen, she drives fundraising innovation by harnessing data, operational excellence, and emerging technology to enhance donor engagement and campaign success. Under her leadership, key initiatives have broadened donor reach and delivered measurable results. An Air Force veteran, Trish seamlessly transitioned her commitment to service into a dynamic philanthropic mission. She collaborates extensively on donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) strategies, planned giving, and comprehensive donor engagement plans that create lasting impact. A lifelong volunteer, her dedication to service continues to drive both her professional achievements and community impact. She serves as a 2025 CFRE Ambassador and mentors the next generation of fundraising professionals. Wendy Vizek is the Alzheimer’s Association’s Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Field Operations. Wendy is responsible for Community Engagement through Walk to End Alzheimer’s, The Longest Day and other Constituent Events including RivALZ, Reason to Hope and other events including staff and volunteer trainings and overall strategy of the Association's fundraising events. Community Engagement also includes the staff and volunteer program delivery and community education, awareness and outreach. She is also responsible for the Corporate Initiatives team and partnerships, the Boards of Excellence program and Grant Administration program. Through Field Operations, Wendy works to ensure the Association’s Strategic Plan goals are met and partners with the field leaders and department leaders on implementation of the strategic plan. Wendy has been with the Alzheimer’s Association for twelve years, starting as their Director of Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Prior to working for the Association, Wendy served as a front line fundraising staff partner, a market Development Director and a Division special event strategy lead for the American Cancer Society in Florida and Ohio. Wendy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and her M.B.A. from the University of Florida and her Masters in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida. --- ## Privacy - Source: https://givechariot.com/privacy - Published: 2025-11-05 > Learn how Chariot collects, uses, and protects your personal information. ### Chariot Privacy Policy _Last updated: April 7, 2026_ At Chariot we value and prioritize your privacy and security. This Privacy Policy \(“Policy”\) is meant to describe how Chariot Giving, Inc. \(collectively, “Chariot”, “we”, “our”, and “us”\) protects and manages the data of anyone we interact with \(referred to as “you” or the “user”\) across our “Services” \(the combination of our Platform and Services as defined in our [Terms of Service](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit).\) In this Policy we’ll describe when and how we collect, use, and share your information to operate, improve, develop, and help protect our Services. Please read this Policy carefully to better understand how we protect your privacy and security. By continuing to use or access our Services, you are consenting to the practices described in this Policy. While this Policy covers Chariot’s data collection and use practices, it does not govern the data privacy and security practices of the Nonprofits, Donor Advised Fund providers or other third\-parties you may choose to use in conjunction with the use of our Services. Please remember to consult the privacy policies of those third\-parties, including as posted on the nonprofit’s websites you may choose to visit, and by any Donor Advised Fund administration platform you may choose to use, to understand those parties’ data handling practices.​ ## **1. Information We Collect** As explained in greater detail below, Chariot may collect the following: - Personal Identifiers \- such as your name, email address, phone number, birth date, government\-issued identification number, social security number, employer, and job title, as well as other information you may be asked to provide when signing up for an Account or when engaging in certain transactions as part of our verification process, global anti\-money laundering \(AML\) program and know your customer \(KYC\) obligations. - Nonprofit Identifiers \- such as organization officers, articles of incorporation, official address, and EIN numbers for a nonprofit; - Payment Information \- such as an ACH or credit card number and details on the owner of that Payment Method; - External Account information \- such as the account and routing number, account owner, and account owner information for external bank accounts connected to your Chariot Account; - DAF Provider Donor Credentials \- including DAF account username and password, only used as a one\-time secure pass\-through to allow a DAF Donor to access their DAF Provider portal via DAFpay and effect a donation to the Nonprofit of their choice in the moment they’re inspired to give; - Chariot Account Credentials \- for Nonprofits who have a Chariot Account, username and password information which enables access to their Account; - Digital Banking Details \- such as the account and routing number generated by our Bank Partner in conjunction with your creation of a Chariot Account; - Transaction Information \- that we collect as a part of our Services, including via DAFpay, Linked Payers in connection with Gift Processing, or Outbound Payments for Disbursements, such as date, amount, DAF provider used, donor name, email and address; - Database Information \- such as details on donors or transactions as made available via CRM integrations in connection with advanced Gift Processing features available with a Chariot Plus subscription;  - Other Information \- such as when you fill in a form on our website, respond to surveys, provide feedback, make a support inquiry, participate in promotions, or otherwise communicate with us. Providing your personal information is optional, but it may be necessary for certain Services, such as opening a Chariot Account or initiating a gift via DAFpay. In such cases, if you do not provide your personal information, we may not be able to provide you with the requested Services. We also check that you are using our Services legally and are eligible for the Services you want to use. We protect the Services from fraudsters who may put you, your data, or your money at risk. To do this, we may collect additional information about you from companies that help us verify your identity, prevent fraud or assess risk. ## **2. Sources Of Information We Collect** We collect information about you from the following categories of sources: A. Directly When you submit information to us or allow us to access information via manual input or via the devices you use and how you interact with our Services. Information we receive from your devices. We use Wix on our Website to collect standard demographics about website visitors. We use Metabase, Mozart, and LogSnag to analyze our own internal data and transactions on the Platform. Metabase may have access to Identifiers as a part of this functionality. We may collect and store the IP address of a DAF User in connection with a donation. B. From DAF Providers When you, as a Donor, use DAFpay to initiate a gift to a Nonprofit or as a Nonprofit User when you Link Payers to your Chariot Account as part of Gift Processing so that we can help you aggregate your offline gift processing data and payments and streamline your workflows within your Chariot Account. C. From Other Sources We also collect information from other sources, including identity verification information from third\-party identity verification services and publicly available sources, including Personal Identifiers and Nonprofit Identifiers. Other information we collect about you from third parties may be used for any investigation, eligibility, identity, or account verification process, fraud detection process, or collection procedure, or as may otherwise be required by applicable law or as needed to offer our Services. Inferences we derive from the data we collect. We may use the information we collect about you to derive inferences, such as what types of DAF platforms have the most activity, or the amounts DAF owners generally donate, and at what frequency. We look for insights from our data that can help get nonprofits more support. ## **3. How We Use Your Personal Information** We use your information to operate, maintain, secure, modify, and improve our products, new features for those products, and our related Services. **Chariot does not sell, rent, or license personal information that we collect. **Our business model charges users directly for the value we provide, aligning our business incentives with our data privacy and security values. To learn more visit: [https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay\-security\-standards](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-security-standards) In general, we use your information to: - Operate, maintain, secure, modify, and improve our products, new features for those products, and our related Services; - Verify your identity; - Communicate with you about new and existing services; - Help protect us, you, our partners, the broader ecosystem of vendors and third party providers we work with, and others from fraud, malicious activity, and other privacy and security\-related concerns; - Provide customer support to you, including to help respond to your inquiries; - Create aggregated de\-identified datasets \(by removing or masking information that could be used to identify you\) and combining that with other information; - Investigate any misuse of our service, criminal activity, or other unauthorized access to our services; - Comply with contractual and legal obligations under applicable law and for other legal purposes such as to establish and defend against claims; - For other notified purposes with your consent or at your direction. It is likely we are using your personal information to provide our Services to you either in your capacity as a Nonprofit User or a DAFpay user. A. For Nonprofit Users: When an individual end user representing a nonprofit \(in compliance with our [Terms Of Service](https://www.givechariot.com/legal-nonprofit)\) registers to use Chariot’s Services through our Website, they submit Personal Identifiers and Nonprofit Identifiers about themselves and the nonprofit they represent. As part of this onboarding process, Nonprofits will be given Chariot Account Credentials in order to securely access their Chariot Account, and the related services made available therein. Within your Chariot Account we will display the Transaction Information for any gifts made to your organization, both for DAFpay gifts as well as for all gifts made from any of your Linked Payers. We also make available to authorized users details and the ability to edit your Payment Information as well as your External Account Information. If you are using Disbursements, we will also make the Transaction Information of any outbound payments you initiate visible to the appropriate users within your Chariot Account. B. For DAFpay Users: You are an end user of DAFpay when you use DAFpay to initiate a DAF donation to a nonprofit of your choice. In doing so, you may be asked to share your DAF Provider Donor Credentials to be used on a one\-off basis so that we can let you access your funds and initiate a grant to a nonprofit of your choice immediately, right in the moment you are inspired to give. DAF Provider Donor Credentials are used to access your DAF Account, confirm you have a sufficient balance to make the donation, and affect your donation. **DAF Provider Donor Credentials are not stored by Chariot or any intermediary.** Chariot uses the DAF Provider Donor Credentials to establish a temporary session with the DAF Provider on behalf of the donor. We implement industry\-standard encryption and secure session management with all session\-based data records deleted after the single session use. In other words,** **DAFpay is simply acting as a one\-time pass\-through so that you can initiate gifts from your DAF account. Please visit Chariot’s security center at [www.givechariot.com/security](http://www.givechariot.com/security) to learn more about Chariot’s best\-in\-class security practices. When initiating a DAFpay gift, you are given the option to provide personal information such as your name, email address, and mailing address to the nonprofit you are donating to. Chariot shares this Transaction Information, as well as required gift specific information such as the donation amount, fund name, frequency of the donation \(one\-time or recurring\), transaction date, donation status, and DAF provider with the nonprofit so that they can better track and identify your donation. DAFpay is sometimes presented as a payment option within a third party fundraising platform, often as embedded by a nonprofit on their website, in which case this Transaction Information will also be shared with the fundraising platform or payment processor for the nonprofit’s use. In addition to this general use, we specifically use: - Personal Identifiers and Nonprofit Identifiers \- to verify users and permit secure access to your Chariot Account for authorized members of your Nonprofit; - Payment Information \- to collect payment for our Services including as collected through Stripe to process transactions on our behalf; - External Account Information \- to facilitate withdrawals by you, or if you are using Disbursements, to fund your Chariot Account for payments out to Nonprofits; - DAF Provider Donor Credentials \- to facilitate a one time secure pass through to allow you to access your DAF Provider and effect a donation to the Nonprofit of your choice at the moment you’re inspired to give; - Chariot Account Credentials \- to allow authorized users of your nonprofit to securely access your Chariot Account;  - Digital Banking Details \- to update your digital bank address for Payers so that they can send you payments and data electronically as made available within your Chariot Account;  - Transaction Information \- to allow you to see the data related to the gifts you’ve received via DAFpay or any Linked Payers within your Nonprofit Chariot Account and to communicate with the DAFpay Network to disburse funds to end nonprofits when applicable \(see [DPNs Privacy Policy here](http://dafpaynetwork.org/privacy-policy)\); - Database Information \- to enrich the Transaction Information displayed in your Chariot Account with automated tagging as requested by you.  C. Phone Number Collection and Use Any phone numbers collected through our site, whether through webform or other means, will be used exclusively to communicate with you regarding our services and **will not be shared or sold to third parties for promotional or marketing purposes**. You agree that our company and its agents may call or text you at any phone number \(landline or wireless\) that you provide to us, either directly or by using an automated dialing system and/or a prerecorded message, for marketing services and/or account\-related purposes, such as appointment confirmations, service alerts, billing and collection issues or account recovery concerns. You can manage your contact preferences by emailing us, calling us, or replying to text messages with “HELP” for assistance or “STOP” to unsubscribe. Reply “START” to resubscribe. Message and data rates may apply. ## **4. How We Share Your Information** We share your information for a number of necessary business purposes: - With your connected DAF Provider to effect and track a donation you’ve chosen to make; - With your designated Nonprofit, to the extent you’ve specified what personally\-identifiable Transaction Information you want to share;  - With any third party platforms or developers, including fundraising platforms and CRMs, where you may be using our integrating our technology; - With our data processors and other vetted infrastructure and service providers, partners, or contractors in connection with the services they perform for us; - With payment processors, such as Stripe, so that they can facilitate payments from you to us for any Fees owed;  - With identity verification and validation services as necessary to verify your personal and business identity and perform other compliance functions including transaction monitoring; - Financial institution partners to support their customer identification, risk and compliance programs, and so they can determine eligibility for, and provide, products and services to our Nonprofit customers through Chariot’s technology; - If we believe in good faith that disclosure is appropriate to comply with applicable law, regulation, or legal process \(such as a court order or subpoena\); - In connection with a change in ownership or control of all or a part of our business \(such as a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or bankruptcy\); - Between and among Chariot and our current and future parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and other companies under common control or ownership; - As we believe reasonably appropriate to protect the rights, privacy, safety, or property of you, our partners, Chariot, and others; or - To enforce any contract with you; - For any other notified purpose with your consent or at your direction. ## **5. Our Retention and Deletion Practices** We retain Personal Identifiers and Nonprofit Identifiers as well as Chariot Account Credentials and Digital Banking Details for as long as your account is operational and for five years after your account is closed, or as otherwise required by a third party or by law. We retain Transaction Information for as long as the account of any nonprofit you donated to through Chariot is active and for five years after account closing, or as otherwise required by law. Stripe retains Payment Information for the duration of your account term with Stripe. Please see [Stripe’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy](https://stripe.com/privacy) for details. Please email us at [compliance@givechariot.com](mailto:compliance@givechariot.com) if you would like to know what information we hold about you, or would like personally identifiable information about you deleted from our systems and we can provide a CSV or Excel file. We will use reasonable efforts to fulfill your request as soon as feasible. We may need you to provide identifying information and/or either DAF Provider Donor Credentials or Chariot Account Credentials to verify your identity before executing such a request for the security of all of our users. ## **6. How We Keep Your Information Secure** We design our systems with your security and data protection in mind. Please visit our security center at [https://trust.givechariot.com/](https://trust.givechariot.com/) to see more details on the wide variety of security controls we’ve implemented as part of our detailed trust and compliance programs. - Like most applications today, we use cloud server infrastructure to run our Services. We license server spaces that encrypt data sent to your Chariot Account and to DAFpay, both while “at rest” in our database and “in transit” between our Services and those databases. - We maintain segmented storage of all Credentials for an additional layer of security. - We’ve implemented control measures designed to limit access to any sensitive information to personnel who have a business reason to see it and prohibit our teammates from unlawfully disclosing any such information. Please consult [Stripe’s Privacy Policy](https://stripe.com/privacy), [Footprint’s Privacy Policy](https://onefootprint.com/privacy-policy), and [Column’s Privacy Notice](https://column.com/privacy-notice/) for details about how each secures your information or and complies with PCI\-DSS standards with respect to that information. If you’re using Google SSO as part of your login, you should refer to [Google’s relevant policies](https://policies.google.com/?hl=en-US) for more information about how they operate their SSO offering. While we take meaningful precautions against possible security breaches for our Services and underlying data and records, no website or Internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, hacking, data loss, or other breaches will never occur. ## **7. How We Use Artificial Intelligence** We may use and share your information with Artificial Intelligence \("AI"\) including machine learning models and generative AI models \(LLMs, such as Claude and ChatGPT\), to support AI\-powered features and agent workflows, improve efficiency and effectiveness of our services, and to enhance our financial crime and fraud prevention process. We may also apply these tools to analyze information we collect for purposes such as verifying documents and detecting fraud, however such decisions always involve appropriate human oversight. We have agreements in place with all AI tools that we use that expressly prohibit training or improving their models using your data. We will always let our customers know if they are directly interacting with an AI system. ## **8. User Choices and Rights** We offer all of our users certain options to exercise control over their information, regardless of their residency: - Right to Know: You have the right to request that we disclose to you the personal information about you we collect, use, or disclose, and information about our data handling practices with respect to your information; - Right to Request Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete personal information that we have collected from you; and - Right to Non\-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please email us at [compliance@givechariot.com](mailto:compliance@givechariot.com) and we’ll be happy to assist you. Your browser settings may allow you to automatically transmit a "Do Not Track" signal to online services you visit. Note, however, there is no industry consensus as to what site and app operators should do with regard to these signals. Accordingly, unless and until the law is interpreted to require us to do so, we do not monitor or take action with respect to "Do Not Track" signals. When you visit our website, cookies and similar technologies may be used by our online data partners or vendors to associate these activities with other personal information they or others have about you, including by association with your email or home address. We \(or service providers on our behalf\) may then send communications and marketing to these email or home addresses.  You may opt out of this tracking and of any related advertising by visiting [https://app.retention.com/optout](https://app.retention.com/optout). ## **9. Children’s Personal Information** Chariot’s Platform is not for use by minors. No Chariot functionality is intended for, and none should be used by, children younger than 16. We do not intentionally collect any information from or about persons under 16. In the event that we learn that we have inadvertently gathered personal information from children under the age of 16, we will use our best efforts to promptly erase such information from our records. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information about a minor 16 years or younger, please contact us at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) with a description of the potential issue. ## **10. California Privacy Rights** Under California Civil Code Sections 1798.83\-1798.84, California residents are entitled to contact us to prevent disclosure of personal information to third parties for such third parties’ direct marketing purposes; however, Chariot does not share your information with third parties for direct marketing purposes. ## **11. Changes To This Privacy Policy** We may update or change this Policy from time to time. If we make any updates or changes, we will post the new policy on Chariot’s website at givechariot.com and update the effective date at the top of this Policy. When the changes impact how we use your data in important ways, we will provide you with notice within 30 days of a material change if we have an email on file for you. We will also send you this notice annually for your continued reference. If you keep using our Services, you consent to any amendment of this Policy. ## **12. Contacting Chariot** If you have any questions or complaints about this Policy, or about our privacy practices generally, you can contact us at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) or by mail at: Chariot Giving, Inc. Attn: Chariot, Privacy 575 8th Ave, Floor 20 New York, NY 10018 --- ## Product Updates - Source: https://givechariot.com/product-updates - Published: 2026-04-30 ### Product updates ### Most-used. Most-loved. ### Custom Payment Sources Add your own payment source to Chariot to receive all your electronic DAF & workplace giving gifts in one place. ### Digital Mailbox Receive, deposit, and process checks automatically. ### Policies Code gifts faster with AI\-powered auto\-coding rules. ### DAFpay The only payment option purpose\-built for DAF giving. ### Workplace Giving Connect workplace giving platforms to see the donor data behind every gift. ### CRM Integrations Auto\-match donations to data in your Salesforce or Raiser's Edge records. ### What's New for Nonprofits ### What's New for Grantmakers ### The latest from Chariot ### Unprecedented Insights into Donor Advised Fund Giving ### DAF Day III Webinar Kickoff: Move Billions, Faster ### Inspiring DAF Giving ### How No Kid Hungry Turned Gift Processing Into a Strategic Superpower ### DAFpay by Chariot Now Live on Toys for Tots Donation Form ### Your "Not Enrolled for E-Pay" Status Is Costing You Donors ### The Grants that Go Nowhere Good ### Chariot Launches First Gift Processing Platform for Nonprofits ### Getting to know TIFIN Give, a Chariot Disbursements Partner ### Join our newsletter for product updates --- ## Prohibited and Restricted Activities - Source: https://givechariot.com/prohibited-and-restricted-activities - Published: 2026-02-04 ### Prohibited and Restricted Activities _Last updated: January 1st, 2025_ The examples listed below are not exhaustive and we reserve the right to modify or update the lists below at any time by posting a revised version to our website. The revised version will be immediately effective upon posting. ## Prohibited Activities List If we determine in our sole discretion that you engage or have engaged in the activities listed below, or are authorizing, facilitating, or helping others to do so, or otherwise are engaged in activities that are illegal, may harm others or our reputation or operations, or violate our or others’ rights, we may deny, terminate, or suspend your use of the Services: Countries, governments, entities and individuals subject to sanctions or included in any applicable government prohibitions; Personal transactions within a commercial customer’s account; Exchanges and other entities that offer direct onboarding or offboarding of cryptocurrency related activity on behalf of consumers; Marijuana\-related businesses \(MRB\) \(such as manufacturers, dispensers, and those engaged in medical marijuana or other so\-called “touch the plant” activities\), including companies whose main source \(more than 50%\) of revenue is derived from this type of activity are prohibited\*; \*Federal law \(Controlled Substances Act \(CSA\)\) prohibits the distribution and sale of marijuana, financial transactions involving an MRB would generally involve funds derived from illegal activity. Therefore, we are required to file on activity involving an MRB. [https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FIN\-2014\-G001.pdf](https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FIN-2014-G001.pdf) Anonymous or numbered accounts or Customers seeking to maintain an account in an obviously fictitious name; Bearer share companies where the shares have not been recorded on a share register or are not held with a local custodian; Shell banks – i.e., an entity that has no physical existence in the country in which it is incorporated and licensed, and which is unaffiliated with a regulated financial group that is subject to effect consolidated supervision \(see Section 313 of the USA PATRIOT Act\); Unlicensed or unregistered Money Transmitter Activity – i.e., companies offering services involving money/currency exchange, money transfer, cheque cashing, and issuing or selling travelers cheques, money orders or stored value cards that meet the regulatory definition; Unlawful Internet Gambling Companies, and companies whose main source \(more than 50%\) of revenue is derived from supporting gambling or wager activities unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received, or otherwise made as defined by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 \(UIGEA\) and Regulation GG; Adult entertainment and services businesses, such as escorts and prostitution, pornography and obscene media companies, and other sexually related online or social media related services such as sexually\-related adult live chats, sexually motivated dating services, and pornographic pay per view services; Companies whose business model is indicative of a Ponzi scheme, pyramid selling, pump and dump schemes, or other forms of “get rich quick” business models; Individuals, groups, or companies that promote terrorism, hate, bigotry, racism, abuse, or harassment. This includes but is not limited to discrimination or violence against any group based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other immutable characteristic; Persons or companies primarily involved in trading or manufacturing of weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, or firearm manufacturing;  Companies involved in the sale of consumer data such as personally\-identifying information on a non\-anonymized basis; Companies involved in the manufacturing of counterfeit goods or goods meant to infringe on intellectual property rights; Gems and mining businesses, precious metals, and commodities extraction or trading; Payday lenders; Missions, embassies and consulates; Pseudo\-medical and pseudo\-pharmaceutical companies such as those involved in the commercial sale of experimental treatments or treatments claiming medical benefits; or Any persons or companies involved in illegal activity including those involved in the trade of illegal products and services or providing support for the trade of such products and ## Restricted Activities List If we determine in our sole discretion that you engage or have engaged in the activities listed below, or are authorizing, facilitating, or helping others to do so, you may be required to provide additional information or documentation or may be ineligible for certain Services: Dealing in cryptocurrency, digital assets, or digital currency; Licensed financial services, including those of banks or bank affiliates, securities brokers, money transmitters, investment companies, or investment funds; Production, sale, or distribution of "gray market" goods or services; Production, sale, or distribution of Schedules II\-V controlled substances with a pharmaceutical license, where such schedules are defined by the DEA; and Activities that Chariot, in its sole discretion, identifies as high\-risk Please [contact us](/contact) if you are unsure whether your business or activities are permitted by Chariot. --- ## Sweep Agreement - Source: https://givechariot.com/sweep-agreement - Published: 2026-04-06 ### Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement and Custodial Agreements _Last updated: April 6, 2026_ Part I of this document contains our agreement with you regarding our deposit placement services. Part II is our custodial agreement with you regarding the accounts participating in those services. By accepting these agreements, you \(“Depositor”\) agree to be legally bound by this Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement and Custodial Agreement, effective when you have signed it. ## I. Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement You, the undersigned, enter into this Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement \(“Agreement”\) with Column N.A. \(“Bank,” “Column,” “we” or “us”\): This Agreement states the terms and conditions on which we will endeavor to place deposits for you at other financial institutions through the sweep products we offer for placing deposits at depository institutions \(collectively, “Column Sweep Program”\). Those products include but are not limited to Column’s own network of depository institutions \(“Direct Placement”\), as well as networks provided through our third\-party service providers \(“Third\-Party Placement”\), including those through ICS®, the IntraFi Cash ServiceSM of IntraFi Network LLC \(“IntraFi”\). All deposit account\(s\) that are enrolled in the Column Sweep Program \(the “Root Account\(s\)”\) will remain subject to the applicable deposit account agreement \(“Account Agreement”\) and your use of the Column Sweep Program will also be governed by such Account Agreement, which is incorporated by reference in this Agreement. If there is any conflict between the applicable Account Agreement and this Agreement, then this Agreement controls. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning given in the applicable Account Agreement. 1.    Deposit Placement 1.1.    Agreement and Schedules \(a\)   You understand that through the Column Sweep Program we will endeavor to place funds at other depository institutions through Direct Placement, using Column’s Network of depository institutions, or by Third\-Party Placement, using third parties that provide services in connection with the Column Sweep Program \(each a “Sweep Provider”\). You agree that we may, in our sole discretion, choose to place any of your deposits directly through Direct Placement through our own network and infrastructure, or through Third\-Party Placement through the network and infrastructure provided by our Sweep Providers. \(b\)   **Schedule 1** describes the procedure by which we will place deposits for you for you through Third\-Party Placement using IntraFi, known as ICS\-Daily Rate. **Schedule 2 **describes the account type and placement feature that we will use. Unless provided otherwise in a schedule to this Agreement, placements we make through Direct Placement will follow the same general procedure, but will be placed through Direct Placement, instead of through IntraFi. Placements made using other Third\-Party Placement we offer from time to time will be described in additional schedules to this Agreement, if any. \(c\)Each participating institution in the Column Sweep Program \(“Destination Institution”\) will be one at which deposit accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation \(“FDIC”\) up to the FDIC standard maximum deposit insurance amount \(“SMDIA”\) of $250,000. \(d\)   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, when we place deposits in a deposit account at a Destination Institution for your funds placed through the Column Sweep Program \(each such account a “Deposit Account”\), the amount of our outstanding placements for you at the Destination Institution through the Column Sweep Program will generally not exceed $250,000, unless requested by you. \(e\)   The Bank of New York Mellon \(“BNY Mellon”\) provides services that support deposit placement through ICS. BNY Mellon’s services include acting as our sub\-custodian and settlement agent. \(f\)You must be capable of accessing and using, and you agree to use, the Application Programming Interfaces \(“APIs”\), subject to our API Terms of Service \([https://column.com/legal/api\-terms\-of\-service](https://column.com/legal/api-terms-of-service)\), or Servicer’s software application that allows you to access your Root Account\(s\) on a mobile device and/or Servicer’s website \(“Servicer App”\), as applicable to your Root Account\(s\) and related to our services if made available by us to review provisional allocations of deposits and for other purposes that may be enabled by us. You also agree to receive notices that may be posted via your dashboard on our website \(“Dashboard”\), sent to you by email, or in any manner provided for in the Account Agreement. 1.2.    Deposit Accounts \(a\)   Deposits that we place for you in Deposit Accounts will be “deposits,” as defined by federal law, at the Destination Institutions. \(b\)   Each Deposit Account, including the principal balance and the accrued interest, will be a deposit obligation solely of the Destination Institution at which it is held. It will not be a deposit obligation of us or of any Sweep Provider, BNY Mellon, or any other person or entity. 2.    Your Relationship with Us 2.1.    Agency and Custodial Relationship \(a\)   We will act as your agent in placing deposits for you through the Column Sweep Program. Under a separate agreement with you that grants us custodial powers \(“Custodial Agreement”\), we will also act as your custodian for the Deposit Accounts. \(b\)   Each Deposit Account will be recorded \(i\) on the records of a Destination Institution in our name, as your Custodian, and \(ii\) on our records in your name. Provided, however, if we engage with a third\-party sub\-custodian \(“Sub\-Custodian”\) in connection with a given sweep program, each Deposit Account will be recorded \(i\) on the records of a Destination Institution in the name of the Sub\-Custodian, as our sub\-custodian, \(ii\) on the records of the Sub\-Custodian in our name, as your custodian, and \(iii\) on our records in your name. The recording will occur in a manner that permits the Deposit Account to be FDIC insured to the same extent as if it were recorded on the records of a Destination Institution in your name. \(c\)For purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, we will act as your securities intermediary for, and will treat as financial assets, the Deposit Accounts and all your security entitlements and other related interests and assets with respect to the Deposit Accounts, and we will treat you as entitled to exercise the rights that constitute the Deposit Accounts. \(d\)   All interests that we hold for the Deposit Accounts will be held by us only as your securities intermediary and will not be our property. You will be the owner of the funds in the Deposit Accounts and any interest on those funds. 2.2.    Termination of Custodial Relationship \(a\)   Either you or we may terminate the custodial relationship between you and us at any time. You may not transfer the Deposit Accounts to another custodian, but you may dismiss us as your custodian for a Deposit Account and request that it be recorded on the records of the Destination Institution in your name. \(b\)   We will endeavor to cause any request from you pursuant to Section 2.2\(a\) to be promptly forwarded to the Destination Institution. Each Destination Institution has agreed that it will promptly fulfill any such request, subject to its customer identification policies and other account opening terms and conditions. \(c\)If a Deposit Account has been recorded on the records of a Destination Institution in your name pursuant to this Section 2, you will be able to enforce your rights in the Deposit Account directly against the Destination Institution, but we will no longer have any custodial responsibility for it and you will not be able to enforce any rights against the Destination Institution through us. \(d\)   If we were to become insolvent, our receiver or other successor in interest could transfer custody of the Deposit Accounts, and our rights and obligations under this Agreement, to a new custodian. Alternatively, you could exercise your right to have the Deposit Accounts recorded on the records of the Destination Institutions in your name pursuant to this Section 2. \(e\)   If the custodial relationship is terminated or you dismiss us as your custodian pursuant to Section 2.2\(a\), we reserve the right to close the Root Account\(s\) with us that contain\(s\) your funds and related services, and you accept sole liability resulting from such termination of your Root Account\(s\) and related services, to the extent permitted by law. 3.    Custodial Account and Interest Rate 3.1.    Custodial Account \(a\)   As your custodian, we will open on our records, either directly or with the assistance of our Sub\-Custodian, a custodial account in which we will hold your interests in the Deposit Accounts \(“Custodial Account”\). We may permit you to have multiple Custodial Accounts. \(b\)   You will be assigned a unique alphanumeric identifier for you \(“Depositor Identifier”\), which will be associated with the Custodial Account. We will use your federal taxpayer identification number \(“TIN”\) reflected in our records as your Depositor Identifier, unless you do not have a TIN, in which case you will enter an alternate identifier that we approve. \(c\)If you use an alternate identifier, you must use the same alternate identifier for all placements of deposits for you, by us or by any other financial institution, through ICS or through CDARS. If you later obtain a TIN, you must promptly report it to us and to any such other institutions, and we may use it as your Depositor Identifier. 3.2.    Interest Rate \(a\)   The interest rate for the Deposit Accounts at Destination Institutions \(“Interest Rate”\) will be the then\-current rate that we specify, which may be any rate \(including zero\) and which we may modify at any time. We may also offer you, and you may elect during enrollment in the Column Sweep Program, a fixed interest rate for deposits you place with us. Through your continued participation in the Column Sweep Program, you accept each applicable Interest Rate. \(b\)   If we permit you to have more than one Custodial Account, we may specify a different Interest Rate for each Custodial Account. \(c\)Payment of the full amount of all accrued interest on a Deposit Account at a Destination Institution will be solely the responsibility of the Destination Institution. Neither we nor any other person or entity will be indebted to you for such payment. \(d\)   For funds placed through Direct Placement, we may retain all or a portion of the interest paid on funds in Deposit Accounts at Destination Institution as a fee for our Direct Placement services. \(e\)   If a Destination Account provides a lesser interest rate than your Root Account, we may offer to credit your Root Account with additional funds as though the deposits at the Destination Institution had been on deposit with us in the Root Account. If we agree to make them, these payments are not interest payments for the funds in Deposit Accounts at Destination Institutions and are exclusively an obligation between you and us. 4.    Placement Procedures 4.1.    Settlement and Statements \(a\)   Settlement of payments to and from participating institutions in the Column Sweep Program \(“Settlement”\) will occur each day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or another day on which banks in New York, New York, are authorized or required by law or regulation to close \(“Business Day”\). \(b\)   We may make available to you the following information through the use of the APIs or Servicer App: \(i\) the aggregate principal balance in the Deposit Accounts \(“Column Sweep Program Balance”\) and \(ii\) the principal balance and accrued interest of the Deposit Accounts at each Destination Institution as of the preceding Business Day or, after Settlement\-related processing, as of that Business Day. \(c\)Upon request, we will provide you with a periodic statement of custodial holdings for your funds placed through the Column Sweep Program that will include, as of the end of the statement period, your Column Sweep Program Balance, your principal balance at each Destination Institution, the total interest you have earned on the Deposit Accounts during the period, and the rate of return you have earned on the daily average closing principal balance for the period \(“Statement Period Yield”\). \(d\)   The account information available through the APIs or Servicer App as described in Section 4.1\(b\), and the periodic statements described in Section 4.1\(c\), will be the only evidence that you receive of your ownership of the funds. You should retain the account statements. 4.2.    Triggering Events \(a\)   Funds will be transferred to or from the Deposit Accounts in response to an event specified in this Agreement that triggers such movement \(“Triggering Event”\). A Triggering Event may result in a transfer of funds from the Root Account to the Deposit Accounts at Settlement \(“Column Sweep Program Deposit”\) or a transfer of funds from the Deposit Accounts to the Root Account at Settlement \(“Column Sweep Program Withdrawal”\). \(b\)   Triggering Events applicable to your deposits are described in the schedules to this agreement. 4.3.    Column Sweep Program Deposits \(a\)   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and except as provided in Section 4.3\(b\), a Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Deposit will result in a transfer of funds to the Deposit Accounts the next Business Day \(“Regular Column Sweep Program Deposit”\). \(b\)   We may offer same\-business day transfers for Column Sweep Program Deposits and will disclose to you any cutoff times before which we must receive a request for a same\-business day deposit for us to act upon the request. If we do offer same\-business day services, we may still require additional time to process requests, even if received before the cut\-off time disclosed to you and process the transfer the next Business Day. \(c\)We may impose a maximum Column Sweep Program Balance amount for deposits that we place for you through the Column Sweep Program and will inform you of any such amount we impose. Even if a Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Deposit occurs, we may choose not to transfer the amount to the Deposit Accounts if it would cause the Column Sweep Program Balance to exceed the maximum. In addition, we may choose not to transfer to the Deposit Accounts an amount that we have credited to the Root Account, but have not yet collected from a third party. 4.4.    Column Sweep Program Withdrawals \(a\)   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and except as provided in Section 4.4\(b\), a Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal will result in a transfer of funds from the Deposit Accounts at Settlement the next Business Day \(“Regular Column Sweep Program Withdrawal”\). \(b\)   We may offer same\-business day transfers for Column Sweep Program Withdrawals and will disclose to you any cutoff times before which we must receive a request for a same\-business day withdrawal for us to act upon the request. If we do offer same\-business day services, we may still require additional time to process requests, even if received before the cut\-off time disclosed to you and process the transfer the next Business Day. 4.5.    Withdrawal Advances; Security Interest \(a\)   If we have agreed in writing that we will advance funds to you in anticipation of a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal, or if we decide in our discretion to advance funds to you in anticipation of a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal, you will owe the amount of these funds to us and we will retain from any funds we receive at Settlement the amount we have advanced to you. \(b\)   With respect to any amount that you owe to us pursuant to Section 4.5\(a\): \(i\)              you grant us, and acknowledge that we have a security interest in, and a lien on, the Deposit Accounts, related security entitlements, and other related interests and assets that we may hold for you as custodian and securities intermediary pursuant to the Custodial Agreement for the amount that you owe to us, \(ii\)             if a Destination Institution fails before a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal is completed, we may retain the amount of the Column Sweep Program Withdrawal from the proceeds of your FDIC insurance claim to satisfy the amount that you owe to us, and \(iii\)           to the extent that the amount that you owe to us is not satisfied from the interests and assets we are holding for you pursuant to the Custodial Agreement, or from the proceeds of any FDIC insurance claim, the amount remains owed by you to us and is payable on demand. \(c\)If, in a separate agreement, you have granted us a security interest in the Deposit Accounts or in any security entitlements or other interests or assets relating to the Deposit Accounts as collateral for a loan to you or otherwise, we may decline to honor a request for a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal, or decline to honor a debit transaction in the Root Account that would trigger a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal or be funded by a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal, to the extent the Column Sweep Program Withdrawal would cause your Column Sweep Program Balance to fall below the loan amount or other amount that you have agreed to maintain in the Deposit Accounts or to which the security interest applies. If, in a separate agreement, you have granted us a security interest in the Root Account, we also may decline to honor transactions in the Root Account in accordance with the separate agreement. 4.6.    Account Type and Withdrawal Limit, If Any \(a\)   Deposits that we place for you through the Column Sweep Program at a Destination Institution will be placed in a Deposit Account that is a demand deposit account \(“DDA”\) or a Deposit Account that is a money market deposit account \(“MMDA”\), as provided in the Schedules to this Agreement. \(b\)   We reserve the right to set monthly withdrawal limits, as disclosed to you from time to time. If a withdrawal limit applies and you exceed the permitted Column Sweep Program Withdrawals in a month for a given Deposit Account: \(i\)              We may \(A\) transfer all the remaining funds in the Deposit Account to the Root Account associated with the Custodial Account, or \(B\) transfer all the remaining funds in the Deposit Account to a different Deposit Account at our discretion; and \(ii\)             In subsequent months we may effect either such transfer at the time you reach the limit we set for Column Sweep Program Withdrawals. \(c\)If you exceed any withdrawal limit in multiple months, we may also make the Custodial Account ineligible for Column Sweep Program Deposits. 5.    Placement Feature 5.1.    Reciprocal and One\-Way \(a\)   When we place deposits, we may receive matching deposits placed from participating Destination Institutions in the Column Sweep Program \(“Reciprocal Deposit”\). We may also place deposits without receiving matching deposits \(“One\-Way Deposit”\) from Destination Institutions. We may in our sole discretion choose whether to receive a Reciprocal Deposit or use One\-Way Deposits. We may pay fees to a Sweep Provider or others in connection with Reciprocal Deposits. We and Sweep Provider may also receive fees from Destination Institutions in connection with One\-Way Deposits. We may also receive fees from a Sweep Provider in connection with placements we make. 5.2.    Placement Feature and Rate \(a\)   Interest on the Deposit Accounts will be earned at the specified Interest Rate regardless of whether the Reciprocal Feature or the One\-Way Feature is used. \(b\)   When the Reciprocal Feature is used, fees paid to Sweep Provider may affect rate determination. When the One\-Way Feature is used, fees paid by Destination Institutions, or cost\-of\-funds rates for Destination Institutions, may affect rate determination. \(c\)You authorize us to use either the Reciprocal Deposit or the One\-Way Deposit, and we may use a feature with greater benefits to you, to us, or both. 5.3.    Placement Requirements \(a\)   Under the laws of some states, governmental units may submit deposits for placement through a deposit placement network only if the placing institution is located in the state and receives matching deposits of an equal maturity, if any, and an equal amount. \(b\)   If you are a state governmental unit, or if you are otherwise subject to restrictions on the placement of deposits for you, you are responsible for determining whether deposit placement in accordance with this Agreement satisfies any applicable restrictions. 6.    Daily Allocation and Depositor Control 6.1.    Daily Allocation; Review and Consent \(a\)   The process for allocating Column Sweep Program Deposits, Column Sweep Program Withdrawals, and funds already on deposit reflects various considerations, including the need for certain Destination Institutions to receive deposits in amounts that they have placed for their own customers and possible limits on the amounts that an institution is authorized to place, or a Destination Institution has agreed to receive. Applicable deposit amounts may change from day to day. Accordingly, the allocation of funds may take place each Business Day. \(b\)   The set of Destination Institutions to which your funds on deposit are allocated on a Business Day, and the amount allocated to each Destination Institution, may differ from a previous Business Day’s allocation. A different allocation may involve the movement of funds from one Destination Institution to another Destination Institution, even though you do not have a Column Sweep Program Deposit or a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal. Such movements of funds will not affect the Interest Rate. \(c\)You may request to specify the allocation of your funds in any manner we specify, which may include contacting us in accordance with your Account Agreement or by using tools provided through the APIs or Servicer App. You are responsible for reviewing the important information we provide you. In addition, on request at any time, we will provide you with a list of all Column Sweep Program Destination Institutions. The list of Third\-Party Placement Destination Institutions is also available online at [https://www.intrafi.com/network\-banks](https://www.intrafi.com/network-banks). \(d\)   Although we will not allocate your funds to Destination Institutions that you exclude or reject as set forth below, you authorize and consent to the allocation of your funds in our discretion at Destination Institutions that you approve, or do not exclude or reject, as set forth below. 6.2.    Destination Institution Exclusions \(a\)   You may inform us of any depository institution you wish to exclude from eligibility to receive deposits we place for you through the Column Sweep Program \(“Exclusions List”\). \(b\)   We may require you to provide your initial Exclusions List by giving us notice in any manner we specify, which may include providing a list by email, contacting us in accordance with your Account Agreement, or by using tools provided through the APIs or Servicer App. \(c\)An Exclusions List will be effective within three Business Days after the first Business Day on which we have received the Exclusions List from you. \(d\)   You may add to or subtract from your Exclusions List by giving us notice in a manner we specify, which may include providing such additions or subtractions by email, contacting us in accordance with your Account Agreement, or by using tools provided through the APIs or Servicer App. If you do so, the revised Exclusions List will be effective within three Business Days after the first Business Day on which we have received the notice. 6.3.    Depositor Placement Review \(a\)   Each Business Day, your aggregate principal balance that will be in Deposit Accounts after that day’s Settlement will be provisionally allocated to Destination Institutions. The amount allocated will reflect your Column Sweep Program Balance as of the last Settlement, plus any Column Sweep Program Deposit that will occur at the day’s Settlement, minus any Column Sweep Program Withdrawal that will occur at the day’s Settlement. The allocation may provide that previously\-deposited funds will be removed from a Destination Institution and deposited in another Destination Institution. 7.    FDIC Insurance Considerations 7.1.    Deposit Insurance Coverage \(a\)   You may obtain information about FDIC deposit insurance coverage by visiting the FDIC website at[ http://www.fdic.gov](http://www.fdic.gov) or by contacting the FDIC by letter, email, or telephone. \(b\)   All of your deposits at a Destination Institution in the same insurable capacity \(whether you are acting directly or through an intermediary\) will be aggregated for the SMDIA. You should add to your Exclusions List any depository institution at which you have other deposits in the same insurable capacity. Insurable capacities include, among others, individual accounts and joint accounts. \(c\)You are responsible for determining whether deposits we place for you are maintained in separate insurable capacities. Separate divisions within a corporate entity are not eligible for separate insurance coverage, and a separate TIN or other Depositor Identifier does not establish a separate insurable capacity. \(d\)   We will use the Depositor Identifier to identify you, and we will place deposits for you on the understanding that you are not submitting deposits for placement under more than one Depositor Identifier in the same insurable capacity. \(e\)   The requirements for FDIC deposit insurance coverage of the deposits of governmental units, including the United States government, state and local governments, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, are set forth in FDIC regulations. If you are a governmental unit, you are responsible for determining whether the requirements for deposit insurance have been met. We are not responsible for losses resulting from the placement of deposits that are not eligible for FDIC deposit insurance. \(f\)Records that we maintain, reflecting ownership of the Deposit Accounts will be used to establish your or your third\-party beneficiaries, as applicable, eligibility for deposit insurance coverage. Accordingly, you must immediately report to us any changes in ownership information so that there will be accurate information to provide to the FDIC if a Destination Institution fails and the FDIC pays its insured deposits by cash payment. The FDIC could also require you to provide additional documentation. 7.2.    Responsibility to Monitor Deposits; Available Information \(a\)   You are responsible for monitoring the total amount of your funds at each Destination Institution in each insurable capacity to determine the extent of FDIC deposit insurance coverage available to you for deposits at that Destination Institution. You should confirm that each placement of your funds at Destination Institutions is consistent with your exclusions and rejections. \(b\)   You can obtain publicly available financial information on Destination Institutions from the National Information Center of the Federal Reserve System at [www.ffiec.gov/nicpubweb/nicweb/nichome.aspx](https://www.ffiec.gov/nicpubweb/nicweb/nichome.aspx). 7.3.    Uninsured Deposits \(a\)   Although we will generally not place a deposit for you through the Column Sweep Program at any one Destination Institution in an amount that exceeds the SMDIA, a deposit that we place for you will not be eligible for FDIC insurance coverage at a Destination Institution before it becomes a deposit at the Destination Institution or after it is withdrawn from the Destination Institution. \(i\)              If the Root Account is eligible for FDIC insurance coverage, a deposit in the Root Account will be aggregated with your other deposits with us in the same insurable capacity for application of the SMDIA of $250,000. \(ii\)             If the Root Account is not eligible for FDIC insurance coverage, a deposit in the Root Account will not be FDIC\-insured. \(b\)   If you cannot accept the risk of having a deposit with us that is not fully insured, you will be responsible for making arrangements with us, if we offer them, to have the deposits collateralized, protected by a properly\-executed repurchase sweep arrangement, or otherwise adequately protected, in a manner consistent with applicable law. You should consult your legal advisor to determine whether a collateralization arrangement is consistent with applicable law. \(c\)If you cannot accept the risk of having a deposit with us that is not fully insured, and we do not offer arrangements of the kind described in Section 7.3\(b\) or we offer them but you do not make such arrangements with us, you should not submit deposits for placement through the Column Sweep Program. 7.4.    Deposit Insurance Payments \(a\)   In case of the liquidation of, or other closing or winding up of the affairs of, an insured depository institution, the FDIC is generally required by law to pay each insured deposit “as soon as possible,” either by cash payment or by transferring the deposit to another insured depository institution. It is possible, however, that an insurance payment could be delayed. Neither we nor any other person or entity will be obligated to advance funds to you with respect to an insurance payment or to make any payment to you in satisfaction of a loss you might incur as a result of a delay in an insurance payment. \(b\)   If a Destination Institution at which we place deposits for you is closed and the FDIC does not transfer deposits that include your funds to another insured depository institution, but will make a deposit insurance cash payment, we will cause a deposit insurance claim for your funds to be filed with the FDIC, and we will credit to you the proceeds of the deposit insurance claim that we receive for your funds, subject to any valid security interest. \(c\)If the FDIC makes a deposit insurance cash payment for a Deposit Account at a closed Destination Institution, the FDIC is required by law to pay the principal amount plus unpaid accrued interest to the date of the closing of the Destination Institution, as prescribed by law, subject to the SMDIA. No interest is earned on a Deposit Account at a Destination Institution after it closes. \(d\)   If the FDIC transfers the deposits of a closed Destination Institution to another insured depository institution, the acquiring institution may assume a Deposit Account. The acquiring institution may change the rate at which it pays interest on the assumed Deposit Account, subject to your right to withdraw the funds. 8.    Additional Considerations 8.1.    Compare Rates \(a\)   We are not acting as your investment advisor, and we are not advising you about alternative investments. You are responsible for comparing the rates of return and other features of the Deposit Accounts to other available deposit accounts and other kinds of investments before choosing placement through the Column Sweep Program. \(b\)   The Interest Rate may be higher or lower than a cost\-of\-funds rate for a Destination Institution, an interest rate for another customer, or interest rates on comparable deposits available directly from us, from the Destination Institutions at which the Deposit Accounts are held, from other Destination Institutions, or from insured depository institutions that are not Destination Institutions. 8.2.    Allocation Considerations \(a\)   The Column Sweep Program allocation process is subject to applicable law and may be affected by our objectives, the objectives of institutions with which we partner, or both, including administrative convenience, reduction of costs, and enhancement of profits. \(b\)   Participating institutions in the Column Sweep Program service may make compensatory payments resulting in payments to other participating institutions, or receive compensatory payments resulting from payments by other participating institutions, including compensatory payments that reflect the difference between an interest rate for deposits placed by an institution and a rate at which the receiving institution would otherwise pay interest. 8.3.    Mutual Institution Rights \(a\)   Your funds may be placed in a Deposit Account at a Destination Institution that is in the mutual form of organization. Such a Deposit Account will be recorded on the records of the mutual institution in our name and not in your name. We will not attend or vote at any meeting of the depositor members of a mutual institution, or exercise any subscription rights in a mutual institution’s mutual\-to\-stock conversion, either on its own behalf or on your behalf. \(b\)   If we receive notice of a meeting of depositor members of a mutual institution or other materials or information relating to a mutual institution’s mutual\-to\-stock conversion, we may forward such notice, materials, or information to you. If you wish to receive such notice, materials, or information directly from the mutual institution, or if you wish to attend or vote at any meeting of the depositor members of the mutual institution or receive subscription rights, you must, before the applicable record date \(a date that is usually at least one year before the mutual institution’s board of directors adopts a plan of conversion\), dismiss us as your custodian and have the Deposit Account recorded on the records of the mutual institution in your name pursuant to Section 2.2. 9.    Other Provisions 9.1.    Release and Use of Identifying Information \(a\)   We may provide information that identifies you \(“Identifying Information”\), including your name, your TIN or other Depositor Identifier, and information on your deposits, to a Sweep Provider, including IntraFi and BNY Mellon. A Sweep Provider may use Identifying Information in providing services in connection with the Column Sweep Program. \(b\)   We or a Service Provider may also provide Identifying Information to a Destination Institution at which your funds are deposited, but will do so only to the extent necessary to comply with a request by you or your agent or to comply with applicable law. In addition, we or a Service Provider may provide Identifying Information to the FDIC in connection with a deposit insurance claim. \(c\)Except as provided in Section 9.1\(a\) or Section 9.1\(b\), we will not provide Identifying Information to any party unless we determine that \(i\) we are required by applicable law to do so, or \(ii\) we are permitted by applicable law to do so and have reasonable grounds to do so to protect our own legal or business interests or the legal or business interests of a Service Provider. \(d\)   We and IntraFi may use and disclose any and all analyses, comparisons, indexes, or other data or information assembled, compiled, or otherwise developed by either, respectively, including information regarding aggregated activity of Column Sweep Program depositors, as long as it does not individually identify you. 9.2.    Tax Reporting and Withholding \(a\)   To the extent required by applicable law, we will file with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service \(“IRS”\), and furnish to you, IRS Form 1099\-INT or its equivalent, or IRS Form 1042\-S or its equivalent, for interest paid on the Deposit Accounts by the Destination Institutions. \(b\)   If we are notified by the IRS that backup withholding is required for interest on the Deposit Accounts, or if we otherwise determine that we are required by applicable law to collect such backup withholding, we will collect it and pay it to the IRS. 9.3.    Liability and Dispute Resolution \(a\)   We will maintain, directly or through a Sweep Provider, appropriate records of our placements for you. We will not place deposits for you through the Column Sweep Program at a Destination Institution that is the subject of a then effective exclusion on your Exclusions List, at a Destination Institution that is the subject of a then effective rejection by you, or at a Destination Institution under one Depositor Identifier in an amount that exceeds the SMDIA. \(b\)   If all or part of your funds in a Deposit Account at a Destination Institution are uninsured because of our failure to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 9.3\(a\), and if the Destination Institution fails and you do not otherwise recover the uninsured portion, we will reimburse you for your documented loss of the uninsured portion that you do not otherwise recover. \(c\)SUBJECT TO OUR REIMBURSEMENT OBLIGATION IN SECTION 9.3\(b\), AND EXCEPT AS MAY BE OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE, AND IN NO EVENT WILL ANY SWEEP PROVIDER, INTRAFI, BNY MELLON, ANY SUB\-CUSTODIAN, OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER, BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE INCURRED OR ALLEGEDLY INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE AND OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL NOT HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR: \(i\) ANY LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO A CAUSE OVER WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTROL, INCLUDING THE FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT OR COMMUNICATION LINES, TELEPHONE OR OTHER INTERCONNECT PROBLEMS, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, THEFT, OPERATOR ERRORS, GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS, OR FORCE MAJEURE \(E.G., EARTHQUAKE, FLOOD, SEVERE OR EXTRAORDINARY WEATHER CONDITIONS, NATURAL DISASTERS OR OTHER ACT OF GOD, FIRE, ACTS OF WAR, TERRORIST ATTACKS, INSURRECTION, RIOT, STRIKES, LABOR DISPUTES OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ACCIDENT, ACTION OF GOVERNMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, SYSTEM OR POWER FAILURES, OR EQUIPMENT OR SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION\), \(ii\) DELAY IN ANY FDIC INSURANCE PAYMENT, \(iii\) THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF ANY DESTINATION INSTITUTION OR THE ACCURACY OF ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT ANY DESTINATION INSTITUTION, OR \(iv\) ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES \(INCLUDING LOST PROFITS\). \(d\)   ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, ARBITRATION, CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE, WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, AND COSTS RELATED TO DISPUTES PROVISIONS, IF ANY, CONTAINED IN THE CUSTODIAL AGREEMENT. 9.4.    Miscellaneous \(a\)   This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and us relating to the placement of deposits through the Column Sweep Program and any other matter herein, supersedes prior agreements, understandings, negotiations, representations, and proposals, whether written or oral, relating to any matter herein, and may not be amended by any oral representation or oral agreement. This Section 9.4\(a\) will not affect the validity of any written addenda to this Agreement into which we have entered with you. \(b\)   Schedules to this Agreement are incorporated into and made part of this Agreement. We may amend or change the terms and conditions of this Agreement at any time by posting the amended Agreement on the Dashboard, an entry on your account statement, an email message, or a printed letter, and any such amendment shall be effective upon such posting to the Dashboard or delivery to you if provided to you by us, unless additional advanced notice is required under Applicable Law. \(c\)Either party may terminate this Agreement on written notice to the other, but the obligations of both parties will survive with respect to any funds deposited at the time of termination. In addition, the provisions of this Section 9.4 will survive termination. \(d\)   Except as provided in Section 2.2\(d\), this Agreement may not be assigned, in whole or in part, by either party except by operation of law or as required by applicable law, and any purported assignment in violation hereof is void. \(e\)   The headings in this Agreement are not intended to describe, interpret, define, or limit the scope, meaning, or intent of this Agreement or any clause in it. Except as otherwise specified, a reference to a Section is a reference to a section of this Agreement. A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this Agreement. The term “applicable law” refers to all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and judicial orders, whether federal, state, or local. The words “include,” ‘includes,” and “including” do not imply exclusion. \(f\)This Agreement and, unless otherwise provided in the Custodial Agreement, the Custodial Agreement will be valid, binding, and enforceable against you and us when executed by one of the following means that we accept: \(i\) an original manual signature, \(ii\) a DocuSign® eSignature or another electronic signature that we accept, or \(iii\) a faxed, scanned \(including in a Portable Document Format or PDF document\), or photocopied signature that we accept. Each DocuSign® eSignature, other electronic signature, or faxed, scanned, or photocopied signature that we accept shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original signature, and you and we waive any objection to the contrary. ## **II. Custodial Agreement** You, Depositor, enter into this Custodial Agreement \(“Agreement”\) with Column N.A. \(“we” or “us”\): 1.          Pursuant to this Agreement, you authorize us to hold and act as your custodian with respect to all deposit accounts, including all time deposits, money market deposit accounts, and demand deposit accounts, issued or established pursuant to the Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement \(“Deposit Accounts”\) for funds of yours placed as deposits through Column Sweep Program, which includes sweep services provided through Direct Placement, as well as through Third\-Party Placement, as those terms are defined in the Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement, and all your security entitlements and other related interests and assets with respect to the Deposit Accounts \(“Related Entitlements”\). The custodial account in which we will hold the Deposit Accounts and Related Entitlements \(“Custodial Account”\) comprises all the Column Sweep Program custodial accounts that we maintain for you. 2.          As your custodian, we may \(i\) cause the Deposit Accounts to be titled in our name or in the name of our Sub\-Custodian, \(ii\) collect for your account all interest and other payments of income or principal pertaining to the Deposit Accounts, \(iii\) endorse on your behalf any check or other instrument received for your account that requires endorsement, \(iv\) in accordance with your instructions, deposit your funds in, or withdraw your funds from, the Deposit Accounts, \(v\) in accordance with your instructions, deliver or transfer funds from another account with us to the Deposit Accounts or deliver or transfer funds from the Deposit Accounts to another account with us, \(vi\) for Deposit Accounts that are time deposits, surrender for payment for your account maturing CDs and those for which early withdrawal is requested, \(vii\) execute and deliver or file on your behalf all appropriate receipts and releases and other instruments, including whatever certificates may be required from custodians or may be necessary to obtain exemption from taxes and to name you when required for the purpose of the instrument, and \(viii\) take such other actions as are customary or necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement. 3.          For purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code in applicable state law \(“UCC”\), we will act as your securities intermediary for, and will treat as financial assets, any Deposit Accounts and Related Entitlements that we hold for you pursuant to this Agreement. The Custodial Account will be a securities account, as defined in the UCC. 4.          We may comply with any writ of attachment, execution, garnishment, tax levy, restraining order, subpoena, warrant, or other legal process that we believe \(correctly or otherwise\) to be valid. We may notify you of such process by telephone, electronically, or in writing. If we are not fully reimbursed for records research, imaging, photocopying, and handling costs by the party that served the process, we may charge such costs to your account, in addition to any minimum fee we charge for complying with legal processes. 5.          We may honor any legal process that is served personally, by mail, or by electronic mail or facsimile transmission at any of our offices or an office of our agent \(including locations other than where the funds, records, or property sought is held\), even if the law requires personal delivery at the office where your account or records are maintained. 6.          We will have no liability to you for any good\-faith act or omission by us in connection with this Agreement. You agree to indemnify us and our Sub\-Custodian, and to hold us and our Sub\-Custodian harmless from, all expenses \(including counsel fees\), liabilities, and claims arising out of any good\-faith act or omission by us in connection with this Agreement or compliance with any legal process relating to the Custodial Account that we believe \(correctly or otherwise\) to be valid. You agree to pay any service charges that we impose on the Custodial Account. 7.          You agree that this Agreement shall be governed exclusively under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California and you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts located in San Francisco, California. 8.          You may be an individual in an individual capacity, more than one individual in a joint capacity, or a trust, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity. We may accept instructions on your behalf from any individual who signs this Agreement as or on behalf of a Depositor and from any individuals you designate as an authorized user via the APIs or Servicer App or any other manner we make available to you. **Schedule 1 to the Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement** **Column Sweep Program Deposits and Column Sweep Program Withdrawals** This Schedule 1 is part of the Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement \(“Agreement”\). Terms not defined in this Schedule 1 have the meanings, if any, assigned elsewhere in the Agreement. 1.          Specified Terms “Aggregate Deposits” means your deposits in the Root Account plus any other deposits you have with us. “Deposit Threshold” means zero \(0\) dollars USD. 2.          Column Sweep Program Deposits \(a\)   The Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Deposit is a net change in your Aggregate Deposits such that your Aggregate Deposits balance exceeds the Deposit Threshold. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, if such a Triggering Event occurs, we will transfer the requested amount to the Deposit Accounts at ICS Settlement on or before the next Business Day. \(b\)   Notwithstanding the above you may submit a Column Sweep Program Deposit request to us in any manner we specify, which may include contacting us in accordance with your Account Agreement or through any tools provided through the applicable APIs or Servicer App that may be made available to you, indicating the amount requested, unless we specify another means by which you may submit requests. \(c\)If a Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Deposit occurs, we may debit the Root Account and credit a holding account before the transfer of funds to the Deposit Accounts occurs at Settlement. 3.          Column Sweep Program Withdrawals \(a\)   The Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal is a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal request by you that we receive and accept. You may submit a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal request to us in any manner we specify, which may include contacting us in accordance with your Account Agreement or through any tools provided through the applicable APIs or Servicer App. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, if such a Triggering Event occurs, we will transfer the requested amount from the Deposit Accounts at Settlement on or before the next Business Day. \(b\)   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to the rules and cutoff times that otherwise apply to Root Accounts with us, we may in our discretion advance funds to you in anticipation of a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal to honor your debit transactions in the Root Account so long as the sum of your \(i\) Root Account balance, taking into account any pending debit transactions, and \(ii\) your balance in the Deposit Accounts of the applicable type, after taking into account any pending Column Sweep Program Deposits and any pending Column Sweep Program Withdrawals, is not less than zero. We may do so even if the amount of the debit transaction exceeds your Root Account balance. You will owe us any amounts that we credit as advances in anticipation of a Column Sweep Program Deposit, and we will retain those amounts from the funds we receive at Settlement. \(c\)If a Triggering Event for a Column Sweep Program Withdrawal occurs, we may credit the Root Account and debit a holding account before the transfer of funds from the Deposit Accounts occurs at Settlement. **Schedule 2 to Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement** **Account Type, Placement Feature, and Exclusions** This Schedule 2 is part of the Column Sweep Program Deposit Placement Agreement \(“Agreement”\). Terms not defined in this Schedule 2 have the meanings, if any, assigned elsewhere in the Agreement. 1.          Account Type We may place deposits for you in DDAs or in MMDAs. No per\-month MMDA Column Sweep Program Withdrawal limit applies. 2.          Placement Feature We may use Reciprocal Deposits, One\-Way Deposits, or both in placing deposits for you. 3.          Exclusions \(a\)   You may place depository institutions on your Exclusions List by identifying them in accordance with the Agreement, unless we specify another means by which you will provide your Exclusions List. \(b\)   The Exclusions List must include the name and transit routing number \(ABA\) of the depository institution. --- ## Wall of Love - Source: https://givechariot.com/wall-of-love - Published: 2026-03-11 ### Wall of Love. --- # Insights ## Getting to know Charityvest, a new Chariot Disbursements Partner - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-charityvest-a-new-chariot-disbursements-partner - Published: 2026-07-29 > Charityvest is a national donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsor dedicated to making purposeful giving modern and accessible. Starting August 2026, Charityvest is transitioning to Chariot Disbursements for grant payments, so you may see Charityvest grants in your Chariot Account soon. Here’s what you need to know. Charityvest is a national donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) sponsor dedicated to making purposeful giving modern and accessible. Starting August 2026, Charityvest is transitioning to Chariot Disbursements for grant payments, so you may see Charityvest grants in your Chariot Account soon. Here’s what you need to know. ###### **Background on Charityvest** [Charityvest](https://www.charityvest.org/) was founded to activate people on their generosity journey by making purposeful giving simpler. Today, Charityvest, powered by Foundation Source, combines its mission\-driven approach with enterprise\-grade technology to deliver streamlined giving solutions for donors, advisors, and organizations. In 2025, Charityvest [more than doubled its grantmaking](https://www.charityvest.org/annual-report-2025) with 48,744 grants issued to nearly 10,000 unique charities totaling $119.2 million. This August, Charityvest is transitioning grant payment execution to Chariot Disbursements for faster and easier grant payments. This means that nonprofits will receive secure, electronic grant payments from Charityvest DAFs directly to their Chariot Account, with grant details in structured, standardized fields for seamless gift processing. ###### **How Charityvest Works** Charityvest serves donors who sign up directly with individual DAF accounts, as well as clients of registered investment advisors \(RIAs\) and nonprofits through a white\-labeled solution that offers the DAF platform under a consistent brand experience. Charityvest remains the DAF sponsor, handling all grant execution on the backend. From a nonprofit's perspective, Charityvest grants are recommended by individuals, couples, or families with DAF accounts. Whether their relationship to Charityvest is direct or through a white\-labeled “turnkey” partner, the grant will appear from Charityvest as the DAF sponsor, along with any details the donor chose to share in the standard fields visible within your Chariot Dashboard. Charityvest will initially roll out Chariot Disbursements for direct account holders, expanding to turnkey partner accounts shortly after. ### **Other FAQs from Nonprofits about Charityvest** ###### **Do gifts come with donor contact information?** Yes, if the donor advisor elected to share contact information it will be available in your Chariot dashboard in standardized fields \(just like all other grant payments in Chariot\). ###### **What if we previously received Charityvest grants through Paypal Grant Payments?** By the end of Charityvest’s transition to Chariot over the coming weeks, all grant payments will be sent via Chariot. - If receiving nonprofits already have a Chariot Account, there’s no action required. They will be automatically enrolled in payments through Chariot. - If receiving nonprofits **do not** already have a Chariot Account, they will be contacted to enroll with Chariot for electronic grant payments. If they do not enroll, they will be sent a check in the mail. They will not receive grants through PayPal Grant Payments any longer. ###### **How will receiving nonprofits know about grants from Charityvest?** Notifications will be sent for each gift received to your Chariot account to the users on your account. Users can all modify their notifications by navigating to the settings tab within your Chariot dashboard. --- ## Getting to Know Daffy: A Chariot Disbursements Partner - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-daffy-a-chariot-disbursements-partner - Published: 2026-07-21 > Daffy utilizes Chariot Disbursements to send their grant payments, so you may see Daffy gifts in your Chariot Account — here's what you need to know. [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/), the Donor\-Advised Fund for You™, is a fast\-growing donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) platform with a mission to help people be more generous, more often. Daffy utilizes Chariot Disbursements to send their grant payments, so you may see Daffy gifts in your Chariot Account — here's what you need to know. ## **Background on Daffy** Daffy was launched in 2021 by Adam Nash and Alejandro Crosa on a simple but powerful belief: that the donor\-advised fund, an incredible financial tool historically targeted at the wealthy, could be reimagined for everyone. Academic research shows that[ pre\-commitment](https://www.daffy.org/resources/trillion-dollar-generosity-gap) to giving leads to more generosity overall, yet traditional DAF providers weren't designed or incentivized to make that accessible. Daffy was built from the ground up to change that. Unlike traditional DAF providers, Daffy charges a flat monthly membership with no account minimum, supports a wider range of assets, and offers one\-of\-a\-kind features such as[ Daffy campaigns](https://www.daffy.org/campaigns),[ custom portfolios](https://www.daffy.org/portfolios#CUSTOM), and[ family giving](https://www.daffy.org/family). Daffy serves tens of thousands of members, with account sizes ranging from as little as $10 to over $100 million. In 2025, Daffy became [one of the largest national donor\-advised fund providers by number of accounts](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2025), holds [more than $1 billion in charitable assets](https://www.daffy.org/resources/one-billion-assets-under-management), and has sent grants to over 19,000 charities. Daffy utilizes Chariot Disbursements for faster, more secure, and easier grant payments. Since rolling out Chariot, Daffy has processed donation recommendations totaling **over a quarter billion dollars electronically**. Funds are available in a nonprofit's Chariot Account instantly, once approved, and gift details are visible to all team members. ## **How Daffy Works** Each Daffy member has their own giving account, a donor\-advised fund, through which they recommend donations to nonprofits. Members can contribute cash, stock, or crypto to their Daffy account and recommend grants to any eligible 501\(c\)3 nonprofit at any time through the Daffy iOS app or website. Daffy also offers[ Daffy for Work,](https://www.daffy.org/work) an employer\-sponsored giving program that allows companies to offer DAF accounts as an employee benefit and facilitate employer matching of employee contributions. Daffy for Work is used by some of the most innovative companies in the country, including Acorns, OpenAI, and Figma — giving their employees a modern, flexible way to give back to the causes they care about. Chariot has been a Daffy for Work customer for 2 years, offering up to $200 per month in matching contributions to employee DAF accounts. Not only does the program empower employees with double the giving capacity instead of creating extra work to “match” donations, it also leads employees to be more deeply engaged in giving. As of July 2026, a total of $187k has been contributed to Chariot employee Daffy accounts, and $159k has been granted out of these accounts to 443 distinct nonprofits\! ## **Understanding Daffy Gifts on Chariot** Daffy gifts on Chariot are almost always from individual DAF accounts and will include any donor details that the donor elected to share in Chariot’s standardized data fields in the dashboard. Even if a donor set up their account through a Daffy for Work program, their gifts will appear the same way \(not as a match or a company\-affiliated DAF\). ## **Gift Processing for Daffy Gifts** The standardized data fields that Daffy and other Chariot Disbursement partners all utilize make it easier to export gift details from your Chariot dashboard to your external systems. If a Daffy donor discloses contact information, it’s highly recommended to thank and engage them as soon as possible\! ## **Other FAQs from Nonprofits about Daffy** *Do gifts come with donor contact information?* Daffy members choose what information to share with the charities they support. Some members share their name and contact details, while others give anonymously. Any donor information shared by the member will be visible in your Chariot Account dashboard. *Is Daffy a DAF?* Yes. Daffy is a tax\-exempt 501\(c\)\(3\) public charity \(EIN: 86\-3177440\), like all donor\-advised fund providers. When a member contributes to their Daffy account, the donation is legally made to Daffy, which holds and manages those charitable assets on behalf of the donor until the member recommends a grant to a nonprofit. To give with Daffy, visit[ daffy.org](http://daffy.org/) or search "Daffy" in the App Store. *Who from a nonprofit should monitor Daffy gifts?* Your gift processing team should be the primary users reviewing Daffy donations in your Chariot dashboard. If your organization has a major gifts or individual giving team, it's worth flagging Daffy donors who share their contact information, Daffy members tend to be engaged, recurring donors who give meaningfully to the causes they care about. *Can we encourage our donors to use Daffy?* Absolutely. Daffy is free to join and takes minutes to set up. If you don't have a DAF yourself, or have donors who give charitably but don't yet have a DAF, Daffy is a great option to recommend. Visit[ daffy.org](http://daffy.org/) or search "Daffy" in the App Store. [*Learn more about Daffy at daffy.org*](https://help.daffy.org/en/collections/3586650-for-charities)*.* --- ## DAFpay by Chariot Now Live on Toys for Tots Donation Form - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafpay-by-chariot-now-live-on-toys-for-tots-donation-form - Published: 2026-06-17 > Chariot, the financial technology company powering donor-advised fund (DAF) payments for nonprofits across the country, today announced that DAFpay is now live on the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation donation form. DAF donors can now initiate a gift directly to Toys for Tots with a few clicks. *Donor\-advised fund donors can now use DAFpay to support one of America's most iconic charitable programs, bringing more giving power to children in need all year round.* **New York, June 17, 2026** — Chariot, the financial technology company powering donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) payments for nonprofits across the country, today announced that DAFpay is now live on the[ Marine Toys for Tots Foundation](https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/donatetoday) donation form. DAF donors can now initiate a gift directly to Toys for Tots with a few clicks. The partnership marks a significant milestone for one of the Nation's most beloved charitable programs. For decades, Toys for Tots has delivered gifts to millions of children in need every holiday season, and has now expanded to provide year\-round support. The addition of DAFpay gives a growing segment of high\-capacity DAF donors a seamless path to support that mission. ## **Why This Matters: DAF Donors Give Differently** Donor\-advised funds are tax\-advantaged charitable giving accounts in which donors can receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to the nonprofits they care about on their own timeline. DAFs are the fastest\-growing vehicle of philanthropy: according to the[ 2026 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) by Chariot and K2D Strategies, DAF gifts are **23x larger** than non\-DAF gifts on average. For a mission like Toys for Tots, where every additional dollar means more toys in more children's hands, it's a meaningful opportunity to unlock more generosity. Until now, a DAF donor wanting to support Toys for Tots would have had to navigate their DAF provider's portal, look up the foundation's EIN, and then submit a grant request. Gifts often arrive days or weeks later without any prior notification so Toys for Tots wouldn’t know to expect them. With DAFpay embedded directly on the Toys for Tots donation form, they know the gift is coming and who it’s from so they can acknowledge the donor immediately, even before the gift amount actually arrives. For the donor, they get to stay in the moment, complete the gift, and receive confirmation that Toys for Tots is expecting their gift\! > "Toys for Tots is excited to partner with Chariot to expand giving opportunities to our supporters. By enabling donations through Donor-Advised Fund accounts, we're making it easier than ever for donors to support our mission and help deliver hope and joy to children facing hardship. Together, we're empowering more people to create brighter futures for children and families across the Nation." ## **Give Now with DAFpay** DAF donors can support Toys for Tots directly at[ https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/donatetoday](https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/donatetoday). Select DAFpay at checkout, login to your DAF account, and send your gift on its way. ## **About Marine Toys for Tots Foundation** The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was established in 1991 at the behest of the U.S. Marine Corps. It is governed by a board of directors, all veteran Marines and successful business leaders from throughout the Nation, and its professional staff is headquartered at the Cooper Center, just outside the main gate of Marine Corps Base Quantico, approximately 35 miles south of Washington, D.C. The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to economically disadvantaged children at Christmastime and beyond. Through the gift of a new toy, the Program helps bring the joy of Christmas and sends a message of hope to America's most vulnerable children. Since 2001, Toys for Tots has been consistently ranked among the top\-rated charities by the Philanthropy 400. In 2025, the Program delivered 24 million toys to nearly 11 million children. Learn more at[ toysfortots.org](http://toysfortots.org). ## **About Chariot** Chariot is a financial technology company focused on the $326 billion donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) market, the fastest\-growing segment of philanthropy. Chariot's gift processing platform enables nonprofits and grantmakers to send, receive, and enrich grant payments through a single secure portal. DAFpay by Chariot is the industry's first DAF payment option and was named one of **TIME's Best Inventions of 2025**. Chariot powers DAF giving for leading nonprofits and grantmakers, including American Cancer Society, Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, and Central Park Conservancy. Learn more at[ givechariot.com](http://givechariot.com). --- ## New Access Method for DAFgiving360 in DAFpay - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/new-access-method-for-dafgiving360-in-dafpay - Published: 2026-05-31 Donors who use DAFgiving360 will now benefit from a new method to access DAFpay, further simplifying the login process and enhancing grant review. The process is fast and intuitive for donors, as detailed below. ## Two important details to note: 1. **Limited to DAFgiving360**: This change is only applicable to donors using DAFgiving360. Donors using other DAF providers in DAFpay will not experience any change due to this update.  2. **Limited initial scope**: The new access method is being initially introduced with a limited group of nonprofits using DAFpay. Nonprofits will be notified when they are added to the group. Please know that we are working to enable this for more nonprofits swiftly. If you’d like to submit a request for your organization, you can do so [**here**](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2s8zR7l8XRnOzb37vMzjSPA?__hstc=156812004.0f511f780b7985b945f0d7ea98c8cf55.1768252674795.1769194432951.1769225577406.30&__hssc=156812004.8.1769225577406&__hsfp=9219e07190799a62daf34203f5088336). ## Simplifying Login Process Step 1: Upon selecting DAFgiving360 in any DAFpay instance, a donor will be prompted to verify the email associated with their DAFgiving360 account \(via emailed code\). The donor will also have the option to enable passkey access \(e.g. Face ID\), which means they won’t need their email to login to any instance of DAFpay with the same device. Step 2: The donor will confirm their gift and contact details for the nonprofit by submitting the request. ***Note:*** Nonprofits and fundraising platforms using DAFpay will see no change to the information they receive for DAFgiving360 gifts, either via Chariot’s API or Dashboard. ## Enhancing Grant Review If it is the donor’s first time using DAFpay via the new access method, they will get a call from DAFgiving360 after the request is submitted to confirm the connection and request. The DAFgiving360 team will then review, approve and disburse confirmed requests. If, for whatever reason, a DAFgiving360 DAFpay gift is not ultimately submitted, the donor will be notified and the nonprofit will see the status changed to “canceled” in their dashboard. This gives increased visibility to donors and nonprofits on gift status directly from DAFgiving360. We will keep this article up\-to\-date with the latest details and share any material updates with our partners directly. If you have any further questions, please reach out to the Chariot team at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) or the DAFgiving360 team [here](https://www.dafgiving360.org/contact-us). ## Recent Posts [See All](https://www.givechariot.com/blog) [All Checks, No Balance: A Report on the State of Check Payments to Nonprofits](https://www.givechariot.com/post/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits) [Getting to know Groundswell, a Chariot Disbursements Partner](https://www.givechariot.com/post/getting-to-know-groundswell-a-chariot-disbursements-partner) [Chariot’s 2025 Year in Review \+ What’s Next](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-s-2025-year-in-review-what-s-next) --- ## Check Payments - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/check-payments - Published: 2026-05-27 > At a first glance, it feels like in 2026 check payments should be obsolete, but they still aren't. One study found that nearly 80-83% of firms with revenue under $10 million use checks for business payments. In the nonprofit space this is sometimes even higher. Even the largest national DAFs struggle to push their ACH rates above 50%. There are a few reasons why nonprofits/grantmakers still use checks which was written about here. At a first glance, it feels like in 2026 check payments should be obsolete, but they still aren't. [One study ](https://www.atlantafed.org/research-and-data/publications/take-on-payments/2026/01/12/why-do-businesses-still-use-paper-checks)found that nearly 80\-83% of firms with revenue under $10 million use checks for business payments. In the nonprofit space this is sometimes even higher. Even the largest national DAFs struggle to push their ACH rates above 50%. There are a few reasons why nonprofits/grantmakers still use checks which was written about [here](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits). Despite their popularity, checks have significant risk of fraud. A [2024 study](https://7185359.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7185359/Research%20Surveys/SURVEYS/2025%20AFP%20Payments%20Fraud%20Survey%20Report%20Key%20Highlights.pdf) by the Association of Financial Professionals \(AFP\) found that checks continue to be the payment method most often subject to fraud. Since 2020, about 2/3 of businesses reported check related payment fraud in every year of the AFP study. And then there is the issue of payment delays. In [one analysis of 2,000\+ DAF gifts](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits) to a single nonprofit, check\-sending providers averaged delivery times of 7 to 162 days versus 2\-3 days for ACH. Finally, there is the cost. [Industry estimates ](https://www.paystand.com/blog/paper-checks)put the all\-in cost of sending a single check at $4 to $20. Multiply that across the millions of nonprofit gifts mailed each year and the sector burns hundreds of millions \(maybe billions\) on its slowest, riskiest payment rail. Until every payer and nonprofit accepts electronic payment, the right answer is making them as traceable and verifiable as the alternatives. At Chariot, less than 15% of our disbursements volume go out as paper. For that minority though we’ve also built the best check sending process. Here’s what that looks like: - **We do it at scale with in\-house address sourcing.** A dedicated team and verification process keep our check return rate below 1%. - **Positive Pay on every check.** We verify payee name, amount, check number, and date before any deposit clears. These fine grained positive pay controls make a big difference to our nonprofits. We automatically reject deposited checks that fail these validation steps: - 1. *Do this check number and account number refer to a pre\-registered check?* Fraudsters might try and steal valid checks and create invalid duplicates by copying some, but not all, of the details. 2. *Does the amount presented match the pre\-registered check?* The nonprofit or its bank, may have transcribed the check amount incorrectly. In that case, the check will be returned and they should re\-deposit for the correct amount. 3. *Does the check have the Payee name match? C*hecks can be altered and the “Pay To” line changed to a fraudster. We automatically identify checks that have been manipulated and block them. 4. *Has the check already been successfully deposited?* Fraudsters may find deposited checks \(in the trash, on a desk in the office\) and attempt to re\-deposit it\! Or, nonprofits may make a mistake and deposit it twice. In either case, you’re protected. - **Even when you’re sending checks, speed matters:** Shipping options default to `usps\_first\_class` but can be set to `fedex\_two\_day` or even `fedex\_overnight` shipping. Payers often send checks and need to funds moving fast. This includes a donor request, a natural disaster, etc. Sometimes those payments are urgent. - **Customizable grant letters with data:** Payers can customize the grant terms, logo and information sent on each grant letter so that nonprofits can receive all the right data needed to cash the check and thank the donor. - **Enhanced verification on larger checks.** We call nonprofits directly for any check over $25K. Additionally, our compliance tram carefully reviews every cashed check above $25K. - **Real\-time tracking with geo\-location.** Grantmakers see live status as the check moves through USPS \+ FedEx. Traditional check workflows give you a "mailed" date and silence until cashing. USPS provides [1000 different codes](https://postalpro.usps.com/informedvisibility/OperationCodesList) and we handle that complexity to surface every scan event simply, so delays or misrouting are visible early. Checks are a transitional technology and have been transitional for many years. And every year the transition continues on, billions of dollars meant for nonprofits move through a payment rail most treat as too unglamorous or maybe immutable to improve. Building well for something you're trying to obsolete is its own form of respect for the work nonprofits do and their preferences. We build for the world that exists and for the one we necessarily wish we lived in. If you’re sending checks to nonprofits, let’s chat\! --- ## Your "Not Enrolled for E-Pay" Status Is Costing You Donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/your-not-enrolled-for-e-pay-status-is-costing-you-donors - Published: 2026-05-07 > Electronic payment enrollment with your major DAF payers is not a technical upgrade—it's a fundraising strategy. It removes friction at the exact moment a donor is ready to give, gets gifts and data into your hands faster so you can steward relationships while they're warm, and—with Fidelity Charitable's July 2026 deadline—will soon be the difference between receiving grants from the country's largest DAF sponsor and not. What donors see when they try to give from their DAF—and why your electronic payment enrollment matters more than you think. There's a small piece of information sitting in donor portals for major DAF sponsors that most nonprofits have never seen. It shows up at the moment a donor is ready to make a grant recommendation. And if your organization hasn't set up electronic funds transfer \(EFT\) with that DAF, it looks something like this: **"Not Enrolled for E\-pay"**—sometimes with a warning icon next to it. It might seem like a minor administrative detail, but to a donor mid\-transaction, it's a real signal that can introduce doubt. ## What donors actually see and what they think Picture the experience from the donor's side. They log into their DAF portal, search for your organization, and get ready to recommend a grant. Next to your name, where other organizations have a clean checkmark or a green "enrolled" status, yours shows a warning message. Now they're wondering: - *Is this the right organization?* - *How long will this take to arrive?* - *Will a check get lost?* - *Didn't USPS just have budget issues again?* And just like that, their attention has drifted. The moment of giving intent, which is the hardest thing in fundraising to create, is slipping away over a piece of operational infrastructure that your team controls. This friction isn't accidental. DAF platforms intentionally surface enrollment status to nudge nonprofits toward e\-pay adoption. They want fewer checks to process and mail. The warning is designed to create a moment of hesitation—and if your organization triggers it, you absorb the consequence. ## It also slows down how you process and steward those donors A DAF donor initiates a gift in their portal. The check ships. It arrives two to four weeks later, or sometimes longer. By the time it's deposited, coded, and reconciled, the window to reach out and acknowledge the gift promptly has passed. You're thanking a donor sometimes over a month after they gave. Organizations using [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) solve this differently. [Blood Cancer United](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/lls-case-study), for example, receives gift intent data the moment a donor completes their DAFpay transaction—before the check ever arrives—giving their team the opportunity to steward that donor right away, while the giving moment is still fresh. E\-pay enrollment doesn't just reduce friction for the donor at the moment of giving. It gets the gift and the data into your hands faster, so your team can act while the donor's attention is still on your organization. **Action item:** Confirm that your organization [claimed your Chariot account](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) so that you show up as “enabled for e\-pay” for a fast\-growing list of [Disbursement partners](https://help.givechariot.com/disbursements/for-nonprofits?utm_campaign=37186927-Product%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9PJizAzger2wgL3S41vkd1hLynhav2iMu1W7OZyl6PPMpHM-HTnqkHctUatL4xQtBJRMh_2OchqFuV4M4vvUdSu5DKdw&_hsmi=2&utm_content=2&utm_source=hs_email#dozens-of-grantmaker-partners.-hundreds-of-millions-in-grant-payments-through-chariot) including Daffy, Groundswell, Founders Pledge, and more. ## Fidelity Charitable is moving to electronic\-only disbursement in July 2026 If the donor experience and stewardship arguments haven't moved the needle internally, this one should. Fidelity Charitable—the largest DAF sponsor in the country, with nearly 400,000 active donors who recommended $18.3 billion in grants in 2025—is moving to electronic\-only disbursement in July 2026. After that date, organizations that haven't enrolled in EFT will not be able to receive grants from Fidelity Charitable at all. In 2025, 67% of Fidelity Charitable's 3 million grants were already distributed electronically. The remaining 33% \(roughly 1 million grants\) are still arriving by check. Every one of those organizations has a hard deadline to act. **Action item:** If you haven't already, enroll in ACH disbursements through [Fidelity Charitable's EFT Enrollment Form](https://charitablegift.fidelity.com/public/fc-npo-enrollment/#/ach). You'll need your organization's legal name, EIN, banking information, and primary contact. ## If you're figuring it out for Fidelity, audit all your DAF payers Fidelity Charitable has the most visible deadline, but the same enrollment gap exists across the broader DAF ecosystem. Many DAF providers—large financial institutions, community foundations, and others— surface your payment method status to donors at the point of grant recommendation. The organizations with a clean "enrolled" checkmark are building quiet, ambient trust every time that moment happens. The ones that aren't are introducing doubt. If you're already going through the process for Fidelity, it's worth treating this as an opportunity to close the gap everywhere you can. **Action item:** Audit your EFT enrollment status across your top DAF payers. If you have a Chariot Growth or Enterprise subscription, you can [link additional payers directly in your dashboard](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/sign-in). If you’re interested in learning more about our paid plans, visit our [Events](http://givechariot.com/events) page to join our next group Q&A. ## Still holding onto checks for operational simplicity? Here's what's changed. For many nonprofits, checks stuck around because they were operationally manageable—sender details and funds are received at the same time, in the same place, even if it was slow and carried risk. However, nonprofits are more vulnerable than ever to check fraud. If your team wants the full picture on what's at stake, Chariot's [report on the state of check payments to nonprofits](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits) is worth reviewing before the June 30 Fidelity enrollment deadline. Electronic payments—especially through a platform like Chariot—are safer and more secure than checks. In addition, DAF giving has gotten more complex. Gifts now arrive from dozens of providers, each with different formats, disbursement timelines, and data quality. Checks, workplace giving platforms, electronic disbursements—managing that fragmentation manually isn't simple, especially for already under\-resourced nonprofit teams. [Chariot gift processing](https://www.givechariot.com/gift-processing) handles the entire lifecycle of a DAF gift—from receipt through reconciliation, enrichment, and syncing—consolidating DAFs, workplace giving, and other complex payment sources into one place. Your team spends less time chasing down check deposits and manually coding transactions, and more time on the work that matters. **Action item:** If your organization is still processing a meaningful volume of DAF gifts manually, [get in touch with our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) to learn more about Chariot Gift Processing. Or, if you haven't yet, [claim your free Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to start receiving electronic payments from our growing list of [partner DAF providers](https://help.givechariot.com/disbursements/for-nonprofits#dozens-of-grantmaker-partners.-hundreds-of-millions-in-grant-payments-through-chariot) at no cost. ## The bottom line Electronic payment enrollment with your major DAF payers is not a technical upgrade—it's a fundraising strategy. It removes friction at the exact moment a donor is ready to give, gets gifts and data into your hands faster so you can steward relationships while they're warm, and—with Fidelity Charitable's July 2026 deadline—will soon be the difference between receiving grants from the country's largest DAF sponsor and not. --- **Ready to simplify how your organization receives and processes DAF gifts?** [Get in touch](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) with our team to learn more about Chariot gift processing. --- ## The 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Is Coming — Join the Live Release on May 20 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-2026-daf-fundraising-report-is-coming--join-the-live-release-on-may-20 - Published: 2026-04-22 > The third annual edition is the largest yet — 54 organizations, $26 billion in giving data, and new sector-by-sector analysis. Here's what to expect. The DAF Fundraising Report started three years ago with a simple question: what is actually happening with DAF giving inside nonprofit organizations? Not from the perspective of the sponsors, but from the nonprofits receiving the gifts. *The third annual edition is the largest yet — 54 organizations, $26 billion in giving data, and new sector\-by\-sector analysis. Here's what to expect.* The DAF Fundraising Report started three years ago with a simple question: what is actually happening with DAF giving inside nonprofit organizations? Not from the perspective of the sponsors, but from the nonprofits receiving the gifts. What began with 20 organizations and limited data has grown into the largest research effort of its kind. The 2026 edition analyzes $26.1 billion in total giving across 54 participating organizations. We're releasing the full results at a live webinar on **May 20 at noon EST**. [Register for the webinar here](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/webinars) ## The biggest edition yet The 2026 DAF Fundraising Report grew the number of participating organizations by 65% this year, from 33 to 54. That's the most diverse cohort in the report's history, spanning causes, org sizes, and missions from local food banks to global advocacy organizations to Smithsonian cultural museums. In aggregate, these organizations represent: - **$26.1 billion** in total revenue - **$3.3 billion** in DAF revenue - **147 million** total gifts processed — 907,000 of which are DAF gifts Although DAF gifts account for less than 1% of total gift volume, they make up nearly 13% of total revenue, signifying the value of the average DAF donor which will be re\-emphasized throughout the report. New this year: for the first time, we're able to report key findings by sector. As the participant pool has grown and data quality has improved, the research can now surface how DAF giving impacts different types of organizations. That's a meaningful step forward for anyone trying to benchmark their own program. ## The organizations behind the data The 54 nonprofits participating in this year's report represent the research's most expansive and diverse cohort yet: [ACLU Foundation](https://www.aclu.org/) • [Alzheimer's Association](https://www.alz.org/) • [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/) • [American Friends of Magen David Adom](https://afmda.org/) • [American Kidney Fund](https://www.kidneyfund.org/) • [American Rivers](https://www.americanrivers.org/) • [Best Friends Animal Society](https://bestfriends.org/) • [Bright Focus](https://www.brightfocus.org/) • [CARE](https://www.care.org/) • [Catholic Medical Mission Board](https://cmmb.org/) • [Center for Reproductive Rights](https://reproductiverights.org/) • [Chesapeake Bay Foundation](https://www.cbf.org/?_gl=1%2A15wv3af%2A_gcl_au%2ANzkxMTM2MDE1LjE3NzYyNzA5MzU.%2A_ga%2AMjE0NTE2MTA4My4xNzc2MjcwOTM1%2A_ga_LZKG7DYJLG%2AczE3NzYyNzA5MzQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzYyNzA5MzQkajYwJGwwJGgw) • [Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation](https://www.supportchildrenscolorado.org/) • [Children's National Hospital Foundation](https://foundation.childrensnational.org/) • [Defenders of Wildlife](https://defenders.org/) • [DePelchin Children's Center](https://www.depelchin.org/) • [Environmental Defense Fund](https://www.edf.org/) • [Food & Friends](https://foodandfriends.org/) • [Food and Water Watch](https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/) • [Global Giving](https://www.globalgiving.org/) • [Guttmacher Institute](https://www.guttmacher.org/) • [Humane Colorado](https://humanecolorado.org/) • [Humane World for Animals](https://www.humaneworld.org/en) • [International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/) • [JSSA](https://www.jssa.org/) • [Komen](https://www.komen.org/) • [Make\-A\-Wish](https://wish.org/) • [Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org/) • [Museum of the American Revolution](https://www.amrevmuseum.org/) • [National Audubon Society](https://www.audubon.org/) • [National Air & Space Museum](https://airandspace.si.edu/) • [National Museum of African American History](https://nmaahc.si.edu/) • [National Museum of the American Indian](https://americanindian.si.edu/) • [New York Presbyterian](https://www.nyp.org/) • [NRDC](https://www.nrdc.org/) • [Ocean Conservancy](https://oceanconservancy.org/) • [Operation Homefront](https://operationhomefront.org/) • [PETA](https://www.peta.org/) • [Planned Parenthood Federation of America](https://www.plannedparenthood.org/) • [Project Hope](https://www.projecthope.org/) • [The Public Theater \(NYC\)](https://publictheater.org/) • [San Francisco\-Marin Food Bank](https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/) • [Save the Children Federation](https://www.savethechildren.org/) • [Save the Redwoods](https://www.savetheredwoods.org/) • [Seeds of Peace](https://www.seedsofpeace.org/) • [Share Our Strength](https://shareourstrength.org/) • [Sierra Club](https://www.sierraclub.org/) • [Smithsonian Cultural Museums](https://www.si.edu/support/museum-center-and-program-donations) • [Texas State University](https://www.txst.edu/) • [The Nature Conservancy](https://www.nature.org/en-us/) • [Trust for Public Land](https://www.tpl.org/) • [World Resources Institute](https://www.wri.org/) • [World Wildlife Fund](https://www.worldwildlife.org/) • [Wounded Warrior Project](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) ## What to expect on May 20 The findings from the first two editions have been presented in dozens of webinars, conferences, and podcast interviews, and viewed online by thousands of nonprofit professionals, DAF sponsors, and DAF donors. The research has been featured in Axios, Barron's, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Nonprofit Times, Forbes, and Candid Insights, and cited in studies including The DAF Research Collaborative's Fundraising Study. This isn't a summary of what DAF sponsors are reporting. It's what your peers' data & examples actually show — how DAF fundraising is changing, what worked well in 2025, and where the biggest opportunities are hiding in plain sight. The full research team will walk through the new findings live, dig into what's changed since last year, and share the strategies separating organizations seeing 30%\+ DAF revenue growth from those standing still. The new sector\-by\-sector analysis makes its debut here, along with updated best practices and case studies from leading DAF fundraisers. You'll hear directly from the collaborative team behind the research: - **Mitch Stein**, Head of Strategy at Chariot - **Karin Kirchoff**, Founder & President at K2D Strategies - **Kate Hollandsworth**, Senior Vice President of Strategy at AKwire - **Adam Rosenscruggs**, Founder & Principal at Gambit Analytics [Register here to join us on May 20 at noon EST.](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/webinars) The full report will be available for download following the webinar. --- ## The Grants that Go Nowhere Good - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-grants-that-go-nowhere-good - Published: 2026-04-01 I spoke to a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) provider a few months ago who decided to build their own ACH pipeline to send grants to nonprofits. The reasoning is simple \- checks are expensive… Like really expensive at $4\-20/check.¹ Printing, mailing, signing, reconciliation, reissuing, check returns, finding new addresses, etc. The whole paper trail adds up fast and sucks a lot of the DAF’s team time. Not to mention they are slow, so donors are frequently asking why the nonprofit hasn’t said they got the gift yet. This specific DAF was already running ACH payments to vendors without too much friction. They paid contractors, lawyers, and others. So the logic followed naturally: nonprofits are just another payee. Let's build the same thing for the thousands of nonprofits we pay too and send them ACH payments. ## Why Grants Are Not Vendor Payments There was a category error that’s easy to miss if you’re coming at this from a standard finance operations background. When you run ACH to a vendor \(a landlord, a software provider, a contractor\) you set up the relationship. You verified the entity when you signed the contract. You initiated the banking details yourself. If something changes, you find out because you’re the customer. The payment is a pull arrangement you and the vendor control end to end. The vendor is “**pulling**” the money from you. Grants are structurally different. You’re “**pushing”** money to organizations you’ve often never met, based on banking information they submitted to you. You need to send those gifts with key donor details *\(which creates a lot of *[*other issues for nonprofits*](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits)*\)* and with usually no notice the gift is on its way to the nonprofit. The DAF is the sender, not the customer. And senders don’t have the same natural checkpoints as a customer. That asymmetry makes it an easy target for fraud. *I’ve written about the differnce between these pull and push payments in more depth *[*here*](https://aaronkahane.substack.com/p/why-nonprofits-struggle-to-get-paid)*.* ## The Granting Mistake After the DAF set up these payments, some of their larger nonprofits \(~10\-20%\) started submitting their banking details. Someone on the DAFs staff checked them against [LSEG’s access to the EWS \(Early Warning Services\)](https://www.lseg.com/en/risk-intelligence/account-verification-solutions) \- a consortium database based on fuzzy name matching for verification. If they weren’t able to find the nonprofit in that database, the DAF used a voided check or a bank statement to verify the nonprofit. The payments started going out. Tens of thousands of grants cycling through a system built on documents and name matching. Then someone posed as a nonprofit officer, submitting fraudulent banking information, and a major grant ended up somewhere it was never supposed to go. Recovery took months, the donor was furious, and the DAF ended up rolling back their whole ACH system. It would be easy to treat this as an edge case. The problem is it isn’t. Check² and ACH fraud³ have been roughly doubling every two years. Advances in AI have made forged documents and fabricated identities faster and cheaper. The FBI has flagged it.⁴ What makes DAFs especially exposed is a few things working together in a perfect storm: 1. Gifts often arrive without any advance notice to the nonprofit, which gives a fraudster a \(potentially indefinite\) window before anyone starts asking questions. 2. Many donors contributed to their DAF months or years earlier, so they’re not actively monitoring for confirmation of gift receipts for tax reasons. 3. Nonprofits usually [don’t thank DAF donors](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-gift-processing-why-it-matters-how-to-get-it-right) because of the limited information which means after the gift is initiated and sent to the bad actor know one checks in. I recently watched *Catch Me If You Can* which reminded me of this problem. But I think Frank Abagnale needed a lot more skill than if he was working with DAF grant payments. ## The Bucket Is Leaking Before Anyone Touches It There’s a second problem that doesn’t involve fraud at all, and it doesn’t get talked about enough. Bank details go stale. People leave organizations. Accounts get restructured or closed. A nonprofit you verified eighteen months ago might be operating with completely different banking information today and nobody told you. One other DAF I spoke to had been manually re\-verifying nonprofit banking details every quarter \- hundreds of staff hours annually chasing down updated routing numbers, trying to determine whether a voided check or LSEG check was still current. That’s a design problem. If there's no ongoing monitoring baked into how you've built this, you're always operating on information that's already aging. Most platforms in this space don't have it. Verification happens at onboarding and then the assumption is things are fine until something breaks. ## The Real Problem Is Identity Here’s the thing that took me a while to fully articulate: routing numbers and account numbers are not identity. They’re coordinates or pointers where funds should go. Most of the grants and DAF space treat these as equivalent. They're not, and that conflation is where the exposure lives. The most common approach is fuzzy name matching \- tools like LSEG or Plaid that check whether the name on the bank account roughly corresponds to the name of the nonprofit. It sounds reasonable until you think about it for a second. "American Cancer Society" and "Amer. Cancer Soc." might match. So might a fraudster who knows enough to name their bank account entity something similar. Fuzzy matching is pattern recognition on strings of text. It has no idea whether the organization is real, whether it's in good standing, or whether the person submitting the information has any authority to do so. It's like if Microsoft Word’s spellchecker did the job of a background check. The step up from fuzzy matching is standard KYC \(Know Your Customer\) which is what banks are legally required to do and what tools like PayPal or Stripe implement. Name, SSN, date of birth, address, checked against private databases like LexisNexis. It confirms a real person exists behind the application. It catches straightforward fraud. But standard KYC has two big caveats to its effectiveness against fraud: 1. First, it doesn’t catch the sophisticated attack. The fraudster who isn’t using a made\-up identity, but a real one they have no right to use. Stolen credentials from a data breach. A synthetic identity stitched together from real and fabricated elements. Someone who clears every database check because technically they do. 2. The second is subtler but arguably more important in the DAF/grants context: standard KYC confirms a person is real, but it doesn’t confirm that the real person has any authority to act on behalf of the organization receiving the money. Those are two different questions. You can verify an org is a legitimate 501\(c\)\(3\) and verify that the person opening the account has an SSN, but if nothing connects those two things, you haven’t actually verified anything meaningful about the relationship between them. A bad actor who knows enough about an organization could pass both checks independently while having no legitimate claim to represent either one. That gap, between verifying identity and verifying authority, is where a lot of the exposure in this space actually lives. And it’s where we’ve spent a lot of time at Chariot. ## [Chariot’s New Identity and Authority Model](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) Like other tools in this space we start with standard KYC, SSN checked against private databases like LexisNexis. But we also verify that the individual is actually an authorized officer of the organization they’re claiming to represent through IRS data. And underneath that is a layer of enhanced checks that’s worth understanding, because this is where the sophisticated attacks actually get caught. Some examples below: 1. **Synthetic identities** are a good example of where standard KYC falls short. A synthetic identity combines real elements \- often a legitimate SSN sourced from a data breach, sometimes from a child or someone with a thin credit file \- with fabricated supporting details like a name or date of birth. On a standard check it can pass. We use models that analyze correlations between identity elements, patterns in credit history, and consistency across bureaus. A real person has a coherent trail that builds over time. A synthetic identity has seams where the pieces don’t quite fit. We look for the seams. 2. **Identity theft scoring** addresses a different scenario \- where the credentials are real and the name matches, but the person submitting isn’t who they claim to be. Stolen credentials from a phishing attack, or from one of the many data breaches that have quietly put millions of SSNs into circulation. The score is built from mismatches: the identity elements check out, but behavioral signals don’t. Velocity is off. The way the form is being completed doesn’t match how the actual account holder typically behaves. 3. **Device risk screening** works at a different layer entirely. Devices leave fingerprints. A device associated with previous fraud attempts, routing through a VPN or proxy to mask its location, running through an emulator instead of a real phone \- these are important signals worth paying attention to. Cross\-referenced against known fraud device databases, they create a risk picture before a single document has been reviewed. Geography matters here too. If someone claims to be an authorized officer at a nonprofit in Chicago and the device is onboarding from a datacenter exit node somewhere else, that’s information we can act on. 4. **Behavioral signals during onboarding** are subtler but often where fraud rings actually get caught. Typing hesitancy. Copy\-pasting into fields like SSN or date of birth rather than typing them \- a pattern consistent with someone working from a list of stolen credentials, not someone entering their own information. Devices on networks with known bad reputations. None of these signals individually constitute proof of anything. But together, they paint a picture of whether the person on the other end of the form is who they’re presenting as. Most applications don’t trigger any of this. The system runs quietly and grants flow normally. The value is in what happens when something does \- caught before the money moves, not months later when someone files a complaint. ## The Infrastructure Underneath the Payment Sending an ACH is more or less a solved problem. What isn’t solved in the nonprofit space and what most of the grants space is still handling through manual re\-verification cycles, fuzzy name matching, and a reasonable amount of “pointer” trust \- is the identity layer underneath it. The grantmakers who scale confidently are the ones who’ve stopped treating verification as an onboarding checkbox and started treating it as ongoing infrastructure. Not just: did this organization pass a review once? But: is this still the right person, at the right organization, with the right authority, today? The payment type is more straightforward. Everything that makes sure it lands where it’s supposed to \- that’s what determines whether you can run this operation at scale or whether you’re always one convincing document away from a very big bad payment that doesn’t land in a nonprofit’s bank account. ¹ Bank of America says somewhere between [$4\-$20/check](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304732804579425233344430424?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqe4sPVVbJfh_l_9QFZhkG4-AzbDdJzAfoBh15kb_dOIbJ65EjeMSdwMuNJbHy8%3D&gaa_ts=69b713d1&gaa_sig=Eu4IYaZQcWdyHzrQLgiSWgdb7z-6TaqAqDhZxqNivBLk0u-LgD5eaHsa3q_l-gOQm139ZMh7uEdaOSB7NbxPKA%3D%3D) depending on labor costs of issuing, check returns, etc. ² [FBI & USPIS Public Service Announcement. ](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250127) ³ [Ohio Society of Association Professionals News Article.](https://associationdatabase.com/aws/OSAP/pt/sd/news_article/584997/_blank/layout_details/false) ⁴ [FBI Public Service Announcement: Mail Theft\-Related Check Fraud is on the Rise.](https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber/alerts/2025/mail-theft-related-check-fraud-is-on-the-rise) --- ## Top 8 Takeaways from Fidelity Charitable's 2026 Giving Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-8-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitables-2026-giving-report - Published: 2026-03-24 > Top 8 Takeaways from Fidelity Charitable's 2026 Giving Report Fidelity Charitable just released its 2026 Giving Report, covering 2025 giving trends across its Giving Account donor base. The numbers paint a clear picture: the DAF sector is growing faster, distributing more generously, and operating almost entirely in digital channels. Fidelity Charitable just released its[ 2026 Giving Report](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf), covering 2025 giving trends across its Giving Account donor base. The numbers paint a clear picture: the DAF sector is growing faster, distributing more generously, and operating almost entirely in digital channels. Here's what stood out—and what it means for nonprofit fundraising strategy. ### **1. Record\-breaking scale: $18.3 billion in grants distributed in 2025** Fidelity Charitable donors set a new giving record in 2025, recommending $18.3 billion in grants—a 23% year\-over\-year increase.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf)That figure has more than doubled since 2020. Nearly 395,500 donors made 3 million grant recommendations, a 13.4% jump year over year, supporting a record 226,823 unique nonprofits.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) **Action item:** Share these numbers with your leadership team. For organizations still treating DAF strategy as a secondary priority, this report provides the data to make the case for change. ### **2. The donor base is growing—and tax law is accelerating it** The number of Fidelity Charitable donor\-advised funds grew 13.4% to 246,006 accounts in 2025, as some donors took advantage of strategies like bunching donations ahead of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that takes effect in 2026. The new law was signed in July 2025 and changed the standard deduction and itemization thresholds for 2026.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) The total donor count reached 395,515—up 12.3% year over year and 55% compared to 2020.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf)This reflects a structural shift in how donors are organizing their philanthropy, not a seasonal spike. And with the new tax environment now in effect, expect continued interest in DAF strategies that allow donors to give in high\-income years and distribute over time. **Action item:** Audit your fundraising communications and marketing materials. DAF giving should be featured as a prominent option across email campaigns, SMS, digital ads, and any channel where donors engage with your organization. A growing pool of donors is ready to give this way—the question is whether they see it as an option. ### **3. Donors are giving more and distributing faster** The average grant size rose 7% to $5,801 in 2025, and is up more than 25% compared to 2020.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf)Grants of $1 million or more increased 9% to 2,141—more than twice the volume in 2020.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) Distribution rates are also climbing and deserve more attention. In 2025, 42% of each $100 contributed to Fidelity Charitable was paid out to nonprofits within one year—up from 39% in 2024.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf)The narrative that DAF assets sit idle is not supported by the data. **Action item:** Review your organization's website and "Ways to Give" page. Is DAF giving clearly explained and easy to act on? Donors are moving faster—the information and infrastructure to capture that moment should be in place. ### **4. DAF donors are highly loyal, and the retention numbers back it up** 77% of grants went to organizations that donors had previously supported—45% as regranting to a previously supported organization, and 32% via prescheduled or recurring grants.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) This pattern aligns with what Chariot and K2D Strategies found in the[ DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report): for every 100 DAF donors in 2023, 59 were retained in 2024—compared to just 46 out of 100 non\-DAF donors.[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)That 13\-point retention gap reflects something important about how DAF donors relate to the organizations they support. **Action item:** DAF donors warrant the same depth of stewardship as major gift donors—personal acknowledgment, cultivation, and re\-solicitation. The retention numbers suggest that investment pays off. ### **5. Most DAF grants are not anonymous—and every one warrants deeper research** 95% of grants included the account name or the recommending donor's name and address. 80% included the donor's full name and mailing address, while just 5% were fully anonymous.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) This finding has been consistent across multiple years of Fidelity's reporting, and it continues to challenge a persistent misconception in the sector. **Action item:** Every DAF gift warrants a closer look at the donor behind it. The median Giving Account balance was $27,860 in 2025—up 18% from 2024. This means that if you receive a grant from a Fidelity Charitable donor, there's a 50% chance they have more than $27,860 set aside for charitable giving. A modest grant today often signals significantly greater giving potential. Pull their giving history, look for wealth indicators, and assess capacity. ### **6. DAF grant\-making is almost entirely digital—and communications strategy should reflect that** 98% of grant recommendations in 2025 were initiated digitally.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) Too often, DAF donors are siloed into direct mail or offline cultivation tracks—in part because the grant check still arrives by mail. But these donors are initiating gifts through apps and digital portals. They are as reachable through email, digital ads, and online content as any other donor segment, and DAF\-related messaging belongs in those channels. **Action item:** Make sure DAF content isn't being excluded from digital campaigns. Email appeals, social ads, and SMS touchpoints are all appropriate places to feature DAF giving options and educate donors on how to give from their account.[ DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) also ensures that when a donor is inspired to give online, they can complete their DAF gift right at the moment of intent. ### **7. Electronic grant disbursement is the new standard—with a hard deadline approaching** Today, 67% of Fidelity Charitable grants are distributed via electronic funds transfer, but that means 33% of grants were still mailed as checks in 2025. Fidelity Charitable is moving to electronic\-only disbursement in July 2026—a meaningful deadline for organizations that haven't yet registered to receive grants electronically. For community foundations: this is a moment to proactively educate your grantees about the change so they don't inadvertently miss out on potential gifts. **Action item:** If your organization has been reluctant to move away from check\-based grant payments, Chariot's[ report on the rising risks of check payments to nonprofits](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits) is worth reviewing with your finance and operations teams before the July deadline. ### **8. DAF giving skews local** 54% of grants supported nonprofits within the donor's home state, totaling $7 billion in 2025.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) This finding has been consistent across multiple years of Fidelity's reporting. Community\-based organizations are well\-represented in this data—and shouldn't assume the DAF donor base is primarily oriented toward national causes. **Action item: **If your organization serves a specific geography, lean into that in your DAF messaging. Donors giving locally through their DAF are already predisposed to support community\-rooted work—make sure they know you're there and that giving via DAF is easy. ### **A few additional data points worth noting** Beyond the eight core takeaways, a few additional figures from the report round out the picture: - Cryptocurrency donations totaled $326 million in 2025—down from $786 million in 2024—though cumulative crypto giving to Fidelity Charitable has now reached $1.6 billion since 2015.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) - Corporate DAFs continued to grow, with more than 550 companies recommending $540 million in grants across 26,036 grants in 2025, at an average of $20,732 per grant.[ ](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2026-giving-report.pdf) ### **The bottom line** The 2026 Fidelity Charitable Giving Report documents a sector that is larger, faster\-moving, and more digitally native than many fundraising teams may assume. Organizations building proactive DAF strategies—ensuring DAF giving is visible across communications, stewarding DAF donors with intention, and removing friction at the moment of giving—are well\-positioned to grow with this channel. **Want to make it easier for Fidelity Charitable's 395,000\+ donors to support your organization?**[ Learn how DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) enables seamless DAF giving directly on your website or donation form. --- ## How Founders Pledge Doubled Its Grantmaking Volume — Without Doubling Its Operational Risk - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-founders-pledge-doubled-its-grantmaking-volume-without-doubling-its-operational-risk - Published: 2026-03-17 *The global DAF sponsor was scaling fast, doubling their grantmaking YoY. Their grant payments infrastructure wasn't. Here's how Chariot Disbursements changed that.* > "Chariot helps us deliver a best-in-market experience to our donors by making our grant payments faster, safer, and far less repetitive for the nonprofits we support." Founders Pledge is a global community of entrepreneurs, founders, and investors who pledge a meaningful portion of their wealth to charity at time of exit. Across entities in the US, UK, and Germany, they administer donor advised funds for their members and run in\-house thematic grantmaking funds — disbursing capital to high\-impact organizations working on climate, global health, and more. In 2025, grant volume surged 99%. For Travers Oliver, Head of Philanthropic Services at Founders Pledge, that growth was exhilarating — and alarming. "We, as an organization, have been really intentional about how we scale," he said. "How do we continue to deliver the same service level to our member base without compromising on risk mitigation or speed?" They needed grant payments infrastructure that could do all three. ## The Problem ### **Tedious, Manual Workflows** Founders Pledge's grantmaking falls into two buckets: straightforward domestic grants that should be fast and automated, and complex international or expenditure responsibility grants that require deeper diligence. The challenge was that their manual payment infrastructure was treating everything like the latter. Every domestic grant triggered a chain — outreach to the grantee, collection of payment details, a verification call, a hand\-off to finance for additional checks. Multiple teams. Multiple touch points. Multiple opportunities for human error. When grant volume doubles, that process doesn’t become twice as painful. It becomes untenable. ### **Payment Risk** And the risk environment was making it worse. "Bad actors are becoming more and more sophisticated, and the solutions are slow to catch up," Travers said. "Everyone I talk to always has the same questions: How are you paying? How are you mitigating risk? And no one really had a great answer." The [risks are real](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits): checks intercepted in the mail, wires misdirected by impersonators, verification calls compromised by AI bots and deepfakes. Building in\-house defenses against a threat landscape that evolves this fast isn't realistic for most grantmaking teams. > "Unless you have an in-house team specializing 24/7 on how to mitigate these risks," Travers said, "you're going to fall behind." ## The Solution Travers found Chariot through a LinkedIn post, and what started as his cold outreach to the team quickly became a deep partnership. Onboarding was completed **in a matter of weeks**, with Founders Pledge going live in November 2025, fully operational before the giving season peak. [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) gave Founders Pledge a single, purpose\-built system to handle every payment — replacing the fragmented, manual process: - **Electronic payments** — fast, secure transfers to verified nonprofits, with real\-time status tracking on every grant. - **Nonprofit verification** — IRS good standing validation, OFAC/AML screening, and bank account verification handled automatically, so Founders Pledge never has to collect or store sensitive banking details themselves. - **Exception handling** — for grantees who don't claim their Chariot accounts, Chariot facilitates check delivery, manages returns, and resolves exceptions without staff involvement. - **White\-glove support** — dedicated support for both Founders Pledge and their grantees, with rapid response to payment questions and on\-demand technical support. "From that first day where I sent a message and you immediately responded — there's always someone on the other line. I've been in other spaces where partners are just harder to get in contact with. And there's nothing worse." A key onboarding step: before going live, Founders Pledge sent a launch email guiding their grantees through Chariot's verification process. By the time giving season arrived, grantees were already onboarded. When grants needed to move, it was — as Travers put it — "literally the click of the button experience." > "Between our philanthropy team and finance, there were just so many hands touching every grant — outreach to grantees, collecting details, verification calls, back to finance for checks. And there's always a human error component to that. It really has been a massive game changer." The giving season pain points that previously consumed multiple teams essentially disappeared. Grantees who'd already onboarded into Chariot moved through without re\-verification. No delays. No inbound "what's taking so long?" Just grants moving. > "When we saw it implemented and saw how seamless it was — we could take a deep breath," Travers said. "The first thing people on my team said was: 'What took us so long?" Beyond the team's relief, Chariot unlocked something strategically important: capacity. In the first 4 months of using Chariot, they estimated that they gained back **1 full working day per week.** Freed from the manual overhead of domestic grant processing, Founders Pledge's team can now focus on the high\-complexity work that warrants their focus — international grantmaking, expenditure responsibility grants, deeper member advisory relationships. > "This has given us the ability to free up our time to really do that work and put our effort there," Travers said. "It's been a game changer. It really has." Members have felt the shift too. Faster, seamless grant delivery has become a visible improvement in the Founders Pledge member experience. And perhaps the clearest proof: peer grantmakers — watching Founders Pledge operate through giving season — started reaching out to ask how they were doing it. ## Advice to the Field: Don't Wait for the Pipe to Burst Travers is direct about what he'd tell his peers at other DAF sponsors and grantmaking organizations. "If you have a small pipe and the volume through it keeps doubling — if there's the slightest crack, it's going to burst," he said. "Don't let it get to that point. If you see a crack, fix it. Be an advocate within your organization. Don't wait for your CEO to mandate it." What still excites him most about Chariot isn't just the automation — it's the shared grantee network. When a nonprofit onboards into Chariot, verifying their identity, banking details, and IRS standing, that verification becomes available across every Chariot grantmaker. Grantees don't have to repeat the process for Founders Pledge, then NPT, then every other sponsor they receive grants from. One validation, shared across the field. > "You bring your grantees, I bring mine. We do one check up front, and then we can all leverage that together," he said. "We want grantees focused on their work. There's a reason our members are sending them funds — to deliver impact on the ground. We don't want to add unnecessary administrative burden on top of that." The cost of inaction isn't just operational — it's reputational. "No one wants a reputational risk for something going wrong because someone in my role didn't act when they had the chance," he said. "We are here to deliver funds to charities delivering impact on the ground. In order to do that well, we have to do it with speed — but also with precision. Risk mitigation isn't separate from our mission. It *is* our mission." --- *Interested in how Chariot Disbursements could transform your grant payments operation?* *Talk to our team* --- ## Your Spring Gala Is a DAF Fundraising Opportunity You May Be Missing - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/your-spring-gala-is-a-daf-fundraising-opportunity-you-may-be-missing - Published: 2026-03-12 > Spring gala season is here. The tables are set, the paddle raise is rehearsed, and your team is ready. But there's one opportunity most organizations walk right past every single event: their DAF donors. Spring gala season is here. The tables are set, the paddle raise is rehearsed, and your team is ready. But there's one opportunity most organizations walk right past every single event: their DAF donors. With $64.9 billion distributed from donor\-advised funds in 2024 alone — and [$326 billion more ready to grant](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers) — your gala attendees are, statistically, holding DAF funds. The question isn't whether DAF donors will be in the room with you on event night. It's whether you'll make it easy for them to give. ## Start at Check\-In The check\-in table is the most underutilized DAF touchpoint in nonprofit fundraising. Every attendee stops there. Some hand over a credit card to be on file for auction items or a bar tab. And right there — in that 60\-second window — is your chance to start a conversation that changes the entire giving picture for the night. Train your check\-in staff to ask one simple question: > "Do you use a donor-advised fund? Just so you know, you can't use a DAF for auction items tonight — but you absolutely can for any general donations to the organization, including the paddle raise." That's it. One question, said genuinely, as a service to the donor rather than a pitch. The impact is two\-fold: you're helping your supporter show up more intentionally, and you're learning something about their giving preferences that no wealth screening report will ever surface. ## Don't Just Tell Donors Where They Can't Give Here's a pattern worth breaking: organizations that post "DAFs cannot be used for auction items" disclaimers throughout the silent auction room — but never once mention where donors *can* use their DAF. When supporters only hear what's off\-limits, many simply disengage from DAF giving for the night altogether. The better approach is balance. Acknowledge the restriction, then immediately pivot to the opportunity: *here is where your DAF can make an impact tonight.* Put signage up during the paddle raise. Mention it in the program. Give your guests a clear, specific answer. ## Brief Your Auctioneer and Host Your MC has a microphone. Use it. A short announcement from the stage during the fund\-a\-need or paddle raise moment — "If you give through a donor\-advised fund, you can absolutely use it for this" — can meaningfully increase participation. Donors who hadn't thought to use their DAF, or weren't sure they could, will act when they hear it said clearly and confidently from the front of the room. Give your auctioneer two sentences to say and practice it with them before the event. It doesn't take a long script — just clarity. ## Make It Easy to Give with DAFpay If you have [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) enabled on your donation forms, your gala gets even more powerful. Set up a QR code on each table — or display it on the event screen — that links directly to your donation page. When donors reach checkout, DAFpay gives them the option to give straight from their DAF account, the same way they'd swipe a credit card. Your check\-in staff and auctioneer can mention it in the same breath: > "And if you'd like to use your DAF for a general donation tonight, you can do it right from your phone — just scan the QR code on your table." No pledge cards. No "I'll have my DAF sponsor send a check later." The gift gets made in the moment, while the energy is still high. According to our [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report), donors who give with their DAF give 10x more an average compared to other giving methods. If DAFpay isn't yet on your donation forms, gala season is the prompt you've been waiting for. Getting set up before your next event means any donor in the room — not just the ones your team has a chance to speak with — can give the way they prefer. See which [fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup) you can use that already have DAFpay integrated. ## Track What You Learn Check\-in conversations create data. Don't let it walk out the door. When a staff member learns a donor has a DAF, that information belongs in your CRM. Even a simple flag — "has DAF" — opens a different cultivation path. You can add them to DAF\-specific communications, make sure they hear about [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com) \(October 8, 2026 this year\), and reach out in ways that match how they actually prefer to give. Brief your check\-in team to capture this. A note in your event app, a post\-event data entry task — whatever fits your workflow. The long\-term value of a more complete donor file is worth far more than the five minutes it takes. ## Steward Faster While the Event Is Still Fresh One of the biggest missed opportunities after a gala isn't the gift itself — it's what happens in the days that follow. Donors are most receptive right after an event. The energy is high, the connection is fresh, and a personal acknowledgment lands differently than it would two weeks later. Getting your gift processing done quickly is what makes that window real. With Chariot's [gift processing software](https://www.givechariot.com/gift-processing), your team can reconcile and credit DAF gifts without waiting for checks to arrive or chasing down pledge fulfillments. When a donor gives through DAFpay, their name and email come through with the gift so your team can reach out within the same week, not weeks later. That's the moment to send the handwritten note. The thank\-you video. The personal call from your ED. Don't let your operations be the thing that slows down your stewardship. ## The Takeaway Gala season isn't just an opportunity to raise money — it's an opportunity to learn more about your donors and build habits that will serve your DAF fundraising all year long. Ask at check\-in. Say something from the stage. Put the QR code on the table and on the big screen. Process gifts quickly and steward while the event energy is still alive. Your DAF donors are already in the room. All that's left is meeting them where they are. --- *Subscribe to the *[Chariot newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/)* and follow us on *[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/)* for DAF fundraising insights, product updates, and seasonal resources.* --- ## Daffy Is Now a Top 10 DAF — and We Couldn't Be More Excited - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daffy-is-now-a-top-10-daf--and-we-couldnt-be-more-excited - Published: 2026-02-12 > Daffy just released its 2025 Year in Review, and the numbers are remarkable. The modern DAF platform — built around the idea that setting money aside for charity in advance makes people more generous — has officially broken into the top 10 largest DAF providers in the United States¹. As a Chariot partner, we've had a front-row seat to Daffy's growth. And as a team that uses Daffy for Work ourselves, we're not just impressed — we're invested. Daffy just released its [2025 Year in Review](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2025), and the numbers are remarkable. The modern DAF platform — built around the idea that setting money aside for charity in advance makes people more generous — has officially broken into the top 10 largest DAF providers in the United States¹. Since Daffy has been an early Chariot partner, we've had a front\-row seat to Daffy's growth. And as a team that uses Daffy for Work ourselves, we're not just impressed — we're invested. > In 2025, Daffy members set aside over $470 million for charity, more than 2.2 times the prior year. ## Growth Across the Board The headline numbers speak for themselves. In 2025, Daffy members set aside more than $470 million for charity — 2.2x the prior year — and distributed more than $125 million in grants to registered nonprofits, a 3.2x increase year\-over\-year. Total charitable assets on the platform now exceed $720 million across more than 16,000 unique accounts. To put the pace in perspective: in December 2025 alone, more money was contributed to Daffy accounts \($200 million\) than in all of 2024 \($194 million\). Stock contributions also surged, with members contributing over $303 million in publicly traded and private stock — up 284% year\-over\-year. And tax\-free investment performance added $41 million to charitable assets. > More than 45% of donations are recurring, and recurring donations are growing faster than one-time donations. ## Built for Generosity What sets Daffy apart isn't just the growth — it's where the money goes. Daffy achieved a 55% payout rate in 2025, meaning for every dollar members set aside in 2024, more than half was distributed to charities in 2025. That's more than double the 25% industry average reported by the [DAF Research Collaborative \(DAFRC\)](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers). More than 45% of all donations on Daffy are recurring, and recurring donations are growing faster than one\-time gifts. And across every quarterly cohort since Q1 2022, Daffy members have donated an average of 3.3x more than in the quarter they joined. People are always asking for **more evidence on how DAFs really affect generosity — this is it**. *Pictured: Daffy CEO Adam Nash \(left\) with Chariot COO Aaron Kahane \(right\)* ## Why This Matters to Us at Chariot Daffy has been an early partner in Chariot's work to make DAF giving easier for donors and nonprofits alike. From DAFpay to DAF\-to\-DAF transfers and [disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements), they've been one of the first to adopt innovations that drive more giving, better donor experiences, and better nonprofit experiences. So when they succeed, everyone benefits. Chariot and Daffy teamed up for the inaugural DAF Day in 2024 — a day dedicated to encouraging DAF donors to recommend grants to their favorite charities. The [results](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/daffy) were striking: a 40% surge in new weekly Daffy accounts, 4x increase in daily giving volume, and more than $233,000 granted on DAF Day alone, nearly matching their Giving Tuesday volume just a few weeks later. Our team also uses Daffy for Work, Daffy's employee giving benefit where employers match employee DAF contributions. It's one of the simplest and most effective ways to build a culture of giving inside a company, and we've seen firsthand how it works. Companies like OpenAI and Acorns use it too — and for good reason. When giving is built into the rhythm of work, people give more. ## What This Means for Nonprofits Daffy's trajectory is part of a broader trend: DAFs are being democratized. The [DAFRC's 2024 National Study on DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds) found that 49% of DAF accounts hold less than $50,000 in assets, and 1 in 4 DAFs were opened after 2020. Newer platforms like Daffy are attracting donors who may be younger, more digitally native, and more engaged than the traditional DAF donor profile. For nonprofits, the practical takeaway is this: if you're only paying attention to the big 4 DAF providers, you're missing a growing and increasingly active segment of DAF donors. Daffy grants are going to show up in your revenue — if they haven't already. Making it easy for these donors to give through their DAF \(through tools like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) on your donation form\) ensures you're ready to meet them where they are. We're proud to partner with Daffy and excited to see where this momentum goes. ¹ *Rankings based on account totals from The Annual DAF Report 2025 \(Donor\-Advised Fund Research Collaborative\) and 2025 estimated projections for other providers derived from their 2022–2024 CAGR. Daffy’s ranking is based on initial unaudited data and estimates through January 2026.* --- *Subscribe to the *[*Chariot newsletter*](https://www.givechariot.com/)* and follow us on *[*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/)* for the latest DAF research, product updates, and fundraising insights.* --- ## DAFgiving360's 2025 Results: 4 of Our Biggest Takeaways for Nonprofit Fundraisers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafgiving360s-2025-results-4-of-our-biggest-takeaways-for-nonprofit-fundraisers - Published: 2026-02-12 > DAFgiving360 just released its calendar year [2025 results](https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/2025-results), and the numbers tell a clear story: DAF giving continues to accelerate. Donors granted nearly $10 billion to more than 165,000 charities — a 28% increase in dollars year-over-year and the largest annual total in the organization's history. This marks their fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth in grants by DAF donors. DAFgiving360 just released its calendar year [2025 results](https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/2025-results), and the numbers tell a clear story: DAF giving continues to accelerate. Donors granted nearly **$10 billion** to more than 165,000 charities — a 28% increase in dollars year\-over\-year and the largest annual total in the organization's history. This marks their fourth consecutive year of double\-digit growth in grants by DAF donors. Here's what nonprofit fundraisers and operations teams should take away from the report. ## 1. $9.9 Billion Granted — Averaging $27 Million Per Day **DAFgiving360 donors granted $9.9 billion through 1.5 million grants in 2025**, a 20% increase in grant volume over the prior year. At that pace, donors were moving more than $27 million a day to charities from their DAFs. **For fundraisers:** This isn't a single\-year spike — it's sustained, compounding growth. The [DAFRC's Annual DAF Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers) found that DAF grants represent 17% of total individual giving in the U.S. and reached $64.9 billion industry\-wide. If DAF giving isn't a line item in your revenue projections, it should be. ## 2. Donors Are Expanding Their Reach **165,000 charities received 1.5 million DAFgiving360 grants**, a 20% YoY growth. Compared to 2024, donors supported 11% more charities overall, including 29,000 new organizations that had never previously received a DAFgiving360 grant. **54% of donors gave to a charity they hadn't previously supported** — with the greatest number of new grants going to religious organizations, human services, and public/societal benefit causes. **For fundraisers:** DAF donors are actively exploring new causes. There's a real acquisition opportunity here — make it easy for new DAF donors to find and support your organization by adding [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) to your donation form. ## 3. DAF Donors Are Incredibly Active **The majority of donors made more than 7 grants to charities throughout the year, with a median grant size of $500.** 74% of grants were unrestricted and 38% of all grants from DAFgiving360 were set up as recurring, allowing charities to plan for sustained support. **For fundraisers:** DAF donors give the kinds of grants nonprofits love — unrestricted, recurring, and growing over time. They're also remarkably loyal: the [DAFRC's DAF Donor Study](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey) found that 61% of DAF donors directed over 75% of their grants to the same organizations year\-over\-year, and 94% reported sustained or increased giving after opening their DAF. If you have recurring DAF donors, include them in your monthly donor engagement flows. ## **4. Market Performance and Tax Policy Are Shaping DAF Giving** A record 74% of contributions to DAFgiving360 in 2025 came in the form of non\-cash assets like stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrency. Investment growth in DAF accounts also created an additional $8 billion available for grantmaking. And with the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, many donors accelerated contributions into 2025 to lock in existing tax benefits — making it a uniquely active year for DAF funding. **For fundraisers:** The money flowing into DAFs is overwhelmingly non\-cash and tied to market performance, which means the assets fueling future grants to your organization are growing in the background. Understanding what motivates DAF donors helps you have better conversations with these donors and meet them where they are. Now that a wave of new contributions landed in DAFs in 2025, the opportunity this year is to engage those donors to start granting. Build DAF\-specific activations into your calendar: plan for [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) in October \(start marketing a couple months in advance\), but don't wait until then — even a one\-off mailer or email earlier in the year reminding donors they have an opportunity to make a lasting impact on your long\-term mission and projects can go a long way. ## The Bigger Picture Since its founding in 1999, DAFgiving360 donors have now supported nearly 300,000 charities through $50 billion in cumulative grants. And the organization expects donor generosity from DAFs to continue at a heightened pace in 2026. For nonprofits, the message is straightforward: DAF giving is growing faster than any other form of individual giving. Whether you're focused on donor acquisition, retention, or revenue growth, understanding the behavior of DAF donors on major platforms like DAFgiving360 is no longer optional — it's essential. For more resources on stewarding your DAF donors, including email templates and case studies, you can check out Chariot’s [Nonprofit Partners Resource Hub](https://www.notion.so/Chariot-Nonprofit-Partners-Resource-Hub-2f18bd26817580cabf50f0148a4dbf2b?pvs=21) here\! *Subscribe to the *[Chariot newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights)* and follow us on *[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/)* for the latest DAF research, product updates, and fundraising insights.* --- ## Getting to know TIFIN Give, a Chariot Disbursements Partner - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-tifin-give-a-chariot-disbursements-partner- - Published: 2026-02-05 > TIFIN Give is a modern, digital donor-advised fund (DAF) platform built for todayʼs wealth management ecosystem. It helps advisors and their clients give more efficiently, more strategically, and with greater visibility, while reducing administrative burden for charitable organizations. TIFIN Give is a modern, digital donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) platform built for todayʼs wealth management ecosystem. It helps advisors and their clients give more efficiently, more strategically, and with greater visibility, while reducing administrative burden for charitable organizations. TIFIN is now working with Chariot to deliver fast and secure grant payments that are easier for nonprofits to manage. ## How TIFIN Give Works Key stakeholders involved with donations through TIFIN Give: • **Technology Provider:** TIFIN Give • **DAF Sponsor:** GiveClear Foundation • **DAF Program Provider:** Wealth Enterprises/Asset Managers/Financial Advisors • **Donor:** Retail clients to the Wealth Enterprise • **Disbursement Solution:** Chariot TIFIN Give partners with GiveClear Foundation, a 501\(c\)\(3\) nonprofit and DAF sponsor, to host donor\-advised fund accounts that integrate seamlessly with the TIFIN Give platform. Account holders are individual clients of participating wealth firms, who access and manage their DAFs through an advisor\- or firm\-branded portal. Within that experience, donors submit grant recommendations, which are reviewed and approved by GiveClear Foundation and then processed through the Chariot platform for efficient disbursement. Today, TIFIN Give supports more than 1,500 advisors across over 100 firms, helping them serve 2,000\+ donors by integrating charitable giving into broader financial and wealth strategies. ## How Nonprofits Should Treat Gifts through TIFIN For gift processing purposes, nonprofits should be most mindful of the legal source of funds and end donor’s perspective. In the example above, the underlying legal DAF sponsor is GiveClear Foundation and the donor would say they are using AssetMark for their DAF. Chariot has worked with TIFIN Give to standardize how this information is presented in your Chariot dashboard for their customers: the “Source” field would be “GiveClear Foundation” and the “DAF Program” field will show the firm’s name \(e.g. AssetMark\). Otherwise, all the fields provided will follow standard DAF gift convention \(fund name, donor name, etc.\). ## **Other FAQs from Nonprofits on TIFIN Give ** **Q: What is TIFIN Give?** TIFIN Give is a technology provider that powers DAF programs for other financial firms \(e.g. Financial Advisors, Wealth Enterprises, and Asset Managers\). Through TIFIN Give, these firms can offer a white\-labeled DAF solution to their individual clients. This integrates charitable planning directly into holistic wealth management and allows donors to align giving with tax planning, investment strategy, and long\-term impact, all through a seamless digital experience. Give is one of many tech\-forward solutions for the financial services industry offered by TIFIN. **Q: Is TIFIN Give a DAF?** TIFIN Give is that technology provider that connects GiveClear Foundation’s DAF accounts with financial services platforms. **Q: How does the TIFIN Give and Chariot partnership help nonprofits and charitable Organizations?** Chariot brings advanced, digital\-first grant payment capabilities into the TIFIN Give platform. Together, the two platforms eliminate many of the friction points nonprofits experience today, such as delayed checks, unclear payment status, and manual follow\-ups. With this partnership, charitable organizations benefit from: • Faster and more predictable grant disbursements • Digital payment options that reduce check processing • Clarity on grant details, with money & gift details sent to the same place at the same time. • Less administrative uncertainty around donor\-advised fund payments, This collaboration is designed to modernize the end\-to\-end grant experience for nonprofits. **Q: Do gifts come with donor contact information? ** Yes, so long as the donor elected to share information, it is provided in the Chariot Dashboard. **Q: Will this change how donors support our organization?** No. Donors continue to support the same causes, but the payout process is more streamlined and often leads to more consistent, long\-term giving. **Q: Does this create more work for charitable organizations?** No. The partnership is designed to reduce manual work, limit follow\-ups, and eliminate uncertainty around grant payments. **Q: Is TIFIN Give only for large charities?** No. TIFIN Give supports charitable organizations of all sizes, from local nonprofits to national institutions. **Q: Which programs send grants through GiveClear Foundation via TIFIN Give?** Your organization may receive charitable grants through **GiveClear Foundation**, processed electronically via **Chariot**. These grants originate from donor\-advised fund programs operated in partnership with wealth management firms that use the TIFIN Give platform. Currently, nonprofits may receive grants from the following programs: **TIFIN Give** The donor\-advised fund program operated by TIFIN Give, supporting advisors and donors who incorporate philanthropy into financial planning. **BlueGive** The charitable giving program for BlueTrust advisors and clients, enabling donors to recommend grants to nonprofits through their donor\-advised funds. **AssetMark Charitable Giving Program** A donor\-advised fund program available to AssetMark advisors and their clients, helping facilitate strategic philanthropic giving. Each of these programs operates on the TIFIN Give platform and distributes grants through GiveClear Foundation, which issues the official grant disbursement and accompanying grant letter. Because each firm’s program is white\-labeled, the grant letter you receive may reference the specific sponsoring program \(TIFIN Give, BlueGive, or AssetMark\), but all grants are processed through GiveClear Foundation. Learn more about TIFIN Give [here](https://tifin.com/product/give/) and more about Chariot [here](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements). \*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held. --- ## Chariot Launches First Gift Processing Platform for Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-launches-first-gift-processing-platform-for-nonprofits - Published: 2026-01-28 > Chariot launches first end-to-end solution for processing DAF payments, including workplace giving. It combines a financial account with AI-powered data transformation to solve a fast-growing operational challenge that costs nonprofits and grantmakers millions of hours annually. ###### [**Watch Webinar Recording**](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2EW4OXaqzQlOHFlNQjk6SnA) *Chariot’s platform is an end\-to\-end solution for processing DAF payments, including workplace giving. It combines a financial account with AI\-powered data transformation to solve a fast\-growing operational challenge that costs the 1.4 million nonprofits and thousands of grantmakers in the U.S. millions of hours annually.* NEW YORK, Jan 28, 2026 /[Business Wire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260128542200/en/Chariot-Launches-First-Gift-Processing-Platform-for-Nonprofits)/ [Chariot](https://givechariot.com), the fintech company behind DAFpay, named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, announced today the launch of its gift processing platform—the first solution purpose\-built to streamline donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) giving from end to end. Chariot enables nonprofits and grantmakers to send, receive, and enrich grant payments through a single secure portal. The platform uses customizable LLMs to automatically code donations and format exports that sync with users’ existing systems, eliminating millions of hours of manual gift processing work annually. According to the [DAF Research Collaborative’s Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025), over $326 billion is already committed to giving in DAF accounts, which granted $65 billion to nonprofits in 2024 \(a 19% increase from 2023\). Yet as more people adopt DAF giving, nonprofit gift processors face an operational nightmare: reconciling donation data with deposits from over 1,200 different DAFs \(e.g. financial institutions, community foundations, workplace giving\) each with separate portals and inconsistent data formats, which leads to increasingly complex manual workflows. Chariot's platform centers on Chariot Deposit Accounts\* \(CDAs\) that enable nonprofits to direct DAF payments \- the actual funds and associated gift data \- to one place. Even mailed checks can be processed through Chariot with their integrated Digital Mailbox. The platform automatically reconciles incoming donations and uses an AI agent to apply campaign names, category codes, and other identifiers that match their CRM. Gift processors can also use LLMs to generate custom data exports that sync with existing systems like Salesforce & Blackbaud. “Gift processing has been a growing strain on our team and Chariot has transformed the way we work,” adds Art Weinkofsky, Director of Development Information Services at Central Park Conservancy. “With manual tasks reduced across the board, we’re able to process gifts days faster and deliver an even better donor experience.” This platform can also be directly leveraged by grantmakers to simplify their disbursements and reduce fraud risk. Traditionally, grant payments require tracking down each nonprofit's legal name, EIN, mailing address, or bank account information—details that are often outdated, difficult to verify, and hard to maintain. Checks can be lost in the mail, and manual processes create opportunities for fraud. With Chariot, grantmakers can process bulk disbursements with an API call or file upload. Funds are deposited directly into the nonprofit's CDA, creating a fast and secure payment rail. When necessary, physical checks can also be sent through Chariot’s system. Chariot co\-founders Salo Serfati \(CEO\) and Aaron Kahane \(COO\) were roommates at the University of Pennsylvania when they committed to donating 10% of their income annually. As they researched how to fulfill that pledge, they discovered donor\-advised funds—a tax\-advantaged vehicle for charitable giving. Drew Schneider, Chariot's Chief Product Officer, joined as the third co\-founder after working with Aaron at Bain & Company. The trio entered Y Combinator's Summer 2022 cohort and built DAFpay—a DAF\-specific payment option now on over 100,000 nonprofits’ donation forms. But as more donors gave through DAFs, the team observed the mounting challenges that came with processing these types of donations \- for grantmakers and nonprofits alike. This insight led Chariot to expand from a point solution to a full gift processing platform—defining a new category that unifies the entire DAF operations workflow. “Before CRMs, nonprofits ran donor management on spreadsheets. Gift processing has been stuck in that same era of spreadsheets, SharePoint links, and nonstop email threads just to get gifts coded correctly,” says Aaron. “Our platform is the next step change, moving gift processing from manual coordination to a modern system of record.” Unlike payment management systems built for for\-profit transactions, Chariot’s platform is purpose\-built for the complexities of DAF giving. Nonprofits and grantmakers interested in getting started on Chariot can reach out [here](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) or email [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). “Nonprofits are solving our most critical needs as a society, and yet there’s never been a dedicated solution to one of their biggest operational challenges—gift processing,” says Salo. “With Chariot, nonprofit teams can save time on all that manual work and focus more on achieving their visions.” **About Chariot** Chariot is a financial technology company focused on the $326 billion donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) market. Chariot’s gift processing platform enables nonprofits and grantmakers to send, receive, and enrich grant payments through a single secure portal. DAFpay by Chariot is the industry’s first integrated DAF payment option and was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025. Chariot powers DAF giving for leading nonprofits and grantmakers, including American Cancer Society, Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, and Central Park Conservancy. Learn more at [https://givechariot.com](https://givechariot.com). **Media Contact** [press@givechariot.com](mailto:press@givechariot.com) \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account through our Bank Partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## All Checks, No Balance: A Report on the State of Check Payments to Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits - Published: 2026-01-20 #### Why do nonprofits still get so many paper checks from grantmakers? ## **Overview** Sending paper checks in the mail should be a payment method of last resort for nonprofit donations. It’s slow, manual and high\-risk for fraud. Yet billions of dollars and millions of donations are still sent this way every year. Some of the biggest check\-sending culprits are large donor advised fund \(DAF\) providers, foundations & financial institutions. Part of the reason  they still send checks is the cost of managing an electronic payments program \(details in Section 2\), but also because checks remain a preference for their grantees\! **Many nonprofits actually *****demand***** check payments**, making it more difficult for grantmakers to adopt digital payment systems. If they still have to send some of their grants as checks, they’d rather manage only one process. As “offline” giving methods like DAFs, Qualified Charitable Distributions \(QCDs\), workplace giving and crowdfunding platforms \(collectively referred to as “Payers” in this report\) continue [scaling dramatically](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6011def87418a462fcb03978/t/6938993c5bcd9b190d8f7caf/1765316972230/Annual+DAF+Report+2025+-+DAF+Research+Collaborative.pdf), these payment challenges are getting exponentially worse. In this report, we cover the issues with check payments, what the sector can do to address this growing risk and what nonprofits can do to receive more digital payments in the future. --- ## **1. The Problem\(s\) with Checks** Many people have a special place in their heart for paper checks. Holding a donation in your hands makes someone’s support feel tangible. Opening envelopes while anticipating how big a check might be inside is thrilling for fundraisers. Beyond the warm fuzzies and nostalgia, there’s also operational considerations to adding electronic payments \(as explained in Section 3\), but none of this outweighs the harm that paper checks present to nonprofit fundraising efforts at large. ### Risk of Lost Funds Sending checks through the mail presents a host of risks to those funds. Envelopes can get lost or intercepted, and with the advent of AI, scammers can easily [doctor checks](https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/check-washing) for deposit into their own bank accounts. Once the funds are deposited, there’s very little that can be done to reclaim those funds. Adding fuel to the fire \- receiving organizations typically don’t even know the payment is coming, especially for offline gifts like DAFs, QCDs, etc., so they can’t report when it’s missing. The source of funds \- a donor or Payer \- will only ever see the check has been cashed, unaware of whether the money actually reached the organization. These risks are heightened for nonprofits as “payees” because their mailing addresses are public, and people know they are a prime destination for mailed checks, which makes them an obvious, lucrative target. Because these losses are likely “unknown,” most nonprofits don’t feel this risk as acutely as they should. They don’t know what they lost if they never knew it was coming\! It takes a prudent risk mindset to heed the warnings on mail fraud, even when every notable authority on the topic \- from [the AARP](https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/prevent-stolen-checks-mail-theft/#:~:text=The%20good%20news%20is%20that,alternative%20ways%20to%20send%20money.) to [the U.S. Postal Service](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/u-s-postal-service-warning-checks-mail/) \- is advising the public to stop sending paper checks in the mail. [According to the Federal Reserve](https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/corporates/sars-report-2024/#:~:text=notable%20factors%20as:-,Check%20fraud,to%20be%20the%20new%20normal.), there were 682,276 reported instances of Check Fraud in 2024, up from 350,000 in 2021. That’s nearly two thousand checks stolen per day \- and that’s only what actually gets reported\! ### Risk of Delays Even if checks aren’t outright stolen in the mail, they are subject to many sources of delay: - Time to print, stuff and physically send mail  - Back ups or delays with the Postal Service - Possibility of delivery to the wrong address - Potential to be lost en route   - Delays in processing by the receiver  If these delays are substantial enough \(60\-90 days\), checks often need to be voided and reissued, starting the cycle over again. We ran an analysis of DAF gift delivery time on one nonprofit organization that received over 2,000 DAFpay gifts from 34 different DAF Providers over a 6 month period in 2025. Given the donations were made via DAFpay, we were able to measure delivery time from the point of grant initiation until actual payment delivery. The fastest 3 providers \- Pledger Charitable, The Donors Fund and Fidelity Charitable \- all delivered payment via ACH within 1\-2 days of grant approval, on average. Conversely, the 18 providers that sent payment as physical checks had average delivery times of anywhere from 7 to 162 days. Nonprofit fundraisers all know the experience of hunting down a check that seems to have been lost in the mail or misplaced – but that only happens if they know to expect it\! The majority of organizations have no idea when offline check payments are coming to them, and as a result, are losing months’ worth of work that those funds could have been used for. ### Waste The stakes of waste are especially high for payments in philanthropy because any additional cost incurred in sending and receiving donations reduces the bottom line of impact. Unfortunately, the check process introduces several new layers of cost: 1. **Financial waste**: [Industry estimates](https://www.paystand.com/blog/paper-checks) for the all\-in cost \(i.e., materials, postage, labor\) of sending check payments ranges from $4\-20 **per check**. With millions of gifts delivered this way every year, it’s safe to assume that hundreds of millions of dollars are wasted on check issuance each year.  2. **Material waste**: Think of all the paper involved with the checks, letters and envelopes used for millions of offline donations – all being thrown away. [According to the EPA](https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/paper-and-paperboard-material-specific-data?utm_source=chatgpt.com), paper products make up the largest percentage of all municipal solid waste \(23.1%\).  3. **Environmental waste**: Mailed checks lead to an estimated ~20g of CO2 emissions in transportation and handling, according to [a Pitney Bowes study](https://www.pb.com/docs/US/pdf/Our-Company/Corporate-Responsibility/pdf/The-Environmental-Impact-of-Mail-A-Baseline-White-Paper.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com).  This waste is anathema to many of the nonprofit missions these donors are seeking to support in the first place, like the National Parks Foundation or Environmental Defense Fund. ## 2. Why Nonprofits Prefer Checks ### Reason \#1: Bandwidth > “Checks work. Changing feels hard.” Even if checks come with the risk of loss, theft, and delays, shifting processes takes real effort — especially for understaffed finance or development teams. Nonprofits have to: - Vet digital options - Update internal workflows - Train staff - Coordinate between finance \+ development/advancement teams …which often feels like just “one more thing.” Meanwhile, as mentioned above, the risk of checks still feels abstract. Since many of these gifts are unexpected, nonprofits often don’t even realize when one gets lost. ### Reason \#2: Workflow Overload > “If we’re processing some checks, we might as well process all checks.” Not every Payer offers digital payment options. And even when they do, it’s not always a smooth process. Funds arrive in their bank account, but have to be reconciled with gift details that arrive separately. Portals need to be managed to accept gifts and transfer data. And those processes to manage digital payments differ for every payer. Yes, checks are typically manual, but the process is consistent from one Payer to the next. If a team already has to open physical mail, scan checks, and key in data for some gifts, it can feel simpler to just stick to the same workflow across all Payers. It’s not efficient, but it’s consistent. And consistency wins when teams are stretched thin. ### Reason \#3: Digital Doesn’t Mean Simple > “Reconciliation gets messy fast.” Digital payments may sound easier, but for nonprofits, they often introduce more work. But ACH transfers usually arrive with **no gift data attached **to them. Then, the details come separately — in an email, a PDF, a portal login, a CSV, or \(worst of all\) a monthly batch with thousands of line items. Some portals even require manual approval of every single gift. Suddenly, checks start to feel like the simpler option. ### Reason \#4: Fraud Concerns > “Sharing bank information feels risky.” Some nonprofits hesitate to send sensitive ACH details through email, onboarding forms, or unsecured portals. Even if the actual risk is lower, it feels risky. Checks, which feel familiar and tangible, seem safer — even though they’re actually more vulnerable. ### Reason \#5: Internal Accounting > “One Account / Routing number doesn’t match our structure.” Many large nonprofits — think universities, hospitals, multi\-department organizations — operate multiple units under a single EIN. A check can be physically delivered to the right department. An ACH usually lands in one central bank account, creating extra internal work to sort out where the money belongs. For these organizations, checks equate to control. ## 3. Why Payers Still Send Checks Because the real risks of checks are poorly understood or appreciated, and so many nonprofits still opt for mailed checks when given the choice, many Payers are left with difficult decisions and default to check payments. Their exact reasoning is typically a combination of the following: ### Reason \#1: Minimizing Workflows Even if a Payer pursues electronic payments, some nonprofits won’t enroll, and they’ll be forced to still send paper checks as a fallback. No matter how much more efficient the electronic payment workflow is, Payers will never eliminate check\-sending and the baseline overhead expenses that come with managing a check\-sending operation. Even the largest national DAFs have struggled to get their ACH rates much higher than 50% of their payments. As a result, many Payers find it more operationally efficient to only manage one workflow and decide to stick with just checks. ### Reason \#2: ACH Isn’t Always Easy** ** While checks present a host of operational headaches – time delay, risk of stolen or lost payments, handling returns, etc. – handling electronic payments “in\-house” has its own challenges too: - **New work**: Collecting bank details from every grantee \- especially when new ones are getting added to a Payer’s list every week \- is no easy feat. While physical addresses are publicly available, obtaining updated account & routing numbers is a highly\-manual workflow. - **Leaky bucket**: Bank details aren’t static. Many organizations change banks often and don’t update their information with Payers, resulting in failed ACHs and the need to hunt down updated data.  - **Risk exposure**: Handling the collection and verification of bank details exposes a Payer to entirely new risks. Information needs to be collected & stored securely, and the details need to be verified through a compliance process. AI makes it easy to trick these processes, with doctored bank letters or proof of identification.  ### Reason \#3: Digital Payments Alternatives Don’t Fit Their Unique Needs Many Payers have tried to utilize third\-party digital payments providers and have either been frustrated by the experience, or heard horror stories from their peers. The most common points of frustration are: - **Customer Service**: Payers find it hard to engage with the providers because of slow response times.   - **Stagnant Technology**: Improvement cycles are long, and product feedback is not actioned upon quickly.  - **Grantee Experience**: Nonprofit grantees are often confused by the signup process, have to take many extra steps and still find gift data difficult to reconcile with the fund transfers.  - **Nonprofits are Not a Focus**: These providers don’t specifically focus on nonprofits as their core business, so their solution isn’t “purpose\-built,” and their incentives aren’t aligned to ensure that nonprofits have the best possible experience. - **Not Holistic**: If these providers can’t also handle check payments, the Payer is right back at Reason \#1, still managing a workflow in\-house that they couldn’t outsource. Even if they can handle checks, their success rates of increasing the percentage of electronic payments is typically underwhelming because of the reasons above.  ## 4. How To Reduce Check Payments While most everyone can agree that the persistence of checks as a primary payment method to nonprofits is not where we want to be in 2026, solving the problem is quite complex. There’s no way for any one party \- or even one “side” of the market \- to address it on their own. However, if both nonprofits and Payers begin to address what is in their control, we can make meaningful progress. --- ## Action Items for Nonprofits The most important step in increasing the adoption of electronic payments by nonprofits is increasing awareness around the risks of mailed check payments and opportunities with increased digital adoption \(covered in Section 1\). However, even for organizations that want more digital payments, it is still not straightforward to make it happen. Even for Payers that offer an electronic option, it’s not always clear exactly how to enroll or what the process is for receiving the funds AND gift details after signing up. Here are a few recommended steps that any nonprofit can action today: 1. **Review** last year’s donations to establish your most common sources of mailed check payments.  2. **Research** those Payers to explore available alternatives to mailed checks.  \- Ask peer organizations where they’ve enrolled in electronic payments to add to your list of relevant payers with a digital option. \- Sign up for electronic payments wherever available.  **Note**: Chariot offers electronic payments\* to eligible nonprofits on behalf of a fast growing list of Grantmakers \(Daffy, TIFIN Give, Groundswell, Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, Founders Pledge\). [**Get on Chariot**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) ## Action Items for DAFs \(and other Payers\) Even with all the hurdles described in section 3 that slow many DAFs \(and other Payers\) down from adopting digital payments, many are coming to the same conclusion: the risks of a large\-scale check sending operation are materially worse than the downsides of the alternatives. As moving off of check payments becomes a more common strategic priority for more Payers, there are many steps they can take to collectively help accelerate adoption and streamline the sector’s digital transition. ### Step 1: Clarify the Process No matter what approach is taken to send electronic payments, Payers should make it as easy and clear as possible to enroll. That means public announcements about the transition, easy\-to\-find information on their website about enrollment and ongoing communications to their nonprofit audience. ### Step 2: Ask for Feedback Nonprofits should be proactively engaged to provide feedback on receiving grant payments – and listened to. When grantees have a better experience, they’re likely to share it and encourage their peers to also adopt digital payments. ### Step 3: Provide Guidelines Payers should provide grantees as much guidance as possible on how to properly account for their gifts – especially if they have their own bespoke process of grant payments, data structure or gift types. Any Processing Guidelines go a long way to improve grantee experience, allowing them to steward donors better and ultimately have more impact with their mission. Plus, clearer instructions lead to fewer inbound questions for Payers to handle. ### Step 4: Address Digital Challenges Payers should have a gameplan for the known challenges of electronic grant payments described in Section 4. Review all available options and plan the transition accordingly. ### Step 5: Coordinate By and large, every Payer experiences all of the challenges described in this report, and all address them on their own, separately. There’s so much opportunity for better coordination, shared solutions and standardization. One new option introduced in 2025 is the [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) platform, a solution that’s purpose\-built for nonprofits. All types of Payers utilize Chariot alongside their existing technology to holistically outsource grant payment execution and deliver safer, faster disbursements that are easier for everyone to deal with. ## 5. Open Items for the Future Even with all these guidelines and suggestions, there are still more problems we’ll need to solve together – and be mindful of further exacerbating as folks work toward eradicating checks together. Some of the biggest opportunities that the Chariot team is focused on with our partners are: ### Awareness & Education It will take a collective effort from all corners of the nonprofit industry to ensure that everyone fully understands the risks and true costs of check payments. Chariot will be doing our best to raise the profile of this issue, but we can’t do it alone. ### Technical Capacity Many nonprofits are lean teams, with staff or volunteers who aren’t proficient in handling digital payments. More training on how to handle electronic payments effectively will go a long way. ### Portal Proliferation The single biggest risk to the adoption of digital payments by more Payers is a proliferation of unique portals, data structures and processes that encumber nonprofit operations. There will be an increasingly important need for Payers to standardize how grant payments are sent and for nonprofits to efficiently corral data from disparate sources of offline gifts. --- ## Getting to know Groundswell, a Chariot Disbursements Partner - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-groundswell-a-chariot-disbursements-partner - Published: 2026-01-13 [Groundswell](https://www.groundswell.io/) is a workplace giving solution with a rapidly growing user base of enrolled employees. They utilize Chariot Disbursements\* to send their grant payments, so you may see Groundswell gifts in your Chariot Account \- here’s what you need to know. ## Background on Groundswell Groundswell was founded in 2021 to modernize employee giving. The company’s co\-founder & CEO, Jake Wood, was previously the founder & CEO of Team Rubicon where he saw firsthand the barriers to giving and impact with legacy solutions for engaging employees. That’s why the team has always prioritized speed of payout and seamless user experience. Now Groundswell powers workplace giving for major companies around the country, including BNY, Under Armor and Publicis Groupe. Groundswell utilizes Chariot Disbursements for faster, more secure and easier grant payments. Funds are available in a nonprofit’s Chariot Account instantly, once approved, and gift details are visible to all team members. The increased transparency offered by Chariot Disbursements means your team may have questions about the different types of payments Groundswell sends nonprofits, and how to most effectively process them. ## How Groundswell Works Groundswell primarily serves large enterprises, offering significant customization in the platform to manage [employee giving](https://www.groundswell.io/products/giving), volunteering, grantmaking, and engagement. So while each implementation might vary slightly, each Groundswell user has their own giving account \(donor\-advised fund, or DAF\), and each company also maintains a corporate DAF. Both the individual and corporate DAFs are managed under the Groundswell Charitable Foundation \(GCF\), a 501c3 public charity. Employees can contribute money or securities into their DAF account, or make direct donations to nonprofits through their account. Companies can “match” gifts made by employees within Groundswell’s platform, gifts made off\-platform or for logged volunteering hours. Companies can also make direct grants to nonprofits through Groundswell. ## Understanding Groundswell Gifts on Chariot If you have a Groundswell gift in your Chariot account, it likely fits into one of three general categories: 1. Employee Donation 2. Company Match  3. Corporate Grant  However, it’s important to note that not all Employee Donations necessarily will have a Company Match through Groundswell \(they could be direct gifts out of the employee’s Giving Account\), and not all Company Matches will necessarily correspond to an Employee Donation through Groundswell \(it could be matching an off\-platform donation or something else entirely, like volunteering hours\). As of April 27, Company Matches appear with "Company Name" and "Match Amount" donation fields. Previously, Company Matches were noted in the "Description" field. ## Gift Processing for Groundswell Gifts While you should categorize & code these gifts as makes sense with your CRM structure, here is a suggested approach: - Employee Donation ***without*** Company Match: an individual DAF gift - - **Hard Credit**: Groundswell Charitable Foundation  - **Soft Credit**: Donor Name - **Association / Affiliation**: Company Name - Employee Donation ***with*** Company Match: Workplace giving - Company Match ***without*** an Employee Donation: Workplace giving \(often a “match” for volunteer hours\)  - Company donation: Corporate Grant  ## Other FAQs from Nonprofits about Groundswell ##### Do gifts come with donor contact information? No, gifts do not automatically include donor contact information as per the policy of the Groundswell Charitable Foundation. Many individuals do put their email or other contact information in the “Note” field, which you’ll see in your Chariot Account dashboard. ##### Is Groundswell a DAF? Yes, the Groundswell Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit partner to Groundswell Giving Inc., is a 501c3 public charity that manages donor\-advised funds for individuals and companies. When someone contributes to their DAF, the donation is legally made to the Groundswell Charitable Foundation, which then holds and manages those charitable assets on behalf of the donor. However, much of the giving through the platform happens in a process more similar to workplace giving and likely makes the most sense to be treated as such by nonprofit database admins. ##### Who from a nonprofit should monitor Groundswell gifts? If you have a team focused on workplace giving, they should certainly be aware of activity through Groundswell. It’s up to your organization whether you prefer having those folks as users in your Chariot dashboard reviewing those gifts, or ensuring that your gift processor\(s\) using Chariot are well\-versed on how to code Groundswell Gifts so that workplace giving colleagues can review them in your CRM once they are synced. --- ## Chariot’s 2025 Year in Review + What’s Next - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariots-2025-year-in-review--whats-next - Published: 2026-01-05 2025 was a year of rapid growth, intentional investment and deeper connections across the industry for Chariot. We welcomed thousands of new nonprofit partners, established dozens of new fundraising platform integrations \(GiveCampus, Funraise, Give Lively \- to name a few\!\), onboarded 12 Disbursement partners \- and grew our team by 60%. The Chariot platform underwent a transformative overhaul, introducing deposit capabilities and unlocking the first\-ever dedicated charitable payments network. These investments will underpin major product advancements in 2026, which will be announced during our live release webinar on January 28th \- you can [register here](https://streamyard.com/watch/mfJHEhBdyq8e) to save your spot\! --- During the January 28th session \- [A New Chariot is Coming](https://streamyard.com/watch/mfJHEhBdyq8e) \- we’ll share more details on where Chariot is going next, new free perks for all nonprofits on Chariot, a new look for Chariot, and much more. We loved all the chances we had to engage with incredible nonprofit organizations around the country, presenting in\-person at 14 different conferences alongside incredible partners like Central Park Conservancy, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society and The Public Theater. From the Nonprofit Technology Conference in Baltimore, to the Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising in D.C., to the Association of Advancement Services Professionals in Reno, we discussed all aspects of DAF Fundraising with thousands of nonprofit professionals. We were also honored to be recognized for our innovation and insights in so many places this year, with features in Fast Company, Time, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, Nonprofit Pro \+ dozens of webinars and podcasts. While there were countless special memories over the course of the year, there were 10 moments that best defined 2025 for the Chariot Network. ## 1. Fast Company Recognition In March, Chariot was named to [Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-named-to-fast-company-s-annual-list-of-the-world-s-most-innovative-companies-of-2025) list for 2025. ## 2. Chariot Disbursements\* Launch In April, Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, Daffy and DonorsChoose joined us to [launch Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners) \- a faster, easier, safer way to send grant payments, now used by over a dozen Donor\-Advised Funds, Workplace Giving systems and crowdfunding platforms. ## 3. 2025 DAF Fundraising Report In June, the second edition of [the groundbreaking report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) on the nonprofit experience with Donor\-Advised Funds by Chariot & K2D Strategies brought more participants, more analysis and twice as much engagement. Participation for the 2026 study is nearly at capacity and the application deadline is January 15. [Apply now](https://www.givechariot.com/post/kickoff-for-the-2026-daf-fundraising-report)\! ## 4. Blackbaud announces DAFpay integration In October, during the opening keynote on the mainstage of Blackbaud’s annual conference bbcon, [they announced](https://www.blackbaud.com/newsroom/article/all-the-biggest-announcements-from-bbcon-2025) that a native DAFpay integration in their donation forms was coming in early 2026. ## 5. DAF Day’s Explosive Growth Starting with our kickoff webinar that drew 1,100\+ registrants in June, everything about DAF Day 2025 [was off the charts](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-day-sees-exponential-growth-in-year-two-moving-millions-in-daf-dollars-to-nonprofits) compared to year one. 4x the number of nonprofits involved, 6x the number of DAFs and incredible activations recognized in the [first\-ever DAF Day awards](https://www.givechariot.com/post/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners). Mark your calendars for DAF Day 2026: Thursday October 8th. ## 6. TIME Best Inventions Also on DAF Day \(October 9, 2025\), DAFpay was named one of [TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafpay-named-to-time-s-best-inventions-of-2025)\! ## 7. Pan\-Mass Challenge reaches new DAFpay milestone By November, Pan\-Mass Challenge \- the largest athletic fundraiser in the country \- became the first nonprofit to raise more than $5 million through DAFpay in a single calendar year, after setting the prior record of [over $3.5 million in 2024](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study). ## 8. Record GivingTuesday for DAFpay DAFpay volume on GivingTuesday \(December 2, 2025\) [more than doubled year\-over\-year](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/givingtuesday-2025-shatters-records-with-4b-raised/) and even outpaced DAF Day 2025. Overall GivingTuesday donations topped $4 billion, a 13% increase year\-over\-year. ## 9. Chariot Disbursements Soared at Yearend The $24 million disbursed across 22,000 grant payments just in December 2025 was a phenomenal leap forward for the Chariot payment network. Despite launching this product only eight months earlier, 30% of the nonprofit sector by contribution volume were already set up for digital payments through Chariot by yearend. This reach enabled us to send 83% of this Disbursement volume electronically. ## 10. New DAFgiving360 Authentication Method in DAFpay introduced In late December, one more exciting update was made to DAFpay. Donors who use DAFgiving360 will now benefit from a new method to access DAFpay, further simplifying the login process and enhancing grant review. All the details are available [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/new-access-method-for-dafgiving360-in-dafpay). **Next Up**: If you thought 2025 was busy, just get ready for 2026\! Be the first to hear about our plans for the year ahead in our special session, [A New Chariot is Coming](https://streamyard.com/watch/mfJHEhBdyq8e), on January 28th. --- ## Give Lively Brings DAFpay to 9,000+ More Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/give-lively-brings-dafpay-to-9000-more-nonprofits - Published: 2025-12-18 **Chariot’s newest partner, Give Lively, has introduced DAFs as a payment option across their leading fundraising technology solutions.** **New York, NY \-\- Thursday December 18 \-\-** Chariot, the donor\-advised fund payments company, announced today a landmark partnership with Give Lively, the pioneering fundraising platform whose free technology has been used by thousands of nonprofits to process over $1.35 billion in giving to date. As the money committed to philanthropy in DAFs continues to grow exponentially, reaching [$326 billion in 2024](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers), the opportunity to grow DAF giving is critical for nonprofits. Despite having these dedicated charitable funds set aside, [88% of DAF donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey) continue making donations outside of their DAF in more “inspiration\-based” giving moments. That’s a missed opportunity for nonprofits because when donors give from their DAF instead of other methods \(like a credit card\), they [increase their gift size by 10x on average](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). That’s the gap that Give Lively is bridging, helping nonprofits get more DAF donors and dollars with a native DAFpay integration [right where it is most effective](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-do-we-need-a-daf-payment-option): the checkout experience for online donation forms. > “Give Lively has focused on making gifting money to charity as easy as buying a cup of coffee from your local shop. Interfaces to donate via DAF have been hard to use and time consuming. Yet the potential value of DAF donations to nonprofits is huge. By partnering with Chariot, we get to help our member nonprofits take advantage of the DAF opportunity — regardless of an organization’s size or budget,” shared [David DeParolesa](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddeparolesa/), Give Lively’s CEO. “We’re proud to deliver DAFpay as a core part of our platform for any public charity in the U.S.” DAFpay is all about reducing friction for donors. Instead of having to navigate away from a donation form when they want to use their DAF, they can complete the DAF grant recommendation in 3 clicks and a few seconds – without leaving the nonprofit’s site. Less friction means more giving from the most high potential donors \- the [median DAF account size at Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) \(the largest DAF Provider in the country\) is ~$25,000. > “Chariot’s partnership with Give Lively is an important step forward in our efforts to put easy DAF giving in front of every donor, whenever they are inspired to give,” added Salo Serfati, Chariot’s Co\-Founder & CEO. “We are proud to work with such a mission\-aligned partner like Give Lively, who provides top\-of\-the\-line fundraising technology to any size organization.” Nonprofits interested in exploring the Give Lively platform can [apply here](https://www.givelively.org/apply-for-membership) for free, no string attached, and anyone interested in taking full advantage of Chariot \- including receiving digital grant payments from our growing list of Chariot Disbursement\* partners on top of using DAFpay [Claim your account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=give-lively) today. Any organizations interested in learning more about donor\-advised funds, strategies to maximize DAF giving and ways to take full advantage of DAFpay \- please join Give Lively’s webinar on January 22 at 1pm ET, featuring Chariot’s Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/). --- ## **About Give Lively** Give Lively \([givelively.org](http://givelively.org/)\) builds free and easy\-to\-use fundraising solutions that help nonprofits put more money toward their missions, not tech fees. Give Lively is backed by philanthropists and trusted by thousands of nonprofit organizations across the United States. Nonprofits using Give Lively have raised more than $1.35 billion for their critical work from 10.7 million\-plus donations. ## About Chariot Chariot is a financial technology company focused on Donor Advised Fund payments that creates better DAF giving experiences for donors, nonprofits and DAF providers. Named one of[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-named-to-fast-company-s-annual-list-of-the-world-s-most-innovative-companies-of-2025)[Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-named-to-fast-company-s-annual-list-of-the-world-s-most-innovative-companies-of-2025) and[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafpay-named-to-time-s-best-inventions-of-2025)[TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafpay-named-to-time-s-best-inventions-of-2025), Chariot is proud to work with leading nonprofits and DAF providers across the US \- like American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation & Daffy. [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements), helps to reduce operational challenges for DAFs and nonprofits, enabling a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. Chariot’s other solution,[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay)[DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay), is the first and only DAF payment option that embeds easy DAF giving into any donation form or nonprofit website where someone is inspired to give. *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Accounts come with a DDA \(Demand Deposit Account\) through our banking services partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC.* --- ## 7 Top Takeaways from the New 2025 DAF Report for Nonprofit Fundraisers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers - Published: 2025-12-11 The 2025 Annual DAF Report was released on December 11, containing the first look at aggregate DAF activity numbers for 2024. The report is filled with record levels of giving, but also a host of new figures and different methods of segmenting data after the research effort changed hands for the first time ever. We’ve analyzed the full report and highlighted the key takeaways for fundraisers, but encourage everyone to review the great work by the [DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) for yourselves as well. The report found that in 2024, **3.56 million DAF accounts** **granted $65 billion** to nonprofits and held **$326 billion in assets**. But the real story is what’s under these headline numbers. --- ## **What Changed in the 2025 Report** ### 1. New Team, and New Perspectives The Annual DAF Report was previously produced by National Philanthropic Trust for nearly two decades and became a bellwether data source for anyone interested in the DAF sector. In 2025, an academic group \- The DAF Research Collaborative \- took the reins for the first time and will be independently handling the research and reporting moving forward. The DAF Research Collaborative was co\-founded in 2018 by [Dr. Dan Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119/) from Brigham Young University & [Dr. Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-phd-2a294b3/) from DePaul University. The group has expanded to include [Dr. Jeff Williams](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdwms/) from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, [Dr. Genevieve Shaker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve-shaker-ph-d-889550174/) from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and [Rachel Sumsion](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmsumsion/), a philanthropy consultant. ### 2. New Method of Data Segmentation Historically, the figures in the report were only broken down into 3 categories of DAFs \- National, Community Foundation and Single\-Issue Charity. This year, there have been additional sub\-categories created, including National DAFs that serve primarily as donation processors, and Single\-Issue Charities that are religiously affiliated or in higher education / healthcare sectors. This offers tremendous clarity on core DAF activity and differences between DAF types. Presumably, the “Donation Processor” DAF category includes DAF Sponsors that power workplace giving platforms \(e.g., Benevity, Cyber Grants, YourCause, etc.\) and complex asset services \(e.g., Dechomai Foundation\), although it’s not explicitly disclosed in the report. ### 3. New Analysis A number of new figures were added to this year’s report, including a comparison of DAF activity relative to overall charitable giving and individual giving activity, as well as different methods to calculate DAF payout rates \(percentage of assets paid out as grants each year\). ### 4. New DAFs included There was a significant increase in the number of DAFs included in this year’s report: 1,485, versus prior years’~1,150. 53% of the DAFs included are Community Foundations, 40% are Single Issue Charities and 7% are National DAFs. To maintain a consistent comparison, this year’s researchers made meaningful revisions to prior years’ figures by including more DAF providers in the analysis retroactively. ### 5. New Opportunities for Further Learning For the first time, this year’s report includes an entire technical appendix that readers can use  to perform their own analyses on all of the source figures cited in the report. ### 6. New Context Shared We especially appreciated the extra disclosure on how DAF providers all have different fiscal years, so while it is a “2024” report, that relies on FY2024 filings from each DAF, these numbers include parts of Calendar Year 2023 and 2024 in some cases. Additionally, there’s an entire section on the macroeconomic environment’s effect on philanthropy, including how stock market movements and significant economic crises can have meaningful impacts on DAF activity. --- ## Top Takeaways ### 1. $65 billion in DAF Giving, a New Record 2024 DAF grants to nonprofits of $64.89 billion represented a 19% increase over 2023. Growth was primarily driven by Standard National DAFs and Religiously\-Affiliated DAFs, who collectively made up 72% of overall DAF grantmaking, and saw grant volume grow 28% and 41%, respectively. Only $3.77 billion of DAF grant volume was from Donation Processors, which was flat YoY \($3.81 billion\). $65 billion in DAF giving is a new record, after 2023 saw a modest YoY increase of 2%. Overall, DAF giving is up 85% since 2020. It’s also helpful to analyze DAF giving relative to the activity of Private Foundations. Despite private foundations being 5x larger than DAFs \($1.6 trillion in AUM\), they granted out less than 2x as much as DAFs did \($119 billion\). ### 2. DAF Grants represent 17% of total Individual Giving While the report presents DAF contributions' share of individual giving at 22.8% in 2024, we reframed the analysis to see how the volume of DAF grants compared to total individual giving \(17% in 2024\). It’s important to remember that these are imperfect comparisons and likely an underestimation, given that DAF contributions are from Fiscal Year 2024 \(including significant 2023 data\), and the Total Individual Giving is from Calendar Year 2024. That said, we find the analysis of DAF granting compared to individual giving is more representative of the impact DAFs have on nonprofit fundraising. This is also comparable to findings of the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which analyzed a broad range of data related to the impact of DAFs on nonprofit fundraising more specifically. ### 3. DAF Payout Rate of 25.3%, compared to 8.1% for Private Foundations The overall Payout Rate of 25.3% represented a modest increase from 2023 of 1.3 percentage points. This section of the report was significantly enhanced YoY, showing three different payout rate calculation methods, as well as showing payout rates that exclude Donation Processors for the first time. Because the asset volume and grant volume of Donation Processors is such a small percentage of the total, their exclusion has a minor impact on overall payout rates. Using the traditional method of calculation, Standard National Sponsors’ payout rate was 23%, Community Foundations' payout rate was 22% and single issue charities’ payout rate was 37%. Using more conservative calculation methods results in overall payout rates over 15% every year since 2020. For context, the traditional method of calculation for Private Foundations results in an 8.1% payout rate for 2024. It was also interesting to see that the sub\-segment with the *lowest* payout rate was DAFs held by institutions in the Higher Education & Hospital sectors, which was at 10.4% in 2024. This is a unique category of more traditional operating nonprofits that also hold DAF accounts for their supporters. ### 4. $326 billion in DAF Assets, doubled since 2020 The overall size of DAF accounts grew by 27.5% YoY to $325.45 billion, a new record and double the $165.81 billion in assets in 2020. The YoY change in DAF asset value is highly correlated to moves in the stock market, which had banner years in 2023 and 2024 \- S&P 500 rose 24.2% in Calendar Year 2023 & 23.3% in Calendar Year 2024. This correlation is due to the fact that DAF Assets are largely invested in public markets, and that fundholders are commonly funding these accounts with both new assets with appreciated stock assets. ### 5. 3.5 million DAF Accounts This represents an 18.4% YoY increase, but the surge here is mostly attributable to the inclusion of more Donation Processor DAFs in the report, which made up 2.85 million of total accounts. Luckily, there is a disclosure in the technical appendix where readers can see the growth in DAF accounts excluding Donation processors: 710,634 in 2024, up 54% since 2020. [Fidelity Charitable discloses](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2025-giving-report.pdf) that there’s an average of 1.6 users per DAF account, meaning that an estimated 1.14 million people are using traditional individual DAF accounts. ### 6. Contributions into DAFs Surged to $90 billion, a New Record After a sharp decline in 2023 \(\-14%\), contributions* into* DAF accounts rose by 37% YoY in 2024 to $89.64 billion. Similar to total assets in DAFs, DAF contributions are highly correlated to stock market performance, which can lead to more volatility in this figure YoY than other reported metrics. When folks see significant gains in their personal investments, they are more likely to contribute some of their holdings into their DAF accounts and maximize their tax benefits. [According to DAFgiving360](https://www.dafgiving360.org/giving-report#:~:text=Giving%20is%20a%20year%2Dround,grants%20were%20made%20to%20charity.), the second largest DAF sponsor in the country, 63% of their DAF contributions in FY25 \(ending in June\) were in the form of non\-cash assets. This figure is also highly affected by tax and regulatory changes. Given [the tax overhaul going into place](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-the-new-tax-bill-will-reshape-philanthropy-and-dafs-actionable-steps-for-nonprofits-donors-an) in 2026, we would expect another significant increase to contributions in 2025. ### 7. Average Account size of $455,495 in 2024 for Standard DAF Accounts The topline average account size reported this year was $91,611. However, this is not the most informative data point, given it includes more than 2 million DAF accounts at Donation Processor DAFs. The separation of Donation Processor DAF accounts provides a new, more realistic look at the average account size for traditional DAF holders. For context, the average account size at a Donation Processor DAF was $968, an extreme deviation from other DAF sponsors. Without Donation Processor DAFs, there were $324 billion in assets across 710,634 DAF accounts, leading to an average account size of $455,495. This average grew 19.3% YoY. It’s important to recall that averages are highly skewed by outlier figures. We could potentially better understand DAF donor demographics if there were an overall median figure provided, but that would require significantly more disaggregated data disclosure by every DAF provider. That said, there are large individual DAF sponsors that do disclose median account size \- both [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) and [Jewish Communal Fund](https://jcfny.org/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-IMPACT-REPORT.pdf) report a median account size around $25,000, which provides a good estimate for the industry. --- ## **What does this mean for Fundraisers? ** The growth in DAF giving continues to grow exponentially, reaching a scale that cannot be ignored by nonprofit fundraisers. There’s over a million people using DAF accounts to manage their individual giving, making up an ever\-increasing amount of philanthropy. And these figures are lagging \- all indicators are pointing to 2025 being an even bigger year of growth than 2024 \(we’ll have to wait another year to know the exact figures\). With this in mind, it’s time to make 2026 the year that DAFs get more specific focus in your fundraising strategy. You should be asking, how are we engaging, soliciting and stewarding this incredibly important segment of our donors? How are we making sure that any donor with a DAF is able to easily donate those dollars that are already pre\-committed to philanthropy? These need to be the questions asked in your planning sessions and at your board meetings. DAF knowledge needs to be a core, fundamental part of any fundraiser’s education and training. Visit [Chariot’s blog](https://www.givechariot.com/blog) for a robust set of educational and training materials suited to any level of fundraising experience. --- ## **Important notes and reminders about the analysis ** - **Lagging, imperfect indicator**: This report deals with a colossal amount of data that is filed with the IRS at different points during the year, depending on the DAF provider. 27% of DAFs included in the study have a fiscal year end \(FYE\) in June, while 62% are in December. Those with a FYE in June are actually reporting 50% 2023 and 50% 2024 data. Since the research team reviews publicly\-filed data only, there’s also a ~9 month delay until that data is available. So while this is a great directional source of information on the scale and performance of the DAF market, it’s wise to consult the Annual Reports from leading individual DAF sponsors throughout the year for a more real\-time pulse of DAF activity.    - **Donation Processor DAFs**: The inclusion of a separate line item for Donation Processor DAFs in this year’s report provides a significant improvement in the specificity of the data. The dynamics and demographics of these accountholders, largely using the DAF as a pass\-through as part of their workplace giving programs, are immensely different than those of the traditional DAF accountholders that most fundraisers might be thinking of. This new data standard wherein we can isolate Donation Processor DAFs from the calculations gives us a more specific and accurate view of the activity level and opportunity set with DAF donors.  - **Past figures revised**: Researchers are constantly revising past numbers for each key figure in every year of analysis. That said, it’s important to refer to the **updated values** for prior years when making multi\-year comparisons.   - **DAF\-to\-DAF transfers**: This year’s version of the DAF Report incorporated industry feedback to provide more specific and transparent DAF data in its analysis. However, the one area of critique that wasn’t incorporated into the analysis was the impact of DAF\-to\-DAF transfers on these numbers. The topic was addressed in the technical appendix, sharing that the reason they couldn’t be excluded or itemized systematically in the research is because DAF\-to\-DAF transfers aren’t singled out in the IRS Schedule D data used for this report. Given that the vast majority of DAF sponsors analyzed in this report are also operating nonprofits that fundraise and receive DAF donations themselves \(e.g., Community Foundations, Higher Education institutions, etc.\), it’s incredibly difficult to parse out which “donations” from one DAF sponsor to another are actually a DAF\-to\-DAF transfer, versus a DAF donation.  --- ## TIFIN and Chariot Partner to Transform Grant Payments - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/tifin-and-chariot-partner-to-transform-grant-payments - Published: 2025-12-02 **This collaboration strengthens the charitable giving ecosystem by bringing greater transparency, consistency, and reliability to how nonprofits receive support.** Boulder, CO & New York, NY – December 2, 2025 – TIFIN Give, the first donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) platform designed for growth, today announced a new partnership with Chariot to utilize the Chariot Disbursements\* solution for faster, safer and easier grant payments for everyone involved. > “Chariot shares our belief that technology should make giving easier, not more complicated,” said Paul Lussow, CEO of Give. “By bringing Chariot’s advanced disbursement capabilities into the Give platform, we are reducing administrative burden for nonprofits and eliminating uncertainty for donors. This partnership strengthens the connection between generosity and impact and reflects our commitment to building the most reliable, modern charitable giving infrastructure in the industry.” This partnership ensures donors utilizing Give can be confident that their grants are reaching their intended recipients quickly and securely. Chariot’s technology is designed to move digital payments to nonprofit accounts instantly, once approved. > “We are excited to be a part of this next phase of innovation for TIFIN Give,” said Salo Serfati, Co\-founder & CEO of Chariot. “We built Chariot Disbursements hand\-in\-hand both with the grantmakers and the grantees to ensure that it would be widely adopted and effectively transform a historically painful process. We’re thrilled to see industry leaders like TIFIN Give sharing our focus on nonprofit experience and impact.” Nonprofits simply [claim their Chariot Account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup)\* one time to begin receiving instant grant payments and standardized gift data across all Chariot Disbursement partners, once approved. This streamlines processing and amplifies the impact of donor generosity. --- ### About Give [Give,](https://tifin.com/product/give/)[ ](https://tifin.com/product/give/)[a TIFIN company](https://tifin.com/product/give/)[,](https://tifin.com/product/give/) is a donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) platform that enables wealth firms to grow assets and strengthen relationships through modern philanthropy. By engaging the next generation, offering unmatched investment flexibility, and integrating tax\-efficient strategies, TIFIN Give turns charitable giving into a strategic lever for client retention, acquisition, and expansion. [The TIFIN Group LLC](https://tifin.com/) \(TIFIN\) is a platform of products and companies that apply AI for financial services, with a focus on wealth management, asset management and insurance. TIFIN’s companies include [Magnifi](https://magnifi.com/?__hstc=36169023.1c92d8c5245d28b7c82f8348f9d6d0df.1762365043941.1764617710969.1764622422650.58&__hssc=36169023.8.1764622422650&__hsfp=3732782242), [TIFIN @Work](https://tifin.com/product/atwork/), [TIFIN Sage](https://tifin.com/product/sage/), [TIFIN AG](https://tifin.com/product/ag/),[ ](https://tifin.com/product/amp/)[TIFIN AMP](https://tifin.com/product/amp/), [TIFIN](https://tifin.com/product/wealth/)[ ](https://tifin.com/product/wealth/)[Wealth](https://tifin.com/product/wealth/), [Helix](https://tifin.com/product/helix/), [Give](https://tifin.com/product/give/) and TIFIN AXIS. TIFIN is backed by leading investors including J.P. Morgan, Morningstar, Hamilton Lane, Franklin Templeton and SEI, among others. ### About Chariot Chariot is a financial technology company focused on Donor Advised Fund payments that creates better DAF giving experiences for donors, nonprofits and DAF providers. Named one of [Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-named-to-fast-company-s-annual-list-of-the-world-s-most-innovative-companies-of-2025) and [TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafpay-named-to-time-s-best-inventions-of-2025), Chariot is proud to work with leading nonprofits and DAF providers across the US \- like American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation & Daffy. [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements), helps to reduce operational challenges for DAFs and nonprofits, enabling a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. Chariot’s other solution, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay), is the first and only DAF payment option that embeds easy DAF giving into any donation form or nonprofit website where someone is inspired to give. *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Accounts come with a DDA \(Demand Deposit Account\) through our banking services partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC.* **For nonprofits with questions about receiving grant payments through Chariot Disbursements, please visit the **[**Chariot Help Center**](https://help.givechariot.com/)** or reach out to **[**contact@givechariot.com**](mailto:contact@givechariot.com)**.  ** --- ## Maximize DAF Giving This Year-End - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/maximize-daf-giving-this-year-end - Published: 2025-11-20 > Year-end giving season is officially here — and based on what we’re seeing across the sector, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years ever for donor-advised fund (DAF) activity. During our recent webinar, “Maximize DAF Giving This Year-End”, we dug into the trends, strategies, and sample campaigns nonprofits can use right now to capture more DAF dollars before December 31st. Year\-end giving season is officially here — and based on what we’re seeing across the sector, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years ever for donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) activity. During our recent webinar, “Maximize DAF Giving This Year\-End”, we dug into the trends, strategies, and sample campaigns nonprofits can use right now to capture more DAF dollars before December 31st. [Watch the Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2XgnFOQwfRPGPcW-u-lJq2A?__hstc=156812004.69d27c0fa3ba7ed0f7380571c11bba02.1759227268353.1764069004473.1764072322784.66&__hssc=156812004.1.1764072322784&__hsfp=2534347606) ## **Why DAF Giving Surges at Year\-End** DAF giving consistently spikes in December — and this year, nonprofits should expect an even stronger lift. - **Donors aim to meet year\-end giving goals. **December is when many donors take stock of their annual commitments and ensure they’ve met the charitable goals they set for the year. - **Appeal volume increases during Giving Season. **As inboxes fill with year\-end appeals, DAF donors are prompted to take action — especially when a nonprofit explicitly reminds them that DAFs are an option for giving. - [**2026 tax changes**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-the-new-tax-bill-will-reshape-philanthropy-and-dafs-actionable-steps-for-nonprofits-donors-an#:~:text=Wealthy%20Donors%3A%20Cap%20on%20Deductions%20Means%20Act%20Now&text=Beginning%20in%202026%2C%20the%20maximum,have%20a%20floor%20of%200.5%25.)** are accelerating DAF activity. **With upcoming changes to the standard and charitable deductions, many donors \(especially those in higher income brackets\) are “[bunching](https://www.trowepricecharitable.org/guides-and-forms/articles/bunching-as-a-tax-strategy.html)” and maximizing tax benefits while they still can. This means there may be an increased volume of DAF contributions *and *grants to nonprofits this December as donors plan ahead. ## Why Nonprofits Hesitate to Target DAF Donors at Year\-End Even as DAF giving grows, many organizations think twice about building targeted DAF outreach into year\-end campaigns. During the session, we addressed the most common barriers — and why they shouldn’t slow you down. ### **1. Fear of Re\-soliciting a DAF Donor** One of the biggest misconceptions is that you shouldn’t ask DAF donors who already gave earlier in the year to give again. But DAF donors can be among the most strategic and thoughtful–once they find a cause they want to support, they tend to respond well to periodic solicitations and reminders to give. Research from the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) highlights this, showing that **20% of DAF donors surveyed gave 2\+ times per year to the same organization**. ### **2. Concern About Being “Too Specific”** Some fundraisers feel awkward referencing a donor’s DAF directly. But this level of personalization can make donors feel valued: “It just shows that you’re paying attention… asking them to consider a year\-end gift because they have a DAF is actually a great idea.” \- Briel Steinberg, Chariot ### **3. Poor DAF Tracking in the CRM** While nonprofits always welcome an uptick in DAF gifts at year\-end, if they don’t have a solid tracking methodology in place, these gifts can often create more headaches for gift processors at an already crazy time of year. Not having a systematic way to track your DAF gifts can be a common blocker to receiving more of them — but the problem is easily fixable. Even if your historical data is inconsistent, you can start standardizing your data today by: - Soft\-crediting donors and hard\-crediting DAF providers on all new DAF gifts - Tagging gifts consistently, and distinguishing DAF gifts from QCDs, corporate matches, etc. - Using DAFpay to get donor information instantly and close stewardship gaps ### **4. The Myth That “DAF Donors Already Know How to Give”** DAF donors are often making gifts in the same spontaneous, emotionally\-driven moments as every other donor — a GivingTuesday email, a compelling social post, a peer\-to\-peer ask from a friend. In those moments, **convenience outweighs intention**. If a DAF option isn’t front and center, many donors default to the fastest visible method \(usually a credit card\). **This matters because the difference in outcome is massive. **When someone switches from giving via credit card to giving via a DAF: - Their gift is [**8–10× larger, on average**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) - You receive **full donor information **\(if using DAFpay\) - You strengthen the pipeline for major \+ planned gifts Donors don’t need you to remind them they have a DAF, but they do need you to make using it effortless. Every time you call out DAFs explicitly in your year\-end appeals — subject lines, CTAs, text messages, donation pages — you reduce friction, prompt better giving behavior, and unlock transformational revenue that would otherwise be lost. ## Best Practices for Year\-End Appeals ### **1. Optimize Donor Communications for DAF Giving** Make sure your GivingTuesday and year\-end assets — emails, social media, SMS alerts, landing pages — clearly mention DAF giving and link to DAF\-friendly donation options, like DAFpay. ### **2. Audit Your Website** Send your website to a friend and see how long it takes them to find a DAF giving option\! Can they give right away, or do they have to click around? Ensure that you have a clear: - DAF section on your **Ways to Give **page\(s\) - Guide on how to give via a DAF \(and make sure your EIN is listed clearly on your website\!\) - DAF giving option that is easy to use ### **3. Text Messaging Works** The [International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/) drove strong results by texting donors on DAF Day — and the same tactic works well during year\-end. ### **4. Make Sure DAFs are Included on All Campaign Pages and Donation Forms** If your organization uses multiple fundraising platforms or campaign pages, make sure there’s an easy DAF giving option on those, too. And check if DAFpay is enabled on your [fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) \- if so, you can toggle it on easily. Here are some examples of DAFpay implementations within different platforms: **Native integrations:** - [International Rescue Committee](https://help.rescue.org/donate/evergreen-acq?ms=gs_ppc_fy25_evergreen_mmus_oct&initialms=gs_ppc_fy25_evergreen_mmus_oct&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59izSk_lQFcWhJvPdbtLxcZNLBEOqFD31iWY5mgHq_VYWLTTAgChaFxBoCLVkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) \(Springboard/Jackson River\) - [National MS Society](https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/601467/donate) \(DonorDrive\) - [National Wildlife Federation](https://support.nwf.org/page/58307/donate/1?_ga=2.247764231.1032911974.1737475544-1772799792.1735778928&_gac=1.86397034.1737475544.Cj0KCQiAqL28BhCrARIsACYJvkdg6XkuNwqxt8_oSxYO9OSljG4nXrD6PPK9t_B0SEc8E4LG6npAhwwaAk55EALw_wcB) \(Engaging Networks\) **Custom integrations \(in editable forms\)\*:** - [Houston Food Bank](https://secure.houstonfoodbank.org/site/Donation2?df_id=15111&mfc_pref=T&15111.donation=form1) \(Luminate Online\) - [Dana\-Farber Cancer Institute](https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2100&mfc_pref=T&2100.donation=form1) \(Luminate Online\) - [Center for Reproductive Rights](https://secure.reproductiverights.org/a/givingtuesday2025?source=26CRKGE-1102AAX-ON&utm_medium=web&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=26CRKGE-1102AAX-ON&utm_content=2xmatch&am=15&SelectedFrequency=0) \(Every Action\) - [American Cancer Society](https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en&_gl=1*170tv28*_gcl_au*MTE5NDkzOTI3MS4xNzI3NzE4NzM1*_ga*NDE3NzA4MDAxLjE2OTYzNTU0NzM.*_ga_12CJLLFFQT*MTczNDUzNzEyOS4yNjguMC4xNzM0NTM3MTMwLjU5LjAuMA) \(In\-House Solution\) **“Add\-on” or “Link\-out” solutions\*:** - [AJC](https://donate.ajc.org/give/596773/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=wb_dtt_20250807_TopButtonUpdateAugust2025) \(GoFundMe Pro\) - [Boys & Girls Club](https://www.bgca.org/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/?form=donate&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18021921492&gbraid=0AAAAADs1h8va_vyf7BRsDd4o9Ogz3FFc1&gclid=Cj0KCQiArOvIBhDLARIsAPwJXOaehccwg984jUMV246La0858-UEbldcCsRb0dJkNpZgN8yLDdbXZ3caAuasEALw_wcB) \(FundraiseUp\) - [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/donation/) \(Tessitura\) - [B\+ Foundation](https://www.beposfdn.org/DONATE/donate-new.aspx) \(DonorPerfect\) *\*Note that adding DAFpay without a native integration does require a subscription Chariot plan.* If you have questions on how to best implement DAFpay on your existing donation forms, please reference the [Chariot help center](https://help.givechariot.com/), or [reach out for support](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-contact-form). ### 5. Educate Your Team Be your organization’s DAF champion and make sure that your DAF fundraising strategy is stressed cross\-functionally. ## Beyond the Gift: Stewardship & Pipeline Strategy Fast follow\-up is key to making donors feel appreciated and incentivized to continue supporting your cause. Make sure you: - Send a same\-day thank\-you, where possible - Route donors into prospecting research funnels - Flag them for major gift or even planned giving follow\-up - Track their giving and data accurately Many DAF donors are ideal planned giving prospects. Coordination across Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Planned Giving teams is essential. ## Resources to Power Your Year\-End DAF Strategy - [**Year\-End Toolkit**](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2CcRPIbaxQqOghrLzpYq7fw)\- Campaign templates, messaging prompts, buckslip examples, and more to help you launch high\-performing, DAF\-inclusive appeals. For inspiration, check out standout examples from the [**DAF Day Award Winners\!**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) And feel free to share these with us \- we’d love to see what your team comes up with\! - [**Standardize Your DAF Data Before Giving Season**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow)\- Ensure you’re tracking DAF gifts accurately — from naming conventions to CRM hygiene. - **Confirm Your Fundraising Platform Supports DAFpay**\- Make DAF giving as seamless as possible for donors by using a platform that supports DAFpay. See the full list of DAFpay integration partners [here.](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) - [**Claim Your Chariot Deposit Account**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup)**\***\- Centralize your DAF payments and visualize all your data in one place. This is essential for fast, effective stewardship — especially at year\-end. - **Apply for the **[**2026 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form)\- Participate to benchmark your organization’s DAF performance and gain deeper insights into donor behavior over time. --- ## Announcing the DAF Winners of the 2025 DAF Awards! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-daf-winners-of-the-2025-daf-awards - Published: 2025-11-18 > After sharing the nonprofit winners of the first ever DAF Day Awards earlier this month, we’re now excited to share the DAF winners! We’re thrilled to recognize four DAF sponsors that fully embraced the national holiday for DAF giving, testing out new avenues to engage their communities and grow their programs. After sharing [the nonprofit winners](https://www.givechariot.com/post/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) of the first ever DAF Day Awards earlier this month, we’re now excited to share the DAF winners\! We’re thrilled to recognize four DAF sponsors that fully embraced the national holiday for DAF giving, testing out new avenues to engage their communities and grow their programs. One of the [biggest successes of DAF Day 2025](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-day-sees-exponential-growth-in-year-two-moving-millions-in-daf-dollars-to-nonprofits) was the expansion in proactive DAF participation \- with 30 DAFs fully committing to the initiative, and many more engaging in smaller ways. From major community foundations, to financial institutions, to tech forward platforms, DAFs everywhere took advantage of this special opportunity to bring attention to the power of donor\-advised fund giving. ## Category 1: Most DAFpay Gifts Made DAF Day 2025 set new records for DAFpay usage, but no DAF had a stronger showing than [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/)\! There were more DAFpay gifts made via Daffy on DAF Day than any other sponsor in the country. Overall, Daffy reported a **69% increase **in DAF Day giving volume vs. 2024 \- and a 32% increase in average gift size. Daffy also saw a **70% increase **in new account openings on DAF Day 2025 vs. 2024. Daffy’s VP of Marketing, [Chelsea Paul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseastarrpaul/), shared that “This growth underscores Daffy’s momentum in attracting first\-time DAF donors and expanding the movement for everyday generosity.” Daffy’s campaign included email and social comms, promo codes for new accounts and a special give away of $100 added donations to 10 donors that gave on DAF Day. ## Category 2: Most Innovative DAF Day Campaign Element While there was tremendous energy around DAF Day at many participating providers, one organization took things to the next level: [The Sacramento Region Community Foundation](https://www.sacregcf.org/)\! They held an office party for DAF Day, complete with a special cake and a team celebration video. This effort to mark DAF Day achieved an important goal of the movement: building awareness and engagement around DAFs internally as much as externally. Particularly at Community Foundations, where too many people in the community remain unaware of their local DAF offering. ## Category 3: Most Compelling DAF Day Communication We heard from countless DAF Sponsors that DAF Day 2025 actually spurred them to talk about DAFs in their public marketing for the first time. Be it in newsletters, teach ins, email comms or social media \- DAFs were driving a positive conversation on DAF giving everywhere: The Sea Forward Fund shared [an educational carousel](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/seaforwardfund_daf-day-2025-activity-7379600052354220032-eZkQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8) on LinkedIn, Foundation Source [hosted a live webinar](https://foundationsource.com/event/daf-day-2025-unlock-the-power-of-daf-fundraising/) and TIFIN released a [special podcast episode](https://tifin.com/resources/podcast-how-philanthropy-is-powering-the-future-of-growth/19025/). This was a hotly\-contested category so we had to recognize two DAFs: The Arizona Community Foundation and The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County in Indiana\! [The Arizona Community Foundation](https://www.azfoundation.org/) leaned into the giving goals of DAF Day, actively encouraging their fundholders to take action on October 9th with direct communications and a powerful series of LinkedIn posts \([here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/azfoundation_dafday2025-dafdonors-philanthropy-activity-7379218729047478272-AIKx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8), [here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/azfoundation_togetherwemakemorepossible-twmmp-philanthropy-activity-7381777682650337280-Im24?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8) and [here](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/azfoundation_dafday2025-dafdonors-togetherwemakemorepossible-activity-7382112439464714240-WDnk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8)\). It also showed their nonprofit community how mission\-aligned they are, going the extra mile to encourage more grant\-making in a year where their DAF giving has already set new records. [The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County](https://www.cfmdin.org/) sent a series of beautifully designed emails to their fundholders leading up to and on DAF Day. The series framed DAF Day as a way to get more intentional and engaged with your philanthropy, drawing attention to the power of DAFs and the infectious nature of generosity. ## DAF Day Impact for DAF Programs Beyond the awareness building, we also heard powerful reports of the quantitative impact of DAF Day across many key goals for participating DAFs. A few of our favorite anecdotes are below: - **Engaging Fundholders**: One participant used DAF Day to reach out to fundholders that hadn’t yet recommended a grant in 2025 \- 10% of those accounts responded with grants totalling over $460,000\! - **Accelerating Contributions**: A new Community Foundation shared that their DAF Day appeal led two fundholders to make large contributions to their accounts in October, doubling their program size\! - **Generating New Leads**: One community foundation shared that 5 new prospective fundholders reached out on DAF Day after their efforts to promote their program\! We will continue sharing stories and insights learned from DAF Day 2025 leading up to next year’s campaign. In the meantime, we encourage anyone involved with DAF Day to please [take the participant survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9PXUT4P-GU7JiSaQvnh1Zjyk_1YlbmAqUVdsrxtfl1qTydg/viewform?usp=dialog) to share your successes and feedback. --- ## Founders Pledge Selects Chariot to Power Grant Payments - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/founders-pledge-selects-chariot-to-power-grant-payments - Published: 2025-11-18 > Founders Pledge, a leading DAF sponsor serving mission-driven entrepreneurs that have collectively pledged $11.9 billion to charity, has partnered with Chariot to power their domestic grant payments. Earlier this month, Founders Pledge officially went live with Chariot Disbursements*, streamlining how funds move to nonprofits and improving security, speed, and the overall grantee experience. [Founders Pledge](https://www.founderspledge.com/), a leading DAF sponsor serving mission\-driven entrepreneurs that have collectively pledged $11.9 billion to charity, has partnered with Chariot to power their domestic grant payments. Earlier this month, Founders Pledge officially went live with [Chariot Disbursements\*](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements), streamlining how funds move to nonprofits and improving security, speed, and the overall grantee experience. Founders Pledge serves more than 2,100 members and has moved $1.6 billion to the charitable sector —supporting entrepreneurs in fulfilling their philanthropic commitments through donor\-advised funds, advisory services, and in\-house research that identifies high\-impact giving opportunities. As the organization continues to scale its community and grantmaking volume, modernizing grant payments has become essential. “We’re constantly trying to improve,” says [Travers Oliver](https://www.linkedin.com/in/traversoliver/), Head of Philanthropic Services at Founders Pledge. “Our members are entrepreneurs—they know a good product, they create good products, and their expectations are high. We need to meet that standard. Chariot helps us deliver a best\-in\-market experience by making our grant payments faster, safer, and far less repetitive for the nonprofits we support.” According to Travers, the charitable sector’s lack of standardization around payments has long placed burdens on both funders and grantees. As multiple DAFs and grantmakers built parallel systems, nonprofits were often left navigating repetitive verification flows and long delays in receiving funds. “One of the big challenges we constantly see is around payments and due diligence. Grantees ask, ‘Why do I have to do this for Vanguard? For Founders Pledge? For NPT? For Fidelity?’ The list goes on and on. The real benefit we see in Chariot is that it essentially says: we’re all in this together. Grantees create an account once and can safely and quickly receive funds from multiple payers without repeating the process over and over.” With more DAFs like Founders Pledge joining the Chariot platform every month, the value keeps increasing for all participants. “Every additional payer using the system increases the benefit for everyone,” Travers adds. “The grantee experience becomes easier, the payments get safer, and the whole sector becomes more efficient.” For Chariot, the partnership accelerates the much\-needed transition to more modern, collaborative and purpose\-built solutions for charitable payments – especially among fast\-growing, tech\-forward organizations whose donors expect seamless, secure experiences. “Founders Pledge sets an incredibly high bar for product quality and operational excellence. We’re honored to help power their grantmaking and to better support the nonprofits their members care so much about,” said [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot. Nonprofit organizations interested in more seamless grant payments from Founders Pledge and Chariot’s other Disbursement partners are encouraged to [claim their Chariot Account](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup)\* today. *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account through our banking services partner, Column, N.A., Member FDIC. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Announcing the 2025 DAF Day Award Winners! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners - Published: 2025-11-07 > Not only did thousands of organizations join the DAF Day movement this year, there were also hundreds that shared their promotional activity for consideration in the first-ever DAF Day Awards. Below you’ll find a summary of the award winners across all 5 nonprofit categories and the full list of finalists’ promotional assets that is avalable to review. ##### We’re excited to recognize standout promotions and activations for DAF Day 2025 across the country. Not only did [thousands of organizations join the DAF Day movement](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-day-sees-exponential-growth-in-year-two-moving-millions-in-daf-dollars-to-nonprofits) this year, there were also hundreds that shared their promotional activity for consideration in the first\-ever DAF Day Awards. Below you’ll find a summary of the award winners across all 5 nonprofit categories and the full list of finalists’ promotional assets that is available to review. Review All of the Finalists Now that it’s been almost a month since DAF Day, we invite any participating organizations to share their results, success stories and other feedback in the 2025 DAF Day Participant Survey. Take the Participant Survey ## **Category 1: Most DAFpay Gifts Made** There was a surge in DAF giving on DAF Day this year, especially via the only integrated DAF payment option, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay). While much of DAF giving continues to happen “offline,” DAFpay lets donors “express check out” with their DAF on a nonprofit’s donation forms, campaign pages or websites. It’s a faster, more connected experience for supporters that spurs more gifts from new DAF donors \- and for nonprofits, DAFpay shares donor data at the moment the gift intent is made. **Winner**: [The Alzheimer’s Association](https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/other_ways_to_give/donor_advised_funds) took the top prize this year with more than two dozen DAF gifts made through DAFpay on October 9th\! It was a heated competition with the following organizations all in close contention: - [The ACLU Foundation](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund) - [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html) - [Blood Cancer United](https://bloodcancerunited.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) - [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://giving.mskcc.org/donate/donor-advised-funds) - [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) One of the most exciting things we saw through DAFpay specifically was that **84 organizations got their first\-ever DAFpay gift **on DAF Day 2025. More digital DAF giving was happening across cause areas and around the country, from the North Brooklyn Coalition of Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Public Broadcast Service, to Georgia Tech and the Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery. ## **Category 2: Most Innovative DAF Day Campaign Element** While the Chariot team provided [a robust, free marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) that any participating organization could use for their DAF Day campaign, so many nonprofits went far beyond the templates and checklists. This award celebrates the folks that thought outside of the box to spread DAF awareness and drive more DAF giving – the creativity among participating organizations was truly astounding. **Winner**: Ocean Conservancy’s homepage takeover for DAF Day\! Ocean Conservancy employed a pop up on their website’s homepage to bring every digital visitor’s attention to DAF Day, with easy links to complete a DAF gift or learn more in a few seconds. **Other Finalists**: - Interactive SMS Campaign by The ACLU Foundation - “Add to Calendar” event on the Hirshberg Foundation’s official schedule - [Forbes article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/doctors-without-borders/2025/09/24/unlocking-impact-how-donor-advised-funds-fuel-lifesaving-care-at-doctors-without-borders/) authored by Doctors without Borders - In\-person DAF Day Lunch & Learn hosted by Youth Odyssey We also saw innovative strategies in the following areas: - **Education**: Nonprofits utilized pets, students and staff to help teach their audience about what DAFs are, how they work and why they should be used to power their mission. - - The Michael J. Fox Foundation created [a downloadable guide to DAFs](https://www.michaeljfox.org/dafday) - The Public Theater featured [a DAF quiz](https://thepublictheater.typeform.com/2025DAFDayQuiz?typeform-source=publictheater.org) that entered people to win show tickets - **Engagement**: Fundraisers utilized new channels and means of engaging their communities in DAF Day. - - The IRC tested out SMS communication with DAF donors - The DC Diaper Bank hosted a webinar for supporters on DAFs - **Reach**: DAFs took center stage on October 9th, reaching new audiences with web banners, full website takeovers and articles on major outlets. - - Chronicle of Philanthropy featured [an article](https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/advice-for-a-givingtuesday-like-blitz-to-boost-daf-gifts/) contributed to by Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and World Wildlife Fund. - **Motivation**: Organizations took new approaches to inspire giving, with specific goals for DAF Day participation and Match campaigns \- many [funded by other specific DAF donors via MatchNice](https://www.matchnice.org/serendipity-center-case-study). See All the Finalist Assets in This Category ## Category 3: Most Creative Social Post Nonprofits took to new platforms, across new mediums, with boundless energy on DAF Day 2025. From produced videos, to beautiful graphics, to detailed carousels to laugh\-out\-loud GIFs, the message of DAF Day was everywhere across Tik\-Tok, Bluesky, X, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn. **Winners**: - Planned PEThood of Georgia’s adorable cat\-led DAF teach\-in video - K9 Youth Alliance’s carousel post on DAF giving This was the most popular category and incredibly competitive. These two stood out by infusing their brand and mission into original and engaging content to promote DAF giving with a positive message. There was a ton of heart poured into these promotions across the board, as organizations took advantage of the toolkit and added their own flavor. **Other finalists**: - Child’s Play Theater \- a personal & education Tik Tok explainer - March of Dimes \- an informative LinkedIn video led by a team member - Million Dollar Women Fund \- a hilarious GIF featured to activate their audience - [Dream.org](http://Dream.org) \- featured a 1x1 interview with their CEO - Lucille Packard Foundation for Children’s Health \- highlighted a moving donor story See All the Finalist Assets in This Category ## **Category 4: Most Compelling DAF Day Email** Millions of people had DAF Day in their inbox this year, as nonprofits big and small shared motivating CTAs to either learn about DAFs or make a gift. **Winners**: - b\-present Foundation’s beautifully\-designed email featured clear messaging, resources and action items - SF Marin Foodbank’s “save the date” email featured a dynamic header image that circled October 9th on the calendar and offered a 2x match to DAF supporters **Other finalists**: - East Tennessee State sent student video appeals - Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County incorporated a “superhero” theme - Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals provided clear rationale to act on DAF Day - National Brain Tumor Society promoted a $20K match that a specific DAF donor sponsored - Nicasa Behavior Health Services highlighted an inspiring client story tied to DAF giving See All the Finalist Assets in This Category ## **Category 5: Most Effective DAF Day Mailer** People across the country got DAF\-specific items in their mailbox for the first time this year, featuring motivating goals, match offers and easy QR codes. **Winners**: - The Public Theater’s postcard highlighting a specific DAF Day goal of 50 gifts - Wounded Warrior Project’s postcard offering a QR code for an easy DAF payment option **Other Finalists**: - Central Park Conservancy’s on\-brand mailer - Humane Society of Huron Valley’s cat\-centric post card with a QR code - Mei Flower’s flyer connecting DAFs to youth education - Michael J. Fox Foundation’s postcard with hand written directions See All the Finalist Assets in This Category ## **Next Up** - Please fill out the annual [DAF Day Participation Survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9PXUT4P-GU7JiSaQvnh1Zjyk_1YlbmAqUVdsrxtfl1qTydg/viewform?usp=dialog) \- we want to continue spotlighting your success stories, as well as incorporate your feedback to improve DAF Day for 2026\! - Keep an eye out for the DAF Provider DAF Day Awards announcement, coming later in November. --- ## Kickoff for the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/kickoff-for-the-2026-daf-fundraising-report - Published: 2025-11-03 > Learn requirements and next steps to participate in the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report ##### What you missed from the 2026 DFR Kickoff Webinar, and what your organization needs to do to participate. Yesterday, hundreds of nonprofit leaders joined us for the kickoff of the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report—the only large\-scale research on nonprofits’ own DAF giving data. The session focused on what you need to do to get involved, the benefits of participating, the data and formatting requirements, and the key deadlines for joining the study. Any organization interested in joining **must review **the kickoff session and [**submit their application**](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form) by **January 15, 2026.** [Watch The Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2oiBI0U87TXaHC9IeOmyhXQ)[Download the Presentation Slides](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2K-Kv1s6pQHO6we2jrg-Mpw) ## Building on the Success of the 2025 Report Since the first DAF Fundraising Report launched in 2024, the project has grown into a cornerstone resource for understanding the role of Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) in nonprofit fundraising. Following the success of the [**2025 Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which was downloaded by thousands of nonprofit and DAF leaders, the research team — led by Chariot, [**K2D Strategies**](https://k2dstrategies.com/), [**AKwire**](https://akwiregroup.com/) and [**Gambit Analytics**](https://www.gambitanalytics.io/) — is expanding both the scale and scope of the 2026 study. We’re also kicking off the process earlier to help participating organizations get organized and gain actionable insights sooner. ## Benefits of Participating - **Be part of the movement: **Join hundreds of nonprofits shaping how the sector understands DAF fundraising. - **Organize your data: **Access resources, templates, and data quality tests you can use to clean up your DAF data and ensure a strong tracking strategy moving forward. - **Showcase your success: **Participating organizations receive visibility in a national report used by fundraisers, researchers, and DAF providers alike. ## Participation Requirements To take part in the 2026 study, organizations will need to: - Gather **five years **of individual giving data \(2021\-2025\), with all DAF gifts clearly marked. - Run the Data Quality Check tests \(shared in the kickoff session\) to ensure your data is clean and consistent before sharing it. - Submit your data in the templatized format \(accessible in the slides and recording\) with unique donor IDs applied — **no personally identifiable information \(PII\) is collected**. ## Key Deadlines - **January 15, 2026: **Review the 2026 DFR Kickoff recording and **submit your application**. - **February 15, 2026: **Submit your organization’s data following the provided template and instructions found in the recording and slides. ## Helpful Resource To make participation easier, we’ve collected these tools and guides to help you get started and see success: - Leverage our [**DAF Provider Directory**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-provider-directory), a comprehensive list of DAF providers, to help organizations clean up your DAF naming conventions. - Run these [**5 tests**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow) to check your data for quality and make your life easier during the busy giving season. ## Questions? For any questions about data submission or participation, contact Imran Ali at [**iali@k2dstrategies.com**](mailto:iali@k2dstrategies.com). --- ## Introducing Chariot’s Directory of all DAF Providers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers - Published: 2025-10-30 > Updated 10/30/25 with even more DAF providers to help your organization better manage and improve your DAF data!Collecting and organizing DAF data is a rapidly growing challenge for nonprofits. Managing DAF donations requires nonprofits to constantly align and realign data from multiple portals to ensure accurate uploads into CRMs and finance databases. Missing donor details and delayed gift deliveries only add to the complexity, making an already intricate process even more burdensome.Another n ***Updated 10/30/25 with even more DAF providers to help your organization better manage and improve your DAF data\!*** Collecting and organizing DAF data is a rapidly growing challenge for nonprofits. Managing DAF donations requires nonprofits to constantly align and realign data from multiple portals to ensure accurate uploads into CRMs and finance databases. Missing donor details and delayed gift deliveries only add to the complexity, making an already intricate process even more burdensome. Another notable difficulty stems from the absence of a centralized, publicly accessible list of DAF providers. Without standardized information, gift processing teams struggle to know what is a DAF gift and then name those funding sources consistently in their database. This leads to gift processing inefficiency and analytical errors. To help with these challenges, Chariot has created an official list of DAF providers—a comprehensive directory of providers and their official names. [Download the directory here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-provider-directory) This resource equips nonprofits with a shared framework to maintain accurate data structures, streamline gift tracking, and save valuable time. Incorporate this list and naming convention in your business rules for gift processing and begin improving your DAF data today\! Download the full list here and begin the process of simplifying your nonprofit’s DAF data. If more consistent, robust and timely DAF data is a goal of your organization, be sure to explore [the ways you can leverage DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising) that make the most sense for your organization. Don't see your DAF provider listed? Reach out to us at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com)\! --- ## DAF Day Sees Exponential Growth in Year Two, Moving Millions in DAF Dollars to Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-day-sees-exponential-growth-in-year-two-moving-millions-in-daf-dollars-to-nonprofits - Published: 2025-10-16 > DAF Day 2025 saw 4x the nonprofit participation and 6x the DAF participation from DAF Day 2024! ##### DAF Day 2025 saw 4x the nonprofit participation and 6x the DAF participation from DAF Day 2024\! Chariot [launched DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-daf-day-the-story-behind-the-new-giving-day-on-10-10) in 2024 as a new, nation\-wide initiative to elevate DAF giving. It was announced in July in partnership with a few dozen nonprofits, fundraising platforms and a handful of forward\-thinking DAFs – by October, more than 1,000 nonprofits had signed up to participate in the giving day. The [results](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) pointed to millions of dollars moved from DAF accounts to nonprofits – and some organizations cited their biggest giving day ever. In year two, we had ambitious goals to recruit more DAF participants, prepare nonprofits more effectively, and improve the DAF donor giving experience. We also wanted to analyze year\-over\-year performance in terms of DAF Day’s reach, education, and activation. ### DAF Day's Reach DAF Day serves as a shared moment – with a shared message – to build awareness of what donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) are, and how they can help donors achieve their philanthropic goals in a seamless, tax\-efficient way. Participating DAFs and nonprofits actively promote the giving day to their audiences, creating powerful amplification around the country. This year we saw: - 30 [participating DAFs](https://www.dafday.com/providers) \(6x 2024\)— including Thrivent Charitable, the Arizona Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and many more - 4.4K participating nonprofits \(4x 2024\) - 20K unique visitors to [dafday.com](http://dafday.com) \(2x 2024\) ### Educating Nonprofits on DAF Fundraising Despite DAF giving becoming an [increasingly critical piece of nonprofits’ fundraising](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) results, many nonprofit professionals still lack the resources needed to champion DAFs within their organizations. In the lead up to DAF Day, we wanted to provide accessible tools – such as marketing toolkits and a webinar training series – that DAF champions could use to promote the message both internally to their teams and externally to their donors. These materials saw high levels of engagement: - 17K interactions \(e.g., deck views, template downloads\) with various materials in the [DAF Day Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) - 2.6K unique downloads of the Marketing Toolkit - 10K interactions with the 13\-part DAF Day Training Series \(e.g., [webinars](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) & [recaps](https://www.givechariot.com/blog)\) ### Activating Generosity Because DAF giving happens through 1,000\+ different DAFs to 1.5\+ million different nonprofits, capturing a holistic and real\-time assessment of a single day of giving poses challenges. The best way to capture the amount of giving is via the DAF providers themselves – this year, we had 20 of our 30 DAF participants share their single\-day results. We aggregated this DAF data and combined it with DAFpay statistics to tabulate: - Directly Observable DAF Day giving: - - Over $2 million granted from over 1,000 gifts - Daffy, who promoted DAF Day both years, saw \+70% growth from 2024. - DAFpay records on DAF Day: - - Record single\-day volume: \+150% vs. 2024 - Record single\-day number of gifts: \+42% vs. 2024 - Record number of unique organizations supported in one day: \+57% vs. 2024 Additionally, several participating DAFs observed a sharp increase in activity compared to DAF Day 2024, as well as a notable rise in new accounts created, new contributions or new fundholder leads. ### Spreading the Word Organizations across the country – and around the world – took the message of DAF Day and creatively applied it to their own missions and communities. We saw: - DAF explainer videos featuring cats from Georgia - A community foundation party in Sacramento decorating a cake to celebrate the DAF holiday - Donor teach\-ins at a diaper bank in D.C. - Texts for international relief - Website takeovers to save our oceans - Postcards for parks - Emails for local theaters - Linkedin posts for hospitals - The adoption of [DAF Day in Canada](http://www.dafday.ca)\! - And thousands more activations and communications of every kind We also introduced the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/) this year, giving every DAF\-eligible nonprofit access to DAFpay for their donors. There was also an unexpected treat on DAF Day – [TIME announced the Best Inventions of 2025](https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2025/?filters=social-impact), which included Chariot’s DAFpay technology\! ### Key Opportunities for Next Year **More DAF partnerships**: We were thrilled by the boost in DAF participation this year – it allowed us to more effectively spread the word about DAF Day and new capture metrics & insights. However, our partners comprised <2% of the DAF market – which means a lot of room for growth\! We’re hopeful that the clear positive impact our 2025 DAF partners saw will only encourage more providers to join the effort for 2026. **A Longer Campaign Timeline**: While many DAFs and nonprofits discovered DAF Day sometime during the summer, many joined in on the initiative only a few weeks before October 9th. Next year, we want to make sure that as many participants as possible have enough time to outline their communications strategy – which means we’ll be providing resources & tools earlier in the year. **Expansion of DAFpay**: DAFpay continues to be the best way to make it easier for donors to give with their DAFs. We’re constantly expanding our list of [fundraising platform integration partners](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) – be sure to [follow us](http://givechariot.com/newsletter) to hear when your fundraising platform has enabled DAFpay as a payment option. ### What Comes Next This is only an initial summary of the outcomes from DAF Day 2025. In the coming weeks, we will also be announcing the winners of the first\-ever [DAF Day Awards](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-the-daf-day-awards) and gathering more stats from participating nonprofits as they are available. **Mark your Calendar**: DAF Day 2026 will be on Thursday, October 8th\! --- ## DAFpay Named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafpay-named-to-time-s-best-inventions-of-2025 - Published: 2025-10-09 > We’re honored to share that DAFpay has been recognized by TIME as one of the year’s best inventions. ##### We’re honored to share that DAFpay has been recognized by TIME as one of the year’s best inventions. Appearing in [*TIME’s*](https://time.com/) Social Impact category, DAFpay was selected among innovations shaping how people live, work, and give. The 2025 list spans breakthroughs from health care to AI—and, now, philanthropy. This award recognizes DAFpay’s contribution to advancing charitable giving and the exciting potential of donor\-advised funds as a vehicle for greater generosity. ### A Payment Option for Donor\-Advised Funds [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay) is the world's first donor\-advised fund payment option, allowing donors to recommend a grant to any cause in just 3 clicks, directly on a nonprofit's donation forms. A donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) is a charitable account that allows people to set aside money for giving and recommend grants to nonprofits over time. DAFs are the fastest\-growing way Americans give—with more than $250 billion already dedicated to charitable purposes. While DAFs make it easy for people to set aside money for charity, giving through them hasn’t always been simple. Donors are often redirected through multiple platforms to make a single gift, and nonprofits receive those contributions through a slow, more manual process that provides limited donor information. DAFpay changes that. By embedding DAF giving directly within nonprofit donation forms, DAFpay turns a multi\-step process into a three\-click experience. Donors can recommend a grant without ever leaving the page, and nonprofits receive the data they need to acknowledge and steward that gift immediately. ### DAFpay’s Impact on Giving Since its launch, DAFpay has helped all kinds of nonprofit organizations —from the [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.pmc.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds), to [the Alzheimer’s Association](https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/other_ways_to_give/donor_advised_funds), to [the Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/)— better integrate DAF giving into their fundraising, leading to seamless giving, stronger donor relationships, and more charitable dollars reaching these critical causes faster. Today, DAFpay is on over 100,000 nonprofits’ donation forms, which has more than doubled in the past year. DAFpay is also natively available as a core payment option in [dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), including GoFundMe, Givebutter, GiveCampus, OneCause, NeonOne, Engaging Networks and Funraise. “We started Chariot with the goal of making donor\-advised fund giving easier and more rewarding than giving with a credit card,” said [Salomon Serfati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/salomon-serfati-8ba836112/), Co\-Founder and CEO of Chariot. “This recognition from*Time*shows how much potential for generosity can be unlocked through frictionless giving experiences.” See the full list here: [time.com/collections/best\-inventions\-2025/](http://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2025/) --- ## Thrivent Charitable on DAFpay, in New Partnership with Chariot - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/thrivent-charitable-on-dafpay-in-new-partnership-with-chariot - Published: 2025-10-07 > Thrivent Charitable, a leading DAF provider trusted by thousands of donors, is making it easier to give directly from their DAFs through DAFpay. #### Thrivent Charitable is giving donors seamless access to DAF giving wherever they’re inspired to give online through DAFpay, just in time for DAF Day 2025. [Thrivent Charitable](https://thriventcharitable.thrivent.com/) donors can now give from their donor\-advised fund as easily as using a credit card — thanks to a new partnership with [Chariot](http://www.givechariot.com), creator of [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay), the first and only DAF payment option. Thrivent Charitable, a leading donor\-advised fund provider serving donors who are passionate about making positive impact in their communities, is partnering with Chariot to enable seamless DAF giving directly from Thrivent Charitable accounts through DAFpay. Thrivent Charitable’s purpose is to open the joy of generosity to all, and the new partnership makes it even easier for donors to use their DAF in more places — anytime they’re inspired to give. Thrivent Charitable donors can now use DAFpay on more than 100,000 nonprofit donation forms, enabling a DAF “checkout” which is faster and simpler than donating with a credit card. This speed is especially valuable for time\-sensitive campaigns such as giving days, crisis response, or peer\-to\-peer fundraisers**.** “It’s a top priority of Thrivent Charitable to make it easy for anyone to give to the causes they cherish,” shares [Karen Voracek](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmvoracek/), Vice President, Donor Experience, Marketing and Strategy at Thrivent Charitable. “That’s why we are excited to unlock the power of DAFpay for anyone with a Thrivent Charitable DAF account.” With DAFpay, donors can complete a grant request in just three clicks, while nonprofits receive instant confirmation, enabling real\-time campaign tracking and immediate donor acknowledgment. “We’re proud to partner with mission\-first DAFs like Thrivent Charitable, who put the donor experience first,” adds [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot. “They truly ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to maximizing DAF usage and improving the nonprofit experience with DAF giving by being proactive with capabilities like DAFpay.” The partnership launched just in time for [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com) Oct. 9 — a national celebration of donor\-advised fund giving. Thrivent Charitable joins 26 other DAF Providers this year in officially partnering on the initiative, promoting the DAF giving holiday to their audience and contributing their DAF Day giving stats to the national impact report. Together, Thrivent Charitable and Chariot are redefining how DAF giving happens — fast, flexible, and wherever generosity is inspired. ##### About Thrivent Charitable Thrivent Charitable™ makes it easy for anyone to give to the causes they cherish through personalized, flexible giving solutions. Donors can choose from a variety of charitable fund options matching their interests, values, and financial goals — whether they wish to advise grants, designate automatic annual gifts, create scholarships, or support specific causes. Gifts can be made using a wide range of assets, including cash, real estate, qualified charitable distributions, and even livestock. With expert one\-on\-one consulting for financial advisors, donors, and nonprofits, Thrivent Charitable tailors charitable plans to **maximize impact today and for generations to come.** *Thrivent Charitable™, the marketing name for Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing®, is a public charity that serves individuals, organizations and the community through charitable planning, donor\-advised funds and endowments. Thrivent Charitable works collaboratively with Thrivent and its financial professionals. It is a separate legal entity from Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.* ##### About Chariot Chariot is a financial technology company focused on Donor Advised Fund payments. We create better DAF giving experiences for donors, nonprofits, and DAF providers. Chariot’s DAFpay is the first and only DAF payment option that embeds easy DAF giving into any donation form or nonprofit website where someone is inspired to give. Chariot’s other product, Chariot Disbursements\*, solves operational challenges for DAFs and nonprofits, enabling a faster, easier, safer way to send and receive grant payments. DAFpay is on over 100,000 nonprofits’ donation forms, including American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. Chariot Disbursements is utilized by all kinds of DAFs, including Daffy and the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Accounts come with a DDA \(Demand Deposit Account\) through our banking services partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC.* --- ## 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Launches with Ambitious New Goals - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/2026-daf-fundraising-report-with-ambitious-new-goals - Published: 2025-10-01 > Today Chariot, K2D Strategies & AKwire announced the third edition of our groundbreaking analysis, The DAF Fundraising Report, for 2026. ##### The DFR is the only large\-scale research done on nonprofit’s own DAF giving data, and for its third year the team is aiming to significantly expand the data pool, pieces of analysis and applications for the findings. Today Chariot, [K2D Strategies](https://k2dstrategies.com/) & [AKwire](https://akwiregroup.com/) announced the third edition of our groundbreaking analysis, [The DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), for 2026. There is an open call for nonprofits to participate and [a mandatory session](https://streamyard.com/watch/JF3ixUPgFMNR) on October 30th at 12pm ET for participating nonprofits. In this session we will go over the data requirements in depth to set everyone up for success submitting their data in early 2026. [Register for the Kick Off](https://streamyard.com/watch/JF3ixUPgFMNR) Our key goals with this research effort are: 1. Create a greater understanding of the true impact of DAF giving on nonprofit fundraising, and monitor changes over time. 2. Establish shared best practices around DAF data that enable more strategic decision making around DAF fundraising. 3. Amplify the specific ways nonprofits are finding success, so that the entire sector can grow the amount of DAF giving together. "No Kid Hungry participated and contributed to the 2025 study to understand how our program compared to the overall report. The 2025 report revealed that 2024 DAF “conversions” resulted in 178% increase in giving, and we have been leaning into strategies across all our fundraising efforts based on this data. We expect to drive even more DAF giving and are looking forward to participating again in 2026\!" [Karen Barr](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-barr/), Managing Director of Individual Giving, Share Our Strength ### History of Report The DAF Fundraising Report began in 2024 as a collaboration between Chariot & K2D Strategies to fill a critical gap in the available research on DAFs. There was great analysis being done by [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/), [The DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) and [Giving Compass / The Lilly School of Philanthropy](https://cdn.givingcompass.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/18085530/FINAL_Donor-Satisfaction-and-Unlocking-Public-Sector-Funding-from-DAFs.pdf), but no one was examining data from the nonprofit’s perspective. The impact of the growth in DAF giving on nonprofits themselves remained a mystery \- and a frustrating black box for many in the sector. As we embarked on this effort, we quickly learned why no one had tackled this before \- it’s incredibly difficult\! Nonprofit practices vary significantly across the sector and most organizations did not have a way to easily report on their DAF giving levels accurately, let alone perform more advanced analysis on donor behavior. Not only did our efforts help the participating organizations improve their data tracking, our establishment of best practices, resources and benchmarks have moved countless organizations around the country forward as well. For the 2025 report, we also brought in [AKwire](https://akwiregroup.com/) as our official data partner and their contributions have set this report up to efficiently grow participation and improve the overall analysis in the years to come. ### Goals for the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report - **Growth**: We are aiming to double the scale of this report in terms of unique participants and amount of DAF giving data. - **Insights**: We want to expand the research to include analysis of DAF giving for different types of nonprofits, so that we can offer more specific recommendations. - **Timeline**: We are targeting an early\-May release. The sooner in the year that organizations have this information in their hands, the more impact it will have on their fundraising success. ### Reasons to Participate This report simply would not exist without the involvement of dozens of nonprofit partners. They have put in the work to review their data and share anonymized gift details with us to make this large scale analysis possible. They also keep coming back year after year because they are seeing significant value from participating for their own organizations, such as: 1. **Data improvements**: The submission process creates an impetus to clean up existing data & institute consistent data entry practices. The Chariot, K2D & AKwire teams also provide hands\-on, expert guidance. 2. **Strategy**: The results provide concrete evidence on the increasing importance of DAF giving, benchmarks to measure success and justification for strategic investments. 3. **Collaboration**: Participation leads to greater collaboration across roles and teams internally, breaking down silos and increasing DAF understanding to spot more opportunities across the organization. 4. **Communications**: The results of the report make it easy & compelling to present to leadership to understand gravity and importance of the developments around DAF giving 5. **Visibility**: Hundreds of DAF leaders are reviewing this report and using it in their own presentations. Participants are intentionally highlighted throughout the report via case studies, testimonials and specific call outs for inventive approaches to DAF fundraising. “Participating in the DAF Fundraising Report for the past two years has been critical to our DAF Strategy at the March of Dimes. It helped us improve our data practices and then quantify the impact of our investments, like our roll out of DAFpay. In 2024, we more than doubled our DAF giving year\-over\-year.” [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/), VP of Major, Principal & Planned Giving, The March of Dimes ### Next Steps - At least one person from your team needs to sign up for [the mandatory kick off webinar](https://streamyard.com/watch/JF3ixUPgFMNR) on Thursday October 30 at 12pm ET. We will review the exact process, requirements and timeline for data submission. - It’s never too early to start improving your DAF data tracking. Try running [these 5 tests](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow) to QA your data to make your life easier during the busy giving season. ### Requirement to Participate 1. DAF gifts have to be consistently coded in your database. 2. All PII needs to be masked with unique donor IDs \(no identifying donor details should be shared in your submission\). 3. Your DAF Revenue in 2025 should be at least $100,000 and your total revenue from individual giving should be at least $500,000. 4. Ability to supply all historical individual giving data from 2021 \- 2025, both from DAF and non\-DAF giving. --- ## OneCause Launches Integration with DAFpay by Chariot, Unlocking Access to Billions in Donor-Advised Funds - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/onecause-launches-integration-with-dafpay-by-chariot-unlocking-access-to-billions-in-donor-advised - Published: 2025-10-01 > OneCause, a leading provider of event and online fundraising solutions, announced its integration with DAFpay by Chariot®, offering nonprofits a seamless way to accept Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) contributions directly through its Online Fundraising solutions. New York, NY & Indianapolis, IN, Oct. 01, 2025 \(GLOBE NEWSWIRE\) \-\- [OneCause](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=XlAKG-4F_r-_KsqQfj2ga3k2SEZK2u0WXOIX5cYOX_0jYFGEuyziUFFleoBDXwghuVnRUrDvaoMyO5L242ucbA==), a leading provider of event and online fundraising solutions, announced its integration with DAFpay by Chariot®, offering nonprofits a seamless way to accept Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) contributions directly through its Online Fundraising solutions. With over $250 billion available in DAF accounts across the United States, this partnership opens the door for OneCause customers to access one of the fastest\-growing charitable giving options. Through this integration, DAFpay becomes part of a seamless online fundraising experience, providing donors the choice to give via credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, or their Donor\-Advised Fund — all in a single, intuitive donation flow. Donors can initiate a grant in just three clicks — without ever leaving the donation form — creating familiar, fast, and secure giving that captures more support for nonprofits across year\-round campaigns. “DAFs are an incredible but underutilized source of charitable dollars,” said Steve Johns, chief executive officer of OneCause. “Integrating DAFpay into OneCause Online Fundraising reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and meeting donors where they are. By simplifying the DAF giving process, we’re helping nonprofits tap into a powerful funding source that’s been historically difficult to access, while giving donors a seamless, secure way to make an impact." For nonprofits, the benefits go beyond convenience. Research shows that DAF donors are among the most engaged and high\-value supporters. According to Chariot’s [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), DAF donors give ten times more than credit card donors, donate six times as often, and show a 15% higher retention rate. With DAFpay, organizations can: - **Raise More**. Identify and convert more donations from high\-value DAF donors. - **Streamline Processes**. Gain full visibility into each DAF grant with integrated tracking and reporting. - **Strengthen Engagement**. Immediately acknowledge and steward DAF supporters for deeper relationships. “We’re excited to partner with OneCause to bring DAFpay to thousands of their nonprofit customers,” said Salomon Serfati, chief executive officer of Chariot. “Together, we’re making it simple for donors to give from their DAFs — unlocking billions in charitable dollars and moving them more quickly into the hands of nonprofits doing critical work.” The DAFpay integration is now available for nonprofits using OneCause Online Fundraising pages, Text2Give®, and embeddable donation forms through the OneCause Fundraising Platform. To learn more about OneCause and the DAFpay integration, download the [DAFpay handout](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=s8cKqUZ_76bP3GOjDU3kYo4NKNxIB95xS4DJjhPRfzH_G6ZjinJkN2sauaEvA7YVFhFD-6Ilm1lr5nUOEiW85WRC3Q6iDdM9Izt36GabB6svahDao2OZuGm6t4BLKNVB-0rllt_YxGEFOq7LY1gXX_76P-F7bJFzNYJrqxJ8nKk=) or [request a demo](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=QC7MzFvcywYbORn0qqwxkwlsP0gtH0JgP8dfJihlvbE5DBEEb1h9lba8rPoK2RB820TlpQda-pSkhL1tsbBaULLtX6a5XhPTEMvoKqWRngW6dkpM05080yuUTWut4_rH). ##### About OneCause OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy\-to\-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 14,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $8 billion for their missions. OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising. For more information, visit [www.onecause.com](http://www.onecause.com)or follow on [LinkedIn](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=INxQtJAs0DRj8lGXK-D_VJgeDVYRgPXmFjMezdet3rorRz3JeD1ruQKaEvOdXCGzWo2ExSm2mgsggIGZD63GdoXBT9xTWfcL7eRCVgEFGRQ=),[X](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=fkDxl0FsEaZqQ8YXqPqbvd3Zfk-bxCmvmPoK1Pw5pX7-ILUAxtfymYpyG88a8ez5dNtlDTk3nHf2jatD8zELqA==),[Instagram](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=c6u4c1dWVrpnNmZRJLr9dszUcxVaLe5jcbWnffTjpPs6nwZmbjcT6z9F26jznqaHi3GQ40l-S7AyYpfqy7QxJYX-V8Q9FOIrSf_eABCJ83c=), and [Facebook](https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Wzp_ODBPbCtbD70ethiUJygU3nsBic5Wgu6UeNZdMo7VPNRikbZV152zfGcfzItyAt5v-mqX17IRefcaCQOwpKxcIwlXwvhdL0HM42sz7Kg=). ##### About Chariot Chariot is a leading Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) solutions provider committed to optimizing the donation process for the $250 billion currently available in DAFs, providing a better experience for both nonprofits and donors. Chariot’s premier solution is DAFpay, a 3\-click DAF donation option that makes giving from a DAF directly on a nonprofit's website fast and easy. With DAFpay, nonprofits can connect with and retain more DAF donors while saving valuable time spent on tracking and processing gifts.For more information, visit [www.givechariot.com](http://www.givechariot.com) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/). --- ## Introducing the DAF Day Awards! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/introducing-the-daf-day-awards - Published: 2025-09-29 > We are proud to announce the first-ever DAF Day Awards! This new tradition will spotlight the nonprofits, DAF providers, and partners who are leading the way in donor-advised fund giving. Learn more! ##### Chariot introduces the first\-ever prizes for outstanding DAF Day campaigns in 2025 Thousands of organizations across the country have been working hard to thoughtfully prepare their DAF Day 2025 campaigns \- culminating in the official holiday for DAF giving on October 9th. In addition to supplying all the marketing resources, educational opportunities and technology behind DAF Day, Chariot is also committing to fund or supply the prizes for the first\-ever **DAF Day Awards\!** These awards will recognize successful fundraising, creative leadership and effective marketing for DAF Day\! There are 8 categories \- 5 for nonprofits & 3 for DAF providers. The prizes for nonprofits will be a **$500 \- $1,000 donation from Chariot**. The prize for DAF winners will be **1 year of free access to Chariot Disbursements**. For voted categories, the Chariot team will determine the finalists based on the merits of their submissions and Chariot’s [**Nonprofit Advisory Council**](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council) will vote to determine the winners\! Please read the full requirements and details further below. Winners, finalists and honorable mention submissions will all be announced following DAF Day, spotlighting many organizations putting in a great effort for DAF Day for the whole sector to see. In order to participate, your nonprofit must have a verified Chariot Deposit Account and you must submit your campaign elements to [**dafdayawards@givechariot.com**](mailto:dafdayawards@givechariot.com) by October 9, 2025 at 12:00 pm PST. DAF Providers must officially commit to DAF Day in advance of October 9th, which requires confirmation of promoting DAF Day and sharing grant making results. [DAFs: Sign up for DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/providers) ### **Nonprofit DAF Day Awards** 1. **Most DAFpay Donations** - - Prize: $1,000 - Recognizing an organization that went the extra mile and tried something outside the box to power their campaign. 1. **Most Innovative DAF Day Campaign Element** 2. - Recognizing an organization that went the extra mile and tried something outside the box to power their campaign. - Prize: $500 3. **Most Creative DAF Day Social Post** 4. - Recognizing an organization that took their social game for DAF Day to the next level \(any social media platform can qualify\). - Prize: $500 5. **Most Compelling DAF Day Email** 6. - Recognizing an organization that created powerful DAF Day messaging to move their supporters to action. - Prize: $500 7. **Most Effective DAF Day Mail Item** 8. - Recognizing an organization that delivered a truly stand\-out mailing to their supporters. - Prize: $500 ### DAF Provider DAF Day Awards 1. **Most DAFpay Gifts Made** 2. - Recognizing the DAF that best mobilized their fundholders and took advantage of the only DAF payment option to be a full part of DAF Day in real time. - Calculated as the highest number of gift requests made to a single DAF through DAFpay from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM PST on October 9th. 3. **Most Innovative DAF Day Campaign Element** 4. - Recognizing the DAF that truly made the most of its DAF Day campaign and effectively engaged their audience in new or unexpected ways. 5. **Most Compelling DAF Day Communication** 6. - Recognizing the DAF that stepped up on DAF Day and got the most resonant message out to their community \(any communication form \- email, social, etc \- is accepted\). #### Eligibility Requirements To qualify, **nonprofit participants **must: - Claim their [**Chariot Deposit Account**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) before**October 9, 2025**. - Submit screen shots, image files and descriptions of their DAF Day campaign elements to [**dafdayawards@givechariot.com**](mailto:dafdayawards@givechariot.com) before 12:00 pm PST on October 9, 2025. - Multiple campaign elements that qualify for multiple awards can be included in a single submission email. - No organization can win more than one category. To qualify, **DAF participants **must: - Officially commit to DAF Day in advance of October 9, 2025, which requires that a DAF sign up [**here**](https://www.dafday.com/providers). - DAFs are only eligible for the Chariot Disbursements prize if they do not already have a signed contract with Chariot for this offering. The prize is for a single year of free access including up to 4,000 grant payments per year. **Disclaimers** - The DAF Day Awards are sponsored by Chariot Giving, Inc., 575 8th Ave, Floor 20, New York, NY 10018. - No purchase, payment, or donation is necessary to enter or win. Entry is free of charge. Claiming a Chariot Deposit Account does not require any purchase of goods or services. - DAF Day awards are determined at the sole discretion of the Chariot team and Chariot’s [**Nonprofit Advisory Council**](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council). - For any awards that are voted, submissions will be evaluated based on how well they exemplify the category description. - All federal, state, and local taxes and any other costs and expenses associated with acceptance and use of a prize that are not expressly specified herein as being provided are the sole responsibility of the winner. --- ## The Final Countdown: 2 Weeks to DAF Day — Your 10-Step Plan - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-final-countdown-2-weeks-to-daf-day-your-10-step-plan - Published: 2025-09-26 > We’re just two weeks away from DAF Day — October 9, 2025. What started last year has already become a fixture on the philanthropic calendar. Nonprofits and DAF providers are coming together again to engage fund holders, elevate DAF giving, and create a surge of generosity that will extend well beyond DAF Day! We’re just **two weeks away from DAF Day**— October 9, 2025. What started last year has already become a fixture on the philanthropic calendar. Nonprofits and DAF providers are coming together again to engage fund holders, elevate DAF giving, and create a surge of generosity that will extend well beyond DAF Day\! In our most recent webinar, Chariot was joined by [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/)\([March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/)\), [Monique Canada](https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-canada-9224432/)\([DonorsChoose](https://www.donorschoose.org/)\), and[Glen Peck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpeck/)\([Lustgarten Foundation](https://lustgarten.org/)\) to share how their organizations are gearing up for DAF Day. Together, we walked through a **10\-step checklist **that any nonprofit can follow in these final weeks. [Watch The Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2slCTmjn9RiSwn_LrIRCuXg)[Download the Presentation Slides](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/26GaIWfokQcquLATNZafXsg) ## Why DAF Day Matters DAFs are the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy. Today, DAFs hold more than $250 billion in charitable dollars, already dedicated to the sector but waiting to be put to work. According to Chariot’s [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), when donors shifted from giving by credit card to giving through their DAF, their annual support for the same nonprofit increased on average by 10x, with the median donor giving 2x as much. DAF Day is the moment to unlock that potential on a massive scale. DAF Providers reported [four times more DAF gifts than a typical day](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhessekiel/2024/10/15/was-daf-day-a-success--that-depends-on-how-you-measure/), Planned Parenthood saw a [63% lift in DAF revenue](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/advice-for-a-givingtuesday-like-blitz-to-boost-daf-gifts)at the start of October, and the ACLU uncovered new DAF donors by simply spotlighting the DAF payment option across their campaigns. As **Karyn DeMartini of March of Dimes **shared during the session: “I have long watched philanthropists galvanize giving from DAFs. What struck me about DAF Day is that it gives nonprofits a clear, collective moment to focus on this opportunity and encourage more people to actually use their DAFs for giving." ## The 10\-Step Checklist for DAF Day Success With just two weeks to go, the list of priorities can feel long. That’s why we put together this checklist to simplify the process and highlight the steps that you can still take that will make the biggest difference. [Download the Checklist](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2MnctcI5dSLWRctf_Cqsg0g) 1. **Take a moment to verify\* with Chariot** A control person at your organization will need to be [verified](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) and set up with a Chariot Deposit Account. This ensures your nonprofit can receive DAF Day gifts instantly and securely. 2. **Update your Chariot profile** Log into your Chariot account to confirm how your organization appears to donors. Make sure your name displays correctly, upload a high\-resolution logo, and preview your profile so supporters recognize you right away. 3. **Enable DAFpay** Make sure DAFpay is enabled in your [fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-integrations). This is the fastest way to capture DAF gifts instantly. You might have more than one fundraising tool, so double\-check DAFpay is active in each to maximize your DAF Day\! 4. **Check your website for DAF language** Take a quick audit of your “ways to give” page. Is your EIN easy to find? Do you explain how donors can use their DAFs to support you? Adding a simple link or line of text can remove barriers. 5. **Plan your communications calendar** Use the [toolkit templates](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) to map out your DAF Day messages across email and social. Even one dedicated email and a couple of posts will help remind donors. If you know who your past DAF donors are, give them a little extra attention with personalized outreach. As **Monique Canada from Donors Choose **shared: “These aren’t heavy lifts — but when you put them in motion together, they create momentum your donors can’t ignore.” 1. **Add a banner for Oct 9** Use a simple homepage or donation page banner to spotlight DAF Day and invite donors to act. Messaging like “*Make a difference on DAF Day — recommend a grant from your DAF to support \[your mission\]*” connects the action to impact and gives supporters a clear reason to click. 2. **Create a call sheet for outreach** Make a list of your top donors and known DAF donors, and assign them to staff or board members for a quick outreach. Even a short call or personal email can be the reminder that prompts a grant on DAF Day. 3. **Line up a DAF\-funded match** Ask your board or close supporters to put up a match — a 2x match often inspires far more than double the giving. Even if you don’t have one lined up, you can use [MatchNice](http://www.matchnice.org) to generate organic matches directly on your website, and encourage donors to submit gifts of $500\+ through [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.halfmydaf.com/) to be matched. 4. **Raise DAF Day at team meetings** Make sure everyone knows the plan — from communications staff to gift officers to finance. Aligning early avoids last\-minute confusion and helps you thank donors promptly. As **Glen Peck of the Lustgarten Foundation **pointed out: “DAFs don’t just appear in your database. You need to build touchpoints that help you actually identify who has a fund and how they’re giving.” 1. **Consider opening your own DAF** If you or a board member don’t already have one, opening a DAF yourself is a great way to understand the donor experience. Firsthand knowledge makes it easier to explain DAFs, answer donor questions, and guide supporters through the process with confidence. **Bonus tips: **Reach out to your local community foundation to broaden awareness, and share your DAF Day efforts on social media — tagging [Chariot](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) and [@dafdayofficial](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial/) to amplify your reach. [Download the DAF Day Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) ## **The final two weeks before DAF Day** Here’s how to pace yourself: - **September 26 – October 2:**verify your setup, add a homepage banner, embed DAFpay, draft email and social posts, secure a match, and finalize your call sheet. - **October 3 – October 9:**launch your email, run social, brief your board, activate your call plan, and get thank\-yous ready. ## **Let’s make this the biggest DAF Day yet** October 9 is an opportunity to bring DAF giving into focus and show what’s possible when nonprofits and providers act together. More than **3,000 organizations and dozens of DAF Providers **have already signed on, and momentum is building\! If you haven’t started, there’s still time\! Add the banner, send the email, activate your champions, and make sure DAF giving is front and center. The payoff will last well beyond Day Day alone. [Join DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) --- ## Setting a Strategy for DAF Growth: Key Takeaways for Providers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/setting-a-strategy-for-daf-growth-key-takeaways-for-providers - Published: 2025-09-16 > Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are the fastest-growing vehicle in philanthropy — but growth in the sector doesn’t guarantee maximum growth for your program. For DAF providers, the question is no longer whether DAFs will grow, but how to set a strategy that makes your program stand out, scale sustainably, and deliver a better experience for both donors and nonprofits. Donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) are the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy — but growth in the sector doesn’t guarantee maximum growth for your program. For DAF providers, the question is no longer whether DAFs will grow, but **how to set a strategy that makes your program stand out, scale sustainably, and deliver a better experience for both donors and nonprofits.** That was the focus of a recent conversation between [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) \(Head of Strategy at Chariot\) and [Melissa Ekanem](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ekanem/), a 17\-year Fidelity alum who led large\-scale growth initiatives at Fidelity Charitable before joining Chariot. [Watch The Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2XbnxHqDuQvmtS9wEHYz4lQ) Here are the most important takeaways — and action items — for providers building out a more intentional growth strategy today. ## **1. Close the Awareness Gap** Despite explosive growth in adoption, awareness of DAFs remains surprisingly low. Fewer than 10% of financial advisors offer them, and at the largest financial services firms, less than 1% of clients actually hold a DAF. Especially for community foundations, even when donors in their area are aware of DAFs, it’s still common they have no idea their local community foundation offers one as well. **Action item: **Build a proactive marketing and education strategy. Use [DAF Day](https://dafday.com) as a campaign moment to spotlight your program. Share clear, donor\-friendly explanations of what a DAF is and why it matters. ## **2. Make Donor Experience Your Growth Engine** A decade ago, opening and using a DAF often required paper forms and long waits. Today, most providers offer a digital experience — but donors still encounter friction in portals, and they want more seamless ways to use their funds. “When donors have a seamless, engaging experience with their DAF, they’re more likely to use it, recommend it to others, and bring in more assets over time.” Melissa Ekanem Some providers still fear that making donor experience “too easy” will shrink assets under management. But the opposite is true: great experiences expand the pie. Engaged donors don’t just give more often — they also contribute more to their accounts. **Action items:** - Audit your donor portal for friction points and usability issues. - Ensure your DAF is connected in [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form), so donors can give directly on 50,000\+ nonprofit donation forms, campaign pages and websites. - Track engagement metrics \(account activity, grant volume, donor satisfaction\) and set goals around them. AUM alone doesn’t tell the growth story. ## **3. Fix the Grant Payment Process** DAFs exist to drive impact via nonprofits, yet too often nonprofits describe their experience with DAF gifts as “chaotic” or “cumbersome.” At the same time, providers are weighed down by time\-consuming, manual, and increasingly risky disbursement processes — from nonprofit vetting to check sending to constant bank detail confirmations — tasks repeated over and over again by every provider across the country. **Action item: **It’s probably time for an upgrade to your disbursement process. [Explore how](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) solves for both sides of the equation — delivering faster, safer payments with complete grant details for nonprofits, while reducing risk, manual work, and compliance burden for DAF providers. ## **4. Equip Donors With Confidence** Even once donors have a DAF, many feel uncertain about where to give. That paralysis slows down generosity. Community foundations, in particular, can play a powerful role here by guiding donors to causes close to home. **Action item:**Provide resources that connect donors with trusted causes. Whether that’s curated giving guides, local nonprofit roundtables, or thematic funds, helping donors feel confident unblocks generosity — and encourages them to add more to their accounts. ## **5. Leverage DAF Day for Collective Impact** Achieving DAFs’ full potential won’t come from isolated efforts within one provider. Collective moments like **DAF Day **offer DAFs the chance to align marketing, donor engagement, and nonprofit partnerships. “This can’t just be each DAF figuring it out alone. Coalition building is key to long\-term growth.” Mitch Stein **Action item: **Download the [DAF Day Provider Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/providers) for plug\-and\-play marketing assets. Use it to highlight your program, engage your fundholders, and strengthen the entire DAF ecosystem. ## **Final Takeaways & Next Steps** Sustainable DAF growth doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from: - **Closing the awareness gap **so more donors know about your program. - **Making donor experience your growth engine **with seamless portals and integrations like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay). - **Fixing the grant payment process **through [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) to reduce risk and make nonprofits eager partners \- not detractors. - **Equipping donors with confidence **so generosity flows more easily. - **Leveraging DAF Day **to tap into a collective movement with aligned goals, that has [ready\-to\-use assets](https://www.dafday.com/providers) for easy activation. By tackling these priorities, you’ll not only grow your DAF program — you’ll contribute to a stronger, more connected philanthropic ecosystem. --- ## Fine-Tuning Your DAF Strategy: Turning Interest into Action for Nonprofit Fundraisers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/fine-tuning-your-daf-strategy-turning-interest-into-action-for-nonprofit-fundraisers - Published: 2025-09-05 > Over the past few months, Chariot’s DAF Day webinar series has explored why donor-advised funds (DAFs) matter and how they’re reshaping philanthropy. But, if you’re a nonprofit fundraiser, you may be asking: What do I actually do next? Over the past few months, Chariot’s [DAF Day webinar series](https://www.dafday.com/events) has explored why donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) matter and how they’re reshaping philanthropy. But, if you’re a nonprofit fundraiser, you may be asking: What do I actually do next? This recap of our latest session provides a specific list of action items that you can take before DAF Day on October 9th to go from strategy to tactical execution. From your digital presentation, to campaign elements, to closing the loop on donor stewardship, our panel of experts shared the playbook they’re using to move from intention to action. [Watch The Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2FRQqGB0WQn2HM8ar1ONZ6w) Featuring: - [Wendy Vizek](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-folk-vizek-7284342/), SVP of Community Engagement & Field Operations at the Alzheimer’s Association - [Shirley Nagar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleynagar/), VP of Planned Giving at The Michael J. Fox Foundation \(MJFF\) - [Kim Brisse](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbrisse/), Direct Response Lead at MJFF - Hosted by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot ## **Tech Capabilities That Unlock Giving** Wendy Vizek described how the Alzheimer’s Association prioritized integrating **DAFpay by Chariot **into their fundraising platforms. The results have been striking: over **2,100 donors gave $1.4M in the first year **using this option . The key, Wendy noted, was making giving easy and instant. “If a donor can’t see their thermometer rise when they give to a peer\-to\-peer fundraiser, they may never come back. DAFpay solved that problem for us.” **Action item: **Audit your donation forms and event pages. Is DAF giving visible and as easy as credit card or PayPal? Check if your [fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) and if not, request the integration from them. ## **Building a Web Presence That Works** MJFF’s team invested in a dedicated [**DAF Day landing page**](https://www.michaeljfox.org/dafday) last year, that includes: - Overview of DAF Day - Overview of DAFs - A downloadable resource on DAFs - A donor story - A reminder on beneficiary opportunities with a DAF - An easy way to complete a gift \(DAFpay\) - Contact information and organization details A dedicated page for DAF Day not only gives you an easy place to link all of your outreach about DAF Day, it also helps you track engagement with this campaign and rank better from an SEO perspective. The Alzheimer’s Association also updated their [**Ways to Give page**](https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/other_ways_to_give/donor_advised_funds) to highlight DAF giving, making sure it was a visible option for any supporter browsing the site. **Action item: **Review your website’s “Ways to Give” page. Add a dedicated DAF section and consider a campaign landing page for DAF Day. ## **Campaign Planning and Segmentation** At ALZ, the**average DAFpay gift was $640, with a median of $250**—proof that DAF gifts can come from any part of your donor file. The takeaway for our panel: for more expensive channels like direct mail, it makes sense to do more specific segmentation to donors that give at a certain level or have used a DAF before, but leverage email and social media to highlight DAF day and DAF giving to everyone. MJFF layers its approach: targeting known DAF donors first, but also testing inserts and emails to broader audiences. As Kim Brisse explained: “We focus first on people already giving through DAFs, but we’ve also seen great response when we include DAF messaging in mass campaigns. This summer, we mailed an insert about DAFs and IRAs to our entire file, and Shirley’s team got a ton of inquiries back. It was proof that broader outreach can work.” **Action item:**Identify segments of your file that may already give through DAFs, but also test broader outreach—especially on low\-cost channels like email. ## **Stewardship: Closing the Loop** One of the most consistent mistakes fundraisers make with DAFs is not stewarding donors properly. Because gifts often come through sponsoring institutions, some nonprofits fail to send acknowledgments. The cost can be high. Mitch Stein shared: “I’ve spoken to donors who gave through their DAF for three years and never received a thank\-you from the nonprofit. They canceled their recurring gift.” “Stewardship is not optional—it’s the beginning of a strategic philanthropic journey.” Shirley Nagar Both MJFF and the Alzheimer’s Association have embraced **rapid personalized acknowledgments **made possible by DAFpay, which enables seamless sharing of the donor email the second they initiate their DAF gift. Donors are now thanked within 24 hours, with clear recognition of their specific gift intention—whether that’s supporting a walk team, a research project, or a general fund. **Action item: **Create a DAF\-specific stewardship workflow. Commit to thanking donors within 48 hours and acknowledging their specific intent \(walk team, research program, etc.\). ## **Linking DAFs to Planned Giving** DAFs aren’t just a transactional channel. They can also be an entry point into deeper legacy conversations. “Many donors don’t realize they can name a nonprofit as a beneficiary of their DAF,” Shirley explained. “DAF Day complements activations like Make a Will Month, helping donors connect the dots between how they give today and the impact they want to leave in the future”. **Action item:**Train your planned giving staff to mention DAF beneficiary designations in donor conversations. Include it in your will\-making month or estate planning campaigns. ## **Internal Education Matters** Even the best strategies can falter without internal alignment. Both Wendy and Shirley stressed the importance of **educating staff and volunteers**. The Alzheimer’s Association created a simple **DAF one\-pager **for internal and external use, busting myths and equipping staff to bring up DAF giving in conversations without feeling like they need to be experts. **Action item:**Create or adapt a simple one\-pager for internal staff and volunteers so they feel confident mentioning DAFs without needing to be technical experts. Check out [this example](https://docsend.com/view/w3mxbnmdyzmanbce) from the Alzheimer’s Association. ## **Where DAF Day Fits** With busy fall calendars—walks, galas, Giving Tuesday, Yearend—some fundraisers wonder how to fit DAF Day into the mix. The speakers agreed that it’s not about competing priorities, but about **amplifying all giving**. Joining the movement to highlight DAF giving on October 9th for DAF Day means your supporters are more likely to use their DAF in all those other campaigns as well. As Shirley put it: “DAF Day cuts across programs—major gifts, annual giving, peer\-to\-peer, planned giving. It’s a unique opportunity for alignment.” **Action item: **Position DAF Day as a cross\-team opportunity. Encourage every department—annual fund, peer\-to\-peer, planned giving—to leverage the day in ways that support their goals. ## **Take Action This Fall** Every step that your team takes to implement DAF Fundraising Strategy before DAF Day on October 9th will support the team’s effort through yearend and beyond. **Bonus Action item: **Is your organization verified on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/)?[Learn more](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) about the benefits and opportunities of claiming your Chariot Account\*. --- ## How Digital DAF Giving Is Reshaping Nonprofit Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-digital-daf-giving-is-reshaping-nonprofit-fundraising - Published: 2025-08-22 > For years, donor-advised funds (DAFs) were seen as a tool for offline, major gifts—slow-moving, paperwork-heavy, and primarily used by wealthy donors. But in 2025, that perception has become extremely outdated. With $250 billion already committed to giving through DAFs and nearly $55 billion granted out in 2023, nonprofits have a powerful opportunity to make this generosity flow even more seamlessly into their digital campaigns. For years, donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) were seen as a tool for offline, major gifts—slow\-moving, paperwork\-heavy, and primarily used by wealthy donors. But in 2025, that perception has become extremely outdated. With [**$250 billion already committed to giving through DAFs**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) and nearly **$55 billion granted out **in 2023, nonprofits have a powerful opportunity to make this generosity flow even more seamlessly into their digital campaigns. That was the theme of our recent DAF Awareness Week webinar, *The Digital Age of DAF Fundraising*, where leaders from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, CauseMatch, GiveCampus, and GoFundMe discussed how digital DAF giving is reshaping donor behavior and unlocking new opportunities for fundraisers. Watch The Recording ## **From Offline Checks to DAFpay** Historically, DAF donations meant phone calls, mailed checks, and long delays. For fundraisers, that often resulted in late crediting, missed stewardship windows, and donor frustration. Today, with **DAFpay**, giving from a donor\-advised fund is as simple as selecting Apple Pay or PayPal at checkout. Nonprofits can now embed DAF as a **payment option directly on their digital donation forms**, eliminating friction and unlocking larger gifts. “It’s as easy for a donor to give by DAF as it is by credit card. That’s a revolution in philanthropy.” \- Jeremy Stern, CauseMatch ## **Why Friction Matters** Inspiration\-based giving—like giving days, peer\-to\-peer campaigns, crowdfunding, or crisis response—relies on urgency. Until recently, donors with DAFs often defaulted to credit cards in these moments, leaving their larger, pre\-committed funds untapped. As recent DAF Donor surveys by the [DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey) and [Giving Compass](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) revealed, DAF donors regularly give outside their DAF–especially for inspiration\-based giving. Brandy Reppy of Memorial Sloan Kettering shared how difficult this was during Cycle for Survival: “Participants wouldn’t see their donations reflected for weeks, which meant recognition, leaderboards, and stewardship moments were lost.” With DAFpay, those delays vanish. Donations are acknowledged instantly, participants see progress right away, and nonprofits can steward in real time. This dynamic was captured perfectly by Jen Risher, philanthropist and founder of Half My DAF, in a clip we shared during the session: Risher explained that if giving with her DAF wasn’t easy, she would often default to a quick $100 credit card gift—when she might have given $1,000 through her DAF if it were available at checkout. ## **The Psychology of DAF Giving** The behavioral shift between credit card giving and DAF giving is powerful. “The beauty of DAF giving is that it separates the pain of giving from the joy of giving. The money is already set aside, so making the gift feels like spending store credit—it’s pure joy.” Jeremy Stern That “store credit” effect leads to larger donations: - On CauseMatch, the **average DAFpay gift is three times larger **than a credit card donation. - On GiveCampus, DAFpay gifts average **$2,500**, and**20% of donors upgrade their gift **once they see their DAF balance. ## **Beyond the Dollars** The benefits of digital DAF giving extend beyond bigger gifts: - **Better stewardship: **Donors receive instant confirmation. - **Improved prospecting: **A DAF gift is one of the strongest wealth signals for future giving. - **Cross\-channel activation: **QR codes on postcards or links in emails can now route directly to DAF\-enabled forms. “The upside is more than just increasing peer\-to\-peer gifts. The technology has changed how our entire organization talks about DAFs at every giving level.” \- Brandy Reppy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ## **A Strategic Imperative for Nonprofits** GoFundMe’s Amanda Brown\-Lierman emphasized the difference DAF integration made in disaster response: “When you lower friction for donors, the money flows—and it flows quickly.” That urgency was echoed by GiveCampus’s Billy Tabrizi: “Nonprofits need to meet donors where they are. The schools that turned on DAFpay are finding new donors, bigger gifts, and better conversations.” ## **The Present and Future of DAF Giving** Digital DAF giving isn’t just another feature—it’s a fundamental shift in how generosity is expressed. With billions already committed to charitable giving through DAFs, organizations that make DAFpay available aren’t just adding a button. They’re creating a seamless pathway for donors to act on their inspiration, give at higher levels, and stay more connected to their mission. “The more we can expose DAF opportunities, the better off our organizations will be.” Brandy Reppy, Memorial Sloan Kettering ## **Join the Movement on DAF Day** One of the best opportunities to put these ideas into practice is **DAF Day**, coming up on **October 9, 2025**. DAF Day is a nationwide effort to inspire donors to use their donor\-advised funds in support of the causes they care about most. By participating, nonprofits can: - Highlight Digital DAF payment as a giving option \- either on your forms or on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/) \- and make generosity frictionless. - Tap into a coordinated campaign that raises awareness among donors and utilize the marketing toolkit for easy activation. - Join a movement of peers who are working to unlock billions in charitable potential. Regardless of your experience with DAF giving, DAF Day is the perfect occasion to take steps forward and capitalize on the national focus on Donor Advised Funds\! To learn more and join the movement, visit [**DAFDay.com**](http://DAFDay.com). --- ## What Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) Mean for Donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/what-donor-advised-funds-dafs-mean-for-donors - Published: 2025-08-21 > Most of us want to give more than we do. The challenge is time, planning, and sometimes the worry that our dollars won’t have the impact we hope. A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) can change that—giving you a simple tool to plan ahead, give more freely, and feel confident about your generosity. Most of us want to give more than we do. The challenge is time, planning, and sometimes the worry that our dollars won’t have the impact we hope. A Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) can change that—giving you a simple tool to plan ahead, give more freely, and feel confident about your generosity. That’s why we recently brought together a panel of experts to talk about how DAFs work and how donors are using them to transform their giving. The conversation featured: - [Nicole Medeiros](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemedeiros/), SVP, Client Relationship Team Lead at BNY Wealth - [Becky MacDonald](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckymacdonald/), Wealth Advisor at Ashton Thomas Private Wealth - [Sharon Bean](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-bean-62281a8/), Senior Director of Planned Giving at the International Rescue Committee - [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelesommer/), CFO at Pan\-Mass Challenge - Moderated by: [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchstein1/), Head of Strategy at Chariot Together, they explored: what DAFs are, why they matter, and how donors at every level—from casual givers to multi\-generational families—are using them to give with more ease, impact, and joy. Watch The Recording ## **What is a DAF?** Think of a DAF as a **giving account just for your philanthropy**. You make contributions—cash, stock, or other assets—receive an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants to many nonprofits over time. As Sharon Bean put it, “A donor\-advised fund is a charitable piggy bank that brings coordination and intentionality to your giving.” It’s there when inspiration strikes, and it grows when you have time to plan. Unlike one\-off check writing or credit card gifts, a DAF makes it possible to: - Easily see all your giving in one place - Pre\-commit funds so you’re more likely to follow through - Potentially grow your charitable dollars tax\-free before granting them out For a simple primer and guide to DAF selection, check out [the donor resources](https://www.dafday.com/daf-101) on the DAF Day site. ## **Why Donors Love DAFs** DAFs aren’t just convenient—they’re changing how people feel about giving. Simplicity: “It’s all in one place—you can see every organization you’ve supported, and that makes giving simpler and more intentional,” said Michele Sommer. Confidence: Knowing your money is already set aside for charity makes it easier to say “yes” when a friend asks for support or when a crisis hits. Family connection: “DAFs make it easy for families to come together and talk about their philanthropy,” noted Nicole Medeiros. Identity: “DAFs help people see themselves as philanthropists, even if they’re giving a few thousand dollars or less a year,” added Becky MacDonald. When the logistics are simple, giving stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like what it should be—joyful, empowering, and deeply personal. ## **Who Uses DAFs?** DAF donors aren’t one\-size\-fits\-all. In fact, most fall into one of three giving styles: - **The Organizer**: Uses a DAF to keep giving organized and stay accountable to donation goals, even if they’re giving modest amounts. - **The Optimizer**: Contributes larger sums strategically—often appreciated stock or assets—to maximize tax benefits, then grants steadily over a few years. - **The Builder**: Treats the DAF like a simplified alternative to a family foundation, often after an inheritance or financial windfall, using it for long\-term, multi\-generational giving. No matter where you are in your giving journey, there’s space for you to see your own goals in the wide spectrum of DAF donors. ## **How to Use a DAF** Getting started is easier than most people expect. 1. **Open an account **with a provider \(like a community foundation, national sponsor, or your financial institution\). 2. **Fund it **with cash, stock, or other assets. Contributions are irrevocable, which is what secures your charitable tax benefit. 3. **Invest it **in one of the options offered. Growth stays in your account tax\-free, increasing your future giving potential. 4. **Grant it out **anytime to eligible nonprofits. Many nonprofits now even feature a “DAF Pay” button on their donation forms, campaign pages or websites –making it as easy to use your DAF as using Apple Pay. And while there are a few restrictions—you can’t use DAF dollars for anything that benefits you personally, like gala tickets—most donors find them incredibly flexible and simple. ## **Why It Matters Now** The scale of giving through DAFs is remarkable \- driven by more accessible options for any donors. Sharon mentioned that the International Rescue Committee has seen 30% of their support from individuals so far this year come through DAFs. Michele shared that Pan\-Mass Challenge has grown their DAF support from $1 million in 2012 to over $11 million so far this year, making up 18% of their fundraising. What that means for you is simple: if you want your giving to be impactful, timely, and easy, this is one of the most effective ways to do it. “It gives you freedom to give. You know you can’t use the money for anything else, so it becomes a source of joy and empowerment.” \-Michele Sommer ## **Getting a DAF** If you think a DAF might be a good fit for you, here a few helpful next steps: 1. Download the “[Get a DAF Guide](https://www.dafday.com/daf-101)” for in\-depth guidance on how to assess the many DAF options. 2. Discuss with your professional advisors. 3. Act before DAF Day\! ## **DAF Day: October 9th** If you already have a DAF—or if you’ve been curious about opening one—there’s no better time to take action than**DAF Day on October 9th**. DAF day is a national holiday for donors and nonprofits to get more from giving—with DAFs. It’s a celebration of generosity, a reminder to use what you’ve set aside, and an invitation to make giving joyful and visible. How you can get involved: - **Set up your DAF**before October 9th so you can fully participate. - **Encourage your favorite nonprofits**to highlight DAF giving on their websites and [participate in DAF day](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits). - **Make a plan**to make sure you don’t miss out on DAF Day. [Mark your calendar](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/eventedit?text=DAF+DAY+2025:+Don%27t+Forget+to+Donate!&dates=20251009/20251010&details=%3Ca+href%3D%22https://dafday.com%22%3EDAF+Day%3C/a%3E+is+a+national+day+of+giving+with+donor+advised+funds.+DAFs+are+already+a+powerful+tool+for+any+donor+to+accelerate+their+giving,+but+they+have+even+greater+potential+when+we+all+use+them+together.+DAF+Day+aims+to+unleash+a+wave+of+giving+that+makes+donors+more+powerful,+nonprofits+more+resilient,+and+communities+stronger.&location=dafday.com&sf=true&output=xml), think about organizations to support and encourage your friends and family. - **Give together**on October 9th. You can support any DAF\-eligible organization directly through the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/) via DAFpay as well for the easiest way to give. By giving on DAF Day, you’re not only supporting the causes you love—you’re joining a movement to unlock the true potential of donor\-advised funds. --- ## Why Chariot’s Verification Process Is So Thorough - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-chariot-s-verification-process-is-so-thorough - Published: 2025-08-20 > In the last few years, check fraud and ACH fraud have surged (doubling every 2 years) - and the trend is accelerating. Advances in AI have made it easier for bad actors to forge checks, fake identities, and intercept banking details. Our Donor Advised Fund and payer partners have seen this firsthand and are pushing for higher security standards industry-wide to protect themselves and nonprofits. ### The Rising Threat of Payment Fraud In the last few years, [**check fraud**](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250127)** and **[**ACH fraud**](https://www.cfo.com/news/advanced-generative-ai-cyber-fraud-rose-118-last-year/739157)** have surged**\(doubling every 2 years\) \- and the trend is accelerating. Advances in AI have made it easier for bad actors to forge checks, fake identities, and intercept banking details. Our Donor Advised Fund and payer partners have seen this firsthand and are **pushing for higher security standards industry\-wide **to protect themselves and nonprofits. See [this linkedin post](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mitch-stein_philanthropy-nonprofit-grants-activity-7361728388534861824-9Ipo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8) for 7 common problematic practices. ### Why DAF Fraud Is Even More Prevalent Fraud in DAF giving can be more common compared to other payment types. That’s because, in most DAF transactions: - **The nonprofit isn’t expecting the gift \-**Unlike a direct donation, where a donor might confirm the gift in advance, DAF grants often arrive without prior notice. This makes it easier for fraudsters to intercept or redirect funds without raising immediate suspicion. - **The donor doesn’t always expect an acknowledgment \-**Because the donor has already contributed to their DAF account \(often months or years earlier\) and the DAF sponsor is technically the one issuing the payment, many donors aren’t actively waiting for a thank\-you note. This lack of follow\-up can delay the nonprofit realizing funds never arrived. - **Interception goes unnoticed \-**If a check or ACH payment from a DAF sponsor is stolen or altered before it reaches the nonprofit, there’s often no trigger event—no bounced payment, no alert—to indicate a problem. That means the fraud can go completely undetected. Or in other scenarios, it can be months before the nonprofit discovers the loss. This combination of low visibility and delayed detection means**fraud in DAF giving can cause serious damage \-**not just financially, but also by eroding trust between donors, nonprofits, and DAF sponsors. That’s why Chariot created an industry leading compliance and verification process. ### A One\-Time Process for Long\-Term Protection Chariot’s verification process is generally **a one\-time step**, aligned with**U.S. banking regulations \-**specifically the Customer Identification Program \(CIP\) and FinCEN’s Customer Due Diligence \(CDD\) rules. You can find the text of the law [here](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-107publ56/pdf/PLAW-107publ56.pdf) and an article explaining CIP requirements further [here](https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/overview-customer-identification-program-cip/). Completing it safeguards your funds and reputation by: - Ensuring that all accounts are tied to legitimate, verified entities - Preventing unauthorized withdrawals and fraudulent transactions - Meeting the same compliance standards used by banks and major financial institutions Once verified, a Nonprofit’s Chariot account uses **non\-debitable account and routing numbers, **meaning they cannot be used to pull money from your account. This is much safer than sharing standard banking details or voided checks, which has your banking details public and can be intercepted, altered, or have bad actors pull from the nonprofit’s account. ### How We Protect Your Information Your verification data is stored exclusively by our identity verification provider, Footprint, not on Chariot’s servers. Footprint uses secure enclaves, a highly advanced security method that keeps sensitive information isolated from the rest of the system. It ensures memory isolation, CPU isolation, and network isolation so that no external process, user, or system can inspect or alter the enclave’s contents. - **Even in the event of a hack**, enclave technology ensures that your data **cannot **be accessed or leaked. You can read more about Footprint’s approach [here](https://onefootprint.com/blog/inside-the-enclave-part-2). - This is far more secure than traditional cloud storage, which is more vulnerable to large\-scale breaches. ### In Short In today’s environment, fraud prevention isn’t optional, it’s essential, especially in the DAF space where grants are often intercepted without anyone noticing. Chariot’s verification process is designed to: - Meet the highest legal standards under U.S. banking law - Stop modern fraud tactics - Protect your data with industry\-leading security using secure enclaves - Give you peace of mind with a one\-time setup that keeps you protected and connected going forward Chariot’s verification and fraud prevention isn’t just a compliance requirement \- it’s a step change in the DAF space. --- ## Donor-Advised Funds 101: What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/donor-advised-funds-101-what-every-nonprofit-needs-to-know - Published: 2025-08-19 > This week, Chariot kicked off DAF Awareness Week with our session “DAF 101 for Nonprofit Staff.” Hosted by Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, and joined by Rick Peck, Founder & CEO of GiveTrust, the webinar broke down the essentials of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), their rapid growth, and how nonprofits can best position themselves to benefit from this powerful tool. This week, Chariot kicked off DAF Awareness Week with our session “DAF 101 for Nonprofit Staff.” Hosted by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot, and joined by [Rick Peck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-peck/), Founder & CEO of GiveTrust, the webinar broke down the essentials of Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\), their rapid growth, and how nonprofits can best position themselves to benefit from this powerful tool. If you missed it, here’s a recap of the discussion—plus a quick primer on what DAFs are and why they matter for your organization. [Watch The Recording](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2-35cg4I4QbWryDmwEsAx5Q)[Get The Slides](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/21OgbQcfBTbuVlc3cqgjntg) ### What is a DAF? At its core, a Donor\-Advised Fund is a **tax\-advantaged account dedicated to charitable giving**. As Rick explained during the session: “Think of a DAF like a 401\(k\) for retirement or an HSA for healthcare. It’s a container for giving—donors contribute, get an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants over time.” Once assets are placed into a DAF, they are irrevocable. Donors can’t take them back, and the funds can only be distributed to qualified nonprofits. Popular contributions include cash, appreciated stocks, and even complex assets like real estate. Mitch summarized it simply: “There are no takesies\-backsies—the money in a DAF can only ever leave as a charitable gift.” ### Why DAFs Have Become So Popular DAFs combine convenience with strategy. Instead of managing multiple receipts and donations throughout the year, donors consolidate their giving in one place. According to Rick: “People see DAFs as an advantage over checkbook giving or even private foundations. They’re simpler, more flexible, and come with real tax efficiency.” Other benefits include: - **Tax savings**– donors can deduct the full contribution in the year they give, and avoid capital gains on appreciated assets. - **Growing generosity**– the process of pre\-comitting funds to giving often leads to setting goals and greater accountability, plus the investments within a DAF can grow tax\-free, adding to the donor’s giving potential. - **Streamlined giving**– one portal to manage all gifts. ### Who Uses DAFs? During the webinar, Mitch introduced three common “archetypes” of DAF users : - **The Organizer**– everyday donors who want structure and convenience. They are often introduced to DAFs as an employee benefit. - **The Optimizer**– couples or individuals contributing appreciated assets or large lump sums to maximize tax benefits. - **The Builder**– families treating a DAF as an alternative to a private foundation, often following a major liquidity or inheritance event. Despite these different categories, one thing is consistent across the board: DAF donors see themselves as **smart, intentional, and data\-driven. **They often treat their giving like an investment portfolio—seeking measurable impact. ### The State of the DAF Market DAFs are no longer a niche tool. As Mitch noted, “this is a quarter\-trillion\-dollar sector and growing fast.” In 2023 alone, nonprofits received nearly **$55 billion in grants from DAFs**. Even more striking: research shows that while most nonprofits are seeing flat or declining revenue from traditional giving, over 80% of participants in the [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) reported **growth in DAF revenue **in 2024, with the median being \+30% year\-over\-year. DAF giving is also not limited to major donors. **69% of DAF gifts are under $1,000**, which underscores the democratization of this giving vehicle across donor levels. ### Why DAFs Matter for Nonprofits One of the biggest opportunities with DAFs is what Mitch called the **“power of pre\-commitment.”** “Having a DAF is like walking into a store with a gift card instead of cash. The money is already earmarked for giving, so donors are more likely to act—and to give more.” In fact, when donors switch from making gifts via credit card to giving through their DAF, their contributions to the same nonprofit **grew by 10x on average \(**according to the DAF Fundraising Report\)**.** ### Overcoming Barriers: Making DAF Giving Easy Despite their popularity, DAFs are still underused in spontaneous giving moments. A [recent survey by Giving Compass](https://5154904.hs-sites.com/daf-donor-content-preferences-impact-on-giving-behaviors?__hstc=156812004.c4e34d0198e7e7350a9027c2dbd041d2.1745509639267.1755560405243.1755607686009.404&__hssc=156812004.3.1755607686009&__hsfp=1923652471) found that 37% of donors skipped using their DAF just on their latest gift simply because it was “too many steps”. Rick emphasized that nonprofits can solve this friction: “If you don’t make it easy for people, they’ll default to their checkbook or credit card. And that means you miss out on bigger gifts.” Some practical steps for nonprofits: - **Audit your website**– add your EIN and a dedicated DAF giving page. - **Include DAFs in your appeals**– wherever you list ways to give, mention DAFs. - **Enable DAF technology**– tools like[DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/daff)allow donors to use their DAF as seamlessly as Apple Pay or PayPal, and is available on[dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations). ### Stewardship Matters Even More A critical reminder from the session: DAF gifts are **not tax\-deductible for the donor at the time of disbursement**, since the tax benefit was received when they made the contribution. That means nonprofits should *not *send a tax receipt. However, it is still very important to send a **thank you **to these donors, and it’s a step many nonprofits overlook. As Rick put it: “Donors want to feel appreciated. I’ve seen fundholders cancel recurring grants simply because they never got a thank you from the nonprofit.” It’s important to remember that DAF gifts come from individuals, it’s an institution that facilitates the gift for them. Not only should these donors be stewarded individually, it’s wise for organizations to use their major donor playbook for DAF donors regardless of their first gift size. DAFs are a powerful indicator of someone’s capacity and propensity to give. ### Next Steps & Resources Some of the recommended action items included: 1. **Review your gift acceptance policy**– make sure DAFs are covered. Leverage [this template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) to get started. 2. **Train your staff**– everyone should be comfortable explaining DAFs \- [share this recording with the broader team.](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2-35cg4I4QbWryDmwEsAx5Q) 3. **Test the process**– try making a DAF gift to your own organization to see what donors experience. Learn more about getting your own DAF [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf). 4. **Take advantage of **[**DAF Day**](http://www.dafday.com/)\- Claim your Chariot Account\* to be verified and make use of [the marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit). 5. **Download the **[**2025 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.dafday.com/)– full of data, case studies, and checklists to go deeper on all aspects of DAFs for nonprofits. . #### DAFs are reshaping philanthropy. As Rick reminded us at the end of the session: “Donor\-advised funds aren’t going anywhere. If anything, they’re just getting started.” For nonprofits, the takeaway is clear: the sooner you embrace DAFs in your fundraising strategy, the more sustainable and impactful your donor relationships will be. --- ## GoodToday takes out 93% of their grant payment work with Chariot Disbursements - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/goodtoday-takes-out-90-of-their-grant-payment-work-with-chariot-disbursements - Published: 2025-08-13 > GoodToday, a kindness platform for workplace giving, is the latest grantmaking organization to adopt Chariot Disbursements for faster, easier and safer payments to nonprofits. ##### [GoodToday](https://www.goodtoday.org/), a kindness platform for workplace giving, is the latest grantmaking organization to adopt Chariot Disbursements for faster, easier and safer payments to nonprofits. #### Partnership Background GoodToday’s platform empowers employees to give a company sponsored donation on a daily basis at work. They offer a slack integration that prompts employees to review two nonprofits and “vote” on which to give their daily dollar to. Those dollars really add up across their thousands of users\! Chariot offers GoodToday to all of our employees and everyone loves starting their day learning about amazing organizations and being part of a large collective impact somewhere new every day. As a facilitator of giving by many people to a constantly changing group of nonprofits each month, it was a labor\-intensive process for the GoodToday team to send funds to the nonprofit beneficiaries. That all changed after adopting Chariot for their Disbursements: #### GoodToday \+ Chariot Disbursements\* \| Impact by the numbers - **93% reduction **in time spent by GoodToday on grant payment operations - Funds in\-hand at nonprofits **instantly **after claiming their Chariot Account - **No cost **to nonprofits to receive Disbursements on Chariot. > “Many organizations are nominated by our community because they care deeply about the cause, and many are responding to emergencies and disasters. Getting their funds to them faster is going to have a huge impact.” #### Set up Process GoodToday was able to set up with Chariot Disbursements in a few days with key steps including: - Claiming their Chariot Account - Aligning their grant details to the Chariot template - Reviewing and submitting in the Chariot dashboard From there, Chariot handles everything else including organization verification and payment execution, either via instant digital payment if the organization claims their account or via verified check if need be. “The Chariot team has been incredible and so helpful every step of the way. Thank you all so much\!” If you’re interested in learning more about how GoodToday helps teams deliver more impact, reach out to [moses@goodtoday.org](mailto:moses@goodtoday.org). If you’re interested in learning how Chariot Disbursements could help your team, your payment security and your grantee experience, [reach out today](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form). *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account through our banking services partner, Column, N.A., Member FDIC. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## How the New Tax Bill Will Reshape Philanthropy and DAFs: Actionable Steps for Nonprofits, Donors, and Fundraisers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-the-new-tax-bill-will-reshape-philanthropy-and-dafs-actionable-steps-for-nonprofits-donors-an - Published: 2025-08-06 > With major changes taking effect in 2026, 2025 is a crucial year for strategic giving—here’s what you need to know and do now. #### With major changes taking effect in 2026, 2025 is a crucial year for strategic giving—here’s what you need to know and do now. The recently passed*Opportunity for a Better Budget Bill*\(OBBB\) has stirred considerable discussion in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. With a mix of expanded deductions and tighter contribution limits, the bill presents both opportunities and challenges for nonprofits, donors, and donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) sponsors. While the bill won’t take effect until 2026, the strategic window for action is already open. This post outlines how the OBBB impacts different donor types, fundraising strategies and long term philanthropic planning. Plus, we provide clear action steps for nonprofits and DAF providers to stay ahead of the curve. ### 1. Mass Market Donors: A New Incentive Coming in 2026 **What’s changing?** Starting in 2026, all taxpayers—even those who take the standard minimum deduction—will be able to deduct up to $1,000 in charitable donations \($2,000 for married couples\). This is a big shift: currently, the vast majority of taxpayers \(about 90%\) don’t itemize and therefore receive no tax benefit for giving to charity. **Why it matters:** This provision effectively reintroduces a universal charitable deduction, albeit capped at a modest level. It could encourage millions of middle\- and lower\-income donors to give \(or give more\) once it becomes effective. #### Action Items: **For Nonprofits:** - **Update donor communications**: Make the new deduction a central message in your 2026 campaigns, especially in email appeals and donation pages. - **Revise tax receipts**: Consider including a brief note explaining the new universal deduction starting in 2026. For example:*“Starting this year, your charitable contributions may be deductible even if you don’t otherwise itemize. Talk to your tax advisor to learn more.”* - **Re\-engage lapsed small donors**: Use this policy change as a reason to reach out to past donors who may have stopped giving due to lack of tax incentives. **For DAF Providers:** - **Educate fund holders**: Make sure they understand that DAF contributions do not qualify for the new universal deduction—but personal cash gifts outside of their DAF do. Encourage a separate $1,000 cash gift annually to maximize tax efficiency. **Helpful Resource: **[National Council of Nonprofits: Universal Charitable Deduction Overview](https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/trends-policy-issues/universal-charitable-deduction) ### 2. Wealthy Donors: Cap on Deductions Means Act Now **What’s changing?** Beginning in 2026, the maximum tax benefit of each dollar deducted will be limited to 35% \(lowered from 37%\), and itemized deductions will have a floor of 0.5%. This could significantly affect ultra\-high\-net\-worth donors who typically give large portions of their income—or even more than their annual income—each year or give substantial amounts that still fall below the floor. **Why it matters:** For major donors, 2025 may be the last year to realize full tax benefits from larger gifts. Starting in 2026, mid\-level donors giving 4–5 figure amounts may also find their deductions limited if they fall under the new floor. #### Action Items: **For Nonprofits:** - **Ask for transformative gifts in 2025**: Have strategic conversations with key donors now. If a large gift is being considered, act before December 31, 2025. - **Launch planned giving campaigns early**: Promote strategies like charitable remainder trusts and bequests to keep wealthy donors engaged long term, even if immediate deductions are smaller post\-2026. - **Frame urgency thoughtfully**: Use fact\-based, professional messaging—not fear—to explain how donors can “lock in” tax benefits by giving this year. **For DAF Providers:** - **Encourage large DAF contributions in 2025**: Highlight that contributions to DAF accounts still offer full deductibility in 2025. Consider running DAF Day campaigns or webinars to educate donors on the special urgency around this yearend cycle in particular. - **Promote “bunching” in 2026 and beyond**: Suggest donors group multiple years’ worth of donations into a single year to clear the 0.5% AGI floor and gain maximum tax benefit. This strategy works well with DAFs, allowing donors to smooth out distributions even after bunching contributions. **Helpful Resource: **[National Philanthropic Trust: Navigating Charitable Giving in the Wake of New Tax Reform](https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/philanthropist/navigating-charitable-giving-in-the-wake-of-new-tax-reform/) ### 3. Corporate Giving: A Floor That Raises the Bar **What’s changing?** Starting in 2026, corporations will only be able to deduct charitable contributions that exceed 1% of their taxable income. This introduces a*floor*on deductions—a new concept for corporate philanthropy. For low\-margin businesses \(like grocery, retail, and hospitality\), this could sharply curtail deductibility. **Why it matters:** Corporations may reduce giving that doesn’t meet the threshold, but they could also choose to consolidate or increase giving in certain years to clear the floor and claim the full benefit. #### Action Items: **For Nonprofits:** - **Encourage multi\-year commitments in 2025**: If a business is contemplating a multi\-year gift, suggest making the entire pledge this year to secure the tax deduction before the 1% floor applies. - **In 2026, advocate for consolidated giving**: Propose larger, one\-time donations that can clear the 1% threshold rather than smaller, recurring contributions that may no longer be deductible. **For DAF Providers:** - **Market corporate DAFs as a workaround**: DAFs can help businesses pre\-fund future charitable giving while potentially clearing the 1% floor. Position this as a planning tool. - **Promote DAFs as employee benefit vehicles**: Encourage companies to match employee DAF contributions or seed employee\-directed giving accounts. This both deepens employee engagement and may help the company exceed the 1% threshold. **Helpful Resource: **[Urban Institute: Charitable Giving and Tax Policy Brief](https://www.urban.org/research/publication/charitable-giving-and-tax-policy) ### Key Takeaways: Strategic Giving in a Transition Year While many of the changes from the OBBB won’t hit until 2026, **2025 is a strategic pivot point **for philanthropy. The year offers donors and organizations a chance to optimize giving, maximize tax benefits, and lay the groundwork for sustainable generosity under a new tax regime. **Top 5 Action Items Before 2026:** 1. **Major donors should finalize large gifts this year **to take advantage of full deductibility. 2. **Nonprofits should tailor next year’s messaging **to mass\-market donors, highlighting the new universal deduction. 3. **Corporations should evaluate giving strategies now**, especially if they may be affected by the new 1% floor. 4. **DAF sponsors should launch 2025 education campaigns **around the narrowing window for the current deductibility scheme. 5. **Everyone should revisit their giving plans with a tax advisor **to ensure alignment with the new law. *Want to stay ahead of changes in donor behavior and DAF trends? Subscribe to *[*Chariot’s Newsletter*](https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter)* for all the latest tools, updates, and guidance on maximizing the impact of donor\-advised funds.* --- ## How to Assess Your Opportunity with DAFpay on Donation Forms - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-to-assess-your-opportunity-with-dafpay-on-donation-forms - Published: 2025-08-05 > Many organizations and platforms are curious about the impact DAFpay can have on their fundraising outcomes. This article covers the best ways to assess the opportunity and measure effectiveness for your situation. #### Many organizations and platforms are curious about the impact DAFpay can have on their fundraising outcomes. This article covers the best ways to assess the opportunity and measure effectiveness for your situation. DAFpay is the first\-ever DAF payment option, so naturally most nonprofits and fundraising platforms evaluating the technology are thinking critically about how to properly gauge the opportunity. To determine if digital DAF giving is “worth it” to include in your fundraising technology, it’s critical to understand the nuances of DAF giving \- including all of the potential benefits beyond just increased near\-term funding. In this article we cover: 1. The context for digital DAF giving. 2. The effective steps to assess DAFpay. 3. Evaluating DAFpay results. 4. The organizations you can reference. 5. The context of the moment. #### What is different about DAF Giving? 1. **DAF Giving is not new \- it is already massive, and growing rapidly** DAFs are not a “flash in the pan” trend. They’ve been around for decades and shown exponential growth since 2013. The $54 billion in DAF grants made in 2023 represented a 6x increase over 10 years. And there’s another $250 billion already committed to giving in DAF accounts, according to [National Philanthropic Trust’s DAF Report](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/). While we don’t have the full industry figures for 2024, the two largest DAF providers have shared their results: [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) reported 25% year\-over\-year growth and [DAFGiving360](https://www.dafgiving360.org/giving-report) \(f.k.a. Schwab Charitable\), reported 34% year\-over\-year growth. The size and trajectory of the DAF opportunity is not up for debate. 1. **One of the biggest drivers of this growth is improved accessibility** The reason there’s 8x as many people using DAFs now as a decade ago is because the requirements for opening a DAF have become more accessible, while the technology for using them has improved greatly. Leading providers have no minimum account size required, a $20\-50 minimum donation size, and even mobile apps for easy account management. This has rapidly shifted the population of DAF users from the ultra\-high net worth making major gifts, to the full spectrum of donors that want to use their DAF for all kinds of giving moments. The [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) showed that 69% of DAF gifts were below $1,000 and 2 of the 3 donor segments with the fastest increasing usage of DAFs are below $500. The average gift through DAFpay is ~$1,200 and the median is $250. 1. **A donor using their DAF is worth more to a nonprofit than just the dollars** DAF donors are proven to make significantly larger gifts, more often, and with higher retention. Knowing they have a DAF, and having their email to steward them right after their gift, means they can turn that initial large gift into years of greater support with a deep relationship. [According to Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html), the largest DAF provider in the world, 80% of gifts are recurring or re\-occurring gifts to organizations. This is why organizations are so focused on “finding” new DAF donors \- and why Chariot partners are so excited by the number of net\-new donors or first\-time DAF donors using DAFpay. The [March of Dimes found](https://www.givechariot.com/chariot-case-studies) that 80% of their DAFpay donors were first\-time DAF donors: 50% were first time supporters and 30% were previously non\-DAF donors that gave for the first time. The long\-term value of a DAF donor is something that nonprofit fundraisers understand very well, and doesn’t get captured in a single donation. 1. **DAF donors make smaller gifts outside of their DAF all of the time.** Several recent studies have demonstrated how common it is that DAF donors opt to use a credit card to give to an organization instead of their DAF. This results in a smaller gift and no knowledge that the donor has a DAF \(the most promising wealth indicator possible\). The DAF Research Collaborative’s 2025 DAF Donor survey \(full analysis [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey)\) found that 93% of active DAF users still make direct gifts outside their DAF, and the top reasons include: spontaneity, events, time\-sensitivity, and giving to new organizations. Those are also some of the most prominent drivers of online donation form usage. The Giving Compass 2024 Donor Satisfaction Research \(full analysis [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph)\) found that 37% of DAF donors didn’t use their DAF on their most recent gift. They highlighted a quote from one DAF donor: “I didn't use my donor advised fund because **there are just many more steps with the donor advised funds**, and frankly, **I often forget that it's there**. So when I'm asked in the moment to donate or if something comes up, **it's so easy just to start the process and put my information**, and by the time I'm finished, I have forgotten that, oh, yes, I have a donor advised fund to pull from.” This phenomenon is summed up well by Jen Risher, co\-founder of [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/HalfMyDAF) and prolific DAF donor, during a recent interview: 1. **Digital DAF giving is what’s new, and we’re still near the beginning of the adoption curve.** DAFpay was released in January 2023, and 10s of thousands of donors have taken advantage of the payment option since then. Usage is also accelerating at a breakneck speed. In fact, since September 2024 when one platform started a “test” of DAFpay, the monthly dollar volume in DAFpay has grown by 2.75x, the monthly number of DAFpay gifts has grown 3x, and the monthly number of nonprofits supported through DAFpay has nearly doubled. #### Effectively Assessing DAFpay Knowing this background, here’s how partners have effectively evaluated DAFpay performance after implementation and learned what’s in ***the nonprofit’s ***best interest when it comes to digital DAF giving: 1. **Utilize DAFpay during a specific campaign, giving day or fundraising cycle** DAFpay has shown its greatest value when a DAF donor would’ve made a credit card gift since they assume it’s easier, but are delighted to see a seamless way to pay with their DAF instead. This phenomenon is most common with “inspiration\-based” giving \- being prompted to donate by a match opportunity, a compelling appeal, or a time\-bound effort. 1. **Analyze performance on a multi\-quarter time frame** Audiences typically warm up to DAFpay after it’s introduced. This process can take a few months. However, once a DAF donor successfully uses DAFpay once, they are much more likely to seek it out in the future. This means that DAFpay usage accelerates over the first 12\-24 months post\-implementation. Organizations adding DAFpay now have the added benefit that DAFpay’s presence on nonprofit donation forms is increasing exponentially, so DAF donors who have used it with one organization are more likely to use it again for another. 1. **Set useful goals** Knowing DAFpay is new, the most important thing to pay attention to is that DAFpay doesn’t harm conversion. If there’s no impact on conversion, and DAFpay gifts are larger than other channels, then there is no negative “cannibalization”. That means increased revenue. 1. **Partners that required a test period found more meaningful results by testing on specific forms or pages, but not limiting a test to exclusively A/B style testing.** Given it’s a new payment option, some simple donor communication and engagement around the tool is helpful. With an A/B test, you can’t direct people to your form to make DAF gifts, because half the time the option won’t be there. This type of test design simply won’t capture the full potential. A/B tests are more definitive when testing well\-known form features, like button placement or design choices. Due to the nature of digital DAF giving, A/B tests are not definitive on their own. Two other issues we’ve seen occur with A/B testing are 1\) that there are technical issues with how DAFpay is integrated having a material impact on outcomes yet results are treated like high quality data or 2\) tests are run on a limited volume form which can’t provide meaningful results given DAF gifts aren’t as frequent, but are significantly larger, so a few 4 or 5 figure gifts can significantly change the test results. 1. **Assess other metrics specifically relevant to DAF giving** As explained thus far, digital DAF giving offers other layers of value beyond initial dollars in the door. Some additional metrics to focus on while testing include: 1. **New DAF Donors**: Percentage of DAFpay donors that are net\-new to the organization or existing supporters that used their DAF for the first time. 2. **Change in support: **For any existing supporters that gave with a DAF for the first time, how did the gift size compare to their prior support? The average [in our research](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) is nearly 10x. This jump in gift size can significantly change the lifetime giving of a donor over many years of recurring gifts at the new giving level. 3. **Change in offline DAF volume: **Many organizations experience a sharp uptick in “offline” DAF giving once they implement DAFpay. Even for supporters who don’t convert online, DAFpay is serving as a valuable reminder to use their DAF. If they’re most comfortable taking the extra steps in their portal, that is still a net win from the visibility gained by a DAF payment option. 4. **Average gift size: **While you should expect to have fewer overall DAF donations compared to credit card gifts, the average gift size will likely be substantially higher. 5. **Speed to Steward**: How fast are you able to thank a DAFpay donor vs. other DAF donors? 6. **Stewardship engagement**: How many DAFpay users engage with your thank you emails? [Michael J. Fox Foundation found](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) that 50% sent a response to their major giving team's personalized thank\-you email\! 7. **Work with the experts** 8. 1. Chariot has assisted thousands of organizations with DAF fundraising and done consistent research on nonprofits’ DAF giving data. We help partners set themselves up for success by implementing DAFpay and analyzing performance in a manner that accounts for these nuances. 2. Running tests specifically on DAFpay without our collaboration or involvement can lead to uninformed results, frustrated nonprofits, and, most importantly, less long\-term giving from the most promising source of funds available today. #### Results from DAFpay The most important DAFpay results that nonprofits and fundraising platforms have found include: 1. Increased fundraising outcomes by better engaging the highest growth channel for giving \(learn more from [CauseMatch](https://www.givechariot.com/causematch-case-study),[Susan G Komen,](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen)[The B\+ Foundation,](https://www.givechariot.com/be-positive-case-study)[and others](https://www.givechariot.com/chariot-case-studies)\) 2. Majority of DAFpay donors are first\-time supporters or first\-time DAF donors \(Learn more from [The March of Dimes](https://www.givechariot.com/march-of-dimes-case-study)\) 3. Rapid ability to steward donors \(learn more from [the Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study)\) 4. Drastic expansion of DAF support footprint \(learn more from [the Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study)\) #### Nonprofit References Don’t take our word for it, look to more of [your peers](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council)\! - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - American Cancer Society - The ACLU - The Public Theater - Central Park - Alzheimer’s Association - Susan G. Komen - American Heart Association - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and many, many more will tell you all about their findings. #### The context of the moment Remember that DAF funds are powerful for two key reasons that are most relevant in 2025: 1. Recession Concerns 2. 1. DAF funds have been pre\-committed to giving. There’s no ability to take funds back out of a DAF so it psychologically functions like a gift card for donations. A gift from your DAF doesn’t hit your monthly credit card bill or bank statement. 2. That means in times of economic uncertainty, DAF donors use more of their DAF accounts to support causes they care about while other channels of giving go down. 3. Political pressure on certain causes 4. 1. When a donor uses a DAF, they get a tax write off on their contribution into the DAF \- not on gifts out of the DAF. That means the DAF is reporting those donations in aggregate in their filings and the individual donor is not reporting those gifts on their taxes. 2. This is likely to have increasing popularity as political pressure rises on organizations and their supporters not deemed to be “in\-line” with the administration. We have the power to increase DAF giving by embedding it into every donation experience. Every organization and every donation form that adopts it will increase DAF donor familiarity, comfort and giving. It’s a rising tide for every organization and fundraising platform. Let’s meet this moment when the sector needs it more than ever. --- ## Breaking down the DAFgiving360 FY25 Annual Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/breaking-down-the-dafgiving360-fy25-annual-report - Published: 2025-08-04 > The most important takeaways in the latest reporting from the second largest DAF in the world. #### The most important takeaways in the latest reporting from the second largest DAF in the world. DAFgiving360, f.k.a Schwab Charitable, ended their fiscal year June 30, 2025 and published their annual giving data last week. We’ve laid out the most interesting insights into DAF donor behavior and what these findings mean for nonprofit fundraisers. This data demonstrates many of the [key qualities associated with DAF donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf), and the increasingly compelling opportunity for development teams across the country. 1. Scale DAFgiving360 shared that they granted $8.9 billion from their DAF account in FY25. That was made up of 1.4 million grants to 155,000\+ charities. **For fundraisers**: DAF giving is not a “flash in the pan trend” for large organizations. It’s happening at a massive scale, affecting nearly every nonprofit. 1. Growth DAFgiving360’s annual granting volume has grown 9x in 10 years \(from $1 billion in FY16 to $8.9 billion in FY25\). In FY25 alone, grant volume increased at a staggering rate of \+34% year\-over\-year. This rate of growth compared with the [Calendar Year 2024 results for Fidelity Charitable of \+25%](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) imply that DAF giving is accelerating even faster in the first half of the year. The overall number of grants at DAFgiving360 was also up 19% year\-over\-year in FY25, and that figure is up 5x over the past 10 years \(from 238,000 in FY16 to 1.4 million in FY25\). **For fundraisers**: Overall giving has stagnated in recent years, but DAF giving is exploding. And it’s not because it’s growing from a “small base.” The fact that providers like DAFgiving360 are growing this much at their scale should be sounding alarm bells at nonprofits about how DAF\-centric the near future could look. Does your organization have a strategy in place to prepare for that future? 1. Generosity Despite the increasing accessibility with DAFgiving360 / Schwab Charitable accounts, having [removed minimum account balance requirements altogether in 2020](https://pressroom.aboutschwab.com/press-releases/press-release/2020/Schwab-Charitable-Expands-Access-and-Options-for-Charitable-Giving/default.aspx/1000/#:~:text=Press%20Releases-,Schwab%20Charitable%20Expands%20Access%20and%20Options%20for%20Charitable%20Giving,unprecedented%20needs%20in%20their%20communities.), the average donation size has increased dramatically in the past 10 years: \+51% between FY16 and FY25. The company also disclosed findings from a January 2025 donor survey, finding that 72% of DAF holders agreed with the statement “having a DAF account increases their charitable giving.” This finding on the positive impact of DAFs on overall generosity is in line with the findings in the [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) assessing nonprofits’ DAF giving data: 67% of donors that started using a DAF for the first time to support an organization in 2024 increased their giving, and the average increase was \+1,357%. **For fundraisers**: At a time when the funding landscape has been turned upside down, it’s important to invest in channels demonstrating long\-term growth. A relatively small percentage of the population uses a DAF today, but their gift sizes can have a transformative impact that has only gotten greater over time. 1. Trust There was a 20% year\-over\-year increase in the number of unrestricted grants, which now account for 72% of the overall giving from DAFgiving360 accounts. **For fundraisers**: The vast majority of DAF gifts come without strings attached. People use DAFs because they want to simplify their giving and maximize their impact, so they generally aren’t trying to create extra hoops or requirements with their support. Focus on your stewardship and timely communication with these supporters to retain and build that trust further. 1. Consistency DAFgiving360 disclosed that 38% of the grants scheduled in FY25 were established as recurring gifts. 85% of overall grants were to an organization they’ve supported before \(either as a scheduled recurring gift or a re\-grant\). **For fundraisers**: The impact of a DAF portal easily recapping your prior giving is that DAF donors tend to regrant often, and they are increasingly setting up recurring gifts. Yes, the obvious step is to make sure you’re reminding your donors that they can set up recurring gifts from their DAF, but the thing most organizations miss is then including those recurring DAF donors in your engagement flows for your monthly donors\! *Top tip*: did you know that recurring gifts can be made in DAFpay? If you don’t have the feature enabled, or want to learn more, [reach out to our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact). 1. Increasing Impact In addition to that consistency, 15% of the grants made in FY25 were to an organization which that donor had not previously supported. **For fundraisers**: There’s a mindset shift with using a DAF. Once you’ve set the money aside in a restricted fund that can only be used for giving, you end up being more engaged with your philanthropy and quicker to act when inspired by a new organization. The fact that so many DAF holders continue to find new organizations to support each year means that you need to bring up DAF giving in your communications and make it as easy as possible \- especially for a net\-new DAF supporter. Read the full annual report from DAFgiving360 in full[here](https://www.dafgiving360.org/giving-report). ##### Recapping Fundraiser Action Items: - **Invest in a DAF strategy**. The DAF opportunity is enormous and only accelerating, as proven by reporting like this. If your organization isn’t sure where to get started, check out [this guide to DAF strategy](https://www.givechariot.com/post/getting-daf-ready-how-nonprofits-can-maximize-daf-day-2025), informed by a recent conversation with [The ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund), The [Wounded Warrior Project](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate/donor-advised-funds) and [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/). - **Audit your data & stewardship**: Most organizations are still not tracking and stewarding their DAF donors effectively. That’s the foundation for any DAF strategy and your opportunity to capitalize on these trends will only be as strong as your data & stewardship practices. Follow [this guide to clean up your DAF data](https://www.givechariot.com/blog) and turn DAF fundraising into a strength instead of a liability. - **Participate in DAF Day**: October 9th is the second annual DAF Day \- a national holiday for DAF giving. It’s the perfect chance to get your team focused on this topic and benefit from the collective momentum across the sector. [Get involved](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) by claiming your Chariot account and taking advantage of all the resources. - **Activate DAFpay**: The most effective way to remind your donors to use their DAF and make it easy is by having DAFpay as a payment option at checkout. If your [fundraising platform already offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), take advantage of it\! If not, make sure and request the integration. --- ## Getting DAF Ready: How Nonprofits can Maximize DAF Day 2025 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-daf-ready-how-nonprofits-can-maximize-daf-day-2025 - Published: 2025-07-21 > As donor-advised funds (DAFs) continue to reshape the philanthropic landscape, nonprofits are finding new ways to engage, educate, and empower their supporters. ##### As donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) continue to reshape the philanthropic landscape, nonprofits are finding new ways to engage, educate, and empower their supporters. That urgency and opportunity were on full display in the recent Chariot\-hosted webinar, “Getting DAF Ready,” featuring nonprofit leaders from [the ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund), [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/), and [Wounded Warrior Project](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate/donor-advised-funds). With DAF Day 2025 set for October 9, the conversation offered practical strategies, timely lessons, and inspiring examples of what it means to truly be “DAF ready” in time for the big day. Watch The Recording Get The Slides This article covers: 1. Why DAFs matter now more than ever 2. Being the DAF Champion 3. Making DAF strategy tangible 4. Why DAF Day resonates 5. 2024 DAF Day results 6. Planning for 2025 ### Why DAFs Matter Now More Than Ever All three organizations also participated in the [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which provided compelling analysis on how important DAFs have become for modern nonprofit fundraising. Some of the most meaningful findings included: - Existing donors that switched to giving through DAFs from another giving method \(e.g. credit cards\) increased their giving by 10x on average, and the median change was \+100%. - 69% of DAF gifts were under $1,000, dispelling the myth that DAFs are reserved for major donors making their largest gifts. - The median growth in 2024 DAF giving was \+30%, compared to a median change in non\-DAF giving of \-1%. “These gifts aren’t just large, they're broad\-based,” said [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot. “They’re coming from donors across the spectrum. This is a rising tide moment for the entire sector.” ### Being the DAF Champion Every organization has been on a slightly different journey with DAF strategy, but having an internal DAF Champion is the most consistent step. At the ACLU, [Meghan Lee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmle/), Associate Director of Impact Giving, has been that champion and described how she’s seen DAFs evolve from a curiosity into a core channel over the past few years. “DAF giving just continues to be a juggernaut,” she said. “We’re seeing DAF usage from every level of our file. It’s helped us foster more cross\-team collaboration.” [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron Programs & Services at The Public Theater, described how she took the initiative herself to prioritize DAF strategy: “It wasn’t like someone said, ‘Shayla, focus on DAFs.’ I just saw the opportunity.” And [Theresa Scordo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresascordo/), Donor Stewardship Associate Director at Wounded Warrior Project, reminded us that no one is behind if they’re just starting to get more engaged with DAF giving: “Even at a large organization like ours, we really only started dialing this up in the past year”. ### Making DAF Strategy Tangible Across the board, successful DAF fundraising strategies included three components: 1. **Internal alignment**: Is the whole team educated on DAFs so that everyone knows why to prioritize it and is able to spot opportunities? Does everyone have a shared vocabulary, rules, etc. to follow? Wounded Warrior Project took another step and hired a dedicated DAF Stewardship Specialist. “It’s a quarterback role,” said Theresa. “That person ensures gift tracking is accurate, data is clean, and our messaging is on point for all DAF donors, regardless of gift size.” 1. **Integration into giving systems**: Is DAF giving called out by name in all your donation forms, solicitations, etc.? Is DAF giving an integrated payment option wherever possible? For arts institutions like The Public Theater, where DAFs can raise complex tax questions, transparency is key. “We’re very clear about when a DAF can be used,” Shayla noted. For example, memberships that offer ticket perks might not be fully tax\-deductible, so The Public nudges donors toward levels that are. That clarity paid off—in [a recent direct mail campaign that emphasized DAF giving](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-daf-ask-that-led-donors-to-double-their-gifts), several donors went from giving $100 to $5,000, simply because they were educated on how to do it using their DAF. 1. **Direct donor appeals**: Are you curating specific outreach for your DAF donors and DAF giving to your broader file? DAF day is the perfect time to implement both. The ACLU has deeply embedded DAF messaging into its appeals—both digitally and via direct mail. “We explicitly call out Fidelity or Schwab by name when we talk to DAF donors,” Meghan explained. “It shows them we’re paying attention to exactly how they give.” ### DAF Day 2024 Results DAF Day 2024 brought in big wins, internally and externally for organizations. The ACLU saw a meaningful bump not just on the day itself, but in donor behavior for the remainder of the year. “DAF Day helped us stay top of mind through year\-end,” Meghan shared. The Public Theater received several unexpected gifts on DAF Day—a signal that their messaging was breaking through. “It wasn’t about setting a monetary goal. It was about showing up and starting a conversation,” said Shayla. And then there were [standout successes like Susan G. Komen](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen), which received $267,000 in DAF support on the day, including a single $88,000 gift from a first\-time DAF donor. ### Planning for 2025 This year, all three panelists are going bigger. Wounded Warrior Project has an omnichannel campaign in motion, complete with mailers, emails, and even a DAF Day QR code on their Zoom backdrops. “Everywhere our name appears, that QR code is there too,” said Theresa. The ACLU is doubling down on donor segmentation and testing a match offer promoted via postcard. “Even if this year hasn’t gone perfectly, whatever you can do is better than nothing,” said Meghan. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” Meanwhile, Shayla is aiming to secure a donor testimonial and activate The Public Theater’s social media presence around DAF Day. “Now that we’ve got more time, we’re ready to build on what we started,” she said. ### Activation Timeline For nonprofits wondering how to plan, here is a recommended activation calendar: - **July**: Internal education and setup, including [Chariot account verification](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day)so that your organization shows as verified on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/). - **August**: DAF education and website updates. Participate in*DAF Awareness Week*\(Aug 18–21\), with [dedicated webinars](https://www.dafday.com/events) for staff, donors, and nonprofit leadership. - **September**: Start public communications around DAF Day. Include donor stories and prepare your match campaigns. - **October**: Build momentum in the week leading up to DAF Day on October 9, with daily touchpoints and calls to action. The message is clear: DAF Day isn’t just about a single day of giving. It’s a movement to make DAFs more accessible, more visible, and more powerful for every organization. Megan mentioned how they asked to move DAF giving to the top of the ACLU ways to give page, and learned that it already was by far the most clicked on part of the page\! ### Final Takeaway: Progress Over Perfection Being “DAF ready” doesn’t require perfection. It starts with intention—and evolves through collaboration, transparency, and iteration. “Start with your giving page,” advised Theresa. “Update your DAF info. Get verified with Chariot. Everything else can build from there.” Meghan agreed: “Even if all you can do this year is send one DAF\-focused email, that’s progress. And it’ll pay off.” Shayla summed it up perfectly: “You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just get moving. And don’t be afraid to bring a little creativity along the way.” Commit to DAF Day --- ## Why DAF Providers Can’t Afford to Miss DAF Day This Year - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-daf-providers-can-t-afford-to-miss-daf-day-this-year - Published: 2025-07-11 > DAF Day is now a key moment in the philanthropy calendar that drives more fund holder activity, nonprofit engagement and overall DAF program growth. It's a national giving day specifically for Donor-Advised Funds, but the impact extends far beyond October 9th for the DAF Providers that commit to the movement. ##### DAF Day is now a key moment in the philanthropy calendar that drives more fund holder activity, nonprofit engagement and overall DAF program growth. It's a national giving day specifically for Donor\-Advised Funds, but the impact extends far beyond October 9th for the DAF Providers that [commit to the movement](https://www.dafday.com/providers). Chariot recently hosted a conversation with two DAF CEOs \- Megan Hyman from the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation & Robbie Heeger from Endaoment. They were both early advocates for DAF Day, and are already seeing the benefits for their team internally, their fund holders and their community. This recap covers all the key takeaways, benefits and resources available to make DAF Day as easy and powerful as possible. Watch The Recording Get The Slides DAF Day was built to do something that traditional communications from any one DAF Provider can not: create interest, urgency and pride around DAF giving. From DAFs managing 50 accounts to those with 50,000, DAF Day offers a way to reinvigorate brand awareness, re\-engage fund holders, and inspire action at a critical moment in the giving season. Commit to DAF Day ### What You'll Learn In this session recap, we’ll cover: - **The significance of DAF Day: **Why October 9 is the right moment to activate the community, alongside other DAFs around the country. - **Closing the awareness gap: **What people still misunderstand about DAFs, and how this day can reframe the narrative. - **An Opportunity for Grantee Activation: **How to align the goals of providers and grantees. - **An easy formula for fund holder engagement: **Why less than 50% of DAF holders engage consistently and how to change that. - **Let DAF Day Start the Giving Conversation: **How DAF Day turns natural small talk into philanthropic momentum. - **Easy ways to get started: **How to get participate without overcommitting resources. - **The Bigger Picture: **How DAF Day helps elevate the entire sector. ### The Significance of DAF Day DAF Day is a national giving day started in 2024, designed to drive more Donor\-Advised Fund awareness, adoption and giving. This year, it falls on Thursday **October 9, 2025. **This is intentionally aligned with Q4 tax planning season, when charitable contributions are being contemplated. The timing gives DAF Providers an interesting reason to reach out to fund holders, prospects, financial advisors and local nonprofits to start a conversation on DAFs that leads to more action and more impact. And the results speak for themselves. In 2024: - The Provider’s Fund saw over **$4 million granted in a single day, **[**a 4x increase over their 2023 giving on the same day.**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) - [Daffy saw a](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study)[**40% spike in new accounts created**](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) during the week of DAF Day. - Nonprofits ranging from ACLU to [**Susan G. Komen**](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen) leveraged DAF Day messaging across email, SMS, and social media, amplifying the DAF Day message nationwide. Commit to DAF Day ### Closing the Awareness Gap Despite the rapid growth of donor\-advised funds, the vast majority of Americans still don’t understand what they are, or how they work. A[2022 Ipsos poll](https://ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Summary-of-American-Opinions-re-Foundations_Final.pdf) showed that **only 17% of U.S. adults are familiar with DAFs. **This lack of public awareness fuels confusion, stigma, and missed opportunities for deeper engagement with giving. Often, DAFs are perceived as opaque or exclusive, when in reality they’re one of the most accessible, versatile and effective giving tools available. As [Robbie](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheeger/) explained in the webinar, “We spend a lot of time, energy, effort, brain cycles trying to unwind some of the negativity…What if we injected a moment of pride about engaging with DAFs?” DAF Day helps bridge this gap. Robbie goes on to point out that when, “you say ‘Happy DAF Day’ and someone asks what that is. It’s an opening to explain that DAFs are a smarter, more flexible way to give—regardless of wealth level.” By creating a reason to talk about DAFs in a public\-facing and approachable way—through emails, website pages, press coverage, and events—providers can reframe the narrative and build confidence with both fund holders and their broader networks. Commit to DAF Day ### An Opportunity for Grantee Activation DAF Day presents an opportunity to align the interests between grantees and DAF administrators. When nonprofits understand the benefits of DAFs—they speak to fund holders with confidence, embrace enabling tech like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), and promote DAF usage more often. During the webinar Mitch pointed out a vivid example: “*We saw the ACLU blast their full list, Doctors Without Borders take a half\-page ad in the *Wall Street Journal, *and even the Montana Community Foundation turn DAF Day into a teach\-in for their whole network*.” That kind of sector\-wide storytelling pays off for providers: informed nonprofits cultivate more DAF donors, provide more effective appeals for support, and keep the positive narrative moving long after 9 October. Commit to DAF Day ### The Easy Formula For Fund holder Engagement DAF Day isn’t just about raising awareness externally, it’s also about more deeply engaging board members and existing fund holders. A recent analysis from the **DAF Research Collaborative **shows that [**more than half of DAF programs see fewer than 50 percent of their fund holders using philanthropic advising services**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-6-takeaways-from-new-daf-research-collaborative-report)[.](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-6-takeaways-from-new-daf-research-collaborative-report) Yet the fund holders who *do *engage give more often, at higher levels, and with stronger long\-term retention. As Robbie noted in the webinar, the bottleneck often starts upstream: “Financial advisors are usually the ones who initiate the opening of DAFs for clients because they have visibility into the client’s tax situation.” The issue isn’t donor intent—it’s activation. Fund holders often need a clear reason to engage. That’s why DAF Day matters: it provides a non\-solicitation moment to prompt generosity, start conversations, and reinforce provider value. Megan mentioned several stories of DAF Providers sharing examples where they used DAF Day to reintroduce advising services or share creative estate planning strategies. “*We have a lot of people opening funds for their kids and grandkids who ask, ‘How do I even start the conversation about philanthropy?’*” Megan explained. “*DAF Day gave them the perfect reason to bring it up.*” This is the kind of engagement that builds long\-term loyalty, and real impact. Commit to DAF Day ### Let DAF Day Start the Giving Conversation DAF Day boosts growth by aligning with Q4’s year\-end gift planning season, creating a natural moment for action in conversations that already take place. As Megan put it, “Not a lot of people go around saying, ‘Hey, I have my checking account at this bank.’” Talking about money—even charitable giving—can feel awkward. But a shared moment like DAF Day opens the door in a way that feels light and socially acceptable. Robbie noted the deeper value here: “\[the talk surrounding\] DAFs often lacks soul.” DAF Day helps shift that narrative, turning a financial tool into a proud expression of generosity. When supporters are invited to give visibly, they’re more likely to share, and that sharing sparks curiosity, awareness, and growth.” The momentum effect is real. In last year’s campaign, **Daffy **asked members to share a simple “Happy DAF Day” link with friends. That natural prompt fueled a [**40 % surge in new accounts and a 4× grant spike**](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study)** **[during DAF Day week](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study); proof that a proud fund holder can serve as effective marketers. Commit to DAF Day ### It’s Easy to Participate DAF Providers can start with whatever works best with their existing schedule and available resources. To make things as easy as possible, there’s also a comprehensive **DAF Day Toolkit **specifically for DAF Providers that equips teams with everything they need to execute a high\-impact rollout with minimal effort. The Toolkit includes: - A **Start\-Here checklist and timeline **to help internal planning - Fully branded **email and SMS campaign kits **for fund holders engagement - Editable **social media templates and captions** - A one\-page**Executive Briefing **for leadership buy\-in - Educational resources for fund holders, nonprofits, and wealth advisors Remember: DAF Day participation is scalable. It can start as some simple DAF Day promotion in a few emails and social media posts, or go all the way to running a DAF Day “challenge” for board members and hosting an in\-person event. No matter the path choice, the toolkit is flexible, fast to deploy, and aligned with how DAF Providers actually work. The only wrong way to do DAF Day is to miss out. Commit to DAF Day to Access the Toolkit ### The Bigger Picture The DAF Day opportunity goes far beyond one day of giving. This movement helps define how DAFs are discussed, understood, utilized and valued in the future. Giving through a DAF is an incredible thing. As Robbie put it, “You grow your little philanthropist island… it becomes part of your personality.” DAF Day creates space to reinforce that identity, making sure every giver has a chance to feel that same level of pride and purpose. This initiative also helps emphasize the real role of the DAF Provider. They’re not just managing accounts, they’re a champion for generosity, a connector of donors and causes, and a committed partner for driving philanthropy forward. *Remind everyone of that role you play by committing to DAF Day.* Commit to DAF Day ### Key Takeaways & Next Steps **Key Takeaway** **Next Step** DAF Day is a free, easy, and highly impactful opportunity for DAF providers. [Fill out the interest form](https://www.dafday.com/providers) to commit to DAF Day. DAF Day offers a moment to reframe and educate. Once you commit, you’ll get the toolkit start a positive DAF conversation in your network. DAF Day creates a natural opportunity to engage fund holders. Plan a light\-touch outreach campaign using email or SMS templates from the Toolkit. DAF day leads to material program growth \- both in terms of giving and contributions. Organize a DAF Day contribution challenge that activates participants from your ecosystem to champion action. ### Conclusion DAF Day holds a tremendous potential for any DAF Provider regardless of their strategic focus in 2025. Providing an opportunity to engage DAF activity, increase visibility, strengthen their partnerships with grantees or showcase leadership— **DAF Day 2025 is a can't miss opportunity.** At Chariot, we’re here to support every step of the DAF Day journey. Our team is on call to help any way we can, and are constantly evolving the platform and resources based on provider feedback. Partnering with Chariot on DAFpay or using Chariot Disbursements to streamline grant payments is not a prerequisite, DAF Day welcomes providers at all levels of involvement. Commit to DAF Day --- ## Curing Your DAF Data: Best Practices for Everyone to follow - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow - Published: 2025-07-03 > Transforming data chaos into clarity: a strategic framework for smarter DAF fundraising rooted in high quality DAF giving data. ##### Transforming data chaos into clarity: a strategic framework for smarter DAF fundraising rooted in high quality DAF giving data. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have gone from niche financial instruments to mainstream giving vehicles—transforming how individuals support causes they care about. Yet, despite their explosive growth and unmatched potential, one critical area continues to hold nonprofits back: DAF data hygiene. [Adam Rosenscruggs](https://www.linkedin.com/in/arosenscruggs/), the data scientist behind this year’s DAF Fundraising Report joined a recent Chariot Webinar with [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) for a DAF data workshop that is a must\-watch for any gift processor, database admin, development operations lead or diligent fundraiser in general. Watch The Recording Get The Slides This recap includes: - Recap of the DAF Fundraising Report’s key findings - The strategic value of high quality DAF data - Common challenges to tracking DAF data - Ideal DAF data framework - The 6 most common errors in DAF data - 8 tests and best practices to implement ### Recap of the DAF Fundraising Report’s key findings Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have rapidly transitioned from niche financial tools to mainstream giving mechanisms, fundamentally reshaping philanthropy. Yet, despite their meteoric rise, one critical piece of infrastructure continues to lag behind: **data hygiene**. In the [*2025*](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)* *[*DAF Fundraising Report*](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) — an analysis of $12B in contributions across 100M\+ transactions — a clear message emerged: the opportunity with DAF fundraising is tremendous, but DAF data challenges are preventing nonprofits from making the most of DAF giving’s potential. "DAFs are remaking the landscape of philanthropy. If you're not tracking them correctly, you're missing the full picture of your organization’s growth," said Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot. This article distills this opportunity into an actionable blueprint. If your nonprofit gets DAF gifts, this is your field guide to fixing your data—and unlocking your donors’ potential. DAFs aren’t just a tool for the major donors and major gifts. They are now a fastest\-growing giving channel across all donor segments and gift types. Key findings from the 2025 report include: - **69% of DAF gifts **were under $1,000 - DAF donors had **13 percentage points higher retention **than non\-DAF donors - \+30% was the median year\-over\-year growth in DAF revenue \(compared to \-1% for non\-DAF revenue\) “DAFs are no longer just a major donor strategy,” said Adam Rosenscruggs, founder of Gambit Analytics. “From memberships to events to annual giving—DAFs are being used everywhere.” ### The strategic value of high quality DAF data Many nonprofits struggle to take a proactive approach to DAF fundraising because they can’t track outcomes effectively. This exposes organizations to three major problems: #### 1. Legal & Audit Risk Every organization’s audit includes a public support test, to determine that giving isn’t too concentrated with a single donor. But if you’re not putting the hard credit on the DAF and ensuring no duplicate records of DAF Provider names, you aren’t accurately representing the support from that one single legal entity \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\). This was easy to overlook when DAFs were a small portion of revenue, but now they’re 12% on average and growing 30% per year\! #### 2. Poor Donor Stewardship "An all\-too\-common complaint from DAF donors is that they give a gift and never hear back," said Mitch. "Better data is the first step to fixing that." These donors tend to give more and retain longer. Without clear records, you can’t follow up properly—or upgrade them effectively. #### 3. Uninformed Strategy Adam explained it plainly: “You can’t answer simple questions like ‘Which campaign generated the most DAF gifts?’ or ‘How much are we raising through DAFpay?’ without clean data. And if you can’t answer these questions, you can’t act on them.” ### Common challenges to tracking DAF data #### 1. Limited Gift Information DAF gifts often arrive without contact details—sometimes only listing a fund name. Presenting roadblocks to effective data entry and stewardship. #### 2. No Business Rules for DAF gift coding Most nonprofits lack written policies on how to process DAF gifts. As a result, staff often lump DAFs in with other complex gifts like QCDs or payroll deductions, neglect to record the fundholder details along with the DAF provider name, etc. \- especially when new people join, or people leave the team. #### 3. Manual Entry With no source codes or automation, DAF gifts are often entered by hand—inviting human error and inconsistencies. #### 4. CRM Limitations Many systems weren’t built to accommodate DAF\-specific fields \(like soft\-soft credits, fund names, date initiated, etc.\). Without customization, tracking falls apart. #### 5. Siloed Ownership DAFs may be handled by finance, major gifts, or marketing—varying by org. Without shared ownership, mistakes multiply. ### The Ideal DAF Data Framework To cure your DAF data, start with an understanding of what “great” looks like. Must have fields include: **Field** **Description** **DAF? \(Y/N\)** Clear flag that this is a DAF gift—not a QCD, employee matching, or crowdfunding. **Hard Credit** Given to the DAF provider \(e.g., Fidelity Charitable\) **Soft Credit** Given to the fundholder/donor \(with name, email, etc., when available\) **Fund Name** Stored in both hard and soft records, if possible **Date Initiated** When the donor requested the gift—not the receipt date **Anonymous? \(Y/N\)** Only flagged if entirely anonymous—not just missing some data **DAFpay? \(Y/N\)** Track if the gift came via the DAFpay button **Tags** Capture campaign/membership/event details for analysis ### The 6 Most Common DAF Data Errors From reviewing data across 30\+ organizations, six core errors kept showing up: #### 1. Commingling Gift Types Gifts from platforms like Benevity, Network for Good, and United Way are often misclassified as DAFs. But unless they originate from an **individual’s DAF account**, they don’t count. #### 2. Mixing Hard & Soft Credit "Hard credit goes to the DAF provider. Soft credit goes to the fundholder," Adam emphasized. "If you mix that up, you’re essentially erasing the donor from your system." #### 3. Duplicate Provider Names Your CRM might have "Fidelity Charitable", "Fidelity Ch.", and "Fid. Charitable Trust" as separate records. That makes it impossible to report accurate totals—or pass audits. #### 4. False Anonymous Flags Just because a gift lacks a name doesn’t mean it’s anonymous. "If a fund name is present, it’s not truly anonymous,” said Mitch. “Store what you can, update when you learn more.” #### 5. Improper Gift Dates DAF gifts are often coded by the date received—but the **gift initiation date **matters most for campaign tracking and year\-end reporting. #### 6. Tax Receipts Sent in Error DAF donors shouldn’t get tax receipts. If your system doesn’t distinguish them, it could trigger receipts automatically—leading to compliance risks. If you can't stop tax receipts from being sent for DAF gifts, you should add language to your tax receipts that clearly explain that the tax receipt itself should be disregarded in the case of gifts from Donor Advised Funds. ### 8 Tests and Best Practices to Implement You don’t need a full complex audit to find your weak spots. Try these 8 suggestions to reveal some of the biggest issues in your data and avoid gaps going forward: #### 1. Test: What % of DAF gifts are under $18? The largest DAF providers \(like Fidelity, Schwab\) have a $50 minimum. Some newer providers go as low as $18 \(like Daffy\). Gifts below $18 are likely **crowdfunding or employee matches**misclassified as DAFs. #### 2. Test: How many unique DAF providers do you have? There are only ~1,150 DAFs in the U.S. If your CRM has more than a few hundred, you're likely duplicating or mislabeling providers. Tip: Check out Chariot’s [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) for a full list and naming convention. #### 3. Test: Do any DAF donors make 12\+ gifts per year? That’s a red flag. It likely means you’re either soft\-crediting the provider or not filtering anonymous gifts correctly. #### 4. Test: What % of DAF gifts are logged in January? If it’s over 6%, you're probably using the receipt date instead of the donor’s initiation date. That skews the timing of gifts and makes it difficult to connect to certain campaigns, efforts, events, etc. #### 5. Test: What % of DAF gifts are marked anonymous? More than 5% suggests some poor labeling. Limited data does not equal anonymity. “These are diagnostic tools,” Adam said. “They help you identify patterns—then you can work backward to fix them.” **Once your data is clean, keep it that way with a few smart systems:** #### 6. Run Biweekly Gift Review Meetings Fundraisers and gift processors should meet regularly to reconcile gaps. Often times a fundraiser was waiting on a specific gift, or can interpret the source based on gift size, fund name, etc. #### 7. Research Every New DAF Gift Even small gifts may signal larger DAF accounts so it’s always worth double clicking when you get a gift from a new DAF donor. "A $100 DAF gift may come from someone with $1 million in their account," said Mitch. "It’s one of the strongest wealth signals you can get." #### 8. Create a "Watch List" Maintain a shared list of terms that often indicate false individual DAF giving classifications. Download our [Watch List](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2OR9B_OcHQMGEvMh7Dka28w) here to start your own\! ### Preparing for the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Any organization that’s focused on raising more from DAFs should prioritize participating in next year’s report because you’ll get: - Personalized feedback and guidance from DAF Data experts. - Visibility to major DAF providers that all read the report. - Ability to measure your performance against the only DAF fundraising benchmarks **Expectations:** - 5 years of giving history \(2021–2025\) - Data that adheres to the best practices in this guide - *Recommended*: At least $500K in contributions and $100k in DAF revenue in 2025. To join, fill out [the interest form](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form) today\! ### Final Word: Don’t Let Data Debt Compound “Cleaning DAF data is like fixing your CRM’s duplicate records,” Adam said. “Do it regularly, and it’s manageable. Let it sit, and it snowballs into a nightmare.” DAF donors are generous, loyal, and growing. But without clear data practices, you won’t know who they are, what they care about, or how to retain them. Now is the time to adopt these principles—because tomorrow’s fundraising success depends on today’s data discipline. --- ## Inside the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report: How Donor-Advised Funds Are Transforming Philanthropy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/inside-the-2025-daf-fundraising-report-how-donor-advised-funds-are-transforming-philanthropy - Published: 2025-06-27 > DAF gifts grew 30% in 2024—discover how donors are doubling their impact and reshaping fundraising with DAFs. ##### DAF giving grew 30% in 2024—discover how donors are doubling their impact and reshaping fundraising with DAFs. Read the Full Report Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have taken center stage in the nonprofit fundraising landscape—and the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report released by Chariot and K2D Strategies on June 26th is the most comprehensive examination of that transformation to date. The report was presented in a lively webinar by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) \(Head of Strategy at Chariot\), [Karin Kirchhoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) \(Founder at K2D Strategies\), and [Kate Hollandsworth](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-phillips-hollandsworth-0174ba7b/) \(AKwire\), this year’s report builds on the 2024 findings with sharper insights, expanded data, and new strategic guidance for nonprofit leaders. Watch The Recording View the Slides Below, we unpack the key findings, stories, and recommendations from the report and the webinar, showcasing how nonprofits across the country are harnessing the power of DAF giving to not just raise more, but raise smarter. ### A Record Year: More Data, More Impact The 2025 report draws from a robust dataset: 32 nonprofit participants representing $12 billion in total revenue, 108 million individual transactions, and over 400,000 DAF gifts—more than doubling the scale of the prior year's analysis. “This is about uncovering what’s truly happening with donor behavior when it comes to DAFs,” Mitch Stein explained in the webinar kickoff. “We’re looking beyond the aggregate data from DAF sponsors. We went straight to nonprofits’ own records to understand what DAF giving actually looks like in practice.” The result is a remarkably rich, actionable view of how DAFs are shaping the donor journey and nonprofit staff experience. ### Five Key Takeaways from the Report **1. DAFs Boost Individual Giving** Perhaps the most compelling finding is this: donors who convert from traditional giving \(credit card, check\) to DAF giving **double their contributions **to the same organization. In 2024, the median change after an existing donor “converts” to DAF giving was \+100% \- the average was an 888% increase\! **2. DAFs Aren’t Just for the Ultra\-Wealthy** A myth that continues to circulate in the nonprofit industry is that DAFs are primarily the realm of ultra\-wealthy, major donors. The data shows otherwise. "Sixty\-nine percent of all DAF gifts in this study were under $1,000," noted Karin Kirchhoff. “DAFs are used at every donor level, from under $100 to over $10,000.” This is reshaping how nonprofits think about their fundraising strategies—no longer reserving DAF messaging only for high\-net\-worth households. **3. DAF Donors Are More Loyal** DAF donors aren’t just more generous—they’re also more consistent. The study found a 13\-point higher donor retention rate for DAF givers compared to their non\-DAF counterparts. “Even though most organizations aren’t stewarding DAF donors very intentionally yet, the retention numbers are remarkable,” said Kirchhoff. “That tells us there’s so much upside here if we just put a bit more structure and energy into these relationships.” **4. DAFs Are the Fastest\-Growing Way to Give** In 2024, the median year\-over\-year growth rate for DAF revenue among participants was 30%—while non\-DAF giving actually declined by \-1%. Even for organizations with growing non\-DAF revenue, the difference is extreme. The [National Audubon Society](https://act.audubon.org/a/donate?SelectedFrequency=6&ms=digital-fund-web-website_nas-topmenu_donateblue_20240100&aud_cta=top-nav_primary-btn&aud_path=/&_gl=1*reuy5q*_gcl_au*MzY3MTQ5NTUzLjE3NTA1MTM0NDM.*_ga*MTIwNzAwMDc4Ny4xNzUwNTEzNDQ0*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*czE3NTA5NzU1MTYkbzIkZzEkdDE3NTA5NzU1MTYkajYwJGwwJGgw), for example, had double\-digit non\-DAF revenue growth in 2024 and DAF revenue grew 6x faster. **5. DAFs are increasingly benefitting smaller organizations** This growth isn’t limited to large institutions. In fact, smaller nonprofits \(under $10M in revenue\) saw a 143% increase in the share of revenue coming from DAFs between 2020 and 2024. This category also had the highest percentage of revenue coming from DAFs by 2024, at 15% across all organizations in that category. **Bonus: DAFs Are Reshaping Mid\-Level Giving** The data shows that DAFs are rapidly gaining traction in the mid\-level donor segment \($1,000–$10,000\). ### Tech Meets Generosity: The Power of Embedded DAF Giving A recurring theme in the webinar was friction—specifically, how the complexity of DAF transactions has historically limited their potential. DAFpay, Chariot’s express checkout option for DAFs, is changing that by embedding three\-click DAF giving directly into donation forms alongside credit cards and ApplePay. [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) is a standout example with a robust case study in the report. After embedding DAFpay on their site and peer\-to\-peer forms in 2023, their DAF revenue more than doubled in 2024. The average increase from converted donors was 140%, and half of their DAFpay donors were brand new. As one anonymous donor quoted in [a Giving Compass Philanthropy report](https://cdn.givingcompass.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/18085530/FINAL_Donor-Satisfaction-and-Unlocking-Public-Sector-Funding-from-DAFs.pdf) put it: “There are just many more steps with donor advised funds… I often forget it’s there. When I’m asked in the moment, it’s easier to just put in my card.” Reducing friction unlocks giving. ### Practical Strategies for Elevating DAF Fundraising The second half of the report is rich with strategy, starting with how to recognize, track, and cultivate DAF donors more effectively. From attribution and coding best practices to donor segmentation and communications, the report offers a comprehensive toolkit and action plans. One success story came from Public Theater who is featured in a robust case study in the report. [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron Programs & Services at [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/). shared the inspiring results of a Capital Campaign mail effort where 25% of $5K\+ gifts during a recent campaign came via DAFs—half from donors who had previously given just $100–$600 via credit card. ### “We Need a DAF Champion” Several organizations profiled in the report cited internal advocacy as the key to their success. Whether it’s a development lead, data manager, or planned giving officer, someone has to own DAF strategy and drive cross\-team coordination. At March of Dimes, that champion was VP of Major, Principal & Planned Giving, [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/). Her leadership catalyzed both a cultural and operational shift that led to exponential results. ### What’s Next? Join the Movement The report closes with a call to action. While many DAF donors are already showing increased generosity, retention, and gift size, the sector still has a long way to go in maximizing this opportunity. Here’s how to start: - **Download the full report: **[**Read the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report-2025) - [**Attend upcoming workshops**](https://www.dafday.com/events), including "Curing Your DAF Data" with Mitch Stein and Adam Rosenscruggs from Gambit Analytics. This will be an in\-depth workshop to get your DAF data in order. - **Join **[**DAF Day**](http://www.dafday.com/)** on October 9th**, a nationwide celebration and activation campaign - **Claim your **[**Chariot account**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to enable DAFpay and explore additional integrations “Everyone should be talking about DAFs,” said Kate Hollandsworth during the webinar. “This is no longer a niche donor segment—it’s central to your fundraising future. ### Final Word The 2025 DAF Fundraising Report is not just a recap of industry trends—it’s a roadmap for nonprofit innovation. From digital strategy to mid\-level giving to technology adoption, DAFs are quietly but powerfully reshaping the donor landscape. And for the nonprofits that lean in? The data suggests the upside has only just begun If you are interested in joining the 2026 report, please [let us know](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form)\! --- ## Double Your DAF Day Impact: Unlock Matching Gifts with Half My DAF - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/double-your-daf-day-impact-unlock-matching-gifts-with-half-my-daf - Published: 2025-06-25 > Half My DAF joins forces with DAF Day 2025 to unlock $2.25M in matching funds for nonprofits—here’s how to get involved before the deadline.  ##### Half My DAF joins forces with DAF Day 2025 to unlock $2.25M in matching funds for nonprofits—here’s how to get involved before the deadline. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have become one of the most powerful philanthropic tools available today. But with over $250 billion committed to giving in DAFs, the question becomes: how do we turn all of that good intention into more immediate action? In a recent DAF Day session, we sat down with [Jen Risher](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-risher/) —author, philanthropist, and co\-founder of [\#HalfMyDAF](http://www.halfmydaf.com/) —to explore exactly that. She shared her personal journey into philanthropy, explained why DAFs often go underutilized, and unveiled a practical, inspiring path forward: unlocking matching gifts to move more money into the community now. Watch The Full Recording ### Understanding DAFs—and Why the System Gets Stuck Jen began by grounding the conversation in the basics: what a DAF is, why people open them, and what often gets in the way of actually using them. “A DAF is a charitable vehicle. You put your money into this DAF—you are going to be charitable with that money, because once the money goes into this DAF, it’s irrevocable. You can’t get it back,” she explained. DAFs are simple to open and easy to manage, making them a go\-to choice for donors seeking flexibility. But there’s a systemic flaw: while donors receive an immediate tax deduction when contributing to their DAF, there’s no requirement—or even much encouragement—to move that money out. The result: inertia. Donors get busy, advisors don’t follow up, and there aren’t enough reminders to give. As Jen put it: “People don’t forget to be generous—they forget about their DAF.” ### What Stops People from Giving Beyond the system itself, Jen explored the psychological barriers that keep DAF holders from making grants. Chief among them: overwhelm. “There’s also this fear of, ‘What if I get it wrong?’” she said. “Philanthropy is kind of over\-intellectualized. It’s really more about: what do I care about, what speaks to me, where can I make a difference, where can I partner?” Other blockers include the complexity of actually making a grant—logging into portals, navigating outdated UIs—and the misperception that DAF money is still part of one’s personal assets. Many people plan to “get to it later,” often forgetting they even have a fund. Jen shared a deeply relatable example of how process friction affects her own giving decisions: “I really would like to use my DAF, but if I get a solicitation from a nonprofit online... I’ll just do what’s easiest. I don’t put any hurdles in front of me. If it’s not easy for me to give from my DAF—which means I have to close out of the email, go to my portal, make the gift—it’s all these steps. I won’t do it. And I’ll give $100 with my credit card instead of $1,000 with my DAF.” This isn’t a failure of generosity, Jen emphasized, but a very human behavior pattern. People are more likely to give when the action is seamless. If nonprofits want to unlock more DAF gifts, they need to eliminate the extra clicks. One solution? Make sure[DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay)\- the only DAF payment option \- is on your donation forms as a payment option at checkout. DAFpay is already natively [integrated with dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) \- and if you don’t see your provider listed, ask them to add the integration. When donors are inspired to give, the path should be as frictionless as possible. ### What Nonprofits Can Do Right Now The good news: these hurdles are fixable. For nonprofits, it starts with recognizing the opportunity. If you receive a check from a known DAF sponsor and there’s no contact info, investigate—it’s likely a DAF grant. Then, ask donors directly: “Do you have a DAF?” These conversations are critical, especially because donors often don’t realize how invisible their gifts might appear. “The donor probably didn’t realize that their name wasn’t associated with it,” Jen noted. “So donors, if you're out there, be aware of how your DAF checks are reaching organizations.” Key actions for nonprofits: - Learn to spot DAF gifts and track them properly \(reference this [DAF Provider Director](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) to know all of their names\). - Soft credit the donor in your CRM, and hard credit the DAF provider because they are the legal payer. - Include DAF giving language and tools \(like DAFpay\) on your website and donation forms. - Include DAFs in your planned giving conversations \- it’s a chance to educate donors that they could name your organization as a beneficiary to their DAF account. ### The Half My DAF Model: Matching to Inspire Movement In 2020, as the pandemic created massive need and uncertainty, Jen and her husband decided to act. They created [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/HalfMyDAF), a simple but radical idea: encourage DAF holders to spend down at least half their fund within a year, and offer matching incentives to multiply their giving. They put up $1 million of their own money. The result? $8.6 million in DAF grants to nonprofits—in just five months. Half My DAF is now entering its sixth year, with $2.25 million in matches available in 2025. Here’s how it works: 1. A DAF holder commits to giving at least half their fund by October 10. 2. Each time they make a grant of $250 or more, they upload the receipt. 3. Twice a year—once in June, once in October—Half My DAF randomly selects grants to match. 4. Matches are dollar\-for\-dollar up to $5,000 per grant, and up to $25,000 in key categories like gender equity, reproductive health, and education. Importantly, the model is built on trust. There’s no application or lengthy vetting—just a checkbox confirming the pledge. ### Why It Works What makes [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/HalfMyDAF) so effective is its simplicity and emotional clarity. It adds both urgency and leverage to a process that otherwise feels open\-ended and stagnant. “Philanthropy is a muscle,” Jen said. “You need to build it and get used to it. You learn and grow and develop in the way you think about your philanthropic life.” For donors, [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/HalfMyDAF) offers both structure and inspiration. For nonprofits, it creates a time\-sensitive window to re\-engage DAF holders, even those they may not have known were giving from a DAF. And the results are real: in most years, about one\-third of all submitted grants are matched. That’s a tremendous return for any organization doing outreach—especially when the donors are already motivated to give. ### How Nonprofits Can Get Involved You don’t need to apply to receive matches from Half My DAF. Every nonprofit is eligible. Your focus should be on mobilizing your donors: - Send a dedicated email about the matching opportunity - Use the sample template on [www.halfmydaf.com](http://www.halfmydaf.com) - Combine messaging with your [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com/) campaign or other seasonal appeals - Make sure your online giving tools support DAFpay ### What Donors Should Do Next If you use a DAF, here’s how to participate: - Affirm your commitment to use half your DAF this year - Submit any grant made of $250 or more can be submitted before October 10th. - Go to [www.](http://www.halfmydaf.com)[halfmydaf.com](http://www.halfmydaf.com) and upload your receipts Here’s how easy it was to give through DAFpay on a GoFundMe fundraiser for The Trevor Project and submit that gift for matching from [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/HalfMyDAF). ### The Road Ahead As [DAF Day 2025](http://dafday.com/) approaches on October 9, the timing couldn’t be better. With billions already committed to giving in donor\-advised funds, the philanthropic community has a rare chance to push those dollars into motion at an absolutely critical name for the sector. If you’re a nonprofit, start planning your outreach today. If you’re a donor, take the pledge and start making your grants by DAF Day. And for everyone involved in fundraising, stewardship, or DAF education: let’s make it easier, faster, and more joyful to give. Visit [halfmydaf.com](http://halfmydaf.com) for more information on gift matching and [dafday.com](http://dafday.com) to get involved. ## Join our next live event Register Now --- ## New for DAF Day 2025: big opportunities, fresh resources & unstoppable momentum - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/new-for-daf-day-2025-big-opportunities-fresh-resources-unstoppable-momentum - Published: 2025-06-17 > The DAF Day 2025 countdown has begun! We’re kicking off with all-new ways to make this philanthropic holiday a success for every organization. ##### The DAF Day 2025 countdown has begun\! We’re kicking off with all\-new ways to make this philanthropic holiday a success for every organization. The DAF Day 2025 countdown has begun\! We’re kicking off with all\-new ways to make this philanthropic holiday a success for every organization. To get started, we hosted a discussion about the upcoming DAF Day. We covered everything from why joining in is a must this year to the free resources you can use to set up your campaign today. Our conversation featured: - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot - [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/), VP of Planned & Major Giving for Susan G. Komen - [Chelsea Paul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseastarrpaul/), VP of Marketing at Daffy Watch The Full Recording Discover actionable insights and helpful tips from our conversation in this must\-read roundup. ### What is DAF Day? [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) is a national day of giving with donor advised funds. On this day, DAF donors stand up and give together, unleashing a wave of support to organizations around the country. DAF Day spotlights the power we all have when we give bigger, give better, and give together to the causes we care about most. This year, DAF Day takes place on **October 9, 2025**\- [mark your calendars.](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/eventedit?text=DAF+DAY+2025:+Don%27t+Forget+to+Donate!&dates=20251009/20251010&details=%3Ca+href%3D%22https://dafday.com%22%3EDAF+Day%3C/a%3E+is+a+national+day+of+giving+with+donor+advised+funds.+DAFs+are+already+a+powerful+tool+for+any+donor+to+accelerate+their+giving,+but+they+have+even+greater+potential+when+we+all+use+them+together.+DAF+Day+aims+to+unleash+a+wave+of+giving+that+makes+donors+more+powerful,+nonprofits+more+resilient,+and+communities+stronger.&location=dafday.com&sf=true&output=xml) ### The jaw\-dropping numbers that inspired DAF Day The [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) revealed that donors give twice as much once they start using a DAF. The problem is that only [17 percent of US adults](http://a/) know what a DAF is. Imagine if all of your donors gave *double *what they do right now. Consider this your motivation to join in on DAF Day. When donors understand what DAFs are and how they work, they’re more likely to get on board. For example, over [70 million people have a 401\(k\)](https://www.ici.org/401k#:~:text=401(k)%20plans%20held%20$8.9,of%20former%20employees%20and%20retirees.), while it’s estimated that 3 million have a donor advised fund. ### The first\-ever DAF Day’s incredible results It’s hard to believe we launched DAF Day in just ten weeks last year. The movement spread quickly to nonprofits, DAFs, and donors, resulting in brand new DAF accounts, game\-changing DAF gifts, and a Times Square spotlight with a Whoopi Goldberg appearance. Due to its instant success, DAF Day transformed from a new giving concept into a noteworthy holiday in Year One. Here are some of the numbers we’re most proud of: - 1,200\+ participating organizations - 20,000\+ web visitors in 10 weeks - [Press coverage](https://www.dafday.com/newsroom) in Forbes, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and more - [Komen raised $267,000](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen) in DAF gifts in one day - Daffy’s weekly account openings [increased by 40 percent](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) ### 6 exciting new additions for DAF Day 2025 We’ve applied what we learned from the first\-ever DAF Day to this year’s big push. Here are six updates that will drive even more participation, buzz, and success our second time around. #### [\#1](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/1).Fresh messaging **What will *****your *****DAF do?** This statement makes DAF Day personal to your donors by encouraging them to show their power as both a DAF giver and passionate community member. It also applies to all supporters \- people who already give with a DAF and those that could start using one now\! How to use it: Ask donors to answer this question on social media. They can share their reasons for giving, add a selfie, invite their friends to join in, and tag your organization. **Give bigger, Give better, Give together** This message demonstrates the collective power DAF donors display on DAF Day. With a DAF, donors can give larger gifts, respond in the moment with funds reserved for philanthropy, and relish in the strength of giving as part of a nationwide community of donors. **How to use it: **Each of these statements has an incredible story. Discover the DAF stats and facts to pair with them and share with donors on [the DAF Day homepage](https://www.dafday.com/). #### [\#2](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/2).More donor\-centric content Last year’s impressive nonprofit participation led to this year’s keen focus on donors. Find stats, helpful info, and social posts to share with your donors this year using these free resources: - [DAF Day Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit): timelines, tips, and social media templates - [Get a DAF Guide](https://www.dafday.com/get-a-daf): a 101 resource for donors on how to get a DAF account - [DAF Day homepage](https://www.dafday.com/): DAF Day info, set a reminder, and more #### [\#3](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/3). An expanded nonprofit marketing toolkit After receiving great feedback about last year’s DAF Day Marketing Toolkit, we’re packing this year’s kit with even more resources. Now you can access a complete timeline from now through October 9th with easy\-to\-follow to\-dos, extra social media templates, and ready\-to\-use messaging. Get Your Toolkit Now #### [\#4](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/4). More DAF Day training webinars Make the most of DAF Day with free training. This year, we’re doubling our DAF Day webinars to 14. And with a longer lead time, you can enjoy two extra months to learn and prepare. Save your spot for all of our training webinars on our DAF Day events page. Register Now #### [\#5](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/5). A seamless DAF Day giving page Every organization that has claimed their Chariot account and completed Chariot’s compliance verification\* will appear as a verified DAF Day Partner on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/). Here, donors can search your organization and send a DAF gift directly to your nonprofit through [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) in just a few seconds. [Get verified](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) and then you’re set\! #### [\#6](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/6). More DAF providers We’re working hard to recruit many more official DAF Day DAF partners. If you know a DAF provider you’d like to see on our list, share [these benefits for participating DAFs](https://www.dafday.com/providers): - Gain brand visibility for your DAF across the DAF Day site - Have your DAF featured in our Get a DAF Guide - Receive a customized activation toolkit for DAF Providers - Achieve record DAF openings and giving volume [like Daffy did in 2024](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) ### DAF Day is yours to embrace With free campaign resources and national momentum to support your initiative, the only way you can go wrong with DAF Day is choosing not to join in. It’s not just about DAF donors—this is a chance to introduce DAF giving to your entire community. And you might be surprised to find how many of your digital donors already have DAFs but just haven’t used them to give to you yet just because you haven’t asked. Which DAF donors have you yet to meet? On DAF Day 2024, Komen’s largest DAF gift of $80,000 came from a donor who had previously given digital gifts. The Komen team had no idea this donor had a DAF account with funds ready to give, but when their organization went all\-in on DAF Day, they made the most surprising and impactful gift of the day. ### 4 quick and easy ways to kick off DAF Day at your organization today There’s no need to wait—the countdown to October 9th starts now\! Here are four quick moves you can make right away to start your DAF Day campaign. [**\#1**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/1)**. Get verified** Claim your organization’s Chariot Account to be verified\* on the DAF Day giving page. This page lets donors know that your DAF\-eligible organization passed Chariot’s industry\-leading compliance checks. [Get verified now.](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) [**\#2**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/2)**. Download the DAF Day Marketing Toolkit** Rally donors with plug\-and\-play DAF Day promotional materials, including templates, logos, timelines, and checklists. [Get the toolkit.](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) [**\#3**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/3)**. Sign up for training** Learn proven strategies and helpful tips based on last year’s lessons and successes. Save your spot for these expert\-led sessions now. [Register here.](https://www.dafday.com/events) [**\#4**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/4)**. Spread the word** DAF Day isn’t a solo initiative. It’s a team effort—no matter what your role is. Anyone can be a DAF Day champion, so if you want to lead the charge, take the reins and encourage your colleagues to join you. Share your copy of the toolkit across departments, invite anyone to sign up for DAF Day training, and start DAFs on your website well before the big day. ## Join next week's live event Register Now *\*Chariot runs an industry\-leading compliance program and your verification signals to potential DAF donors that not only is your organization DAF eligible, but also that a verified Control Person with validated identity is engaged to utilize the donation promptly & effectively. Chariot accounts also all include a Chariot Deposit Account \(CDA\)\* to receive rapid, data\-rich grant payments from participating DAF providers.* *\*\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account through our banking services partner, Column, N.A., Member FDIC. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## The DAF Day 2025 Campaign Officially Kicks Off - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-daf-day-2025-campaign-officially-kicks-off - Published: 2025-06-16 > The second annual DAF Day will be on Thursday October 9th, with a new site, new capabilities and new partners to show what Donor Advised Funds will do to meet the moment.  ##### The second annual DAF Day will be on Thursday October 9th, with a new site, new capabilities and new partners to show what Donor Advised Funds will do to meet the moment. **Monday June 16th, 2025, New York City\- **The national day of giving with Donor Advised Funds is back for year two, with ambitious goals to activate more philanthropy at a time of immense need for communities around the country. ### Recapping DAF Day 2024 In 2024, Chariot partnered with dozens of leading nonprofits, fundraising platforms and Donor Advised Funds to introduce a new giving day to the calendar in early October: DAF Day. After announcing the new initiative on July 30th, the collaborative group spent 10 weeks educating and activating the sector for the first\-ever [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com/). The new giving day [led to incredible results](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) for the early adopters \- and set the stage for an expanded platform, more support, longer campaign and deeper partnerships for DAF Day 2025. Nonprofits like [Susan G. Komen went all\-in across channels](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen), and raised record amounts of DAF funding. DAF Providers like [Daffy offered special promos for signing up friends and giving](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) on DAF Day that led to a surge in new accounts and single\-day giving. ### What’s New in 2025 This year, the DAF Day movement has honed its focus on seamless donor experience, actionable nonprofit resources and DAF Provider collaboration. In today’s live kickoff to over 1,000 registered attendees, the key elements of DAF Day 2025 were unveiled publicly for the first time, including: - A brand new[DAF Day website](http://www.dafday.com/) that helps DAF holders easily get involved and other supporters easily learn about donor advised funds. - A free “plug & play” [marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) so nonprofits of any size can effectively activate their community. - A months\-long [webinar series](https://www.dafday.com/events) leading up to October 9th, featuring expert speakers and targeted sessions for every group involved in the movement. - A[DAF Day giving page](https://app.dafday.com/) that lets donors use any DAF via DAFpay to support eligible nonprofits in a few seconds. “We know that donor advised funds have an incredible impact on giving, but we can’t wait any longer to harness their full potential,” shared [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Chariot’s Head of Strategy. “DAF Day creates the perfect shared opportunity, at a critical time, for passionate supporters, impactful nonprofits and leading DAF Providers to all amplify the same message: Your DAF will make the difference.” ### How to Get Involved There’s no cost for anyone to join DAF Day and Chariot is working hard to provide everyone the resources they need to make the most of the initiative. Below are recommended next steps: **Donors** - **Set a Reminder**: If you already have a DAF, click “Set a Reminder” on the DAF Day homepage to use it on Thursday October 9th. - **Get a DAF**: If you don’t have a DAF, see if it’s right for you \- check out the [“Get a DAF” Guide](https://www.dafday.com/get-a-daf) to help make the choice before October 9th. **Nonprofits** There’s no sign up required to participate, but we recommend the following to be an official partner and get the most out of the initiative: - **Get Verified**: Every organization that has claimed their Chariot account and completed Chariot’s compliance verification\* will appear as a verified DAF Day Partner on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/). - **Get the Marketing Toolkit**: It contains a [host of free resources](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) \(templates, graphics, messaging, etc.\) to make participation as low lift as possible for any organization. - **Get More Training**: Sign up for all the [upcoming free training](https://www.dafday.com/events) and share with your teams. **DAF Providers** You’ll have a powerful impact on your DAF program, your community and the sector by partnering on DAF Day. - **Become an Official Partner**: there’s no cost to partner, plus you’ll receive a customized toolkit and brand visibility across the DAF Day platform. [Submit the interest form](https://www.dafday.com/providers) and we’ll be in touch ASAP. - **Activate**: Promote DAF Day to your community and share your results to help us track overall impact. Reach out to [dafday@givechariot.com](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com) with any questions \- we look forward to partnering with all of you on a record breaking year for DAF giving. *\*Chariot runs an industry\-leading compliance program and your verification signals to potential DAF donors that not only is your organization DAF eligible, but also that a verified Control Person with validated identity is engaged to utilize the donation promptly & effectively. Chariot accounts also all include a Chariot Deposit Account \(CDA\)*\* to receive rapid, data\-rich grant payments from participating DAF providers. --- ## Chariot Compliance Explained - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-compliance-explained - Published: 2025-06-10 > Everything you need to know about Chariot’s industry-leading compliance program and how it works for nonprofits and “payers”, such as Donor Advised Funds. ##### Everything you need to know about Chariot’s industry\-leading compliance program and how it works for nonprofits and “payers”, such as Donor Advised Funds. Chariot has spent the past year developing and implementing a state\-of\-the\-art compliance program to raise the bar on compliance for the nonprofit industry. We have now instituted a uniform compliance standard for nonprofits on Chariot that is required to access any features on the platform \([DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), [Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements)\*, and more to come soon\!\). Details include: - What compliance means on Chariot. - How we built our compliance program. - Why this is such a critical resource for “payers” \(like DAFs\) and nonprofits alike. Explore our dedicated [Trust & Safety center](https://www.givechariot.com/trust-and-safety) An in\-depth look at our Security, Data Privacy and Compliance practices that allow donors to engage in more efficient generosity with Chariot, while knowing their data is protected. ### What Compliance means on Chariot As a facilitator of DAF giving and grant payments at scale, it is critical for Chariot to have a compliance program that meets the highest bar in the industry. There is significant risk involved with sending grant payments to nonprofit organizations. With AI, it’s easier than ever to falsify documents, impersonate individuals and misdirect funds. That’s why on Chariot, we practice 3 levels of advanced diligence in our Compliance Verification, to ensure the **right person**, with the **right authority**, at the **right organization **receives funds safely. ### How we built our Compliance Program ##### Organizational Eligibility We conduct a compliance review on an organization’s EIN to determine if they have an eligible “Nonprofit Code” and are in “Good Standing” with the IRS. This includes a review of 6 databases that are all refreshed in Chariot’s proprietary system on a daily or weekly basis. If an organization does not pass the initial verification screening, we request additional documentation to evaluate eligibility under common exceptions \- such as religious organizations. ##### The Problem with Validating Pointers The core principle that underlies our compliance is verifying **identity**\- that the right person with the right authority is behind the Chariot account assigned to an organization’s EIN. Other solutions rely on validation of **pointers**\- i.e., having users supply bank account information and verifying that the account and routing number’s “owner” matches an organization’s name. The validation of pointers approach is high risk because the options are: - Not holistic. - Only as strong as its weakest link \(like bank consortium data\). - Fraud\-prone \(using voided bank statements\). It’s also **difficult to maintain **because nonprofits frequently change their banking details, causing pointers to become outdated and requiring regular revalidation. This “Leaky Bucket Problem” results in ongoing costs as pointers need to be revalidated. What’s worse is that this all work that every grantmaker is doing independently, replicating efforts across the industry. ##### The Problem with Validating Pointers We leverage trusted sources to verify the underlying identity of an organization and its officers. We i\) reference tools like the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File as a source of truth, ii\) partner with top\-tier personal identity verification providers to complete checks, and iii\) go through a rigorous information\-gathering process when verifications are escalated. Our process results in: - **Reduced Risk**: Chariot uses IRS data to obtain verified business and officer information, validated through leading identity providers. This approach targets identity verification directly, mitigating common fraud methods. - **Stability**: Once identity is verified, Chariot provides a single place where organizations can securely receive donation payments. Those organizations can separately update their connected operating accounts when needed within their Chariot account. ##### Why this is such a critical resource for “payers” \(like DAFs\) and nonprofits alike. There are increasingly effective [ways to exploit risk exposure](https://www.givechariot.com/post/behind-the-scenes-risks-how-daf-giving-is-being-exploited-and-what-you-can-do-about-it) in the nonprofit payment ecosystem. Some of the most frequent tactics attempted today include: - **Impersonation**: A fraudster contacts a DAF provider pretending to be someone from your organization. With just enough public information—like an EIN and a mailing address—they can convincingly request a change of address, contact details or bank information. - **Falsification**: Con artists enroll your organization in digital payment systems without your knowledge. They then submit forged or doctored bank statements to "verify" an account they control as being affiliated with your nonprofit. - **Interception**: Scammers steal mail—often from unsecured mailboxes—and engage in “check washing,” a method of altering legitimate checks to redirect funds. When these things happen, payers waste time, operational effort and money trying to rectify lost or missing gifts, and nonprofits have critical funds lost or delayed. Donors lose faith in the efficacy of their donation method if they can’t trust that their funds will get to their intended organization swiftly and securely. With the rapid advancements in AI, these risks will be exacerbated, and the nonprofit sector will look for more secure and reliable solutions to such a critical element of the ecosystem: payments. ### Chariot's Partners The Chariot compliance program was built with guidance and support from FS Vector, the top fintech compliance firm. The program was also developed in consultation with our banking partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC, to meet the stringent requirements of our banking relationship. Column N.A. is a nationally\-chartered bank with an annualized transaction volume exceeding $1 trillion. More details on Chariot’s compliance program can be found [here](https://www.givechariot.com/compliance), and more details on the process for nonprofits to submit their compliance verification can be found [here](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/11125180-chariot-deposit-account-verification-compliance-explained). *\*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account through our banking services partner, Column, N.A., Member FDIC. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## DAFs vs. QCDs: Why This Common Confusion Can Cost You - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-vs-qcds-why-this-common-confusion-can-cost-you - Published: 2025-06-02 > How to Identify, Code, and Receipt These Gift Types the Right Way ##### How to Identify, Code, and Receipt These Gift Types the Right Way At first glance, Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\) and Qualified Charitable Distributions \(QCDs\) might look similar. They’re both common giving vehicles, often arrive by check, and frequently involve major financial institutions. But behind the scenes, they are fundamentally different—and treating them the same in your donor data or gift processing can cause compliance headaches, missed stewardship opportunities, and incorrect receipting. Let’s break down how they work, how they’re similar, and—most importantly—how to distinguish them correctly. ### **The Basics: What Are DAFs and QCDs?** **Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\)** Think of a DAF as a tax\-advantaged charitable savings account—like a 401\(k\) or HSA, but for philanthropy. Donors contribute to the fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to nonprofits over time. Importantly, the money is controlled by the DAF provider \(a 501\(c\)\(3\) organization\). Check out this [easy one\-pager](https://www.givechariot.com/post/a-donor-s-guide-to-dafs) that explains DAFs to any Donor\! **Qualified Charitable Distribution \(QCD\)** QCDs are direct gifts from an individual’s IRA \(Individual Retirement Account\) to a nonprofit. Once an account holder turns 70½, they can use QCDs to fulfill required minimum distributions \(RMDs\) while reducing their taxable income. The donor never takes possession of the funds—they go straight to the nonprofit. ### **Why They Get Confused** Here’s what trips up many gift processors: 1. They’re both three\-letter acronyms. And confusing ones at that. 2. They often come in the mail as checks. 3. They may list a familiar financial institution—like Fidelity or Schwab—but that’s where the similarities end. ### **Key Differences: What to Look For** **Feature** **DAF** **QCD** **Who owns the funds?** DAF provider \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) The individual IRA holder **Tax treatment?** No new deduction when granting from a DAF Tax\-deductible at time of distribution **Use of funds?** Irrevocably committed to philanthropy Can also be used for personal expenses \(with taxes\) **Who’s the legal donor?** The DAF provider The IRA account holder **Stewardship focus** Soft credit to fund advisor \(the real donor\) Full credit and receipting to IRA holder ### **How to Identify a DAF vs. a QCD** One of the best tips?**Look at the name on the check**: - If it says **“Charitable,” “Foundation,” or “Donor Advised Fund” **— it’s likely not a QCD. - - Important to note there are other non\-DAF entities that will use this terminology \- especially crowdfunding platforms and employee giving. See [this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafs-vs-workplace-giving-gift-coding-rules-to-live-by) for more details on how to manage those challenges. - If it just says**Fidelity Investments, Schwab, Vanguard**, etc. — it may be a QCD. ### **How to Code Each Gift Type** **QCD:** - **Hard Credit: **Donor’s name - **Gift Type: **QCD - **Note Field: **Financial Institution Name \(e.g. Fidelity Investments\) **DAF:** - **Hard Credit: **DAF Provider \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) - **Soft Credit: **Donor’s name - **Gift Type: **DAF - **Note Field: **Fund Name \(e.g. Smith Family Fund\) ### **How to Receipt and Acknowledge** **QCD:** - Send **a tax receipt **to the donor - Send a **thank you **to the donor **DAF:** - Do **not **send a tax receipt \(the deduction was taken when the DAF was funded\) - Send a **thank you**to the donor - Do **not **send anything to the DAF provider **Note**: There is one exception to this last point. If it’s unclear who the specific donor is, sending a tailored & personalized thank you to the DAF Provider will often get forwarded. Detailed in this [DAF Provider discussion recap](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-practical-steps-to-improve-the-nonprofit-experience-with-daf-giving). ### **Final Thought: Don’t Let the Details Slide** DAFs and QCDs are powerful giving vehicles—but they come with unique rules, and mixing them up can lead to donor confusion and IRS complications. Take the time to track them separately, code them correctly, and educate your team. Otherwise you’ll miss the chance to evaluate your fundraising accurately, plan around these growing channels strategically and expose the organization to significant reporting and audit risks. --- ## DAFs vs. Workplace Giving: Gift Coding Rules to Live By - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-vs-workplace-giving-gift-coding-rules-to-live-by - Published: 2025-05-28 > Why lumping these two distinct giving channels together muddies your data—and how to clean it up for better insights and decision-making. ##### Why lumping these two distinct giving channels together muddies your data—and how to clean it up for better insights and decision\-making. DAF gifts are a constant challenge for Nonprofit gift processors. One increasingly common area of confusion—and a frequent source of inaccurate reporting—is how workplace giving donations are classified in relation to donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) gifts. While it’s true that many workplace giving platforms use DAFs to process donations, this does not mean that those contributions should be classified or analyzed as traditional DAF gifts. Failing to distinguish between the two leads to significant challenges in donor segmentation, performance tracking, and strategic decision\-making. ### **Same Processing Vehicle, Very Different Donor** A growing number of workplace giving platforms—including Benevity \(processed through the America Online Giving Foundation\), CyberGrants, YourCause, BrightFunds, Charities Aid Foundation \(CAF\), and United Way—use a DAF structure on the backend to facilitate gift distribution centrally. However, the donors using these platforms do not hold “accounts” at the DAF in the traditional sense. In contrast, true DAF donors establish individual accounts, contribute funds, make investment decisions, and recommend grants to their chosen nonprofits. These donors are often more deeply engaged and have different motivations, behaviors, and giving patterns compared to those participating in employer\-sponsored giving programs. ### **The Risk of Misclassification** Misclassifying workplace giving contributions as DAF gifts has several implications: - **Skewed Gift Size Analysis** Workplace giving is often characterized by a high volume of small\-dollar gifts. If these are included in DAF reporting, it will distort average gift size metrics, potentially masking actual growth in high\-capacity DAF giving. - **Inaccurate Donor Behavior Insights** Organizations tracking giving trends may erroneously conclude that DAF donors are reducing their contributions, when in reality, workplace giving data is introducing noise into the dataset. In most cases, [donors increase their giving](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) once they use their own DAF account. - **Misleading Campaign Performance Data** Consider an organization that launches a dedicated DAF landing page, a direct mail campaign, or a donor\-advised fund activation event like “[DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com/)” \(October 9th\). If workplace giving data is included in the results, it becomes virtually impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of those DAF\-focused efforts. ### **Practical Guidance for Data Classification** To ensure accurate reporting and meaningful analysis, organizations should classify gifts as DAF gifts and donors as DAF donors separately from workplace giving. Apart from referring to [this list of verified DAF providers](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) that donors use for DAF giving and the list of Workplace Giving platforms above, you can also use the following rules of thumb if there’s some gray area: - **Classify as DAF Giving **if the donor: - - Holds an account at a DAF sponsor - Has contributed assets to the fund - Can recommend grants from the fund - Can make investment decisions within the fund - **Do not classify as DAF Giving **if the donor: - - Donated through an employer giving platform using a DAF as a backend processor - Does not have individual access to the DAF account - Cannot recommend grants independently This framework provides a more accurate reflection of donor behavior and improves the reliability of both fundraising analytics and strategic planning. ### **A Note on Acknowledgement and Receipting** Although workplace giving and DAF gifts should be tracked separately, the receipting and acknowledgment processes should be consistent. Because both are facilitated through DAFs, tax receipts should not be issued to individual donors. Instead, organizations should provide acknowledgment communications to the donor who initiated or recommended the gift, ensuring they are recognized and thanked appropriately through a “soft credit” process. ### **The Strategic Value of Clean Data** Inaccurate classification of DAF and workplace giving can hinder campaign measurement, impair donor segmentation, and lead to misguided conclusions about donor trends. Separating these categories ensures: - Clearer insights into the effectiveness of DAF\-specific initiatives - More accurate donor retention and growth analysis - Better targeting for stewardship and engagement strategies In an increasingly complex philanthropic landscape, clean data is not simply a reporting advantage—it is a strategic necessity. Organizations that take the time to differentiate between DAF and workplace giving contributions position themselves to make smarter decisions, develop more tailored donor strategies, and ultimately raise more funds. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our [DAF Data Guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it) for additional guidance on the topic. --- ## 10 Messaging Templates to Engage DAF Donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/10-messaging-templates-to-engage-daf-donors - Published: 2025-05-07 > These donors are so loyal and valuable, we’d assume that we’ve perfected the art of engaging them, but the truth is—we can do better. ##### DAF donors are your most generous supporters. According to [Fidelity’s 2025 Giving Report](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html), they give six times as often as the general population, and their average gift is 25x greater than a one\-time donation. ##### Because these donors are so loyal and valuable, we’d assume that we’ve perfected the art of engaging them, but the truth is—we can do better. ### The messaging tactic we need to quit We’ve seen this all\-too\-common DAF solicitation too many times to count: *You’re letting your money just sit in your DAF account. Why don’t you use it now?* You wouldn’t shame your other donors into giving, so why would you take this approach to supporters with DAFs? Think about it: A DAF donor takes proactive steps to set up a special account that irrevocably commits their contributed assets to giving back. That donor could have easily left those assets in a savings account or investment portfolio, but instead, they made an effort to utilize a vehicle proven to power their philanthropy. A DAF isn’t something a donor is putting off—it’s a conscious decision to take action. The takeaway your donor will glean from that kind of message? Your organization doesn’t understand them. ### 10 DAF messaging templates you can use today Your supporters open DAF accounts for all kinds of reasons. Rather than repeating the same message regarding DAFs, consider diversifying your approach. These DAF messaging templates meet your donors where they are. You can use them in emails, on social media, and as idea generators for how you grow your DAF fundraising efforts in the year ahead. We hope they inspire you to reach out to DAF donors in ways that make them feel even more connected to your mission. [**\#1**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/1)**. Make a difference: Communicate specific impact** This best practice isn’t exclusive to DAFs but it’s still worth noting. Let your donors know exactly where their DAF funds will go with a description that quantifies their gift. *Your DAF gift makes a difference:* - *$500 provides \[IMPACT, Ex. beds, toys, and six months of prescription food for 10 cats\]* - *$250 provides \[IMPACT, Ex. toys and three months of prescription food for 5 cats\]* - *$100 provides \[IMPACT, Ex. three months of prescription food for 2 cats\]* [**\#2**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/2)**. Be the hero we need: Communicate urgency** Natural disasters, emergencies, and other sudden needs can quickly mobilize donors—especially those who’ve set aside money in a DAF for this very moment. *\[ORGANIZATION NAME\] is providing direct relief to \[AFFECTED GROUP\], but we need community support to continue. Through your DAF gift, we can meet this moment together. Please consider giving now.* In these instances, adding a DAFpay button to your donation form allows donors to give directly to your organization so your team can receive those funds right away. [Learn more about DAFpay.](https://www.givechariot.com/) [**\#3**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/3)**. Define your legacy: Communicate lasting impact** Let donors know their DAF can be the most treasured heirloom they could ever pass down. Ask donors to list your organization as the beneficiary of their DAF account. *Create your legacy with \[ORGANIZATION NAME\]. Dedicate your DAF to funding \[SPECIFIC INITIATIVE, Ex. scholarships for underserved youth\] and make an impact for generations.* [**\#4**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/4)**. Double your gift: Communicate value** Energize your DAF donors around your matching gift initiative. Let them know that their DAF can double its impact—and don’t forget to include the matching gift period end date. *\[MATCHING DONOR NAME\] will match your DAF gift until \[END DATE\]. Double your impact by giving from your DAF today\!* [**\#5**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/5)**. Join us for \[EVENT NAME\]: Communicate unity** While donors can’t use their DAF to purchase event tickets or place bids at fundraising auctions, they can contribute to your fundraising goal before the big day.Invite them to give via DAF in a quick P.S. below your event invitation as a friendly reminder. *Join us for \[EVENT NAME\] to benefit\[BENEFICIARY\].* *\[EVENT DETAILS\]* *P.S. Have a DAF? Consider using your donor advised fund now to help us reach our \[AMOUNT\] fundraising goal.* [**\#6**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/6)**. Give in seconds: Communicate ease** Until recently, DAF donors were always required to recommend a grant from their DAF account to a DAF manager and wait weeks for the DAF to release funds to the organization. Now, organizations can add [a DAFpay button](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) to their donation forms. DAF pay allows donors to give directly from their DAF accounts quickly and easily—no middle person required. *Make an instant impact with your DAF. Now, you can give directly from your DAF to \[ORG NAME\] in just 3 clicks using the DAFpay button.* [**\#7**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/7)**. You can help us make it: Communicate goals** When it comes to your fundraising goals, DAF donors have the power to take you over the finish line. Motivate them to do just that with targeted messaging. *We’re almost there\! \[ORGANIZATION NAME\] is just \[AMOUNT\] away from \[SPECIFIC GOAL, Ex. our goal of funding our shelter expansion\]. Your DAF can help us close the gap. Consider joining us in \[OUTCOME, Ex. providing critical housing services to families in need in our community\].* [**\#8**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/8)**. Change lives: Communicate pictures of success** Knowing who a DAF gift can help is everything. Share \(and show\) the incredible outcomes your organization can achieve for those in need with donors’ support. *Your DAF gift creates life\-changing opportunities—\[BRIEF EXAMPLE, Ex. like job training for returning citizens that led to Maria’s new supervisor position and Ben’s paid internship\]. Support \[PROGRAM NAME\] to be a part of more stories like theirs.* [**\#9**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/9)**. Celebrate the season: Communicate joy** The holidays are a time of year when we reflect on our blessings and give back with appreciation. Invite your donors to consider their DAF the perfect way to pay it forward. *Celebrate \[HOLIDAY/SEASON\] by supporting \[ORGANIZATION NAME\]\! Your DAF gift can bring \[SPECIFIC IMPACT, Ex. warm, healthy meals to those who need it most\]. Spread holiday joy by donating today.* [**\#10**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/10)**. Power the future: Communicate possibilities** The world is changing at a rapid pace, and through your organization, donors can be a part of positive shifts. Welcome them to join your team in exploring the possible through their DAF donation. *Your DAF can drive innovation at \[ORGANIZATION NAME\]. Support \[NEW INITIATIVE, Ex. sustainable energy\] with your gift and join us in building a brighter future.* ### Pair your messages with the easiest way to receive DAF gifts No matter how you solicit DAF gifts, it’s important to make the next step after a donor decides to give as seamlessly as possible. With DAFpay, donors can give directly to your organization in just a few clicks. Watch how DAFpay can transform the donor experience at your organization: Learn More --- ## Breaking down the new National DAF Donor Survey - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey - Published: 2025-05-05 > 13 takeaways for Nonprofits and DAF Providers from the latest research published by The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, surveying 2,100 DAF donors. #### 13 takeaways for Nonprofits and DAF Providers from the latest research published by The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, surveying 2,100 DAF donors. In April, the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative \(DAFRC\) released the last piece of a three\-part research initiative called the National Study on Donor Advised Funds. The latest report provides incredible insight into DAF account holder behaviors, motivations, perceptions and challenges via an 86 question survey of 2,100 people with DAF accounts. While the pool of respondents wasn’t totally representative of the full population that uses DAFs\*, the information revealed is still directionally informative and incredibly useful to any nonprofit that’s fundraising from DAF donors and any DAF hoping to improve their offering and their impact. While we recommend that everyone download and review [the full report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-donor-survey), we also wanted to provide our key takeaways and action items in 4 categories: - Assessing the value of DAF giving to nonprofits - Better understanding DAF donors - Biggest Opportunities for nonprofit fundraisers - Opportunities for DAF providers *\*The DAFRC relied upon participating DAF Providers to disseminate the survey to their account holders, and that group included many more community foundations and single\-issue charities than would be representative of the total DAF holder population. Ultimately, 66% of respondents held their account at a national DAF provider vs. 89% of all DAF accounts being held at national DAF providers \(according to National Philanthropic Trust 2024 Annual DAF Report, analyzed *[*here*](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report)*\). Surveys of this length are also highly dependent upon people having the time and interest in responding. Participant demographics \(age, gender, account size\) all skewed more male, older and wealthier than what is understood about the overall DAF donor audience.* #### Assessing the value of DAF giving to nonprofits 1. **DAF usage increases annual giving** While there’s long been a concern among some fundraisers that donors are contributing to a DAF in lieu of giving, this report provides even more evidence to the contrary. 94% of respondents reported sustained or increased giving once they opened a DAF \(43% the same, 32% more, 19% much more\). This is directionally consistent with actual giving data reviewed by the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) which found that over 90% of donors who switched to donating from a DAF during the 5\-year study period increased their support of the same organization. Why does this phenomenon of increased giving occur? For the donors surveyed who reported increased giving, 73% said it was because they “have become more strategic and attentive to my philanthropy.” This reason was the second most common response after having “more financial resources overall” at 76%. “Demonstrating your familiarity with how DAFs work, why people enjoy them and when they make contributions will build trust among your audience and keep you top of mind when using their DAF.” 1. **DAFs lead to repeat giving** DAF donors are known to be some of the most loyal, with several pieces of research pointing to their propensity to provide long\-term annual support to organizations. In this study, 61% of donors said over 75% of their DAF grants were directed to the same organization year\-after\-year. Fidelity Charitable’s 2025 Giving Report \(analyzed [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-12-takeaways-from-the-2025-fidelity-charitable-giving-report)\) found that nearly 80% of gifts were either recurring grants or re\-grants. The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found similar behavior when looking at nonprofits’ historical fundraising data: DAF donors showed significantly higher year\-over\-year retention figures than non\-DAF donors \(15pts, on average, over the study period\). While these findings don’t prove causation \- that having a DAF leads to greater loyalty \- we do know that DAF donors typically cite the ease of regranting out of their DAF portal because it shows them all their prior year DAF gifts in one place. This is a key element of donation streamlining that DAF donors often praise. *Nonprofit Action Item*: Have you provided education to your donors about the value of DAFs? While fundraisers should not be providing financial advice, they absolutely can share information about DAFs and the value other supporters find in them. The more of your supporters using DAFs, you’re likely to receive larger and more consistent giving. Here’s 3 things to get you started: - You can leverage this [1\-pager on DAF benefits](https://www.givechariot.com/post/a-donor-s-guide-to-dafs) to create an asset for your organization. - Participate in [DAF Day 2025](https://www.dafday.com/) to boost DAF awareness among your supporters. - Ensure you have DAF giving information on your website \- a high quality Ways to Give section that prominently highlights DAFs goes a long way. You’ll find guidelines and examples in [this article](https://www.givechariot.com/post/defining-digital-daf-strategy-and-how-to-implement-one). #### Better Understanding DAF Donors 1. **DAFs provide several layers of value to donors** Knowing the top reasons people use DAFs is key to having thoughtful conversations with donors about their giving goals and priorities. A key question the survey asked was what a donor’s motivation was for setting up a DAF in the first place, selecting how much various factors influenced their decision. The top 5 answers that had a “A Lot” or “A Great Deal” of influence were: - Tax Advantages \(62%\) - Ease of non\-cash contributions \(35%\) - Investment Growth Potential \(32%\) - Streamline giving \(32%\) - Professional Recommendation \(29%\) 1. **DAF Donors are highly strategic about contributing to their DAF** When asked about the reasons they contribute to their DAF after the initial set up, the most common answers demonstrated a thoughtful approach that maximized giving potential. - 57%: The ability to contribute large amounts to the DAF when they had more to give & grant out over time. - 51%: Being able to reduce capital gains tax by donating appreciated assets. - 41%: The ability to "bunch" charitable contributions \(i.e., give enough to my DAF\(s\) to itemize charitable deductions in one year\) *Nonprofit Action Item*: Highlight these benefits to donors in any materials you create about DAF giving or conversations with supporters. Demonstrating your familiarity with how DAFs work, why people enjoy them and when they make contributions will build trust among your audience and keep you top of mind when using their DAF. 1. **DAF Donors are most motivated by duty, community & connection** The most common question from fundraisers about DAFs is, “how can I get more DAF donors supporting our organization?” While your strategy to appeal to DAF donors is going to sound similar to how you recruit donors overall, there are a few commonalities among DAF donors that you can work on appealing to more specifically. When asked about their motivations for giving from their DAF, these were the top 5 responses: - 74%: Give Back: Seeing it as my duty to give back because I can. - 71%: Special Cause: Having a personal or emotional connection to a cause or organization. - 67%: Personal Satisfaction: Feeling good about sharing my wealth. - 63%: Impact: Supporting sustainable change for causes that matter to me. - 59%: Community\-Related: Wanting to see my grant make a difference in my local community. *Nonprofit Action Item*: Try to address these motivators when creating appeals specifically to folks that you know have a DAF, or in general appeals when you’re highlighting DAF giving. It’s critical to appropriately track DAF donor data to be able to effectively segment them for this kind of targeted communication. Learn more about the best practices on this topic in our [Guide to DAF Donor Data](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it). #### Biggest Opportunities for Fundraisers 1. **Planned Giving is of high interest to DAF Donors** Donor Advised Funds should be a part of every planned giving conversation a nonprofit has with a donor. Every DAF offers the ability for a fundholder to name a successor advisor and / or a beneficiary to receive funds upon the holder’s passing. 30% of donors surveyed would consider including a charity in their succession plan if approached \(only 26% said they’d be unwilling to consider it\). It’s also wise to try and include family members in these conversations if they are involved in the management of the DAF account. 72% of donors surveyed use their DAF with family \- 94% of those include a spouse and 18% include children. While typical planned giving conversations have some tension with whether inheritance should pass directly to family members or to nonprofits they support, DAFs present a starkly different dynamic. When asked if they want to pass their DAF to their children or grandchildren, the majority of survey respondents \(57%\) did not agree: 22% were neutral & 35% disagreed. *Nonprofit Action Item*: Audit your planned giving materials, webpages or talking points to make sure Donor Advised Funds are mentioned everywhere. It’s a prime opportunity that is genuinely helpful to your donors and could provide a windfall to your organization. 1. **DAF Donors crave better communication from nonprofits** There were a few points in the survey that highlighted some donor frustration in their experience with nonprofit organizations. The first area was how they were being solicited: Only 56% agreed that they are asked to grant in meaningful ways by charities they are excited about. This seems to imply that DAF donors would prefer more differentiated communication, likely because they often have more considerable means to support. Even more reason to effectively track your DAF donors & tailor communications. The other major gap is in the stewardship cycle for DAF donors. Less than half of DAF donors surveyed \(49%\) report Always or Almost Always being acknowledged for DAF grants. Given how few of them intentionally give fully anonymously, it makes sense why this is a point of frustration. While DAF Providers can certainly make these options clearer \(discussed further below\), it’s also critical that fundraisers prioritize timely thank yous when DAF gifts are received. *Nonprofit Action Item: *Institute a playbook for DAF donor stewardship at your organization to make sure they are acknowledged and re\-solicited in the most effective way possible. Check this [guide to DAF Donor Stewardship](https://www.givechariot.com/post/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey) and [this case study](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) on how the Michael J. Fox Foundation reached unprecedented donor engagement by sending immediate thank you emails for DAF gifts \(which was made possible by implementing DAFpay, where DAF donors share their email with the nonprofit right when a DAF grant request is submitted\). 1. **There are too many places DAF donors DON’T use their DAF** Nearly every DAF donor reports still making direct cash gifts to a nonprofit regularly. This is a problem for DAF providers \(discussed further below\), but an even bigger problem for fundraisers. Donors are proven to make significantly larger gifts through their DAF than other means, because of the psychological impacts of "pre\-committing" funds to giving \(see more on this phenomenon in [Daffy’s 2024 annual report](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2024)\). It’s similar to being able to use a gift card vs. cash in your pocket while shopping \- you use it much more freely. One of the most fascinating elements of this survey was digging into the giving opportunities where DAF donors are most likely to not use their DAF. The top 5 scenarios when DAF donors were “Somewhat More Likely” or “Much More Likely” to give directly vs. through their DAF were: - Small Gift \(86%\) - Gift for an event \(71%\) - Spontaneous Gift \(62%\) - Emergency Relief Gift \(50%\) - Gift to a new organization \(44%\) While the survey didn’t go on to ask exactly why someone is more likely to give directly instead of using their DAF, we at Chariot have conducted 1,000s of 1x1 donor interviews and the most common reasons given for these scenarios are: - **Extra steps**to make a DAF gift \(“not worth it” for small or spontaneous gifts\). - **Delay**in getting funds \(a blocker for time\-bound campaigns \- giving days, peer\-to\-peer events \- or crisis response\). - **Confusion**on the restrictions \(while DAFs can’t be used to buy a ticket or table, they certainly can be used for general gifts at an event or gala\). - **Concern**about a gift getting to the exact right campaign, chapter or organization given the lack of specificity in a DAF portal and similarities of different organizations’ names. *Nonprofit action item*: Try to incorporate DAF giving into all of these giving experiences. Chariot’s [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) is the only DAF payment option, that lets donors complete a grant recommendation from their DAF account in 15 seconds without leaving your website. It is particularly transformative for [live events](https://www.givechariot.com/post/integrating-dafs-into-peer-to-peer-event-fundraising), [peer\-to\-peer fundraising](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study), [giving days](https://www.givechariot.com/community-rowing-sep-2024), [crowdfunding campaigns](https://www.givechariot.com/causematch-case-study) and [crisis response](https://www.givechariot.com/post/creating-climate-crisis-readiness-with-gofundme-org-this-summer). If your fundraising platform already has DAFpay integrated, make sure it is turned on. If not, request the feature from your provider. Here is [the full list](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) of our current integrated platforms. #### Opportunities for DAF Providers 1. **There’s much more “giving wallet share” for DAFs to gain** 88% of the donors surveyed still make regular direct gifts to nonprofits, almost as high as the 95% who still actively make DAF gifts\! The next highest way of giving is IRA rollover at 18%, which is considerably lower. While some of that giving may be for things that aren’t eligible \(like tickets or auction items\), it’s clearly not the main driver given the responses listed under number 8 above. It is also not a rare or one\-off occurrence when a DAF donor gives outside of their DAF. In fact, 37% of respondents said they do less than half of their total giving through their DAF and only 17% of respondents do more than 95% of their giving through their DAF. All else being equal, a donor should have a strong preference for using their DAF funds because they are the most tax\-advantaged, and therefore lowest “cost” to the donor. Any dollars being donated outside of the DAF \(with the exception of ineligible gifts\) is a missed opportunity for a DAF Provider. Not only would they benefit from the funds passing through their program, but the more someone uses their DAF for giving, the more likely they are to regularly make contributions too. Another question asked about the frequency of making spontaneous gifts from their DAF: 76% of respondents said Never, Almost never or Occasionally. This should be a red flag that even if donors don’t express dissatisfaction with the experience using their DAF portal over all, that it is nothing like an express checkout option \(Apple Pay, Google Pay and DAFpay\) on a donation form where someone is spontaneously inspired to give. If donors aren’t using their DAF account for reasons other than an ineligible grant purpose, it means there are barriers and friction to giving. In fact, for those DAF donors who had periods of inactivity, 53% cited giving other ways as the reason. So these barriers don’t just limit DAF account growth, they limit DAF usage as well. *DAF Action Item*: Ensure your program is connected in DAFpay so that your fund holders can easily and securely make grant recommendations from their account in all the places they are inspired to give online. [Contact the Chariot team](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form) to learn more about getting connected, or customizing your current connection. “Your ‘competition’ as a giving tool, is not just other DAF platforms \- which the fundholder is probably not even familiar with \- it is really other kinds of online checkout experiences.” 1. **There’s room for improvement in the DAF giving experience** For any DAF providers that are focused on optimizing their user experience, this survey reveals a few areas of improvement to be investigated. - 17% of donors didn’t find the Charity Search Function to be easy. - 19% of donors didn’t find navigating the DAF platform to be easy. - 25% of donors didn’t find the mobile app to be easy \(only 32% of over all donors had even used a mobile app for their DAF\) *DAF Action Item*: Try using a DAF at some “competitive” providers that have invested more in their technology, user experience and mobile accessibility. [Here is a list](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf) of the most accessible DAF options to test out. When you put yourself in your fundholder’s shoes and compare their potential giving experiences, you’ll be able to spot the clearest areas for improvement of your own program and platform. You could also do a survey of your own fund holders, and ask more pointed questions on this front, like “how does using your portal compare to using Apple Pay?” Your “competition” as a giving tool, is not just other DAF platforms \- which the fundholder is probably not even familiar with \- it is really other kinds of online checkout experiences. 1. **Donors want more clarity on succession planning** 53% of respondents said that they’d never even considered the possibility of directing funds to a charity or a fund at the DAF sponsor as part of their succession plan. Planned giving is such a valuable opportunity for community foundation DAF sponsors and nonprofits alike, providing visibility on long\-term support. Empower your fundholders to maximize their impact during and after their lifetimes with improvements in this process. *DAF Action Item*: Go through your own sign up flow and portal experience to test how someone would learn about succession planning, or take steps to update their own beneficiaries or successors. If there’s anything unintuitive to you, think about ways to boost your education and user experience on this front. 1. **Account minimums are a barrier** 19% of donors either Agreed or Strongly Agreed that the minimum balance was a barrier to grant making. It’s likely to be more effective for your total AUM, and certainly more impactful for your community, to focus on boosting contributions vs. enforcing a minimum account balance. Removing barriers to giving is key to donor experience and greater long\-term engagement with their account. *DAF Action Item*: Evaluate how reducing minimums \- both on the account balance and gift size \- could open up your user base to a wider range of donors. If you are concerned about higher volume, smaller dollar grant making being too operationally burdensome for your team, be sure to explore [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements): the faster, easier, cheaper and more secure way to send and receive grant payments. 1. **More optionality is needed around anonymity & confidentiality** One of the most interesting suggestions by the researchers themselves is for DAF providers to adjust their anonymity settings to provide a clearer option where donors don’t want to be publicly recognized \(e.g. remain confidential\), but do want to be acknowledged directly by the organization. This is driven by a couple of key findings on the topic in the survey: - 72% of donors Never, or almost never, give anonymously \(only 3% always or almost always\). - 61% of donors never, or almost never, give partially anonymously \(no contact details\), while 11.5% always, or almost always, give partially anonymously - Top reason for anonymity: 72% said they don’t want public recognition, followed by avoiding solicitation \(71%\) and moral / ethical reasons \(48%\) - Less than half of DAF donors \(49%\) report Always or Almost Always being acknowledged for DAF grants. Nonprofits are consistently frustrated at the poor quality of donor data they receive with DAF gifts, and donors regularly complain about the delays or gaps in acknowledgement for their support. Clearly there is a disconnect here and work for DAF providers to do. *DAF Action Item*: Test some changes to your anonymity options in your request form and see how donors respond or engage. If you want to make sure that funds and gift details aren’t so delayed getting to the receiving nonprofits \(so your account holders can be thanked faster\), [check out what Daffy, The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation and 4 other DAFs built with Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners) so that payments can settle instantly once approved, and contain full gift details in one place. --- ## Chariot Introduces New Solution for Better Grant Payments with 6 DAF Partners - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners - Published: 2025-04-30 > This collaborative product launch brings a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. #### This collaborative product launch brings a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. Chariot has joined forces with 6 Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) Providers to introduce a new solution for grant payments that benefits DAF providers and nonprofits alike. We’re thrilled to announce that Chariot Disbursements\* is now available to DAFs and nonprofit organizations on Chariot. #### The age\-old problem Chariot Disbursements solves an increasingly difficult and costly problem in philanthropy: *What is the best way for DAFs to send grant funds and gift details to eligible nonprofits?* Previously, there has been no effective, holistic solution for disbursing funds to the 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S. This has led to all DAF Providers using different, sub\-optimal processes. And the worst part? Every single DAF provider replicates much of the same work when they each pay the same nonprofits—including running diligence on the organization, searching and confirming its address, or locating its account and routing numbers. Nonprofit recipients ultimately bear the greatest burden of this phenomenon, having to manage these disparate processes for every DAF provider that sends them gifts. #### The all\-new solution **Chariot Disbursements **aims to change these inefficient, time\-consuming processes with an accessible payment network custom\-built for rapid, data\-rich grant payments. “We’ve been on a long search for a grant payment solution that could effectively scale with Daffy’s rapid growth,” says [Adam Nash](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnash/), Daffy’s co\-founder and CEO. “Helping to build this solution with the Chariot team, and share the innovation with any other DAF providers that want to use it, is exactly the collaborative approach our sector needs to solve these big problems.” Once a nonprofit completes their Chariot onboarding, they will now have a Chariot Deposit Account\*. DAF Providers using Chariot Disbursements can easily send funds enriched with full gift details to that validated organization and its verified users. For organizations that aren’t yet on Chariot, payments may be sent as mailed checks with enhanced security procedures\*\*, and customized grant letters attached, through the same API or dashboard. #### Discover the benefits of Connected Payments Chariot Disbursements is a holistic solution that doesn’t simply offer *digital *payments —\-it creates ***ConnectedPayments ***between DAFs and nonprofits on Chariot. Connected payments are: - Connected to **speed**: Payments settle instantly, once approved, so funds can be put to work faster. - Connected to **data**: Payments contain structured data and attachments in one place for more efficient operations. - Connected to **identity**: Verified recipients mean more secure delivery. #### Developed in partnership with leading DAF providers Chariot Disbursements was born from the needs of nonprofits and DAF Providers. We worked alongside people who manage grant payments on both sides of the equation to thoughtfully build a comprehensive solution that supports a seamless and trusted giving experience for everyone. “Our prior methods of sending grant payments put an immense operational burden on our team and our grantees,” adds [Megan Hyman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganartz/), CEO of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. “We have been thrilled to partner on the development of Chariot Disbursements, which will be a tremendous organizational improvement for community foundations of all sizes around the country, especially while we’re all working hard to keep our DAF offerings competitive and cost\-effective.” Chariot is well\-positioned to create this universal platform between nonprofits and DAF Providers, regardless of the tools they use to manage their program. The solution is accessible via open API or an easy\-to\-use dashboard, so that DAF Providers at any scale, with any technology, can easily plug in. The network for Chariot Disbursements will combine the audience of over 60,000 nonprofits with DAFpay on their donation forms, with all of the Disbursements Partners’ grant recipients, who will be encouraged to get on Chariot for Connected Payments. “This is just the beginning of an important evolution in giving,” shares Salo Serfati, Chariot’s Co\-Founder & CEO. “We are ambitiously expanding our footprint and investing in innovations that can make this a ubiquitous payment layer for the DAF ecosystem. We’re all incredibly motivated by the impact this can have on our mission to accelerate philanthropy.” In addition to [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/home) and [Dallas Jewish Community Foundation](https://djcf.org/), [Endaoment](https://endaoment.org/), [EarthShare](https://www.earthshare.org/), [Neta](https://www.netafoundation.org/) and [Daffeinated](https://daffeinated.com/login/) partnered on the development and launch of the new platform. Connected Payments from Chariot Disbursements will help these DAF Providers efficiently scale their giving and support nonprofits in increasing their impact with streamlined gift processing. ### [**Watch the full webinar recording here.**](https://share.hsforms.com/1J1rVwoOcTA61UvL_VCVdQQq159y) #### Next steps: For nonprofit organizations Any eligible nonprofit [**can get on Chariot today**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to start benefiting from Connected Payments sent by enrolled DAF Providers for free. There is no cost to receive Disbursements on Chariot or transfer funds to an external financial account once per week. Organizations that currently have a Chariot account will need to verify an Officer’s information during some additional onboarding steps that will be displayed in your dashboard. [**Learn more about onboarding here**](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/11125410-claiming-your-chariot-deposit-account). #### Next steps: For DAF providers [**Reach out to the Chariot Team**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form) to learn more about the onboarding process and pricing structure. \*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a DDA \(Demand Deposit Account\) through our Bank Partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Chariot Disbursements. Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held. \*\*Chariot’s check payment verification process tailors validation methods based on donation amount, prior payment history, and address verification through sources like the IRS Business Master File and the nonprofit’s website. The system incorporates automated outreach, direct contact for larger payments, an adaptable risk engine to help reduce fraud, and important controls like Positive Pay protections and delivery tracking to ensure payment reaches the intended nonprofit. **About Chariot** Chariot is a financial technology company focused on Donor Advised Fund payments. We create better DAF giving experiences for donors, nonprofits and DAF providers. Chariot’s DAFpay is the first and only DAF payment option that embeds easy DAF giving into any donation form or nonprofit website where someone is inspired to give. DAFpay lets donors use their DAF in 3 clicks, helps nonprofits spur more DAF giving with more useful \+ instant donor details, and helps DAF providers add new utility to their DAF accounts. Chariot’s other product, Chariot Disbursements, solves operational challenges for DAFs and nonprofits, enabling a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. --- ## Behind-the-Scenes Risks: How DAF Giving is Being Exploited—And What You Can Do About It - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/behind-the-scenes-risks-how-daf-giving-is-being-exploited-and-what-you-can-do-about-it - Published: 2025-04-25 > Scammers are finding new ways to target nonprofits through Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) giving. Learn the threats—and how to protect your organization. #### Scammers are finding new ways to target nonprofits through Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Learn the threats—and how to protect your organization. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) are a growing source of charitable giving, facilitating billions in donations to nonprofits every year. But while this support is meant to fuel your mission, they’re also becoming an unexpected target for fraud. The troubling truth? Many nonprofits aren’t even aware they’re at risk—until it’s too late. Fraudsters are getting more sophisticated, and they’ve found ways to exploit the nonprofit ecosystem. These schemes are subtle, silent, and highly effective. They don’t require a breach of your internal systems. Instead, they rely on manipulation and exploitation of weak points in third party systems that you rely on for funding. Here are three of the most common tactics being used today: ### **1. Impersonation: Faking Affiliation to Reroute Funds** This scheme starts with a simple but dangerous move: a fraudster contacts a DAF provider pretending to be someone from your organization. With just enough public information—like an EIN and a mailing address—they can convincingly request a change of address or contact details. Once the bad actor reroutes the communication or address, they can redirect grant payments to a location or account under their control. This kind of impersonation is more effective at more places than you’d like to believe, and it’s hard for a nonprofit to detect until you start wondering where your expected funding went. ### **2. Falsification: Fake Accounts, Real Damage** In another growing scam, con artists enroll your organization in digital payment systems without your knowledge. They then submit forged or doctored bank statements to "verify" an account they control as being affiliated with your nonprofit. This means future DAF grants intended for you can be digitally diverted into their personal bank account, bypassing your finance team completely. These falsified documents can be surprisingly convincing—especially when verification processes aren’t rigorous and AI keeps getting more powerful. ### **3. Interception: Old\-School Tactics with Modern Stakes** Despite the shift toward digital systems, many nonprofits still receive checks by mail or use physical banking processes. That’s exactly what criminals are counting on. Fraudsters steal mail—often from unsecured mailboxes—and engage in “check washing,” a method of altering legitimate checks to redirect funds. Others use exposed account and routing numbers found in outdated or unprotected systems to attempt unauthorized withdrawals. These tactics don’t require technical expertise, just access and opportunity. And they can result in real losses before anyone notices something’s wrong. ### **Why This Matters** DAF funding isn’t just another income stream—it’s an increasingly critical lifeline for many nonprofits. Grants from DAFs can come from long\-standing donors or unexpected sources and can be the difference between meeting budget or cutting back on programs. When fraudsters infiltrate that lifeline, they aren’t just stealing money. They’re jeopardizing trust, creating accounting headaches, and ultimately impacting the mission you're working so hard to fulfill. ### **What You Can Do About It** It’s time for nonprofits to take back control. That’s why Chariot is introducing a new solution designed to protect DAFs and nonprofits from these behind\-the\-scenes threats. **Join us on April 30th at 11am ET **for an exclusive live product release to learn exactly how things work and how this will be a game changer for DAF giving. [**Watch the Webinar Recording here**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners) --- ## How DAF Gift Processing Sinks Nonprofit Efficiency - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-daf-gift-processing-sinks-nonprofit-efficiency - Published: 2025-04-23 > Nonprofits are drowning in inefficient workflows for all the donor-advised fund gifts they receive. Here’s what that looks like—and how to get your time back. #### Nonprofits are drowning in inefficient workflows for all the donor\-advised fund gifts they receive. Here’s what that looks like—and how to get your time back. If you’ve ever worked in nonprofit finance or development, you already know: donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) gifts can be a blessing... and a serious logistical nightmare. DAFs are one of the fastest\-growing sources of giving in the U.S., with over $250 billion in DAF accounts, already committed to giving. But while the gifts are larger from DAF donors, the *process *behind receiving them is a time\-consuming maze of disjointed systems, manual entry, and frustrating back\-and\-forths between teams. Let’s break it down with five common DAF workflows that nonprofits have to navigate every single day: ### **1. ACH \+ CSV Files: Death by Spreadsheet** 1. Finance sees an inbound payment, with no gift or transaction details 2. Finance reaches out to gift processing to learn more 3. A fundraiser gets an email alert with a CSV file 4. The fundraiser opens the email 5. Downloads the CSV file 6. Opens the CSV file 7. Saves the CSV file to shared folder 8. Stretches columns to see contents of each cell 9. Reorders fields to fit CRM data model 10. Cleans up data 11. Checks with finance on size of individual transfers 12. Tries to match up which gift rows make up each transfer 13. Updates accounting system to align with CRM Now imagine doing this entire process *every day *for just one DAF. Multiply that by the dozens \(or even hundreds\) of DAFs you receive gifts from, and your team is stuck in a never\-ending Excel loop. ### **2. ACH \+ PDF Grant Letters: Copy\-Paste Chaos** 1. Finance sees an inbound payment with no gift or transaction details 2. Finance reaches out to gift processing to learn more 3. A fundraiser gets an email alert about a new gift 4. The fundraiser opens the email 5. Downloads the PDF Grant letter 6. Saves PDF grant letter to shared folder 7. Opens the PDF grant letter 8. Reads the grant letter 9. Manually types each gift detail into the CRM 10. Repeats for each gift that has its own grant letter 11. Cleans up data 12. Updates accounting system to align with CRM Not only is this tedious, it’s error\-prone. And because each gift has its own letter, this means repeating the process multiple times a day, every day. ### **3. PayPal: Click, Transfer, Screenshot, Repeat** Some DAFs send gifts through PayPal Grants Payments. Here’s what that looks like: 1. Finance gets an alert about a new gift in PayPal 2. They log into the PayPal account 3. Click “Accept” on each individual gift 4. Transfer funds from PayPal to a bank account to officially “receive” the gifts 5. Screen shot gift details 6. Send screenshot to the fundraising team 7. A fundraiser manually types each field into a CRM 8. Reconciles those details with the accounting system for that lump transfer received from PayPal account Your team repeats this entire process…daily… It's clunky, confusing, and definitely not what anyone signed up for. ### **4.**[**Bill.com**](http://Bill.com)** \+ Emailed Grant Letters: The Mismatched Jigsaw Puzzle** In this flow, the DAF sends a payment through [Bill.com](http://Bill.com) —marked as an "invoice," which is confusing from the start. 1. Finance gets an alert about a new [bill.com](http://bill.com) payment 2. Finance logs into [bill.com](http://bill.com) 3. Finance reaches out to the DAF for payment details Finance accepts the payment and transfers it via ACH to the organization’s bank account 4. At some point, a fundraiser gets an email from the DAF with a grant letter 5. 1. Often a separate stakeholder at the organization that has little context on the gift or [Bill.com](http://Bill.com) 6. The fundraiser opens the email 7. Downloads the grant letter 8. Reads the grant letter 9. Reaches out to DAF to ask about the payment 10. Confirms with finance about the funds received 11. Manually types grant letter details into all fields of the CRM 12. Repeats this process for all gifts, which each have their own grant letter 13. Confirms size of the total transfer with finance to reconcile which gifts go in each transfer 14. Your team repeats this entire process…daily… All this, repeated gift by gift, every day. It's like assembling a puzzle without all the pieces—or knowing what the final picture looks like. ### **5. Mailed Checks: The Old\-School Grind** Yes, most DAFs still send physical checks by mail. While it seems simple, here’s what that entails at the nonprofit: 1. Someone checks the mailbox 2. Opens all mail 3. Sets aside checks with grant letters 4. Scans check for deposit 5. Scans check to have image for record 6. Scans grant letter to have copy for records 7. Manually enters gift details into CRM 8. Your team repeats this entire process… daily…for every single mailed check Ironically, this may be the most*predictable*process—but it's still wildly inefficient and full of manual steps. ### **What’s the Real Cost?** When you zoom out, it’s clear: nonprofits are spending hours every day just figuring out what money came in, from where, and for what. The systems DAFs use to distribute gifts were never designed with nonprofit workflows in mind. That’s why teams are spending their valuable time stretching spreadsheets, typing out PDFs, clicking through portals, and stitching together email threads. And this isn't just a tech issue—it’s a people issue. Every hour your fundraiser spends reconciling a DAF gift is an hour they *aren’t *building donor relationships, crafting campaigns, or growing your mission. ### **A Better Way Forward** There’s good news: you *don’t *have to keep living in this cycle. On**April 30th**, Chariot is unveiling a solution built specifically to streamline DAF giving workflows for nonprofits. It’s time to take back your time—and get back to doing the work that really matters. You know, the stuff your donors actually *want *you to focus on. Join us and learn how to make DAF gift processing easier, faster, and finally… nonprofit\-friendly. Want to learn more? [Watch the Webinar Recording](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners) of the April 30th session with Chariot. --- ## DAF Gifts: Why “Eventually” Isn’t Good Enough - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-gifts-why-eventually-isn-t-good-enough - Published: 2025-04-21 > When donors give from their Donor-Advised Funds, timing matters more than you think. Here’s why none of us should settle for delayed dollars. #### When donors give from their Donor\-Advised Funds, timing matters more than you think. Here’s why none of us should settle for delayed dollars. When a donor recommends a grant from their Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\), nonprofits should receive those funds as soon as possible. In theory, it should be simple: a donor makes a recommendation, and the money arrives promptly to support that mission. In reality? It’s rarely that smooth. Too often, DAF gifts take several weeks to arrive. Between administrative reviews, processing queues, and reliance on mailing physical checks, there can be a significant lag from the moment a donor makes a gift to the moment a nonprofit sees a dollar of it. You might be thinking:*“Okay, so it’s a few weeks. We’ll get the money eventually. What’s the big deal?”* But when timing is everything—when moments of need or opportunity are fleeting—that delay can make all the difference. Here are three real\-world scenarios where “eventually” just doesn’t cut it: ### **1. Crisis Response Delayed is Help Denied** Imagine a donor hears about a wildfire sweeping through Southern California. Moved to act, they recommend a grant from their DAF to a local nonprofit delivering food to evacuees. But their DAF provider takes a full week to approve the request and sends a paper check via snail mail. By the time the funds arrive, the food program is over. The nonprofit never knew the money was coming, and they couldn’t scale their efforts when it mattered most. The donor intended to support crisis response—but in the end, their gift wasn’t utilized for the crisis at all. It’s a missed opportunity for everyone. #### Expectation #### Reality ### **2. Missing the Moment on Giving Day** Picture this: it’s your university’s Giving Day, and an enthusiastic alum from the Class of ’97 wants to help their class top the leaderboard. They make a generous gift through their DAF to boost participation and unlock a class\-based challenge gift. But because their DAF provider takes two weeks to process and send the donation, it misses the Giving Day window entirely. The class falls short of their goal, and the donor misses out on the celebration. Instead of feeling part of something exciting and immediate, they’re left disappointed and disconnected. #### Expectation #### Reality ### **3. When Matching Gifts Don’t Match** Consider a local animal shelter running a one\-day campaign: all donations will be tripled thanks to a 3:1 match from a corporate sponsor. A passionate supporter sees this as a huge opportunity and makes a sizable gift through their DAF. Unfortunately, the funds don’t arrive until long after the match deadline. The gift doesn’t qualify, and the donor’s impact is reduced. The shelter misses out on extra funding. What should have been a big win turns into a lose\-lose situation. #### Expectation #### Reality ### **So, What’s the Fix?** These scenarios aren’t rare exceptions—they’re common frustrations. And they all boil down to the same core problem:**DAF gifts arrive too slowly.** Nonprofits can’t afford to wait. Whether it’s disaster relief, a time\-bound campaign, or an opportunity to secure matching funds, delays in DAF disbursements can cost your organization money, momentum, and donor trust. Once a DAF gift is made, your nonprofit deserves those funds right away—**not eventually, not next week, but ASAP.** Fortunately, there's a better way. ### **Introducing a Faster Future for DAF Gifts** Chariot has developed a new solution that addresses this very issue—because we believe generosity shouldn’t be held up by bureaucracy. Join us on**April 30th**at 11am ET to learn how Chariot is helping DAF gifts be sent and received faster and more efficiently. We’ll show you how our brand\-new platform eliminates delays, removes uncertainty, and helps you make the most of every donor’s intention—when it matters most. [Watch the Webinar Recording](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O7kROyukTV-lg2mzmE-fCw#/registration) Even if you can’t make it live, all registrants will get a recording and recap mailed to you afterward. ### **Don’t Let Time Be the Enemy of Impact** DAFs are a powerful tool for modern philanthropy, but their potential is often hampered by slow and outdated systems. It doesn’t have to be this way. You shouldn’t have to guess when—or if—a donor’s gift will show up. And your supporters shouldn’t miss out on the joy of seeing their contributions make a timely impact. With the right tools, you can ensure DAF donations are not only generous but also *timely*. Let’s stop settling for “eventually.” [**Learn more here**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-introduces-new-solution-for-better-grant-payments-with-6-daf-partners)** and let’s make “ASAP” the new standard for DAF gifts.** --- ## Stop Sending Thank You Notes to Fidelity - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/stop-sending-thank-you-notes-to-fidelity - Published: 2025-04-15 > Let’s talk about something that’s wasting time, money, and a whole lot of paper in nonprofit offices everywhere: thank you notes sent to Fidelity Charitable and other commercial donor-advised fund (DAF) providers. #### Let’s talk about something that’s wasting time, money, and a whole lot of paper in nonprofit offices everywhere: thank you notes sent to Fidelity Charitable and other commercial donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) providers. Yes, I said it. Please, stop sending them. Every week, massive DAF institutions like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard receive piles of mail from nonprofits. And the majority of these are form thank you letters—often addressed generically to “Fidelity Charitable”—thanking them for donations they technically didn’t make. Worse, some of these letters include **tax receipts**, which could get you in trouble with the IRS. Here’s why this matters, and what you *should* be doing instead. ### **Why Are We Still Doing This?** Let’s break this down with a few key reminders about how DAFs actually work: #### **1️⃣ DAF Providers Approve Grants – Fund Holders Make Them** DAF providers like Fidelity Charitable are simply the mechanism through which individual donors recommend grants. The individual—the fund holder—is the one who initiated the gift. Fidelity is the facilitator. Sending a thank you to Fidelity is like thanking a bank for someone else’s check. It won’t mean anything. #### **2️⃣ DAF Providers Should Get the Hard Credit – But Not Your Stewardship** Yes, for legal and accounting purposes, the DAF provider is the entity you credit in your CRM as the donor. That’s required. But let’s be clear: **Fidelity Charitable is not your donor.** There’s no stewardship value in sending them a thank you letter—especially when it’s for a one\-off gift and not part of a larger institutional relationship \(like you might have with a community foundation\). These big commercial DAFs are going to be more transactional relationships than individuals, family foundations or your local community foundation. #### **3️⃣ DAF Gifts Are Not Tax\-Deductible to the Donor** This part trips up a lot of people: donors receive their tax receipt when they contribute *into* a DAF. Once they direct a grant from their fund to your organization, **it is not another tax\-deductible event**. Sending a tax receipt at that point is not only unnecessary—it’s legally incorrect. The onus is on you, as the nonprofit, to know the difference and ensure you’re not issuing redundant or invalid tax documentation. No, it’s not intuitive. Yes, it’s annoying. But it’s the rule. #### **4️⃣ Thank the Actual Donor – Not the Middleman** Here’s the kicker: if you’re not thanking the person behind the DAF, you’re probably missing out on a future gift. I’ve heard countless stories of DAF donors who never gave to an organization again— unhappy because they never received a thank you. A donor who feels ignored is a donor who disappears. But what if you don’t know who the actual fund holder is? This can be a real challenge. Many DAF grants arrive with limited identifying information. That doesn’t mean you should default to sending a generic letter to the DAF provider. They likely don’t even get opened. ### **So What *****Should***** You Do?** If you want to meaningfully steward your DAF donors \(and you *really* should\), try these tips instead: ✅ **Search your CRM** for keywords from the gift details. You’d be surprised how often a name or fund title matches an old record or a past donor. ✅ **Bring your team together.** Set up a regular check\-in to review “mystery” DAF gifts. Maybe someone on your team was expecting a gift of that size or had recent contact with a donor who mentioned a DAF. ✅ **Call the DAF provider.** If it’s a large commercial DAF like Fidelity, you can try calling their support line. It’s not a perfect system, but diligent gift processors often do end up getting helpful information or assistance passing on items to the donor. ✅ **Engage your community foundations.** These DAF providers are often a little easier to get in touch with and engage with. If the grant came from one of them, try sending a tailored note or email requesting that your message of thanks be passed along to the donor. Many are more than happy to help facilitate that connection. ### **Bottom Line: Steward Smarter** Sending a form thank you note to a massive DAF provider like Fidelity isn’t just ineffective—it’s wasteful. Save your postage, your staff’s time, and your envelopes. Instead, focus your efforts on uncovering and connecting with the real person behind the gift. Because when it comes to stewardship, relationships matter. People want to be seen and appreciated. And if they’re not? They move on. So this week’s top tip: **stop sending Fidelity Charitable thank you letters**—and start doubling down on thoughtful, intentional donor stewardship that actually works. Your future fundraising self will thank you. --- ## Top 6 Takeaways from New DAF Research Collaborative Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-6-takeaways-from-new-daf-research-collaborative-report - Published: 2025-04-10 > DAFRC released an in-depth survey of Donor Advised Fund Managers. We’ve pulled out some key takeaways for nonprofit fundraisers in this breakdown.The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (DAFRC), a leading group of academic and nonprofit researchers, put out their second of three reports in a four-year effort to better understand the DAF ecosystem from all angles. As they say in the report, “One of the initiative’s main goals is to gather and analyze information about DAFs that is not avail #### DAFRC released an in\-depth survey of Donor Advised Fund Managers. We’ve pulled out some key takeaways for nonprofit fundraisers in this breakdown. The [Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) \(DAFRC\), a leading group of academic and nonprofit researchers, put out their second of three reports in a four\-year effort to better understand the DAF ecosystem from all angles. As they say in the report, “One of the initiative’s main goals is to gather and analyze information about DAFs that is not available from publicly accessible data sources.” The newest analysis “The National Survey of Donor Advised Fund Managers”, provides an unprecedented level of insight into the perspectives and practices of DAF programs. The findings of this report were derived from a 30\-question survey that 128 distinct DAF sponsors participated in. While we recommend everyone download and review the report for yourselves, we also wanted to call out our top 6 takeaways that are most relevant to nonprofit organizations trying to better understand DAFs to maximize their DAF fundraising. One important note about the report is that the participating DAF provider group is heavily skewed toward community foundations \(86%\). Community foundations tend to have fairly different donor demographics and behaviors compared with the large national sponsors that make up the majority of most organizations’ DAF donations. While these insights are useful, note that they are most applicable to DAF donors working with a community foundation. ##### 1. “Ease of Use” is a DAF’s top value proposition to donors DAF managers were asked to rate various features or benefits of DAFs as to how important they are for their fund holders. The highest ranking answer, by far, was DAFs “Ease of Use”, with 91.2% of respondents rating it as “Very/Extremely Important.” Other top benefits were local philanthropy, building a legacy of giving and strategic philanthropy. **Why this matters to nonprofits: **Many organizations are working to improve their understanding of DAFs so that they can more effectively discuss the topic with donors. It’s valuable to know which DAF benefits are most resonant with fund holders so you can highlight them prominently in your communications related to DAF giving. If you’re looking for an easy way to explain DAFs to your supporters, check out this 1\-pager you can adapt for your own donor engagement. #### 2. DAF donors underutilize philanthropic advisory services While 96% of respondents say they offer philanthropic advising to their fundholders, when asked how many fundholders utilize those services, the median level was 50%. There is a persistent misunderstanding among nonprofit fundraisers that DAF providers play a heavy role in DAF donors’ grant decisions. Even among community foundations \(the primary audience of this survey\), which tend to differentiate themselves from the national DAFs with their local\-knowledge and philanthropic advising service, most donors aren’t utilizing those services. **Why this matters to nonprofits:**While it’s certainly useful for a DAF Provider, especially a community foundation in your area, to be familiar with your work, most DAF donors are making their giving decisions like any other donor and the DAF is just their preferred method of giving. An effective way to get on the advisors’ radar at your community foundation is to apply to their general grant process. Even if you aren’t selected, you’ll be on the program officer’s list and when donors inquire about your cause area, there’s a greater likelihood you’ll be on their mind. #### 3. Most DAFs have an inactive account policy, but enforcement varies A top concern about DAFs among nonprofits is the lack of a legally binding payout rate, like private foundations have. DAF advocates point out that the actual pay out rate far exceeds the 5% requirement imposed on foundations \(at over 20% for the industry since they began tracking, according to National Philanthropic Trust’s annual DAF Report \- breakdown available here\). It’s also true that most DAFs \- especially the largest ones \- have their own internal policies to deter inactive accounts. The nation’s largest DAF Provider, Fidelity Charitable, begins intervening after 1 year of inactivity. The typical deadline for intervention among participants was if 36 months went by without a grant, their policy would kick in. However, the enforcement and effectiveness varied. 79.4% of respondents said they agree with the statement “we closely monitor grantmaking to identify inactive accounts.” 7.8% said they neither agreed nor disagreed and 12.7% disagreed. What was also interesting was how “most sponsors \(70%\) agreed that their procedures improved donor relations, and 68% felt that their procedures successfully reactivated grantmaking.” The researchers also pointed out that the enforcement of these inactive account policies is highly correlated with their available tech budgets to monitor grant activity, which signals that the sponsors not enforcing are likely on the smaller side anyway. **Why this matters to nonprofits: **While most DAF sponsors do have a policy on this topic, it’s worth pushing all sponsors to be more transparent about the policy and their enforcement protocols. Especially since it’s proven to result in better donor relations\! It’s an easy tip and request to share with DAF providers you end up speaking with, especially in your local community. #### 4. Only 36% default to sharing donor name & contact information The default setting in any product is an incredibly important decision. One study on how many Microsoft Word users had changed any settings found that 95% stuck with the default. The exact numbers will vary across product experiences, but the fact remains that humans generally want to take as few steps and make as few decisions as possible in a product or check out flow. The decision a DAF sponsor makes on their default setting for information sharing between a fundholder and a nonprofit is crucial. Unfortunately, only 36% have the option to share full name and contact details as the baseline default setting. Even then, the contact detail is only a physical mailing address \- never an email. The good news is that only 1% of respondents had completely anonymous as the default. The authors described the impact perfectly in their conclusion to the research: “The various levels of donor information associated with DAF grants has created considerable confusion among professional fundraisers \(Heist et al., 2025\). An industry standard with full contact information as the default for acknowledgement would greatly improve the ability of charitable grantees to accurately process DAF grants and build meaningful relationships with DAF donors.” **Why this matters to nonprofits:**Donors often don’t realize that you’re getting more limited information because of how easy and intuitive it is to follow the default process in their portal. They often get frustrated when they don’t hear from the organizations they support through their DAF. Here are three suggestions to curb this phenomenon: 1. **Remind donors to share more information in your appeals** 2. - Don’t be afraid to educate your donors on your experience with DAF gifts and how they can help improve it. Especially if you’re including a specific CTA for DAF giving, or even a dedicated outreach for DAF giving, it’s ok to provide some short, clear suggestions. Here’s an example mailer The Public Theater recently used that incorporates a DAF giving CTA. 3. **Prioritize research on DAF gifts** 4. - Even if you only get a fund name, it’s critical to dig up any more information to get ahold of that donor and thank them if possible. That can include periodic team meetings to review “unassigned” DAF gifts received or outreach to the DAF \- a full list of DAF donor stewardship suggestions is available in this guide. 5. **Add DAF giving as a payment option in donation forms** 6. - DAFpay, Chariot’s express checkout for DAF giving, captures a DAF donor’s email every time and lets the donor complete their gift in 15 seconds without leaving your website. See if your fundraising platform already has a DAFpay integration, or reach out to learn more. #### 5. These DAFs view competition among DAFs as their biggest barrier to growth When asked to rate a few different factors as to how strong of a barrier they are to improved performance of their program, by far the most significant item was “Competition from other DAF providers.” 24.8% rated this as “very much a barrier,” 34.9% as “somewhat of a barrier” and 32.1% as “a little of a barrier.” That adds up to over 90% of respondents viewing industry competition as their biggest obstacle to growth. This mindset is a little perplexing in such a fast\-growing industry where awareness and utilization of DAFs among target demographics overall is still so low. A report by Bank of America showed that while wealthy individuals are most likely to have a DAF, only 4.9% of affluent households used one in 2022. Another survey of the general public found that the awareness of DAFs has actually gone down to 17%\! We’re in a moment where DAFs could be collaborating to increase market penetration as a whole group and attract net new DAF users to the vehicle vs. focusing on competition over existing DAF users. There are an estimated 3 million people using DAFs today, a mere fraction of the 60 million households that give to charity each year or 70 million people who have a 401k… the opportunity is immense\! Why this matters to nonprofits: It’s important to recognize that there is some competitive tension among DAF sponsors. Think strategically about how you might be able to partner with a DAF sponsor, especially locally, to advance their goals and foster a closer relationship. One idea is to collaborate on a donor education session on DAFs with a DAF provider or financial advisor. #### 6. DAFs are incredibly powerful for donor relationships 96% of respondents said that offering a DAF program provides additional means to engage existing donors. 90% say it provides a means to engage new donors with the organization. 71% say it provides a means to engage a more diverse set of donors. Clearly this is an incredibly powerful tool for any organization that has an existing audience or community of supporters. **Why this matters to nonprofits:**DAF usage is proven to deepen fundholders’ engagement with their giving. That benefits the organizations they donate to and the organization that runs the DAF program. This adds to the reasons why nonprofits might want to be more proactive about educating their donors on DAFs, and maybe even encourage their use for anyone where it makes sense \(disclaiming that they should discuss with their financial advisors\). It also makes a compelling case for larger nonprofits themselves to think about hosting their own DAF program\! Folks like The Nature Conservancy or Stanford have already taken this approach, and the tech offerings to manage these programs have become a lot more accessible. Check out the full report, and DAFRC’s other research, [here](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-management-survey) to dig into all the details and insights\! Thank you to the DAFRC team that led this work: - [Dr. H. Daniel Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119/), Assistant Professor of Nonprofit Management and Social Impact at the George W. Romney Institute for Public Service and Ethics at Brigham Young University. - [Dr. Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-2a294b3/), Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Nonprofit Management at Depaul University. - [Rachel M. Sumsion](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmsumsion/), Masters Degree student in public administration at Brigham Young University. - [Dr. Jeff Williams](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdwms/), Director of Consulting Services for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. --- ## DAF Giving Made Easy: GiveCampus donors can now give in just 15 seconds! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-giving-made-easy-givecampus-donors-can-now-give-in-just-15-seconds - Published: 2025-04-01 > GiveCampus has partnered with Chariot, creators of DAFpay, to streamline and amplify charitable giving to educational institutions. ### GiveCampus has partnered with Chariot, creators of DAFpay, to streamline and amplify charitable giving to educational institutions. #### Join our upcoming webinar with GiveCampus to explore DAFs and learn how to maximize the impact of the DAFpay integration. [Register here\!](https://info.givecampus.com/chariot-dafpay-webinar) WASHINGTON, D.C., March 31st, 2025 – GiveCampus is excited to announce our new partnership with Chariot, the creators of DAFpay—the world’s first online Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) payment solution.This integration lets GiveCampus donors support with their DAFs in seconds, unlocking one of the fastest\-growing sources of charitable giving. "From my very first day at GiveCampus, enabling seamless, integrated DAF giving was at the top of my wish list,” said Felicity Meu, Senior Director of Partner Success at GiveCampus. “Today, I couldn’t be more excited to see that vision come to life. This partnership with Chariot not only makes it easier for donors to give through DAFs, but it also empowers schools to identify and engage these valuable supporters like never before. At a time when investing in education is more critical than ever, we are proud to provide institutions with the tools they need to maximize every opportunity for philanthropy." Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) represent a powerful and growing force in philanthropy, with**$250 billion in assets under management \(AUM\)**. In 2023 alone,**$54 billion**was granted from DAFs to nonprofits. However, traditional DAF donations have often been disconnected from digital fundraising campaigns, requiring donors to navigate a cumbersome, offline grantmaking process. DAF donors can be highly valued and consistent supporters for an institution—making it critical for schools to provide an optimized giving experience for supporters making DAF donations. “When donors support with DAFs, they give more generously and with greater intentionality, fostering deeper connections with the causes they support,” said Salo Serfati, CEO of Chariot. “Education is the foundation of a thriving society, and ensuring that schools and universities can easily receive DAF gifts is critical to strengthening that foundation. We’re proud and excited to partner with GiveCampus and connect more DAF donors to educational institutions." With**DAFpay**, donors can now contribute directly from their DAF accounts to an institution’s campaign in**just three clicks—taking less than 15 seconds\!**Schools will also receive**instant confirmation**of the gift, along with**donor contact information**for seamless stewardship. DAFpay is available on all eligible giving forms. To enable, Partners must first claim their free Chariot account. With several GiveCampus Partner institutions already enabling DAFpay, early feedback has been enthusiastic."I am THRILLED to see DAFpay coming to GC Online Giving. So grateful GiveCampus continues to listen to partners and aid us in maximizing giving options for our donors," sharedKirby Gaddy, Director of Annual Giving at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Learn more about the GiveCampus DAFpay integration [here](https://info.givecampus.com/hubfs/DAF%20Pay_1-pager.pdf). **About GiveCampus** GiveCampus is a comprehensive educational fundraising platform that helps colleges, universities, and independent schools raise more money from more donors with less effort. Our mission is to advance the quality, the affordability, and the accessibility of education. Since 2015, 1,500\+ educational institutions have raised more than $6 billion on [GiveCampus.Today](http://GiveCampus.Today), our platform includes capabilities that help fundraisers execute workflows that are central to every stage of the fundraising process and impact every type of donor at every level of the donor pyramid. **About Chariot** Chariot is a leading Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) solutions provider committed to optimizing the donation process for the $250 billion currently sitting in DAFs, providing a better experience for both nonprofits and donors. Chariot’s premier solution is DAFpay, a 3\-click DAF donation option that makes giving from a DAF directly on a nonprofits website fast and easy. With DAFpay, nonprofits can connect with and retain more DAF donors while saving valuable time spent on tracking and processing gifts. --- ## Why do we need a DAF Payment Option? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-do-we-need-a-daf-payment-option - Published: 2025-03-31 > Chariot’s flagship product, DAFpay, is an express checkout product built for donors that want to give easily from their Donor Advised Funds. Chariot’s flagship product, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), is an express checkout product built for donors that want to give easily from their Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\). Nonprofits can embed it directly into their main donation form alongside other payment options, like credit card, Venmo, and PayPal—so donors can give with their DAF just as easily as with any other payment method. Before DAFpay, donating with a DAF was typically a cumbersome and time\-consuming process, requiring donors to leave the page that inspired them to give, log into their DAF provider’s portal, search for a nonprofit by their EIN \(which can often be difficult to find\!\), and initiate a grant. DAFpay allows donors to initiate a DAF grant in just a few clicks, **directly from a nonprofit’s website**. We’re often asked why DAFpay is necessary. [DAF giving has skyrocketed over the past decade](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) even without an express checkout option. If donors are already willing to log into their DAF provider’s portal, search for a nonprofit by EIN, and initiate a gift, why change the process? The answer is that despite this growth, there is $250B\+ more that has already been set aside for giving in DAFs. DAFs can be an incredibly powerful engine for philanthropy \- they encourage habitual giving, help donors organize their charitable contributions like any other financial asset, and allow giving dollars to grow with the market. But to maximize their impact, more people need to use them. That starts with making DAF giving as seamless as possible, everywhere donors give. Embedding a DAF payment option directly into nonprofit donation forms isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a fundamental shift that makes DAF giving more accessible, frequent, and powerful. Here are the four biggest reasons why a seamless DAF payment option is essential: 1. Reduce friction in the giving process Every additional step in the donation process creates friction, making it more likely that donors will abandon their gift. Tasks like logging into separate portals and searching for a nonprofit’s EIN add unnecessary complexity, which decreases the chance of donors completing their donations. While each hurdle may seem small, the cumulative effect leads to a drop in overall conversion rates across DAF donors. Consider tools like Apple Pay or Venmo. Their popularity stems from their immediacy – users can purchase something the minute they’re compelled to. A DAF payment tool brings that same sense of immediacy to DAF giving. 1. Provide specificity that does not exist in DAF portals On DAF portals, a donor’s gift will default to a nonprofit’s general fund. In order to direct their grant to a specific program or campaign, a donor needs to go back to obtain the information of the campaign in question and enter those details in the memo field. Often donors forgot to do this or do it incorrectly. Embedding DAFpay on donation forms eliminates this extra work for the donor and any potential for error. It allows a donor to give with their DAF to any specific campaign or donation page straight from a nonprofit’s website. 1. Optimize nonprofit gift processing The lack of timely and specific donor data from DAF providers makes it incredibly difficult for nonprofit gift processors to track DAF gifts and subsequently steward DAF donors. Without names, emails, and real\-time notifications about DAF gifts, nonprofits struggle to bolster their DAF fundraising strategies. Nonprofits encounter two major challenges regarding data supplied by DAF providers: 1. **Lack of Donor Identification: **DAF providers typically share a donor’s DAF “fund name,” not their full name or their email. While some fund names, like “Johnny Appleseed’s Donor Advised Fund,” offer clarity, others are vague and uninformative, like “The Pink and Purple Fund,” and make donor stewardship extremely difficult. More and more, donors are making an effort to include identifiable information in their gift. [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-12-takeaways-from-the-2025-fidelity-charitable-giving-report) reported that 80% of their grants in 2024 had a donor’s name and mailing address. However, without a donor’s email address, nonprofits are still left to rely solely on physical addresses to reach donors for all these gifts, delaying acknowledgement and complicating stewardship. 2. **Delayed Funds**: While some DAFs have electronic payments enabled, the majority of DAFs do still send payments as checks in the mail. The complexities around fund disbursement means that some DAF gifts can take as long as 6 weeks to arrive at a nonprofit. Due to these delays, when a nonprofit receives a DAF gift, the donation was likely made over a month earlier. This means that even ifa nonprofit can identify a donor based on the DAF gift, that donor has gone up to six weeks without any formal thank\-you or acknowledgement from the organization they supported. With DAFpay, nonprofits receive an instant alert when a DAF gift is made, along with the donor’s name and email. This enables immediate acknowledgment and stewardship of DAF donors, which is instrumental to overall fundraising strategies. It also enabled DAF gifts in all fundraising campaigns, including peer\-to\-peer and time\-sensitive drives—something previously impossible for DAF giving. 1. Promotes DAF giving 100% of the time DAF donors are a valuable asset to nonprofits. The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that when donors start giving through a DAF, their contributions to organizations they’ve previously supported increases by 96% on average. The report also found that the average retention rate of a DAF donor is 15% higher than non\-DAF donors in the same study period. The [2024 DAF Donor Satisfaction Survey](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) uncovered a critical gap in DAF giving: while donors rely on their DAFs for larger, well\-planned annual contributions, they overwhelmingly turn to credit cards when responding to unexpected or urgent [causes.In](http://causes.In) these situations, they either forget about their DAFs entirely, or opt for a quicker online payment method to avoid the extra steps. By embedding a DAF payment option directly into donation forms, nonprofits keep DAFs top of mind for donors—ensuring they can seamlessly use the funds they’ve already allocated for charity whenever inspiration strikes. And since DAF gifts are larger on average and foster a higher donor\-retention rate, this means more nonprofit support overall. Ultimately, introducing a DAF payment option expands DAF giving by attracting new users, increasing awareness, and making DAFs more accessible for everyday philanthropy. --- ## DAFs for the Masses: How to Unlock DAF Giving Potential in Every Donor - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-for-the-masses-how-to-unlock-daf-giving-potential-in-every-donor - Published: 2025-03-28 > Check out these best practices and simple tactics you and your team can adopt today. ### If you’re not asking all of your donors for DAF gifts, you’re missing out. Check out these best practices and simple tactics you and your team can adopt today. Since its inception, DAF giving was typically viewed as a philanthropic vehicle for major donors. But with the recent ease of account restrictions and introduction of technology that makes DAF giving seamless, nonprofits are discovering that this mode of philanthropy can thrive far beyond a single donor type. To explore the emerging possibilities of DAF fundraising, we spoke with nonprofit leaders who have grown DAF giving within their own organizations. Our conversation featured: - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot - [Meghan M. Lee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmle/), Associate Director, Mid & Major Gifts at the ACLU - [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley), Director of Patron Programs and Services at The Public Theater Whether you’ve yet to consider DAFs beyond the major donor level or haven’t embraced DAF fundraising yet, we’ve rounded up these tried\-and\-true best practices from our recent webinar to help you set the foundation for a winning DAF strategy regardless of your experience. ### Value donors at every level From one\-time donors to long\-time sustainers to mid and major donors, your organization should make every one of your supporters feel like a partner in your mission. Of course, you’ll want to keep on\-staff liaisons available for major donors, but at the same time, any donor should know that you have an open door for them. Here are just some ways you can make this work \(even on a budget\): - **Keep every donor in the loop:**Leverage social media and weekly newsletters to become a trusted news source for the issues your supporters care about most. - **Host a town hall\-style event with an open invite:**Welcome donors to hear directly from your staffers on the front lines. Share about your critical work, take questions and suggestions, and collect valuable feedback. - **Send your donors an annual magazine:**Compile the greatest stories and accomplishments your donors have made possible into a tangible form of celebration and thanks they can’t miss. - **Say “Thank you” often:**Your donors can never hear it too much—say thanks via email for individual gifts, spotlight donors of all levels on social media, and lead every ask and invitation with gratitude for their presence on the front lines with you. ### Educate your staff about the impact of DAFs Your tight\-knit team finds success when everyone’s rowing in the same direction, and this idea also holds true in DAF fundraising. Before you engage donors, all of your staff members should be well\-versed in DAFs—the state of DAF giving today, how other nonprofits are embracing it, and the enormous amount of money you can raise for your mission. Look to these free resources to get started: - [The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) - [Recent DAF fundraising case studies](https://www.givechariot.com/chariot-case-studies) - [DAF giving live webinars and recordings](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) ### Let your development department work its magic At many organizations, the marketing team manages donors who give more sporadically and in lower amount. But while this mass\-marketing approach makes sense from an ROI standpoint in the short\-term, moving these donors into development outreach initiatives can help your organization establish stronger, more meaningful relationships—and that’s where the DAF conversation comes in. ### Diversify your approach—and track what works It’s critical to incorporate DAF giving language and functionality into all your communication channels. Think about how supporters engage with each of these channels, along with the main message you want to communicate. There’s a time and a place for content on DAF education vs. DAF engagement—and as your DAF holders grow and you and your team become accustomed to DAF fundraising in a broader context, your supporters will show you when and where your DAF messaging works best. While email has become a go\-to communication channel for nonprofit organizations, inboxes can become crowded. To ensure your donors see your message, consider a variety of ways to reach out, including: #### SMS text messages With an average open rate of over 90 percent, text messaging is king. Once you have a donor’s permission, you can communicate with them about DAFs and other topics using the same channel they lean on to keep in touch with family, colleagues, and friends. Avoid unsubscribes by using text messaging sparingly and thoughtfully. Aim for a cadence of three to five texts per month. Text themes can include: - Automated thank you messages upon receiving digital DAF gifts - Peer\-to\-peer solicitations from volunteers to their networks - Event invitations and reminders to boost attendance - Emergency appeals that mention DAFs as a prime giving option - Soliciting and organizing volunteers #### Social media Show up where your donors go to engage with their interests, hobbies, and people they love most. While a Facebook account is a must, expanding to other channels like Instagram and TikTok can help you reach younger generations of social\-savvy supporters. If your social media presence could use a boost, consider these light\-lift moves: - Ramp up to posting two to five times per week - Follow social media trends and create your own version - Look to hashtag holidays for inspiration - Feature donors’ photos and testimonials on why they give - Use short\-form video to show a look behind the scenes Keep tabs on your social media posts’ engagement metrics and take note. Your best\-performing posts can become a weekly theme that brings donors back to your page week after week. #### Direct mail As communication becomes almost entirely digital, things we can hold have become extra special. Cut down costs by choosing postcards and apply for [special nonprofit mailing rates](https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=NonprofitApplication) from USPS if you haven’t just yet. #### Phone calls Finding time to call every donor isn’t an easy feat, but when you break down your list and divvy up contacts, it’s suddenly more than achievable. If you’re too short\-staffed at the moment, consider recruiting your most passionate volunteers or board members to lend a hand. Before you hit “Send,” “Share,” or pick up the phone, work with your marketing and development teams to set up a tracking process for each initiative. When you lay the groundwork to measure engagement, you can fine\-tune your outreach to prioritize the most effective methods moving forward. ### Equip your organization for digital DAF giving DAF donors aren’t the only thing changing—how we give via DAF is, too. And that’s a good thing, because now, DAF giving is as easy as giving via credit card with no more middle person. Best of all, you don’t have to contact a foundation or quiz your development team to find out crucial DAF gift information. With tools like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), you can receive DAF gifts directly from your donors—with names and contact information included. See how easy DAF giving can be: ### Tell every donor what a DAF is—and why they should use one If major donors have been the only supporters in your DAF giving orbit, it’s time to spread the word. Just like your staff, donors need 101 education on DAF giving. Share [simple explainers](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf) on what DAFs are and how they work via: - A dedicated DAF giving page on your website that includes your tax ID - Social media posts \(Try short\-form videos and carousels\) - An email newsletter dedicated to DAF giving featuring 101 content, steps to get started, DAF donor testimonials, and impact data - Face\-to\-face conversations and phone calls ### Encourage current DAF donors to take the next step Mid\-level and major donors who already give via DAF are typically prospects for your planned giving initiatives. These loyal supporters are always seeking new and more impactful ways to further your important work. If you haven't had the conversation yet, let them know that they have the option to list your organization as the beneficiary of their DAF account. ### Make DAFs a mainstay at your organization Many donors automatically contribute money to their DAFs. While that’s great for the growth of their giving power, the set\-it\-and\-forget\-it nature of DAFs can make them easy to, well, forget. ### Keep DAF giving at top\-of\-mind for your supporters by: - Reminding donors that they can give via DAF - Adding a DAF giving option to all of your donation forms - Turning DAF giving into a movement within your community by participating in [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) on October 9th ### Start now First things first: Before you can debut DAFs to the masses, you need to get set on your side of things. Begin with making DAF giving as easy as the click of a button. Get Started with DAFpay --- ## Chariot Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-named-to-fast-company-s-annual-list-of-the-world-s-most-innovative-companies-of-2025 - Published: 2025-03-18 > Chariot joins the ranks of Waymo, Nvidia, Duolingo, and more NEW YORK CITY, March 18, 2025 — Chariot is proud to have been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 in the Social Good category. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast C ### *Chariot joins the ranks of Waymo, Nvidia, Duolingo, and more* NEW YORK CITY,March 18, 2025 —Chariot is proud to have been named to*Fast Company*’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 [in the Social Good category](https://www.fastcompany.com/91270160/social-good-most-innovative-companies-2025). This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies,*Fast Company *recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions. "We’re honored to be named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025," said Salo Serfati, CEO and Founder of Chariot. "At Chariot, we’re committed to optimizing the nonprofit sector—ensuring that organizations can access donations and data seamlessly. What sets us apart is our refusal to accept the status quo. When nonprofits and donors face challenges that others overlook, we see opportunities to innovate. This recognition reinforces our mission to build solutions that remove barriers and unlock more funding for the causes that need it most." Chariot has transformed Donor Advised Fund giving with the launch of DAFpay, an express\-checkout solution that enables donors to give directly from their DAFs, straight from a nonprofit’s website. With DAF assets surpassing [$251 billion across 1.8 million accounts](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/), DAF giving represents a massive opportunity for nonprofits—yet legacy processes have made it difficult to access these funds efficiently. Chariot’s innovation eliminates the manual, fragmented workflows that have historically slowed down DAF gifts, empowering nonprofits to accept these donations as seamlessly as credit card or ACH payments. Today, Chariot powers digital DAF giving for over 60,000 nonprofits. With DAFpay, donors bypass complex third\-party portals and give directly from a nonprofit’s donation form, providing a frictionless donation experience. When donors use their DAFs, they give larger gifts, more frequently, with greater long\-term loyalty. On the backend, DAFpay automates gift reconciliation and data capture, eliminating inefficiencies and ensuring nonprofits can easily track, manage, and steward their DAF donors. Chariot is setting a new DAF\-industry standard, helping nonprofits maximize returns while providing donors with an uninterrupted, intuitive giving experience. The World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as*Fast Company*’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, *Fast Company’*s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe\-spanning guide to innovation today, from early\-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world. “Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future,” said*Fast Company *editor\-in\-chief Brendan Vaughan. “This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.” The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at [fastcompany.com](http://fastcompany.com). It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25. *Fast Company *will host the [Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala](https://events.fastcompany.com/MIC-SummitandGala-2025/) for honorees on June 5. The summit features a day of inspiring content, followed by a creative black\-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation. ##### ABOUT CHARIOT Chariot offers a payment solution that integrates DAFs into donation forms for nonprofit organizations. This service simplifies the donation process, allowing donors to give quickly and efficiently while enhancing the fundraising capabilities of nonprofits. Learn more at [**givechariot.com**](http://givechariot.com)[**.**](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4325939-1&h=3079083275&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgivechariot.com%2F&a=givechariot.com) ##### ABOUT FAST COMPANY *Fast Company*is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City,*Fast Company *is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication*Inc.*For more information, please visit [**fastcompany.com**](http://fastcompany.com). --- ## Top 12 Takeaways from Fidelity Charitable's 2025 Giving Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-12-takeaways-from-the-2025-fidelity-charitable-giving-report - Published: 2025-03-11 > Fidelity Charitable—the largest Donor-Advised Fund provider in the world—recently released its 2025 Giving Report, offering a... Fidelity Charitable—the largest Donor\-Advised Fund provider in the world—recently released its [2025 Giving Report](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html), offering a comprehensive look at the 2024 giving trends and key performance data among Fidelity Charitable DAF holders. With unmatched scale in DAF assets, grants, and accounts, Fidelity Charitable’s data provides a valuable snapshot of how donors are using DAFs to support nonprofits. We’ve broken down the biggest insights, year\-over\-year changes, and new trends you should know—here’s what stood out: 1. Total distribution volume grew by an impressive 25%, while the number of grants grew by 12% Fidelity Charitable reached a record\-breaking $14.9 billion in grants, marking a 25% year\-over\-year increase and reinforcing its upward trajectory. The remarkable growth of an entity of this size highlights the thriving state of the DAF industry and its continued rise. These numbers also align with broader market trends in 2024. Schwab reported that the [S&P 500](https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/it-was-very-good-year) saw a 23% increase, and both the [Nasdaq](https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/it-was-very-good-year) and [Nasdaq 100](https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/it-was-very-good-year) rose nearly 29% and 25%, respectively. The number of individual grants increased by 12% from 2023, indicating that in 2024, donors not only made larger gifts but also supported nonprofits more frequently. 1. Number of accounts and donors sees a steady increase The number of Fidelity Charitable Donor Advised Fund accounts and donors continued to rise, increasing by 10% and 9%, respectively—both showing stronger growth [than in 2023](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report). Accounts grew to 217,402, up from 197,834 in 2023, while the number of donors reached 352,052, up from 322,139 the previous year. It's important to note that the number of donors and accounts are not the same, as multiple individuals are often associated with a single Donor Advised Fund \(1.6 individuals per account on average\). Over the past decade, the number of Fidelity Charitable donors has more than doubled. 1. Grant distribution to a wider range of nonprofits In 2024, Fidelity Charitable disbursed grants to over 213,000 unique nonprofits, a 7% increase from the previous year. This included nearly $50M in grants to support Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton relief efforts—challenging the common misconception that Donor Advised Funds are not used for emergency fundraising. Since its inception, Fidelity Charitable has directed grants to nearly a third of all U.S. nonprofits, totaling more than 433,000 organizations. 1. Grants are disbursed “steadily” and “continuously” 74% of contributions to Fidelity Charitable Donor Advised Funds are distributed to nonprofits within five years. This challenges the critique that DAFs simply hold funds without directing them to charitable causes, instead supporting the idea that DAFs are a tool to organize and maximize giving, rather than to withhold support from nonprofits. 1. DAFs serve a broad range of donor types The median Donor Advised Fund account balance of $23,534 grew by 10% year over year. 51% of total account balances are under $25K and only 11% exceed $250K. While high\-net\-worth donors are the most likely to have a DAF on a relative basis, the majority of DAF donors are what most nonprofits would consider “mid\-level” or “sustainer” level donors. 1. Only 5% of DAF gifts were made anonymously Only 5% of Fidelity Charitable grants were anonymous, countering the common misconception that all, or even most, DAF gifts lack donor transparency. 80% of gifts included the donor’s full name and mailing address, while 15% only included a fund name \(which can be difficult to match to a specific person\) Tools like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot’s express\-checkout for DAF giving, automatically prompt a donor to provide their name and email so that every DAF gift can be matched to a specific individual, immediately. 1. Corporate DAF activity sees a surge For the second year, Fidelity Charitable has reported corporate grant activity—and the numbers are striking. In 2024, corporate grants through Fidelity DAFs surged by over 75%, reaching $525 million compared to $237 million in 2023. This significant growth underscores the expanding role of DAFs in corporate philanthropy, as more businesses use DAFs to maximize their charitable giving and introduce initiatives like Employe Benefit DAFs. 1. Crypto donations increase by over 14x Donations of cryptocurrency to Fidelity Charitable DAFs skyrocketed, increasing by 14x—or 177%—compared to 2023. Crypto contributions played a significant role in the broader trend of non\-cash giving, which made up 67% of all contributions to Fidelity Charitable DAFs last year. Contributing non\-cash assets to a DAF, like cryptocurrency or publicly traded securities, allows donors to eliminate capital gains taxes on the appreciation of these assets, enabling them to donate more than if they sold the assets and donated the proceeds. It also makes for a streamlined experience for nonprofits, when a donor can contribute non\-cash assets once to their DAF and then make cash grants to lots of different organizations easily with their DAF account. That way, no organizations have to deal with accepting and liquidating crypto, stocks, etc. 1. Nearly 80% of DAF grants in 2024 went to organizations that donors had supported in the past In 2024, nearly 80% of DAF grants were directed to organizations that donors had previously supported, continuing a consistent trend from 2023. More than half of these contributions \(54%\) were made to nonprofits within a donor’s home state. This trend highlights an important fact about DAF donors–they are intentional and strategic philanthropists who structure their giving to consistently support the causes they care about most. Their commitment to long\-term giving and dedication to specific organizations demonstrates the strong relationship they maintain with their chosen causes. 1. DAF investment growth generates $29.9 billion for charitable organizations One of the most compelling factors of Donor Advised Funds is their ability to grow funds pre\-committed to philanthropy through investment, amplifying the impact of each contribution. Since Fidelity Charitable began investing donors’ giving assets, it has generated nearly $30 billion in additional funds for charitable causes–a true testament to how DAFs are a tool for maximizing philanthropic impact. 1. Average grant size increased by 15% The average grant size through Fidelity Charitable increased by 15%, rising to $5,422 from $4,625. This shift follows a slight dip in 2023, suggesting that donors are regaining confidence in the economy and are now more willing to make larger, impactful gifts. 1. Average number of grants per donor increased slightly, rising to 12.3 The average number of grants per donor saw a slight increase, reaching 12.3. This marks a 4% rise, up from 11.8 in the previous year. ### Do you want to make it easier for the 350,000 Fidelity DAF donors to support your organization? [Check out how DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) enables 3\-click DAF giving from DAFs like Fidelity, directly on your organization’s own website or donation form. --- ## New & Expanded Chariot Nonprofit Advisory Council for 2025 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/new-expanded-chariot-nonprofit-advisory-council-for-2025 - Published: 2025-03-11 > 16 leading DAF fundraisers that collectively raise over $6 billion annually come together to partner on Chariot’s mission... ### 16 leading DAF fundraisers that collectively raise over $6 billion annually come together to partner on Chariot’s mission to accelerate Donor Advised Fund usage. We are thrilled to announce a significant expansion of our [Nonprofit Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council), which plays a critical role in our product development and educational efforts. We have doubled the size of our council for 2025, with 8 new members joining our 8 existing members. The organizations represented in our council raise roughly $6.2 billion in contributions annually. > “It is exciting to be a part of helping to create more efficiency, effectiveness, and awareness around DAFs, in an effort to unlock greater potential within philanthropy that will ultimately help to FUEL greater impact among hundreds of important missions across the country and world.” While these leaders come from a wide variety of nonprofit subsectors, specific roles and organization sizes, they all have one important thing in common: they are championing DAF fundraising. Historically, most nonprofits have had a passive approach to DAF fundraising: watching an increasing number of gifts arrive from various DAF providers, but not taking any intentional steps to solicit more of this support or manage this gift type differently. That is all quickly changing, as the rapid rise in DAF giving \(up 6x in the past 10 years, according to [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report)\) has prompted more fundraisers to examine how their organization can make the most of this seismic shift in philanthropy. > “I’m excited to be involved with Chariot because they are transforming the way we engage with DAF donors—making giving more seamless, impactful, and accessible.” In 2024, members of Chariot’s Nonprofit Advisory Council played a significant role in expanding the presence of DAFpay, improving Chariot’s technology and developing new solutions for DAF giving \(which will be launched later this year\). > “Tech is used in nearly everything we do, and I'm excited to work with Chariot to make it easier for donors to initiate gifts and for non-profits to be prepared to plan and thank their donors.” Our members also took a leading role in capacity building for DAF fundraising across the sector via dozens of webinars, podcasts and conference presentations. Check our [past webinars](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) to hear many of our councilmembers’ best tips on DAF fundraising. You’ll also get to hear many of the leaders on our council in upcoming sessions like: - [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/), Susan G. Komen, on [The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s DAF webinar](https://store.philanthropy.com/products/actionable-insights-into-daf-donors) on March 20th. - [Meghan Lee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmle/), ACLU, and [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), The Public Theater, on [Chariot’s DAFs in Direct Response Webinar](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) on March 26th. - [Jay Jump](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-jump/), American Cancer Society presenting on Digital DAF Fundraising Strategies at the [Nonprofit Technology Conference](https://www.nten.org/gather/ntc/registration) in Baltimore on April 16 - At the [Bridge Conference](https://2025bridge.eventscribe.net/) in National Harbor Maryland, July 30 \- August 1, you can hear from: - - [Art Weinkofsky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/artweinkofsky/), Central Park Conservancy, presenting on modernizing DAF gift processing - [Wendy Vizek](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-folk-vizek-7284342/), Alzheimer’s Association, presenting on how to unlock the DAF opportunity in peer\-to\-peer fundraising - [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/), March of Dimes, and Jay Jump, American Cancer Society, presenting on how to integrate DAF strategies across the entire development effort for an organization. > “Through our work with Chariot, I’m excited to help donors realize the promise and impact of their DAFs, especially at this critical moment” Advisory council members also play a critical role in our initiatives for the sector, such as the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) and [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/). They have helped us create, launch and improve these efforts that elevate our understanding of DAF giving and create new opportunities for DAF donor engagement. Please join us welcoming our new and returning members and thank them for the effort they put into these volunteer roles that help spur more DAF usage across the sector. ##### For more updates, follow [Chariot's LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/81557156/) and subscribe to our [Newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/). --- ## Integrating DAFs into Peer-to-Peer & Event Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/integrating-dafs-into-peer-to-peer-event-fundraising - Published: 2025-03-07 > Peer-to-Peer and Event fundraising are the most common instances where DAF donors don’t use their DAF - and therefore the biggest opportunity to unlock increased giving. Whether because of added steps, confusion about eligibility or just forgetting about their DAF in a moment of inspired giving, DAFs have been left out of these fundraising channels for too long! As DAFs become even more prominent in philanthropy – Fidelity Charitable’s 2025 report shows a 25% year-over-year increase in DAF givin Peer\-to\-Peer and Event fundraising are the most common instances where DAF donors don’t use their DAF \- and therefore the biggest opportunity to unlock increased giving. Whether because of added steps, confusion about eligibility or just forgetting about their DAF in a moment of inspired giving, DAFs have been left out of these fundraising channels for too long\! As DAFs become even more prominent in philanthropy – Fidelity Charitable’s 2025 report shows a [25% year\-over\-year increase](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) in DAF giving among their account holders – it’s time for nonprofits to shift their mindset and focus on integrating Donor Advised Fund giving across their entire fundraising strategies. There’s [over $250 billion already committed](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) to giving in these accounts. This week, [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), Head of Strategy at Chariot, and [Emily Delp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-delp-47294a139/), Gift Processing Manager at [Pelotonia](https://www.pelotonia.org/), hosted a webinar discussing DAFs in the Peer\-to\-Peer and Events landscape. Emily shared what she’s learned as a seasoned fundraiser and data\-management expert. Read on for the top strategies: 1. Educate and Engage with Your Community The first step to integrating DAF giving into your Peer\-to\-Peer and Events campaigns is educating your team, your board, your participants and your donors on how DAFs can be used in these contexts. Put information on DAF giving across all your communication channels—your website, emails, mailers, and even one\-on\-one donor conversations. Your messaging should offer clear, step\-by\-step instructions on what a DAF is, how they work and where donors can give with their DAFs. This includes prominently displaying your organization’s EIN and full legal name on your website. \(Check out [Pelotonia](https://www.pelotonia.org/get-involved/give/donor-advised-fund)’s site for a great example.\) It's also critical to proactively address common misconceptions that might stop donors from using their DAFs—like the idea that DAFs can't be used for event\-related gifts or that DAFs take too long to process. When your donors understand how and when they can give with their DAF, you'll unlock more opportunities to bring in these valuable gifts. ##### Here’s how to reframe these common DAF misconceptions: 1. The Restriction Myth : DAFs and Event Gifts DAF gifts have certain restrictions. They can’t be donated in exchange for anything that provides a benefit to the donor, like a registration fee, a gala table, a ticket, or a membership non\-tax deductible. They also can’t be used to commit to a legally binding pledge. These limitations have led many to avoid using DAFs in Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns or at Events altogether — but this doesn’t have to be the case. Though DAF gifts can’t be made for purchases, folks can still make general donations with their DAF at an event, the same way they would donate with a credit card, cash, or check. And while DAF gifts can’t be used to commit to a legally binding multi\-year pledge, donors *can *recommend a grant from their DAF in response to a pledge request. To provide even more clarity to donors on when and where you can accept DAF gifts, check out our recommendations in this [Gift Acceptance Policy template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy). 1. Delayed Recognition: The Wait for DAF Gifts Before new DAF technology, it could take weeks \- or even months \- for nonprofits to even know that a donor had contributed with their DAF. This delay made it impossible to include DAF gifts in any time\-sensitive campaigns, which Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns typically are. Many DAF donors are still conditioned to use their credit card on these campaign pages so they can quickly contribute and see their gift included in the total right away. The problem is that these gifts tend to be much smaller than if they could use their DAF. With [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), the express\-payout DAF payment option developed by Chariot, nonprofits can instantly capture and record DAF gift data in real time. This allows nonprofits to properly direct a gift to its intended event page or crowd funder, right when the gift is made, without any delay. 1. Recognize That DAF Donors Can Be Anyone While it's true that many high net worth individuals use DAFs, the landscape of DAF giving has shifted significantly. As DAF accounts become more commonplace, more donors across income levels are opening DAFs to streamline their charitable giving. While these donors might not all have similar income levels, they do all have something else in common: a deep commitment to philanthropy. Whether a donor is giving through a DAF for the first time or has been using one for years, their decision to give this way signals that they think intentionally about their charitable impact. That makes them exactly the kind of donor your organization wants to cultivate for long\-term support. DAF donors can enter your ecosystem through a single Peer\-to\-Peer gift or event donation — and with the right stewardship, they can become loyal, recurring supporters. By acknowledging their generosity, educating them on how they can continue giving through their DAF, and showing the impact of their gift, you're laying the groundwork for a lasting donor relationship. 1. Leverage New Technology to Optimize DAF Giving The best way to engage every potential DAF donor is by putting DAF giving front and center in your giving experiences and making the giving process as simple as possible. [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), developed by Chariot, is the only DAF payment option and it embeds intuitive, express DAF giving into your donation forms. It also instantly captures gift information, allowing your donors to use their DAF in time\-sensitive fundraising efforts, like Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns. And DAFpay goes beyond just simplifying DAF giving for donors — it streamlines operations for Gift Processing Managers. Historically, DAF gifts arrived with little to no donor information, forcing fundraisers to manually track down details like names, emails, gift dates and the intended participant’s page. With DAFpay, this critical donor information is automatically captured and synced, eliminating guesswork, time\-spent searching for details and unlocking a new level of data transparency. With immediate insight on DAF gifts, your organization and your participants can seamlessly steward DAF donors. You can also leverage this new data for more strategic, impactful campaigns. “On our website, DAFpay automatically links to a participant or team. So, as a Gift Processor, when I receive that money I can easily apply that gift…it makes it so there’s no confusion at all.” As a bonus – when DAFpay appears on your checkout flow, it acts as a built\-in educational tool for your donors. Any donor who goes through your donation flow is automatically alerted to the fact that they can give to your organization with a DAF. "People are going through that donation process as is, and it’s amazing for them to see that option already.” 1. Use Fundraising Data to Your Advantage Data isn’t just something to collect — it’s a powerful tool to refine your fundraising process. As Emily shared, analyzing donor behavior has helped her team iterate on what’s already working. After noticing the popularity of Peer\-to\-Peer events, they expanded their programming to include an additional walk/run and bike ride — keeping their community engaged year\-round. “We’re always trying to change it up to keep the community engaged.” The same mindset applies to DAF donors. Take the extra time to uncover DAF donor data, either by integrating DAFpay or by taking other steps, like cross\-referencing fund names with donor records or checking with colleagues to see if they recognize a gift\-source. Once you’ve identified your DAF donors, file them accordingly — they may be great candidates for major gift cultivation or respond to different messaging. The more you know, the more robust your strategy can be. "We’ve really turned towards data over the past year in order to make educated decisions and optimize our outreach.” Get more DAF donor insights [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). 1. Work Closely With Your Major Gifts Team Building cross\-team alignment can unlock new fundraising opportunities — especially when it comes to DAF donors. At Pelotonia, the events, gift processing and major gifts teams meet bi\-weekly to review incoming gifts, focusing specifically on DAF contributions. This regular touchpoint makes it easier to track every gift, avoid duplicate records, and ensure proper stewardship. “We meet on a regular basis with the Major Gifts team…when it comes to DAF gifts, coming in and acknowledging those gifts in a special way is crucial.” These meetings also create a natural opportunity to move donors between giving pipelines. A donor who first engages through a Peer\-to\-Peer campaign or Gala may have the capacity for larger gifts — especially if they're giving through a DAF. By collaborating with the Major Gifts team, fundraisers can identify high\-potential donors early and provide personalized outreach that encourages deeper engagement. Breaking down silos between teams helps create a more holistic donor journey, ensuring that no giving opportunity falls through the cracks. 1. Maximize Corporate Partnerships Corporate partnerships can be a game\-changer in fundraising. Emily shared how Pelotonia has leveraged corporate support by having companies pay for registration fees for riders that join with that company’s team for their bike rides. This structure fosters a sense of camaraderie amongst riders, removes the cost burden for participants and elevates the company’s brand. While many are familiar with employee gift matching programs, it’s less widely known that some corporations will even match DAF gifts made by their employees. Make sure your nonprofit is reminding folks that make DAF gifts to check if it can be matched by their employer. #### [Register for our next webinar](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) – coming on Wednesday, March 26th at 12PM ET\! Join Mitch Stein and the ACLU’s Meghan Lee to discuss DAFs \+ Direct Response, Membership & Mid\-Level Giving. --- ## A Donor's Guide to DAFs - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/a-donor-s-guide-to-dafs - Published: 2025-03-04 > Download Our One-Pager - A Donor's Guide to DAFs DAF giving is one of the fastest\-growing channels in philanthropy—and for good reason. DAFs are an incredible tool for donors who approach their giving with intention, helping them stay organized and maximize their charitable dollars. Nonprofits can also unlock more giving by engaging DAF donors. On average, DAF donors give gifts that are [19x larger](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) than non\-DAF gifts. In 2023 alone, the average DAF gift was [$4,600](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2024-giving-report.pdf). DAF donors also have a retention rate that is [15% higher](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2024-giving-report.pdf) than non\-DAF donors. Despite these benefits, opening and using a DAF can feel intimidating for many donors. The process may seem complex or overwhelming, leaving donors unsure that the process is worth it. To help nonprofits empower their supporters, Chariot has created a**Donor’s Guide to Giving with a DAF**—a one\-pager designed to break down the advantages of DAF giving and provide clear, actionable steps for making impactful gifts. The guide covers key benefits like tax advantages, investment growth, and ease of use, along with practical tips to ensure donations reach nonprofits quickly and efficiently. By sharing this resource with your donors, you can demystify DAFs, increase awareness, and help your donors get the most out of their giving. [Download the One\-Pager Here](https://www.givechariot.com/why-dafs-one-pager) Looking to make DAF giving even easier for your donors? Learn more about how**DAFpay**can streamline the giving process and boost your fundraising efforts [here](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay). --- ## A Guide to Incorporating DAFs into Your Major Gifts & Planned Giving Fundraising Strategies - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/a-guide-to-incorporating-dafs-into-your-major-gifts-planned-giving-fundraising-strategies - Published: 2025-02-14 > Major Gifts and Planned Giving are essential pillars of nonprofit fundraising, providing sustained support and deepening donor... Major Gifts and Planned Giving are essential pillars of nonprofit fundraising, providing sustained support and deepening donor relationships. Since DAF donors typically skew more affluent, the oversight of DAF fundraising often lands with staff focused on Major Gifts or Planned Giving. And yet, many professionals in these areas have yet to fully integrate DAF gifts into their broader fundraising strategy. Instead, they treat DAFs as an “extra” set of gifts that happen almost by chance. As DAF giving grows in popularity–with assets set aside for giving in DAFs now exceeding [$250 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/), and grants surpassing [$54 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in 2023 alone–nonprofits need to think about proactive DAF strategies across their fundraising team, but especially in their Major and Planned giving efforts. This week, three seasoned fundraising leaders— [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/) \(VP of Major Gifts & Panned Giving Susan G. Komen\), [Sharon Bean](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-bean-cfre-54291b4a/) \(Senior Director of Planned Giving at International Rescue Committee\), and [Shirley Nagar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleynagar/) \(Director of Planned Giving at The Michael J. Fox Foundation\)— joined Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) to tackle this challenge. They shared how nonprofits can better integrate DAFs into their fundraising strategies, ensuring these funds become a bigger, more reliable piece of the giving puzzle. In this recap, we’ll break down their insights and offer practical tips to help you maximize DAFs within your Major gifts and Planned Giving programs. Read on for: 1. Major Gifts and Planned Giving: Definitions and Insights 2. Where DAFs fit into Major Gifts and Planned Giving 3. Strategies to Elevate DAF Giving in Major Gifts and Planned Giving ## Major Gifts and Planned Giving: Definitions and Best Practices **Major gifts**: Significant donations that have a substantial impact on an organization, often cultivated through personalized relationships with donors. **Planned Giving**: Contributions arranged in advance, typically as part of a donor’s financial or estate planning, such as bequests, trusts, or pledged gifts of assets. #### Best Practices from Seasoned Professionals 1. Always Consider the Full Donor JourneyDonors don’t always start as major contributors; relationships evolve over time. By engaging with donors at every stage—whether they’re giving a little or a lot—you build trust and pave the way for deeper, more impactful involvement in the future. When your whole team is focused on learning from donors in this full journey, everyone will be able to identify the best opportunities for 1x1 relationship building and long\-term planning. 2. Integrate Your Entire Fundraising StrategyThere’s no such thing as an isolated section in fundraising. All elements of your organization’s fundraising should come together in a comprehensive, unified strategy. It’s important for everyone on your team \- from Major Gifts, to Sustainer Programs, to Gift Processing \- to approach fundraising with this mindset. All fundraising efforts work in harmony to support one another. “Major Gifts and planned giving succeed when they’re integrated into a comprehensive donor strategy” – Shirley 1. Encourage a Variety of Revenue SourcesEconomic shifts and changes in government funding highlight the need for diverse revenue streams. With the future of federal funding being so uncertain, many organizations are leaning into the variety of ways that individuals can support. Learn for yourself why and how donors can contribute through methods beyond just credit cards or checks. Exploring options like DAFs, stocks, and QCDs not only broadens your fundraising potential but also meets donors where they are, offering more flexible and tax\-efficient ways to give. 2. Lead with Your MissionEspecially in times of uncertainty, donors look to nonprofits to help address huge challenges. As you engage with your donors, always lead with your mission. Focus on the shared goal of creating positive change and emphasize the impact their support can have. By grounding these conversations in a strong connection to your cause, you’ll help give your donors the purpose they are really seeking with their philanthropy. “We don’t necessarily need to talk about all the technicalities all the time. We need to bring the mission.” – Sharon ## Where DAFs Fit into Major and Planned Giving DAFs have experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Over the past five years, both assets held in DAFs and the annual grants distributed have roughly doubled. In 2023 alone, assets grew [by 10%](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report), signaling a strong trajectory for continued expansion. While DAF donations tend to be larger, DAF donors give gifts of all sizes. Among gifts made via [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising), the express\-checkout DAF payment tool from Chariot, the average gift size is $1,000 and the median gift size is $220, showcasing this range. When a donor makes a gift with a DAF, it reflects more than just a gift: 1. It communicates their seriousness about philanthropy.Using a DAF shows that the donor is not just giving casually, they are taking a more thoughtful, long\-term approach to their philanthropy. The structure of DAFs encourages donors to plan their giving and engage with causes in a deeper, more intentional way, highlighting their serious commitment to making a meaningful impact. “All of our donors, especially DAF donors, are very smart and savvy. They know what’s happening in the world and they’re really thinking about their philanthropy.” – Sharon 1. It highlights their potential giving capacity:In 2023, the average DAF account size was [$141,120](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/). Even if a donor’s first DAF gift is small, the fact that they have established a DAF indicates a significant potential for larger contributions in the future. Holding a DAF account often reflects a donor's financial capability and intention to give strategically, signaling the potential for higher\-level gifts, including Major and Planned Giving. 2. DAF donors can designate beneficiaries for their funds, creating a perfect opportunity for planned giving.Many DAF donors don’t realize that they need to designate a beneficiary for their DAF. This is an important step for long\-term planning and ensuring that their charitable intentions are carried out after their passing. Be sure to bring this up with your donors and encourage them to update their DAF beneficiary details. Dig a layer deeper into how their DAFs play into their estate plans. Sharon said that even if a donor says they’ve named their kids, she always asks about the alignment between the cause areas the donor supports compared with their children. Sometimes it opens their eyes to the opportunity to name a nonprofit they personally care about as an additional beneficiary. “I want to double underline how many donors might not realize that they have the opportunity to name a beneficiary in their DAF account. It is typically not a standard part of their onboarding.” – Mitch ## Strategies to Elevate DAF Giving in Major Gifts and Planned Giving ##### 1. Educate Your Entire Team - DAF gifts shouldn’t be siloed within one part of your organization. They should be integrated into your broader donor engagement strategy, ensuring that all teams are aligned and working together to maximize DAF giving and cultivate long\-term relationships with DAF donors. - - It’s essential that everyone on your fundraising team understands the value of DAF donors. When a donor contributes via DAF—even if it is at an event or during a peer\-to\-peer campaign—it’s important that your entire team knows to flag that donor for the Major Gifts and Planned Giving teams. These gifts often signal the potential for larger contributions in the future, and those teams should be aware of these opportunities. - Be your organization’s DAF Champion. Take the lead in promoting understanding and collaboration around DAFs. Host internal trainings to educate your team about the nuances of DAF giving, and share real\-life donor stories to inspire engagement and demonstrate the impact. - Identifying DAF donors can be challenging, as these donors may not provide full information when designating a grant. However, it’s important to make an effort to track these gifts as best as possible to ensure effective stewardship. Here’s a c[omprehensive guide to DAF donor stewardship](https://www.givechariot.com/post/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey). ##### 2. Follow Your Donors’ Lead - Donors are proud of their DAFs–they show forethought, organization, and a commitment to lifelong philanthropy. Often, they*want*to share how they use them for charitable giving. When a donor brings up their DAF, lean into these conversations and use it as an opportunity to highlight the advantages of DAFs as a giving tool. This can deepen your connection and open the door for more substantial gifts in the future. - - [In times of economic uncertainty](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-donor-advised-funds-matter-more-than-ever-during-a-recession), DAF holders are proven to still increase their giving while other giving vehicles decline. Since donors don’t need to give directly from their pocketbooks, they can continue contributing to causes they care about without impacting their immediate finances. - Similarly, if you’re speaking with a donor and they mention challenges with giving—whether it’s a preference for non\-cash donations or logistical hurdles—bring up the possibility of opening a DAF. - - While fundraisers are not financial advisors, it is possible to bring up DAFs without offering financial advice. In the session, Trish shared an example of a donor who frequently makes stock gifts but found the process cumbersome. The donor also supports several organizations, prompting Trish to suggest exploring a Donor Advised Fund. That way they could contribute stock in one place, then recommend grants to all the nonprofits they want to support \- which are sent in the form of cash. The DAFs are set up to easily receive and liquidate stock. The donor had never heard of DAFs, and Trish was able to clearly explain these benefits, addressing the donor's specific challenges and needs. “I simply asked: ‘Have you considered a donor advised fund? Their response: ‘What’s a donor advised fund? It was a perfect opportunity to explain the benefits.” – Trish - Talking to your donors about DAFs gives you a way to learn about them and potentially teach them about something useful, which is a nice change from just making an ask for a donation. Here are a few suggestions to help with those conversations: - - Provide a point of contact on your website if they have questions about DAFs \(like [Trish does for Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/)\) - Add a donor story to your website or materials that demonstrates the value other supporters get from having a DAF \(like [Shirley’s team does for Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds)\) - Dig a layer deeper into how their DAFs play into their estate plans. Sharon said that even if a donor says they’ve named their kids, she always asks about the alignment between the cause areas the donor supports compared with their children. Sometimes it opens their eyes to the opportunity to name a nonprofit they personally care about as an additional beneficiary. 1. Make DAF Giving Accessible to As Many Donors as Possible - The easiest way to increase DAF donations is by making the process simpler and more accessible. Donors often find giving via DAF confusing, as it involves multiple steps and different portals. Especially if a DAF donor is newer or less connected to your organization, they are less likely to take all those extra steps and more [likely to give with a credit card](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) \(leaving you with a smaller donation and no knowledge of the fact they have a DAF\!\) By streamlining this process, you can help engage more donors. Here are a few ways to reduce these barriers: - Simply the giving process with DAFpay - - Consider using Chariot’s express\-checkout DAF payments option, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/), which allows donors to initiate DAF grants with just 3 clicks without leaving your website or donation form. This streamlines the process, removing friction and encouraging more, larger DAF donations. - - Check if [your current fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations) already integrates with Chariot to make the process even easier. - DAFpay also allows you to instantly capture a donor’s name and email, helping you to engage in effective stewardship and build lasting relationships. “I really see DAFS as a gateway to deeper conversations about a donor's vision for their philanthropy.” – Shirley - Deliver messaging about DAFs to your entire donor base - - Don’t limit your outreach to just major donors or previous DAF users. To unlock new major gifts, you need to educate your entire donor base on the benefits of DAFs. By expanding your messaging, you’ll increase awareness and make DAF giving an accessible option for more people. According to [the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), once donors give via DAF, their annual contributions to the same nonprofit rise by 96% on average. - Join [DAF Day 2025](https://www.dafday.com/)– a new kind of giving day dedicated to Donor Advised Funds. Use this opportunity to generate widespread awareness and excitement around DAFs. “DAF Day was the first time we actively marketed to our full donor base about Donor Advised Funds – and it was a huge success.” – Trish **Bonus Tip:**As a fundraiser, consider opening your own DAF to gain firsthand experience with the giving process. All three of this session’s speakers now have one\! This will deepen your understanding and make you better equipped to guide donors through their own giving journeys. [Here’s a resource](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf) packed with reasons to open your own DAF, as well as popular accessible options. 1. Engage with the DAF community - Build relationships with DAF sponsoring organization and community foundations - - By fostering these relationships, you gain insight into trends, best practices, and opportunities to engage DAF donors more effectively. - Collaborate with financial advisors - - Financial advisors are often the go\-to professionals for guiding donors through charitable giving decisions, including the use of DAFs. Building relationships with financial advisors can be incredibly beneficial. Consider co\-creating resources or educational downloads that highlight the advantages of DAFs, making it easier for advisors to share this information with their clients. By working together, you can increase awareness of DAFs and their potential to support your organization’s mission. ### [Don’t miss the next installment of Role\-Specific DAF Strategies](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) on Wednesday, March 5th at 12 PM ET featuring Emily Delp from Pelotonia and covering DAFs \+ Peer\-to\-Peer & Events. --- ## DAF Gift Processing: Why It Matters & How to Get It Right - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-gift-processing-why-it-matters-how-to-get-it-right - Published: 2025-01-30 > Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) giving growth is drastically outpacing other forms of giving for nonprofit fundraisers... Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving growth is drastically outpacing other forms of giving for nonprofit fundraisers. In the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), participants saw a median 4 year growth rate in Non\-DAF giving of [1%](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), while the median DAF giving growth rate was [214%](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) over the same time period. And signs show that this isn’t slowing down \- Chariot conducted a poll of 100\+ webinar participants and over 80% saw DAF giving growth in 2024 as well. This week, Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) and K2D Strategy’s [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) hosted a webinar on arguably the most critical element of a nonprofit’s DAF strategy: DAFs and Gift Processing. DAFs are a type of “indirect” or “offline” gift, meaning they pass through a third party on their way from the donor to the nonprofit. Because of this, gift processors interact with every DAF gift and are responsible for all data entry related to this gift type. In 2024, Mitch and Karin led the [first ever DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), a study focused on analyzing nonprofit DAF data. Here are their two biggest takeaways: 1. DAF donors are critical to nonprofit success. They are deeply engaged in their personal philanthropy, displaying significantly higher loyalty, frequency and size of gifts. \(Read [this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) to learn more about characteristics of DAF donors.\) 2. Nonprofits face challenges understanding the DAF industry and mastering DAF data. \(We are currently accepting [applications for the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-report-interest-form) – see more details at the bottom of this post\!\) Without proper data tracking, there is no DAF strategy. For any nonprofit that is looking to grow their DAF fundraising, the place you have to start is with Gift Processing \- that includes your database admins, development operations, finance, and prospect research. Mitch put it succinctly: “DAF strategy all comes down to gift processing – it underlies everything.” “DAF strategy all comes down to gift processing – it underlies everything.” In the session, Mitch and Karin discussed the four biggest hurdles to effective DAF gift processing and some of their best solutions: 1. Inadequate Stewardship 2. Lackluster Analysis 3. Sweeping Attribution 4. Complex Guidelines ### Inadequate Stewardship Despite the importance of DAF donors, the extra steps required to identify them often leaves them overlooked. Many organizations have also been misinformed about the best practices and requirements around DAFs. Here are two most common issues that arise: 1. Nonprofits often fail to code DAF gifts as contributions made by individuals. Instead, they record the DAF provider that dispensed the funds, like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable / DAFGiving360. As a result, individual donors go unrecognized and fall through the cracks. 2. Organizations have limited visibility into DAF donor identities, as most DAF providers don’t share a donor's name or contact information. Instead, they provide the fund name, which can range from descriptive \(e.g., Mitch Stein’s Fund\) to vague \(e.g., The Puppies & Kittens Fund\), making it difficult for nonprofits to connect with the donor. ##### Solutions: - Gift processors should create both a hard and soft credit for all DAF gifts where possible. The hard credit should go to the DAF provider, like Fidelity Charitable, and the soft credit should go to the individual donor. If it’s a peer\-to\-peer fundraising setting, there can also be “soft\-soft” credits for the participant fundraiser. - Take proactive steps to uncover the identities of your DAF donors where more digging may be required. Check in with teammates if they were expecting a gift, or try to match the address or fund name with other records in your database if the individual name isn’t provided. - If there’s no way to identify a donor, you can always send their thank you to the DAF Provider and request for it to be passed on. Most DAF Providers, especially smaller or community focused ones, will offer some help here if the thank you is personalized in some way and not just a standard form email. - [See if your fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), Chariot’s DAF payment solution, which automatically captures donor names and emails. ### Lackluster Analysis Rather than being treated as a unique category, DAF gifts are often processed the same way as other “offline” or “indirect” gifts, like QCDs, payroll giving, corporate matching, etc.This makes it impossible to analyze your DAF giving data, assess effectiveness of different fundraising strategies and iterate on your work. ##### Solutions: - Implement a yes/no tag for DAF gifts in your CRM to enable tailored workflows and reporting. - Only mark DAF gifts as anonymous if there’s truly no identifying information whatsoever, and make sure you can separate out anonymous gifts in your database. A “yes/no” flag for anonymous works well for this capability. - Only bucket true DAF Providers that individuals hold accounts at and recommend grants from in this group, not other entities that use the legal DAF structure to send gifts \(like Backbaud Giving Fund or Benevity\). - Follow a standard naming convention for DAF providers so that all gifts from a specific provider can be pulled into the same search. Utilize Chariot’s [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) for a comprehensive list. - Top Tip: If you’re struggling to differentiate QCDs from DAFs, remember that QCDs are sent out of 401k accounts held at financial brokerage firms, where DAFs are always held by a charitable entity. So the name of the institution will be Fidelity Charitable for a DAF and just Fidelity for a QCD, for example. ### Sweeping Attribution Many nonprofits automatically classify DAF gifts as “major gifts.” This leads to two primary issues: 1. Many DAF gifts don’t originate from the major gifts pipeline. Instead, they come from broader fundraising efforts like direct mail campaigns, peer\-to\-peer fundraising, or event participation. Misclassifying these gifts as major gifts skews your organization’s understanding of donor engagement and weakens your overall fundraising strategy. 2. When DAF gifts are exclusively credited to the major gifts team, it can create silos within your organization. Other teams—such as annual giving, events, or digital fundraising—may feel less motivated to promote DAFs as a giving option, even though they play a critical role in inspiring these gifts. ##### Solution: - Track the source of DAF gifts just like you would any other gift, and attribute them to the appropriate campaign or effort. ### Complex Guidelines When it comes to DAF gifts, nonprofits must navigate two key sets of legal guidelines to ensure compliance: 1. DAF Restrictions 2. 1. DAFs come with specific rules that nonprofits must follow. For example, DAF gifts cannot be made in exchange for any material good, like a gala table. While turning down a gift from a donor might be uncomfortable, it’s crucial to abide by these restrictions in order to preserve your organization’s tax status. 3. Receipting Rules 4. 1. Nonprofits should not send tax receipts for DAF gifts to the individual donor. Since the DAF provider \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) is the entity disbursing the funds, they are responsible for issuing tax documentation. Sending a tax receipt to the donor could create confusion or legal complications. 2. You do still want to send the individual donor a thank you \- it is a very common DAF donor complaint that they don’t hear anything from the nonprofit after making their gift. 3. You do not need to send a thank you to the DAF Provider \- they do not review these documents, so it is a waste of your time and paper. ##### Solutions: - Download [Chariot’s Gift Acceptance Policy](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) and adapt it to fit your organization. If anyone – whether a donor or a fellow fundraiser – feels uncertain about the rules, refer to the policy’s terms. - Use the same yes/no DAF tag mentioned above to immediately flag gifts that don’t require tax receipts and trigger a unique workflow For more insights on the challenges of DAF data and how to build a comprehensive flow for optimal management, [visit our detailed guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it). ## Proactive Strategies to Optimize Gift Processing Beyond those specific tips, here are proactive strategies to optimize gift processing at your organization: 1. Leverage Technology [Check if your fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), Chariot’s DAF payment solution, which automatically captures donor names and emails, making it easier to track and acknowledge DAF gifts. \(Learn more about how to access DAFpay [in this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising) and see the power of real\-time DAF stewardship in [this case study](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) with Michael J. Fox Foundation. 1. Capture as Much Data as Possible Prioritize gathering comprehensive details about DAF gifts. Establish a system that tracks the source of a DAF gift, the donor’s intent, and any relevant campaign details to gain a clearer picture of your fundraising efforts. 1. Engage your team DAF giving shouldn’t be siloed within one department. Train your entire team—from annual giving to events—to understand how DAFs work and how to promote them as a giving option. When everyone is equipped with the right knowledge, your organization can better engage DAF donors and maximize contributions. A great way to engage your broader team is to hold periodic DAF gift review sessions monthly, when Gift Processors can flag gifts where the individual donor can’t be identified and the broader team can weigh in on any leads. 1. Participate in the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report By participating, you'll gain exclusive access to: 1. Unique Insights– The only DAF research built from nonprofits’ own data, offering an unparalleled look into DAF giving trends. 2. Expert Evaluation– Industry leaders will assess your data practices, helping you uncover opportunities for improvement. 3. Peer Benchmarking– Compare your DAF giving trends against similar organizations to better understand your performance. [Fill out the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report interest form here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)\! ##### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Announcing the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report Kick Off - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-2025-daf-fundraising-report-kick-off - Published: 2025-01-30 > Applications are open for the second edition of last year’s pioneering DAF Fundraising Report, the first-ever comparative analysis of... #### Applications are open for the second edition of last year’s pioneering DAF Fundraising Report, the first\-ever comparative analysis of nonprofits’ DAF data After a groundbreaking inaugural year, [K2D Strategies](https://k2dstrategies.com/) and Chariot are excited to announce the launch of the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report \- with enhanced research capabilities and expanded scale of analysis. #### [Join the 2025 Study\!](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-report-interest-form) Organizations can apply by submitting the interest form, with data submissions requested for review by February 28th. This article includes: \- Recap of the report origins and impact in 2024 \- Goals for 2025 \- Benefits of participating \- Requirements for participants \- Next Steps & Resources ### The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report Led by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy for Chariot, and [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/), President & Founder of K2D Strategies, the inaugural version of this study sought to fill a critical gap in the research landscape. While Donor\-Advised Funds have exploded to account for 1 in 5 dollars donated each year in the US, the only analysis available on this payment method was on data from DAF providers themselves. No one had ever attempted meaningful comparative analysis of nonprofits’ data on DAF gifts. K2D and Chariot partnered with 20 leading nonprofit organizations to answer key questions in the inaugural report: 1. How has DAF giving stack up compared to other forms of giving? 2. What does DAF donor behavior look like in comparison to non\-DAF donors? 3. What changes for a donor when they start using a DAF? With a collective dataset of over 78 million transactions and $11 billion in revenue over 5 years, the report unearthed fascinating discoveries that were only possible with this unique data. Most notably, across over 16,000 examples of donors switching to DAF giving from another payment method in prior years, increased their support of the same organization by 96% annually, on average. #### [Download the 2024 report here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) The findings were reported on by major media outlets \-[Barrons](https://www.barrons.com/articles/donors-who-give-through-dafs-tend-to-be-generous-contributors-study-finds-83f0ac8f), [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/charities-daf-donations?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-86VpnrBFyzFnpqV_GploDyP6Q7lnEEHJipXvxiYEJ-fZcQt6AZ7a95njd2FtdGxBOsS3NZw1tSDDZqKa-SLprCO-mxeg&_hsmi=2), [Chronicle of Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/gifts-from-dafs-are-nearly-10-of-all-giving-how-nonprofits-are-trying-to-court-those-donors), [The Nonprofit Times](https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/daf-donors-making-their-presence-felt/), [Candid](https://blog.candid.org/post/5-takeaways-2024-daf-donors-fundraising-report/)\- and presented to thousands of fundraisers through major conferences \- Bridge, Raise, BBCon, the DAF Giving Summit, DMAW. The results also were a foundational element of the [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) movement, the first\-ever sector\-wide giving day focused on DAFs that took place on October 10th, 2024 with 1,000\+ nonprofits involved. ### The 2025 DAF Fundraising Report We have big plans for this year’s study, including: 1. Increasing the number of participants 2. Expanding the types of organizations involved 3. Enhancing analytics to reveal more specific trends in donor type, org type, etc. This will be made possible in large part thanks to our new official data partner [AKwire](https://akwiregroup.com/), who will be leading the data management and analytics for the expanded study. Their team, led by industry veteran [Kate Hollandsworth](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-phillips-hollandsworth-0174ba7b/), brings decades of nonprofit analytics experience to this movement. We want to ensure this year’s report covers more questions, reaches more fundraisers and has a much deeper impact on the sector to level up DAF fundraising capabilities. #### Benefits of Participating As the first edition of the report made very clear, DAF giving is drastically outpacing all other forms of giving and quickly changing the revenue make up at most organizations. To ensure nonprofits don’t fall behind this trend, an intentional DAF strategy is required. This study can play a critical role in that strategy for organizations that want: 1. A free, professional analysis of their historical giving trends 2. A consultative review of DAF data tracking practices 3. An understanding of how their results compare to their peer group The DAF Fundraising Report is a completely unique opportunity in our sector that will surely pay dividends for your team. #### Requirements There are a few requirements for participation: 1. DAF gifts have to be consistently coded in your database. 2. All PII needs to be masked with unique donor IDs \(no identifying donor details should be shared\). 3. Your DAF Revenue in 2024 should be at least $250,000 and your total revenue from individual giving should be at least $1,000,000. 4. Historical giving data available for 2020 \- 2024. #### Next Steps & Resources 1. Any interested organizations should go ahead and apply as soon as possible. The 2025 interest form should take no more than a few minutes to complete. 2. After applying, you will receive more detailed instructions on data submission procedures. Please note that data submissions are requested **by Friday February 28th.** 3. If you have any questions at all, please join one of the 3 upcoming office hours with Mitch Stein: 4. 1. Wednesday February 5th at 3pm ET / 12pm PT \[[Register](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xZRCWIYuT0Oby0FJDZWSUA)\] 2. Wednesday February 12th at 3pm ET / 12pm PT \[[Register](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SQnHUDJWRYm47UkfuyDKew)\] 3. Wednesday February 19th at 3pm ET / 12pm PT \[[Register](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Oc0SZlvPQqiiq4uxrqs_Sw)\] 5. For more detailed instructions on data expectations, please reference this guide on DAF coding best practices 6. You can also download a directory of standardized DAF provider names [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) to help clean up your file. ##### About K2D K2D Strategies works exclusively with nonprofits making the world a better place with a simple approach: deliver impactful engagement and development strategies and provide extraordinary client services. K2D Strategies offers award\-winning, full\-service, data\-driven, integrated, online and offline direct response program management for nonprofits including the Center for Reproductive Rights, Save the Redwoods League, and Make\-A\-Wish America. ##### About Chariot Chariot is the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, allows donors to give with their DAF anywhere they are inspired to give online. This enables donors to use their DAF in more places, more often, and unlocks more DAF gifts with better information for nonprofits. Chariot powers direct DAF payments for many of the largest nonprofits in the country, such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. ##### About AKwire AKwire's mission is to support the nonprofit community by turning data into impact with a team of industry leaders. AKwire connects the data and key stakeholders to create a shared understanding of donor performance and potential working with teams to develop long\-term revenue forecasts with strategic investment plans, donor improvement targets, and pipeline migration that moves donors up to higher giving levels to achieve organization\-wide growth goals. #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## 5 Tips to Make Your DAFpay Launch a Success - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/5-tips-to-make-your-dafpay-launch-a-success - Published: 2025-01-23 > Congratulations on your organization’s DAFpay launch! Your supporters can now contribute with their DAF in just three clicks... Congratulations on your organization’s DAFpay launch\! Your supporters can now contribute with their DAF in just three clicks—without ever leaving your website. DAFpay will help you attract new DAF donors and increase your volume of DAF gifts. Look at the incredible impact DAFpay had on [Pan Mass Challenge’s](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study) fundraising in 2024. To make sure you have the best results from your DAFpay launch, here are 5 areas of best practice that we recommend every organization follow: 1. Optimize button placement and update your website 2. Educate your team 3. Establish a DAF workflow 4. Plan your launch strategically 5. Keep the DAF conversation going #### 1. Optimize button placement and update your website To maximize DAF gifts, place the DAFpay button where donors are most likely to act. While having the button on your “Ways to Give” page is important, it shouldn’t stop there. If you’re able, feature the DAF button on your main donation form alongside other payment methods. This makes it easy for donors to see DAF as a viable option in the same flow where they might consider using a credit card or PayPal. Check out these examples from [The Andrew McDonough B\+ Foundation](https://www.bepositive.org/),[NYU Langone](https://nyulangone.org/), and [Earthjustice](https://act.earthjustice.org/a/givetoday?ms=web_menu_header): Here are some additional tips to optimize button placement and enhance your website: 1. **Feature the DAFpay button on all your subsequent campaign pages**– especially those that are time\-sensitive and/or peer\-to\-peer. While DAF donors often opt to use a credit card in these moments, DAFpay leads to more DAF giving by making it easier and connected to the campaign in real\-time. 2. **Streamline the donor experience **by avoiding extra required clicks, additional required fields or explanatory text before a donor clicks DAFpay. The DAFpay modal is designed for seamless express checkout, automatically capturing the donor's name and email while addressing any questions about DAFs or DAFpay. A clean experience keeps donors focused on completing their gift with minimal effort. 3. **Ensure consistent CTAs **across your website. With DAFpay, donors can now give directly through their DAF on your site. Update outdated language like "look up your DAF," or “learn more” to more action\-oriented phrasing like "give with your DAF" to reflect this new capability. #### 2. Educate your team Your staff is the frontline of your fundraising efforts. Empower them with the knowledge they need to confidently speak about DAFpay and its benefits. To start, make sure your entire team is well\-versed on the following: - The basics of DAFs and when they can be used \(feel free to use [this thorough overview on DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf)\). - DAFpay functionality and features \(take a look at [this live demo](https://www.givechariot.com/) to experience exactly how it will appear to your donors\). - Common donor questions and concerns. - Best practices for stewarding DAF donors \([This guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey) should have everything you need\). #### 3. Establish a DAF data workflow DAF donations reached an all\-time high in 2023, totaling [$55 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/)—nearly double what they were in 2019. Despite this significant growth, nonprofits continue to face challenges when collecting accurate data about their DAF donors and donations. These challenges are driven by many factors, including:: 1. **DAF providers send gifts differently**. Some use checks, some use ACHs, and some use platforms like PayPal. 2. **DAFs all share different information**. Some make sure to record and share the name, contact information, and gift designation of a donor, but many others only share the donor’s fund name, which might not share any information about the donor themselves. 3. **DAF gifts have restrictions**. They cannot be used to “purchase” items like auction prizes, gala tables, or tickets. Read this [in\-depth resource](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it) to ensure that your DAF data processes are in\-line with best practices and that you’ll get the most out of your DAFpay gifts. #### 4. Plan your launch strategically The most successful DAFpay launch takes a multi\-faceted approach. Align your product release with a well\-coordinated marketing campaign, and enter the launch phase with a clear strategy and consistent communication to engage your supporters. Consider these methods of promotion: - **Blog post or article **highlighting the value of DAFs for your donors and explaining how they can use DAFpay to support your organization - - [Here’s a great example](https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2024/October/why-donor-advised-funds-are-the-future-of-charitable-giving/) from the Boys and Girls Club of America - **Targeted email blast **to your donor base. Consider segmenting your audience based on factors that indicate a higher likelihood of DAF contributions \(for more details on effective segmentation, check out [this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey)\). - **Updated website **to feature information about DAFs and DAFpay [This page](https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/take-action/make-a-gift/donor-advised-funds/?utm_medium=paid+search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=performance_max&utm_adgroup=performance_max&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy8K8BhCZARIsAKJ8sfREZzLo3fbS4ctyWqESUiCID8HoOMGhtKTq8ReWwi3t-E2YTjcz4HkaAiWcEALw_wcB) on Action Against Hunger’s website is the top result when searching for “Action Against Hunger \+ DAFs” on Google. #### 5. Continue the conversation Maintain momentum by keeping DAFs and DAFpay in your donor touchpoints. Incorporate them into all future communications, from email updates and newsletters to campaign materials and one\-on\-one conversations with donors. Here are a few strategies to consider when deciding how best to incorporate DAFs into your messaging: - **Integrate DAFpay into your regular fundraising appeals**: Mention DAFpay as a simple and effective way for donors to contribute directly to your cause, whether it's through a campaign, event, or general appeal. - **Provide educational materials**: Publish clear, accessible instructions on how to use DAFpay, addressing common questions and concerns. Offer resources such as videos, FAQs, or step\-by\-step guides to ensure that donors feel confident using the platform. - - Use this DAFpay tutorial as a resource: - **Highlighting the benefits for your mission**: Help donors see how their DAF gifts through DAFpay drive meaningful progress for your mission. Describing the operational benefits to your team of DAFpay can go a long way in motivating donors to change their giving behavior. It’s always helpful to share success stories and show clear results, so donors know exactly how they’re helping. By following these tips, you’re well on your way to a successful DAFpay launch. A thoughtful and strategic approach will not only ensure a seamless experience for your supporters, but also foster stronger donor relationships and increase long\-term engagement. At Chariot, we’re here to help you every step of the way as you optimize your DAFpay experience and continue to drive meaningful impact for your mission. ### Are you ready to get started with DAFpay or have any questions? Contact us at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) --- ## Stewardship Throughout the Full DAF Donor Journey - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey - Published: 2024-12-18 > How to cultivate, convert and grow DAF donor giving across your fundraising teamThe vast majority of organizations do not have a stewardship plan for donors using Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). Since there are over $250 billion in DAFs already committed to giving, it represents the biggest opportunity for nonprofits - that is largely untapped for most organizations. This article covers the many ways that fundraising teams can align on maximizing DAF giving, informed by Chariot’s webinar conversatio #### How to cultivate, convert and grow DAF donor giving across your fundraising team The vast majority of organizations do not have a stewardship plan for donors using Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\). Since there are over $250 billion in DAFs already committed to giving, it represents the biggest opportunity for nonprofits \- that is largely untapped for most organizations. This article covers the many ways that fundraising teams can align on maximizing DAF giving, informed by Chariot’s webinar conversation “Proper Stewardship for DAF Donors” on December 17, 2025, featuring: [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron & Program Services for[The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/support-us/donor-advised-funds/) [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/), VP of Major & Planned Giving for[Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy for Chariot In this session, Shayla and Trish shared what they’ve learned from their journeys, focusing on five different steps to creating an effective stewardship experience for DAF donors: 1. Be a DAF champion 2. Educate your team 3. Make your website and materials DAF\-donor friendly 4. Develop a follow\-up process specific to DAF donors 5. Re\-solicit your DAF donors – thoughtfully #### 1. Be a Champion While DAF giving is now a part of every fundraiser’s job, organizations see the most success with their DAF strategies when there is at least one person passionately advocating for DAF giving internally. That person can also be in a wide variety of roles at an organization: major gifts, direct response, events, digital, etc. If you’re wondering who the Champion at your organization is… it could likely be you. Champions like Shayla and Trish bring the energy and focus that organizations need to engage with DAF giving effectively. While DAFs are not new, integrating DAF giving across all team members and giving experiences is very new. It requires a mindset shift and some upfront work to implement changes. Your organization’s champion will help keep the team motivated through that transition to see the many payoffs over time. “It wasn’t hard to get leadership to buy in…now it’s just an ongoing conversation of showing the wins when we have them, and it’s going great\!” “It wasn’t hard to get leadership to buy in…now it’s just an ongoing conversation of showing the wins when we have them, and it’s going great\!” \- Trish Davis #### 2. Educate your team Your entire team should be fluent in DAFs. That shows up differently in different roles. Major gifts fundraisers need to be comfortable discussing DAFs in 1x1 conversations. Direct response folks need to be able to write effectively about DAF giving in email or mail communications. Technology folks need to be familiar with [Digital DAF giving](https://www.givechariot.com/post/defining-digital-daf-strategy-and-how-to-implement-one) capabilities. Gift processors need to be well\-versed in [DAF data nuances](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it). Once your whole organization is comfortable with DAFs, they will all be able to spot more opportunities in their specific roles. An easy first step that everyone on your team can take is to make sure they are plugged into the flow of updates and educational opportunities related to DAFs. Chariot provides the most frequent and in\-depth resources on DAF fundraising in the industry \- so following our work is an easy first step: - [Sign up](https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter) for Chariot’s bi\-weekly newsletter - [Follow Chariot](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot) on LinkedIn - [Follow Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Chariot’s head of strategy, who shares near\-daily updates on the DAF market A good next step is sharing specific resources internally and making time to discuss the implications on various fundraising teams’ strategy. [Chariot’s blog](https://www.givechariot.com/blog) is chock full of analysis that is worth digging into further, but here are the key concepts that are most critical for everyone to be familiar with: the *what*, the *who*, the *how*, the *why *of DAFs. **What:** - A donor advised fund, or a DAF, is acharitable giving account that allows donors to contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to their favorite nonprofits over time. - Donors can designate a grant to any qualified nonprofit organization. Note however, that grants *cannot *be used to obtain any tangible personal benefit, like event tickets, gala tables, etc. - DAFs have become a preferred vehicle for giving because they can offer substantial tax benefits, they are proven to significantly increase someone’s giving capacity and they streamline the admin work of philanthropy. - Learn more DAF basics [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf). **Who:** - There are a wide variety of donors who take advantage of DAFs, but generally these are highly intentional donors. They tend to be wealthier, more frequent, and more engaged givers. - Although Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have traditionally been associated with the ultra\-wealthy, DAF donors come from a diverse range of income levels. - - While the average gift made through [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot’s DAF\-payment option, is $1,000, the median gift is actually $200. This highlights the wide range of gift amounts granted by DAF donors, especially in the digital setting. - While it’s not our role to advise donors on whether to use a DAF, educating them about how this giving vehicle works can provide significant value to the donor and deepen your relationship. Plus, donors who use a DAF are proven to double their giving to your organization, on average, according to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). - Learn more about DAF donors [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). **How:** - If your organization offers DAFpay as a payment option, then DAF donors can use their DAF to support you in 3 clicks. If they are going through their DAF portal, they will have to navigate through several extra steps, including looking up your organization either by your legal name or EIN. This process presents three key challenges the team should all be mindful of: 1. The several extra steps without DAFpay can reduce conversion 2. The “look up” step can result in donor confusion or, at worse, gifts to the wrong organization. 3. Your organization won’t know the gift was submitted until it arrives, which can take several weeks. Your team can curb these risks by making your EIN and legal name very clear to donors when you’re talking about DAF giving and adding DAFpay for fully connected DAF giving experiences. Shayla shared how her organization is known to the public as The Public Theater, but their legal name with the IRS is The New York Shakespeare Festival. That’s why investing in better DAF donor communication and giving experience has been such a priority \- and successful strategy. **Why:** DAFs are a huge fundraising opportunity that most organizations are not maximizing. Donors with DAFs are different and deserve a focused strategy. They have precommitted a pool of funds for philanthropy that can’t be used for any purpose except giving. Think about them like someone with a gift card going shopping \- they are looking for things to buy. DAF donors are looking for things to support and when they give, it isn’t “competing” with the rest of their budget like a credit card gift would. The big opportunity is that most DAF donors still make gifts outside of their DAF. A recent donor survey by Giving Compass and The Lilly School of Philanthropy found that 37% of DAF donors didn’t use their DAF for their most recent gift. Why don’t DAF donors use their DAF? 1. Most often, Donors assume it will take a long time to go through all the steps on their DAF portal, so just make a faster credit card gift \- especially when DAFpay isn’t present. 2. DAF donors aren’t always experts on where they can and can’t use their DAF, but they do know there are some restrictions that can make them hesitant. 3. Some folks can genuinely forget they have a DAF available \- especially if it’s managed by their spouse or financial advisor. The opportunity lies in reminding folks to use their DAF and making it easy\! #### 3. Make your website and materials DAF\-donor friendly Once you have your organization on board, DAF donor stewardship really starts with getting their first DAF gift. Incorporating DAF giving into all of your donor touchpoints makes sure none of those DAF gifts fall through the cracks. A few items on your checklist: - **Website**: Make sure you have a dedicated page for Donor Advised Fund details, most importantly your EIN, official legal name and a point of contact. - - Check out these great examples from [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/support-us/donor-advised-funds/) and [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) - **Campaigns**: At a minimum include language and a clear CTA for using a DAF in any donation form or campaign that is DAF eligible. - - Shayla shared a recent example where she advised her team to add language on DAF giving and a link to their DAF page to a capital campaign mailer. It clarified that this campaign was DAF eligible and they’ve seen incredible success with donor upgrades and first\-time DAF donors. - **Peer\-to\-Peer**: DAFpay’s most successful use case thus far has been in peer\-to\-peer fundraising, so this should be a high priority for any P2P fundraisers. - - Trish talked about the “lightbulb moment” donors have had when they see DAFpay on Komen’s Walks and realize they can use it to support someone’s campaign page directly. - **Main Donation form**: Check if your donation form provider already has a DAFpay integration you can enable, if not ask them to add it. - - If DAFpay isn’t available, add language about DAF giving at a minimum. These opportunities will vary depending on your organization’s specific fundraising tactics, but once your team starts thinking outside of the old DAF box, creative openings will emerge. #### 4. Develop a follow\-up process specific to DAF donors We ran a poll at the start of the webinar that confirmed a mismatch in how organizations currently steward DAF donors: - \>90% have a received a DAF gift in 2024 from a first time donor - \>80% have received a first\-time DAF gift in 2024 from an existing donor - <20% have a specific stewardship flow for DAF gifts While this method of giving is growing across the board, it’s key to have a specific playbook for how you engage these donors post\-gift. A few of the key differences for the DAF donor experience that you can incorporate into your playbook: - They need to get an acknowledgement, not a tax receipt - - Recommending grants from a DAF is not tax deductible, only contributions to a DAF are tax deductible. - They should be a priority to thank and engage - - Because DAF donor information often is not readily available, organizations don’t engage with DAF donors individually and just send thank you notes to the DAF provider. Even if it takes more work to match up a fund name with an existing donor record or follow up with the provider for more details, it should be a priority. - Research every DAF donor - - Even if a DAF donor gave $100, the fact that they used their DAF is one of the most valuable indicators you can have for wealth and giving capacity. Prioritize these donors in any prospect research efforts. - Engage DAF donors like major donor prospects - - Because they are so likely to be high\-value donors, some of the most successful DAF fundraisers provide the full “V.I.P” experience for DAF donors. This can include personalized outreach from a leader at your organization, an invitation for a facility tour, a phone call, etc. Try to find ways to engage them more deeply in your mission before the next ask. - Their gift timing is less tax\-driven - - DAF giving tends to be more balanced throughout the year since gifts out of a DAF are not a tax deductible event. Messaging that highlights the urgency of year\-end giving for tax purposes won’t resonate with them, but acknowledging that the markets are up significantly and their DAF balance has likely grown is much more relevant to them. - Mention their DAF in subsequent outreach - - Showing a donor that you understand how they like to give goes a long way in building your relationship. Most DAF donors think about their DAF as evidence that they’ve made the smart choice with their giving so it’s good to reinforce that sentiment in your outreach. - A quick email thank you will likely blow them away - - DAF donors are used to never hearing from an organization after they support them through their DAF. When they give via DAFpay, your organization has their email right away and can thank them immediately. Trish mentioned how high the engagement rate is with those thank you emails because the donor is so happy to be acknowledged for their support. #### 5. Re\-solicit your DAF donors – thoughtfully Many organizations are hesitant to re\-solicit DAF donors more than once a year, especially if they made a substantial gift from their DAF. Trish and Shayla offered a different mindset to consider: any DAF gift is coming from a different “budget” for that donor than their checkbook. This means that they have fewer mental barriers to giving. In fact, the DAF Fundraising report found that DAF donors were more likely to give to the same organization twice in one year than a non\-DAF donor. There’s nothing wrong with making another ask in the same year for a DAF donor, but it’s important to be mindful of a few key things that will inform how you make that next ask: - What did they make their first DAF gift in response to? - - If it was a response to a specific campaign \(a giving day, DAF Day, Giving Tuesday, etc.\), that’s a signal that they like using their DAF to participate in a collective giving moment. Highlight another opportunity to give together when making your next ask. - Have you engaged with them since their last DAF gift? - - It’s important to take steps to build the relationship with a donor before your next ask. At a minimum, that means sending a thank you for the prior gift. Ideally that also includes some other communication that built the relationship. - Can you point to the specific impact of their first gift? - - DAF donors typically manage their DAF account like another investment account. Therefore they often think in terms of returns on investment. Showing them how you’ve put their first contribution to good use can go a long way in making the case for their next gift. --- ## Neon One Brings Seamless DAF Giving to Nonprofits with DAFpay Integration - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/neon-one-brings-seamless-daf-giving-to-nonprofits-with-dafpay-integration - Published: 2024-12-17 > CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Neon One, the nonprofit software platform built to empower communities of generosity, has announced a groundbreaking integration with Chariot's DAFpay technology. Now available in Neon CRM and Neon Fundraise, this innovation is the first of its kind in nonprofit CRM, enabling nonprofits to process Donor Advised Fund (DAF) contributions directly within their donation forms. This game-changing feature simplifies giving for donors and reduces administrative bu CHICAGO, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ \-\- Neon One, the nonprofit software platform built to empower communities of generosity, has announced a groundbreaking integration with Chariot's DAFpay technology. Now available in Neon CRM and Neon Fundraise, this innovation is the first of its kind in nonprofit CRM, enabling nonprofits to process Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) contributions directly within their donation forms. This game\-changing feature simplifies giving for donors and reduces administrative burdens for nonprofits, allowing organizations to stay laser\-focused on their missions. Donor Advised Funds represent a fast\-growing segment of philanthropy, with over $251 billion in assets across 1.8 million accounts. Managing these contributions has historically been challenging due to manual processes and fragmented data workflows. The DAFpay integration eliminates these inefficiencies, embedding DAF giving directly into donation forms and automating reconciliation to provide nonprofits with a seamless, end\-to\-end solution. ##### Streamlined Giving, Simplified Management With DAFpay, nonprofits can now: - Provide a smoother donation experience by allowing donors to give directly from their DAF accounts without leaving the donation form. - Automatically capture and reconcile gift data for improved accuracy and reporting. - Maintain a single source of truth, ensuring staff can easily track and engage with DAF donors. "I'm so excited to launch embedded DAFpay giving into Neon CRM's online donation forms\!" said Laura Block, Neon CRM Product Owner. "Chariot's interface reminds donors to use their committed DAF funds and nudges them to increase generosity while connecting with a nonprofit's mission." ##### A Partnership for Impact The DAFpay integration is made possible by the industry\-leading partnership between Neon One and Chariot. "Not only will this partnership put seamless DAF giving in front of millions of donors via NeonPay, it has also led to the first CRM system purposefully set up for the nuances of DAF giving," shared Mitch Stein, Chariot's Head of Strategy. Nonprofit organizations have already expressed their excitement for the update. One leader commented, "There are already so many different pathways that donors can take to donate to their favorite organizations, and it can take a lot of time to check each pathway. Many of our donors pay through their DAFs. Now, they'll be able to support the work we do in the way they prefer without delay," said Megan Sassenhausen, Database Specialist at Al Sigl Foundation. ##### Learn more about DAFpay and Neon CRM**: **[**https://neonone.com/resources/blog/neon\-crm\-chariot\-dafpay\-integration/**](https://neonone.com/resources/blog/neon-crm-chariot-dafpay-integration/) ##### About Neon One Neon One connects nonprofits with the technology and resources that empower them to build a community of generosity. Our platform is designed to manage the full range of nonprofit operational needs—from marketing and revenue generation to program operations and financial reconciliation. Learn more at [**neonone.com**](http://neonone.com). ##### About Chariot Chariot offers a seamless payment solution that integrates DAFs into donation forms for nonprofit organizations. This service simplifies the donation process, allowing donors to give quickly and efficiently while enhancing the fundraising capabilities of nonprofits. Learn more at [**givechariot.com**](http://givechariot.com)[**.**](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4325939-1&h=3079083275&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgivechariot.com%2F&a=givechariot.com) ##### Contact Tim Sarrantonio Director of Corporate Brande: [**tim@neonone.com**](mailto:tim@neonone.com)p: 312.243.49544545 N. Ravenswood Ave.Chicago, IL 60640 SOURCE Neon One --- ## Defining digital DAF strategy – and how to implement one - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/defining-digital-daf-strategy-and-how-to-implement-one - Published: 2024-12-12 > Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have rapidly become a critical segment of philanthropy and opportunity for nonprofit fundraisers... #### Steps to effectively incorporate Donor Advised Funds into your nonprofit’s digital strategy and keep up with the evolving landscape for digital fundraising Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have rapidly become a critical segment of philanthropy and opportunity for nonprofit fundraisers. Over the past 5 years, both assets in DAFs and annual grants out of DAFs have roughly doubled \- with [over $250 billion in assets and $54 billion in grants in 2023](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report). Such rapid growth has also come with a host of changes in giving behavior. This week, [Paul St Onge](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulstonge/) from [Doing Good Digital](https://www.doinggoodagency.com/) joined Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) to discuss how nonprofits can adapt their digital strategies to acquire and engage with more DAF donors. Our digital DAF strategy recommendations fall into the following categories: 1. Understanding why DAFs are now relevant for digital strategies 2. Ways to incorporate DAF giving across your digital strategy 3. 1. New Donor Acquisition 2. Converting current donors 3. Educating donors about DAFs 4. Segmenting DAF donor communication 4. Next steps Just three years ago, a webinar focused on “Digital DAF Giving Strategies” would have likely left most attendees puzzled, as the concept of DAFs and digital giving seemed incongruous. This serves as a powerful reminder of how much has evolved in such a short period. A poll at the start of the webinar revealed that only 30% of participants had incorporated DAF giving into their GivingTuesday campaign assets, emphasizing the missed opportunity for nonprofits to fully engage their DAF donors in recent campaigns, particularly in today’s increasingly digital landscape. “Three years ago, if we were doing a webinar called Digital DAF Giving Strategies, all of you in the audience would have been like, ‘huh? DAFs aren’t digital\!’” ### 3 recent shifts that make digital strategies essential for DAF giving 1. More money As DAF giving has grown exponentially, the giving vehicle has come to occupy a different, more prominent position in the fundraising landscape. Unlike donations made via credit card, DAF gifts don’t affect a donor’s monthly budget. The funds in their DAF are already allocated for charitable giving, making it a prime giving option for both donors and nonprofits. Further, recent studies show that donors give more when they use their DAFs than other kinds of giving tools. The average DAF gift in 2023 was $4,625 \(according to [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report)\), making it 23x larger than the average credit card gift \(according to [the Blackbaud Institute](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\). [The 2024 Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that a donor’s gift size increased by 96% on average when they started giving with their DAF. 1. More types of donors There’s a persistent myth in our sector that DAFs are only used by the ultra\-wealthy to make major gifts. This has led to many organizations confining DAF strategy to major or planned giving. While this may have been true 20 years ago, the demographics of DAF donors have changed dramatically. Today, over 3.5 million people use DAF, and they span a spectrum of income levels that want to use their DAF whenever possible. That includes everything from major 6\-figure gifts, to supporting folks doing run/walk/ride campaigns and even monthly giving programs. When donors use DAFpay, Chariot’s express checkout option for online DAF giving, the maximum gift in 2024 was nearly $700,000, the average gift was $1,000 and the median gift was $200. This indicates just how broad the spectrum of DAF donors and DAF giving levels really is \- especially in the digital setting. “It’s not a monolith; \[the DAF market\] is made up of a bunch of different kinds of donors.” 1. More donation settings As more and more donors prefer giving online— [63% of them](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/#:~:text=Fundraising%20Statistics%3A%20Online%20and%20Mobile%20Donations&text=63%25%20of%20donors%20prefer%20to,to%2Dgive%20(1%25).), in fact—advances in DAF giving technology, such as Chariot’s DAFpay, have made it possible for donors to give with their DAF in 3 clicks wherever they are inspired to give online: a nonprofit’s main donation form, a giving day campaign, a peer\-to\-peer fundraiser, etc Once a donor has a DAF set up, it’s their preferred method of giving for any eligible donation. It’s critical for nonprofits to make it clear when it’s possible to use your DAF for something and make the experience easy. ### 4 opportunities to add DAFs to your digital strategy 1. DAF donor acquisition: Ensure new donors are using their DAF if they have one Review all of the entry points for your donor journey \- do you clearly encourage DAF giving? Are there any routes where donors might not be aware they can use their DAF for this purpose or think it will be arduous to do so? By identifying these gaps, you can ensure that every part of the donor experience encourages the use of DAFs. While every organization’s fundraising strategies and potential donor touch points will vary, here’s a list of key digital assets to “audit” for DAF inclusion: - Main donation form - - See[World Wildlife Fund](https://protect.worldwildlife.org/page/77001/donate/1?en_og_source=Web_Donation&ea.tracking.id=Web_Topnav&supporter.appealCode=AWE2505OQ18299A08339RX&_gl=1*krt99u*_gcl_au*OTg2Mjc2MTA0LjE3MzM5Mjg4OTM.*_ga*MTI4Nzc3NzkuMTczMzkyODg5Mw) and [American Cancer Society](https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en&_gl=1*upfkq2*_gcl_au*NzgyNzQ4OTIwLjE3MjgwNTk4MjQ.*_ga*MTM2MjA0MDgxNi4xNzIwMjAzODcy*_ga_12CJLLFFQT*MTczMzk0NzIyNi40MS4wLjE3MzM5NDcyMjcuNTkuMC4w) - Check if your fundraising platform offers a [native DAFpay integration](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) - Campaign\-specific donation forms - - If you use separate forms for things like Giving Tuesday, year end campaigns or different email efforts, double check that they also have DAFs mentioned or DAFpay added. - Planned giving site - - See Michael J. Fox Foundation as an example - Peer\-to\-peer donation forms - - See Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s - In\-person events, galas, etc. - - Mention DAFs in spoken remarks, in printed materials and include a QR code to an easy DAF giving page on your tables. - DIY Fundraising - - GoFundMe, Givebutter & Pledge all make it easy for individuals to fundraise for your organization and include DAFpay as a payment option - 3rd party fundraising A dedicated DAF page on your website is recommended for every nonprofit. This page should explain how to support your organization with a DAF, describe the benefits of giving with a DAF and including DAFpay if you have it. This page should be included at the top of your “Ways to Give” section of your website, and be part of donation button drop downs if you feature multiple ways to give there. Having a dedicated page on DAFs also gives you something to link to whenever you mention DAFs in other places. When donors google “your org name” \+ “DAF,” this also gives them the best search result to take action. Some of the key details to include on your website’s DAF page: - EIN - Full legal name - Address - Point of contact for more questions - Brief explanation of what a DAF is, why it helps donors, why it helps your organization - Great place to include a tool like DAFpay, if you use it There are many examples of quality DAF pages, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Here’s a list of some of our favorites you can learn from: - [The Nature Conservancy](https://preserve.nature.org/page/161552/donate/1?en_txn1=p_g.dfa.fd.gtues24.dtd.br.sitelink.daf.X&en_txn8=NewSch.ADPCGO2411PDMZNZZD02Z0S-BZUZZ-DGAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjeW6BhBAEiwAdKltMlK7wbpTYXmXfsMvEbYofCKtg69K2b4rVPl731Y5GDaiXwv6rNHmYhoCcnIQAvD_BwE) - [UNICEF](https://www.unicefusa.org/how-help/donate/donor-advised-funds) - [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html) - [Leukemia & Lymphoma Society](https://www.lls.org/gift-donor-advised-funds) - [Rady Children’s Hospital](https://radyfoundation.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-fund/) - [ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund) - [The Center](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) 1. Converting current donors: Encourage existing donors who haven’t used their DAF yet to start supporting you with it Too often, donors that have DAFs don’t use them when they make a donation. This typically happens when DAF donors decide to make a quick credit card gift online instead of taking the extra steps of a DAF gift in their portal \(as discovered in [this study](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) by Giving Compass and The Lilly School of Philanthropy\). The good news is that nonprofits can change this behavior by keeping DAF giving top\-of\-mind \- and easy. Don’t overlook donors who have given in other ways for your DAF strategy, many of them are likely DAF donors “in hiding.” There’s a variety strategies to “convert” those hidden DAF donors ranging from broad to hyper\-targeted: 1. **Welcome series:** 2. 1. A welcome series is the standard sequence of automated communications someone receives when they enter your email list \- by donating, volunteering, attending an event or just signing up for your newsletter. 2. At some point early on in that email series, it’s smart to highlight other effective ways to support your mission \- like DAF giving, stock contributions, etc. 3. If you’re able to see when someone clicked on a link about DAF giving, that’s a great opportunity to follow up. 3. **Thank you letters** 4. 1. Even standalone thank yous for non\-DAF gifts can include a mention about DAF giving in subtle ways. Try a P.S. below the signature to still capture their attention, but not overwhelm them with information. 5. **Newsletter** 6. 1. Highlighting the benefits of DAF giving in your newsletter helps put the topic in front of your widest audience. It’s especially powerful to feature a donor story from one of your supporters that used a DAF to increase their giving to your mission. 7. **Donor surveys** 8. 1. Another creative approach you can take is to include a quick survey in your broad donor communication. These are great engagement opportunities and can include questions like “Do you have a Donor Advised Fund?” or “Are you curious to learn more about Donor Advised Funds.” Answers to these questions allow you to then enroll supporters into more targeted sequences specific to DAF giving. 9. **Segmented automations** 10. 1. Especially with larger email lists and good details in your database, you can test more specific DAF messaging with “likely” lists of DAF donors. You can create those lists with wealth screening tools, prior gift size \(say, $250 or greater\), giving frequency or consecutive years of giving. ##### 3. Educate all of your donors about DAFs Beyond just activating DAF donors in hiding, you can also increase the understanding of DAFs across your supporter base with great DAF content. When folks use a DAF for their giving, it’s proven to increase their philanthropy \- by 96% on average, according to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). More supporters using DAFs means larger gifts, higher retention and deeper engagement. Providing high quality educational content on DAFs gives you useful materials to link to in your communications and generates more “leads” for donors interested in DAFs. In addition to that core DAF page, consider some of the following ideas: 1. **A downloadable guide with more information on DAF giving** 2. 1. You could even partner with a local financial advisor or your local community foundation to help create the content. 2. This provides real value to your supporter, builds a partnership with key stakeholders and generates email you can follow up with when individuals download the report. 3. Check out what Michael J. Fox Foundation created here. 3. **An educational quiz on DAFs** 4. 1. Make the learning experience even more engaging with a quiz to test folks’ knowledge of DAFs. 2. You could even have a prize or giveaway for folks that complete it. The Public Theater in New York included the chance to win tickets to a show for anyone who took their quiz\! 5. **A blog article on DAFs** 6. 1. Have some news to share about a transformative DAF gift or positive donor experience with a DAF? Turn it into a story for your blog that provides timely news and a valuable asset for SEO \(search engine optimization\). 7. **An activation for DAF Day** 8. 1. The second annual DAF Day will be on October 9th, 2025 and it’s not too early to start planning\! The more you educate donors in advance about DAFs, the more engaged they’ll be on DAF Day itself. Consider a dedicated landing page for DAF day or a series of communications leading up to DAF Day that promote DAF education. 9. **A section on DAFs in a donor or board meeting** 10. 1. While not entirely digital \(although they may take place virtually\!\), reserving time to discuss DAFs at gatherings of your key supporters is also a great opportunity to build awareness and connect donors to your DAF resources. ##### 4. Target your DAF donors with tailored, exclusive messaging. One of the best results of activating DAF donors through your digital strategy is that you’ll be able to track them in your database as a DAF donor \- especially if they gave through DAFpay, which provides you with the DAF donor’s name and email instantly when they submit their gift. When you can reliably segment DAF donors, you can customize your communications to maximize their future giving. Consider ways to adjust the messaging in your appeals specifically for DAF donors, such as: 1. Put DAF giving at the top of any list of ways to give or payment options 2. Refer to timing considerations specific to DAFs, such as market gains that have likely boosted their DAF balances. 3. Clarify opportunities to give where they might not know they can use their DAF \- like tax deductible membership dues, capital campaign commitments, peer\-to\-peer fundraising efforts, etc. 4. Consider tactics that are typically reserved for “major gift” donors, even if a DAF gift isn’t quite at that threshold yet \- like offering a phone call or a building tour. The average DAF account balance is over $140,000 \- even if it was a relatively small DAF gift, there’s likely a lot more where that came from. 5. Don’t refer to tax benefits of making a gift before yearend, because DAF donors got their tax benefits when they contributed to a DAF, not when they grant money out of it. 6. Don’t include a tax receipt in your acknowledgement letter, because that’s just incorrect. ### Next Steps: While year end campaigns are already in full swing, there is still time to check if you can incorporate some of these tips into your campaign emails at the very least. Either way, 2025 is when DAF giving will become a standard part of digital fundraising across the industry and is a perfect time to incorporate these suggestions into your campaigns. If you’re cautious about trying these new things, isolate some small steps that you can test and build confidence around what works best for your organization’s unique needs. See if there are opportunities to deploy some of these strategies in your campaign emails. #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Why is DAF data so complicated? And, what can we do about it? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it - Published: 2024-12-06 > DAF giving has become a critical revenue stream for nonprofits, while also creating significant headaches for donor database management... ### Quality DAF Data is difficult, but possible and incredibly valuable. Learn how to get, keep and utilize great DAF data in this guide. DAF giving has become a critical revenue stream for nonprofits, while also creating significant headaches for donor database management. [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/)f rom K2D Strategies and [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) recently hosted a conversation that covered the key best practices when it comes to DAF data management. This guide includes: 1. The case for better DAF data 2. Understand the challenges of DAF Data 3. The Ultimate DAF Data Structure 4. 10 DAF Data steps to improve your DAF Fundraising ### The Case For Better DAF Data Mitch and Karin conducted a poll during the webinar to assess participants’ understanding of their internal data. The results were striking: over 90% of attendees didn’t know how much their organization had raised from DAF gifts this year. 95% of participants didn’t know the average percentage of nonprofit revenue that comes from DAFs \(Spoiler alert–you’ll find this answer below\!\). Building a strong system to collect, organize and action your DAF data is important, but it’s not easy. While your nonprofit can build a system that runs smoothly on its own, getting there takes effort. Before you get too overwhelmed, consider the key reasons for why optimizing your DAF data is worth it: 1. DAF giving accounts for a significant amount of nonprofit revenue The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that among participants, 12% of overall giving came from DAFs. The recent National Philanthropic Trust DAF report reported that in 2023, DAF grants accounted for [$55 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) of total giving – nearly double the 2019 pre\-pandemic total. The total assets in DAFs exceeds $250 billion, [increasing 10%](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) from 2022. This growth has happened with little\-to\-no DAF\-focused marketing from nonprofits, as most nonprofits haven’t meaningfully targeted DAF donors in their fundraising strategies. It raises an exciting question: how much more could nonprofits receive if they did? “DAF giving is increasingly a really sizable chunk of revenue across the nonprofit sector, and in a lot of cases orgs don’t even understand that.” 1. DAF Donors are your highest\-value segment In the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report, the average DAF gift size was [$1,294](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) \(even with gifts over $25k excluded\) – 19 times larger than the average non\-DAF gift in the study. The report also found that retention amongst DAF donors was [15% higher](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) than non\-DAF donors in the same study period. But, if your nonprofit doesn’t take steps to gather DAF data, you won’t be equipped to employ proactive engagement strategies to facilitate more DAF giving. “If you don’t have good handle on data, you can’t affect performance” 1. Compliance compliance compliance Many organizations are not tracking or reporting their DAF giving in a fully compliant way. These inconsistencies were a minor issue when receiving a few DAF gifts a year, but when it’s one of your largest revenue streams, it’s critical to have things buttoned up to protect the organization. If gifts aren’t attributed to the right entity \(like the DAF sponsor\), or the same entity has lots of different entries, or DAF gifts aren’t recorded as DAF at all, your organization could have your hands full in an audit… ### Understanding the Challenges of DAF Data Before taking steps to improve your DAF data practices, it’s important to have an appreciation for the key sources of difficulty. Every organization is different and understanding which elements are most challenging for your organization will help you tailor the best solution. ##### DAFs all send gifts differently DAF gifts come from different sources. Some arrive in the form of a check, others arrive via ACH and still others via PayPal. Each provider also sends slightly different information or include it in different places \- in seemingly infinite portals for your team to manage\! A standardized process must account for this variability. ##### One DAF gift has multiple “donors” Proper DAF data must account both for the person who directed a DAF grant *and *the DAF provider from which the funds will arrive. While a nonprofit should make sure to thank the person, and file them as a DAF donor, the data must reflect that a gift arrived from a DAF provider. This gets even more complex in the case of peer\-to\-peer campaigns, which adds a third party into the mix. ##### Absent donor information leads to data gaps DAF donor data, such as names and email addresses, is often incomplete or even entirely absent from DAF gifts. Often the gift processing manager is doing their best to fill in these data gaps, but it is not straight forward. Further, individual DAF accounts have “fund names” that are often not easily connected to an individual, providing another layer of complexity. ##### DAF gifts have restrictions DAF gifts cannot be used to “purchase” anything \(auction items, gala tables, tickets, etc.\) or provide a donor with any benefit \(i.e. membership with material benefits\).Properly organized data with accurate coding can help identify and flag DAF gifts that may violate regulations and be remedied. If you need a gift acceptance policy that delineates these restrictions for donors, check out [this free template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) to get you started. ##### Time delay DAF disbursements can take weeks, which complicates gift tracking for nonprofits. For example, a donor might initiate a grant on [GivingTuesday](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-more-from-givingtuesday), but the nonprofit will likely not receive the funds until January from most DAFs. ### The Ultimate DAF Data Structure This work all starts with reviewing the data fields available in your system and how you use them for DAFs. If you want to track your DAF gifts in a compliant way that also allows you to reliably analyze and quickly action your data, we recommend adhering to something like the below: 1. The “**hard credit**” in your system should go to the DAF provider. All money in a DAF is technically “owned” by the DAF sponsor after a DAF donor contributes to their account \- that’s how they get the tax write off upfront. That means legally speaking the gift came from the DAF itself \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) and all DAF gifts from that one provider should “roll up” to the same entity. 2. The “**soft credit**” goes to the donor. Even though the DAF Sponsor legally donated the money to you, you do not need to engage them in your stewardship. They will not open, review or respond to a thank you letter. However, the account holder does want to be acknowledged and you do want to engage with them afterward. Be sure to track them as a soft credit to the best of your ability. 3. 1. In the peer\-to\-peer setting, there may also be a soft\-soft credit for an individual fundraising for your organization. If it’s possible to include a second soft credit here, be sure to associate this record with that fundraiser. 4. The **Fund Name **is still valuable to track \- either in a custom field or the notes on the record. That way, if someone gets a gift with that fund name in the future and is trying to figure out if there’s an existing record with more detail, they will easily find it. 5. A simple but powerful flag to include \- simply **is this a DAF or not**? It’s incredibly powerful for analysis and streamlining actions specific to DAF donors. 6. Enter gifts with **the date that they were issued on**, not when they’re being entered into the system for a more accurate representation of timing. That will help accurately associate them with a specific campaign, event or time of year and inform your planning in future years. 7. To improve your attribution, try to also **associate DAF gifts with their relevant fundraising channel **or event if you have them. Matching the gift back to a specific mailer or luncheon will empower your team to make smarter decisions going forward. 8. If a DAF gift is truly anonymous \- as in, no fund name or donor name at all \- **have a simple yes or no flag for anonymous**. That way you can easily exclude anonymous donor records from certain per\-donor analysis that otherwise gets awfully skewed. 9. **Include all the other details you can**\! Many folks aren’t tracking things like email on DAF gifts, but new tools like DAFpay actually capture email with a DAF gift immediately. ### 10 DAF Data Steps to Improve your DAF Fundraising Now that you have an appreciation for the significance of improved DAF data to your organization, you’ve taken stock of the challenges that afflict your organizations DAF data efforts and you’ve reviewed the proper DAF data template, you’re ready to make some big improvements. 1. Implement your new DAF data template You’ll likely need to tweak things from our template to fit your exact needs and CRM set up. Working with your team to implement a uniform template in your database for DAF gifts is the key starting point. 1. Codify shared business rules Once you have the database fields set up and confirmed, you need to align on the business rules around how your organization uses them. These rules should be documented, shared across your team, and regularly evaluated to ensure they are being followed. 1. Download the [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) Without a centralized, publicly available list of DAF providers, nonprofits often recorded incomplete or incorrect names, causing data confusion and making it difficult to track a year’s worth of gifts. To address this, Chariot has created an official list of DAF providers with their correct names. By including this list and its naming conventions in your gift processing rules, you can simplify tracking and reduce errors. [Download the list here.](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) 1. Integrate DAFpay, Chariot’s express\-checkout for DAF gifts, on your donation form. DAFpay provides your donor with an opportunity to donate via DAF straight from your donation form, instead of having to leave your website and visit a DAF provider. In terms of data – DAFpay alerts you immediately when a DAF grant has been initiated by a donor. It also provides you with the donor’s full name and email address. This enables you to record accurate and complete information, anticipate incoming DAF gifts, and follow up with the DAF provider if a gift doesn’t arrive as expected. There’s free and easy ways for everyone to start using DAFpay today \- learn more [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising). 1. Educate staff Your entire team should have an in\-depth understanding of the DAF data process – just like they do with other types of gifts. This education should go beyond just handing someone a codified list. Make sure the broader team has a chance to ask questions and understands *why *DAFs are coded this way. If they want to go deeper, they can also check out [Chariot’s Webinars](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) \(past and upcoming\) and the dozens of other resources on [Chariot’s blog](https://www.givechariot.com/blog). 1. Hold DAF Data reviews One of the best ways to tackle DAF data gaps is to review them as a team. Often a major gift officer is actually expecting a DAF gift from a specific donor, but when it arrives without clear details a gift processor can’t code it correctly. Schedule a recurring meeting every month to go over these gaps across teams or departments \- it saves everyone time in the long run. 1. Segment your DAF donors for dedicated communications For any communications \- mail, email, sms, etc. \- once you have reliable segmentation for DAF donors, you can send them tailored messaging. With this audience you can highlight DAF giving more prominently and include links direct to a dedicated DAF page where DAFpay is featured \(like this example from American Cancer Society\). You can also test specific messaging relevant to DAF donors. For example, yearend giving isn’t motivated by tax benefits for DAF donors since there is not incremental tax write off when they give out of their DAF \(they got the benefit when they contributed funds into the DAF\). However, sharp increases in the stock market mean their DAF accounts \(which are invested in the markets\) are likely appreciated in value and that triggers an interest in more giving. 1. Identify potential DAF donors that are currently “hiding” in your donor files Analyzing your existing DAF donors and the ways they got into your file gives you a lot of information on what other existing supporters might have a DAF they’re not using with you yet. You can test specific communications with a “likely” DAF donor group, especially ahead of events like [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/), happening on October 9th 2025. 1. Share ownership of DAF gifts across your whole team DAF giving cannot sit within just one silo of your giving team – it should span groups because it spans types of giving. DAF gifts can fall under events, direct response, planned giving campaigns, major gifts, mid\-level giving, annual giving, etc. Making sure everyone can get credit for DAF fundraising success is a good way to share ownership across your whole team 1. Participate in the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report\! The 2024 DAF Fundraising report gave participating organizations unprecedented insight into their DAF giving history, areas for improvement and comparison to their closest peers. Participants were also included in media coverage by [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/charities-daf-donations), [The Chronicle of Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/gifts-from-dafs-are-nearly-10-of-all-giving-how-nonprofits-are-trying-to-court-those-donors?sra=true), [Barrons](https://www.barrons.com/articles/donors-who-give-through-dafs-tend-to-be-generous-contributors-study-finds-83f0ac8f), [Nonprofit Times](https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/daf-donors-making-their-presence-felt/), [Nonprofit Pro,](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/donor-advised-funds-increase-annual-giving-by-96-chariot-k2d-strategies-study-shows/)[Candid](https://blog.candid.org/post/5-takeaways-2024-daf-donors-fundraising-report/), and more. It is a competitive process to be selected for the study, but having a quality data set is the best way to improve your chances for the 2025 report. We will be taking applications in Q1 2025 \- learn more [here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## DAF Gift Acceptance Policy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-gift-acceptance-policy - Published: 2024-11-25 > Download our Gift Acceptance Policy - a legal template your nonprofit can use to guide your approach to DAF gifts. [Download the template here](https://docsend.com/view/knb3ya5x9au3iqxr) Chariot is here to help nonprofits navigate donor\-advised funds with confidence and clarity. A key part of this is knowing when it’s appropriate to accept a DAF gift—and when a polite decline is the right choice. While these can be difficult conversations, it is critical for a nonprofit to be consistent & precise on when they will or won't accept DAF gifts. If impermissible use of DAF funds were discovered in an audit, it's the nonprofit's risk \- not the donor's\! The best way to defuse a potentially heated donor conversation when they want to use their DAF for an impermissible purpose, is to refer them to a public policy on DAF gift acceptance. That way it's not personal, it's not a staff choice, it's a clear stated policy everyone has to abide by. Please make use of our template DAF gift acceptance policy as a framework for your own. Please work with your own legal representation to ensure any final policy covers all of your organization's specific needs. --- ## Get more from GivingTuesday - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/get-more-from-givingtuesday - Published: 2024-11-22 > As November winds down, the countdown to GivingTuesday begins. Over the past 12 years, GivingTuesday has developed into a global movement... #### What you may not know about GivingTuesday and the best ways to maximize support and engagement on the biggest giving day of the year As November winds down, the countdown to GivingTuesday begins. Over the past 12 years, GivingTuesday has developed into a global movement, marking a day of the year dedicated to giving. It [currently has](https://www.givingtuesday.org/global/) 104 official country campaigns and over 200 community campaigns in the US alone. Since 2022, GivingTuesday has been [the leading day for new donors](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/making-the-case-for-givingtuesday/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20GivingTuesday%20became%20the,than%20those%20that%20didn't.); it offers nonprofits an unparalleled opportunity to reengage loyal supporters and share their mission with untapped audiences. 2024 also offers a special opportunity to identify and engage DAF donors, a [$251 billion opportunity](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) with tens of thousands of nonprofits having DAFpay, the [express DAF giving option](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), embedded directly in their donation forms. In a recent webinar hosted by Chariot, [Kelsey Kramer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kramerkl/), VP of Partnerships at GivingTuesday, joined Chariot’s Head of Strategy,[Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), to explore **why GivingTuesday is a crucial opportunity **for nonprofits and share **actionable tips **to help organizations maximize their impact on this transformative day. ## 6 things you might not know about GivingTuesday 1. GivingTuesday is the single biggest Giving Day of the year In 2023, 34 million adults in the U.S. took part in [GivingTuesday](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/3-1-billion-in-giving-millions-united-around-generosity-to-celebrate-givingtuesday-2023/), making an impact in various ways. Around 18 million donated money, 14 million shared messages or promoted nonprofits on social media, 8 million gave their time by volunteering, and 10 million donated goods. The total sum donated amounted to $3.1 billion – increasing 0.6% from 2022. 1. Nonprofits engage more new donors on GivingTuesday than any other day of the year In 2022, GivingTuesday officially became [the top day for nonprofits](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/making-the-case-for-givingtuesday/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20GivingTuesday%20became%20the,than%20those%20that%20didn%27t.) to engage new donors, surpassing even December 31st. This milestone underscores the importance of focusing on donor outreach during this key time. As individual giving and donor retention [see incremental decline](https://givingusa.org/5-takeaways-and-next-steps-from-the-giving-usa-2024-report/), GivingTuesday offers nonprofits a unique opportunity to attract new supporters and drive greater participation. 1. It’s the best free awareness building of the whole year To reach donors – nonprofits often focus on three key steps: 1. Generating awareness of their organization 2. Fostering interest amongst their target demographic 3. Cultivating engagement through various campaigns and giving\-opportunities. The first step – creating awareness – is arguably the most difficult and the most expensive. With its ever\-growing name recognition, GivingTuesday offers an effective \- and free\! \- springboard for nonprofits to amplify marketing efforts. While potential donors might not yet know your organization, they likely are familiar with GivingTuesday, and launching a campaign with that language will help raise the visibility of your organization and capture the attention of your target audience, all without costing you a penny in marketing fees. 1. Half of the general public doesn’t recall getting solicited in Q4 – 9% say they would have given if they had been According to GivingPulse, last year, half of all donors don’t recall being solicited for gifts in Q4**—**when GivingTuesday and giving season are in full swing\! And, at least 9% of those individuals reported that they would have given had they been asked. People are most likely to give when asked, and it’s clear that money is being left on the table when we’re not asking\! At this time of year, those of us working in the nonprofit sector likely see GivingTuesday content wherever we look– it feels ubiquitous. And yet, while the day does have high name recognition amongst the general public, most do not share a perception of this oversaturation, and nonprofits shouldn’t feel like a specific GivingTuesday campaign is “overkill”. On the contrary, your potential donors are looking out for it\! “When we ask, they show up” 1. People giving in other settings is a great indicator that they’ll give again Even if someone has given to your nonprofit recently, they might still want to give on GivingTuesday and beyond. In fact, [recent data from Neon One](https://neonone.com/resources/blog/givingtuesday-statistics/#:~:text=Recurring%20GivingTuesday%20Donors%20Give%20Again%20By%20Year's%20End&text=Here's%20another%20cool%20piece%20of,before%20the%20year%20was%20out.) shows that 80% of donors who gave on GivingTuesday gave*another*gift to the same organization before the end of the year, showing that involvement in a campaign does not disqualify a donor from participating again soon after. 1. DAF Donors want to be involved in GivingTuesday While DAF donors love to use their DAFs for their major, year end gifts, they also use them more spontaneously, when solicited. According to data from [Vanguard Charitable](https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/news/donors-expand-philanthropy-with-unexpected-giving), donors who used their DAFs for unplanned grants gave 39% more than those who only gave for planned giving. The same Vanguard Charitable study also showed that spontaneous giving didn’t replace other planned gifts: “more than three quarters of individuals who give unexpectedly say their unexpected giving increases their total giving, rather than displacing the giving they’d already planned to do.” Further – donors typically give much more when they donate via DAF. According to the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) released by Chariot and K2D Strategies, donors increase their support of an organization **by 96% **once they start supporting from their DAF instead of other payment methods**.** ## 8 Action items for your nonprofit this GivingTuesday 1. Engage donors directly GivingTuesday provides a shared giving moment for your supporters to come together. Be sure to share that opportunity with your audience\! If you’ve successfully promoted other giving moments recently \- like a regional giving day or [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) \- even more reason to share the opportunity on GivingTuesday with your audience. By participating in other giving days, your supporters have shown you that they enjoy supporting your mission when their impact can be amplified by a community. Make sure they hear from you on December 3, 2024. 1. Differentiate your appeal Whether you’re concerned that your supporters have gotten many appeals from you this year before GivingTuesday, or that they’re getting solicited by many organizations on GivingTuesday, the answer is to differentiate your ask. Is there a specific program you can highlight in your messaging? Is there a donor willing to contribute a matching gift? Can you promote your monthly recurring giving program? Consider ways to make this a more novel opportunity to support your mission. 1. Explore untapped audiences Use the free publicity provided by GivingTuesday to try and reach audiences you’ve yet to reach. Both [Millennials](https://thegivingblock.com/resources/13-ways-to-inspire-and-engage-younger-donors/) and [members of Gen\-Z](https://givingcompass.org/article/how-gen-z-donors-do-philanthropy-differently#:~:text=They%20are%20adept%20at%20using,and%20mobilize%20support%20for%20them.&text=In%20addition%20to%20donating%20money,and%20skills%20to%20charitable%20causes.) are committed to bettering the world through charity, but they might not respond to the same communication and marketing tools as an older crowd. Conduct research and tests to see how best to reach this widely overlooked, yet increasingly more important, segment of individuals. Consider if there are other demographics your team has yet to invest time and/or effort into. 1. Activate Volunteers Some demographics – especially younger ones – like to volunteer their time. Your leading ask for volunteers or social media followers could be amplifying your GivingTuesday campaign vs. a direct ask for donations. Once you’ve engaged folks as volunteers, they are often a reliable source of support throughout the year, not just during giving season. 1. Highlight DAF giving in your messaging In 2023, the average size of a DAF gift was $4,625 – over 26 times bigger than the average credit card gift \([Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2024-giving-report.pdf)\). Be sure that your standard outreach includes information about DAF giving, making it clear and easy for donors to see that your organization accepts DAFs gifts – and the steps it takes to donate with one. 1. DAFdetails should be easy to find When a donor searches “your organization \+ DAF” on Google, make sure they find helpful, detailed information that guides them through the process of donating via DAF. This means having a DAF section of your website, typically at the top of your “Ways to Give Page” or drop down list of donation options. At a minimum, that page should include your organization’s EIN, full legal name, and a point of contact for questions. Other helpful things include a description of how DAFs work and why people use them to support your organization. Check out great examples from [The NYC LGBT Center](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) and [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds). 1. Segment & solicit DAF donors in a unique way It’s important to note that DAF donors represent a distinct group with specific giving behaviors and preferences – [they are engaged and intentional](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). By tailoring your approach, you can emphasize the ease and benefits of giving through DAFs, while also highlighting the impact of their donation. Consider personalizing messaging, providing clear instructions on how to donate via DAF, and linking to DAFpay if you have it available. 1. Simplify the DAF giving process Provide [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising), Chariot’s 3\-step DAF payment method, to your supporters. It’s the easiest way for a donor to give and [provides maximum security](https://www.givechariot.com/post/give-confidently-with-your-daf-this-giving-season), ensuring the gift is made to the right organization and for the money to get to the right place quickly. Donors can submit DAF gifts directly in your donation form or website, and you capture their gift size, name and email immediately to start stewarding them. Check out the [6 free and easy ways to get started with DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising) before GivingTuesday. ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## The Keys to Success With DAF Fundraising This Giving Season - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-keys-to-success-with-daf-fundraising-this-giving-season - Published: 2024-11-14 > As we head into the giving season of a challenging year for nonprofit fundraising, everyone is fine-tuning their year end campaigns... #### The best way to get more DAF gifts is integrating DAF giving in all parts of your fundraising campaigns at year end. As we head into the giving season of a challenging year for nonprofit fundraising, everyone is fine\-tuning their year end campaigns to meet their goals for the year. With [30% of annual donations occurring in December alone](https://www.onecause.com/blog/daf-fundraising-for-year-end/), it’s the time of year when every effort counts — both to boost year end giving and to build momentum for the year ahead. This week, Chariot’s Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), sat down with [Tracy Malloy\-Curtis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymalloycurtis/), VP at Mal Warwick Donordigital \(MWD\), a leading marketing agency for nonprofits, to discuss the opportunity DAF giving brings to year end campaigns. Their conversation emphasized the importance of integrating DAFs into organization\-wide fundraising strategies and explored actionable tactics to make this happen. ### Better understanding the DAF market To set a DAF strategy, the first step is making sure everyone is on the same page about what DAF giving is and is not. There are several misconceptions, myths and misunderstandings about DAFs that continue to persist at nonprofits. Most importantly: ##### Myth 1: DAFs are a bespoke, niche or small part of fundraising DAFs have become an essential part of nonprofit fundraising. DAF giving made up an average of 12% of revenue among nonprofits that participated in the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which doubled between 2019 and 2023. ##### Myth 2: DAFs are bad for fundraising and should be avoided While many organizations are seeing declines in cash contributions, \([overall giving declined by 2.4% in 2024](https://givingusa.org/5-takeaways-and-next-steps-from-the-giving-usa-2024-report/)\) DAF giving has actually [trended upward for the last decade](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), helping to offset these losses for many organizations. With over [$250 billion in DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) that’s already committed to charitable giving, the opportunity is immense. ##### Myth 3: DAFs are only used for major gifts Donors of all types use DAFs. Annual donors, mid\-level donors, peer\-to\-peer supporters – DAF donors are everywhere. Among MWD clients, they see that the average DAF gift is around $1,000. Through Chariot’s DAFpay, an express payment option for DAF Donors, the average is also around $1,000 and the median gift is $200. Especially in established mid\-level programs, we see [40\-80% of donors using DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-practical-steps-to-improve-the-nonprofit-experience-with-daf-giving). In peer\-to\-peer fundraising, we see major events like the Pan\-Mass Challenge have [over 5,000 donors supporting via digital DAF gifts](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study) through DAFpay. ##### Myth 4: DAFsare a type of “Planned Gift” Contrary to what the structure of many nonprofits would suggest, DAFs are not primarily used in Planned Giving. Tracy stressed the importance of breaking DAF strategy out of the planned giving silo and integrating it into a broader fundraising approach. Donors don’t reserve DAFs solely for planned gifts; they also utilize them for annual donations, recurring gifts, and even in response to urgent needs—such as natural disasters or other time\-sensitive causes. ##### Myth 5: DAF giving will just increase on its own Unlocking the potential of DAFs requires a real strategy in place – nonprofits can’t just sit back and expect more DAF gifts to roll in. Organizations need to take steps that make giving via DAF as simple and straightforward as possible. As Tracy put it: “The reality is organizations don’t have a choice. This is how donors are giving, and we have to meet donors where they are if we want to benefit from their generosity.” “The reality is organizations don’t have a choice. This is how donors are giving, and we have to meet donors where they are if we want to benefit from their generosity.” ### Crafting a winning DAF strategy Once your organization has an appreciation for the opportunity with DAF fundraising, there are**\[3\]**key tenants to setting a powerful DAF strategy. 1. DAF giving belongs everywhere Other than fundraising that’s not permissible for DAF usage \(like tickets, tables & auctions\), DAF giving belongs anywhere that your supporters can give. The concerns that highlighting DAFs is distracting or confusing have been unfounded by countless experiments done by MWD clients, Chariot and other partners. 1. DAF giving is a shared responsibility and opportunity Every person or team within an organization needs to take ownership of the ways they can boost DAF giving within their responsibility area, and collectively share in the upside of increased DAF support across an organization. Too often, gift crediting systems internally keep organizations from adopting this mindset, but as Tracy shared, “Gift crediting is ruining our industry. Don’t ever let crediting get in the way of good strategy.” In other words, nonprofits should prioritize maximizing giving and donor engagement over worrying about who gets credit for the donation. “Don’t ever let crediting get in the way of good strategy.” 1. Make the donor’s preferred way of giving as easy as possible With DAF giving, donors have already taken a step toward donating money by putting it in a DAF where it has to be used as a donation. With the mental hurdle for giving already lower, it’s important to also lower the physical hurdles to completing a DAF gift. This approach means a practice of always mentioning the ability to give with DAFs and adding DAFpay for the easiest way to give. It’s important to also remember that your appeals to DAF donors should still highlight mission first, and payment method second. They don’t support you because they have a DAF. Once they’ve been inspired to give, they be looking to donate in their preferred way \- as long as it’s easy\! #### Action Items for Nonprofits As you are putting the finishing touches on your yearend campaign, and preparing for 2025, here is the checklist of top suggestions that your organization can implement for maximum DAF support. 1. Equip Your Website with Information and Options for DAF Giving Part of integrating DAFs into your general fundraising strategy is including DAF giving in your online presence. Make sure that you have a DAF section on your website with key information that DAF donors seek when researching their gifts. That includes your EIN, your legal name, your address and a point of contact for any questions. Many organizations also include general overview information on what DAFs are and how they work in case donors have questions. The best way to make sure donors use their DAF if they have one is to include a DAF payment option in all your donation forms. Chariot’s DAFpay is the only toll that enables 3\-click express checkout with a DAF without ever leaving your website. A long time supporter of DAFpay, Tracy highlighted an important point from her research on the DAF\-donor experience: “One of the primary pain points that \[she\] saw is that people could not make a donor\-advised fund gift as a payment in response to either a direct mail or an online appeal.” Without DAFpay, Donors have to navigate the tedious and often confusing process through their DAF account portal. By integrating DAF payments directly into your donation process, you streamline giving and ensure that donors can contribute quickly and easily. 1. Appoint a DAF Champion Elect someone within your organization to champion DAF giving. This person can come from just about any department internally and there have been examples of successful cross\-department DAF programs led by all types of staff. \- The key is ensuring that the cause of DAF giving is shared internally, endorsed by leadership and keeps momentum forward with an internal captain. 1. Properly attribute DAF gifts It’s impossible to test what is working with your DAF strategy if you’re not ensuring that every DAF gift is properly attributed to specific campaigns or channels wherever possible. DAFpay helps with this given it ties a gift to a specific form, but even for gifts that arrive outside DAFpay, Tracy’s team works hard to tie back to the campaigns that donor was enrolled in. 1. Experiment with Different Forms of Outreach Experiment with different outreach methods to engage different segments of your DAF donors. For example, try sending direct\-mail responses without a remit, but instead, include a QR code that links directly to your DAF payment page. This approach can help better segment your audience and offer a frictionless way for donors to contribute via their DAF. 1. Customize language for DAF donors There are some important differences for DAF giving that should be taken into account, particularly for more segmented communication and outreach. Grants out of donors advised funds are not motivated by the year\-end tax planning that other gifts are – remember that DAF grants are not tax\-deductible since the donor already got the tax write off from their contribution to the DAF. DAF giving is still highly elevated in December, given how many solicitations they get in that time period, but language the highlights the urgency of the cause vs. the urgency of the calendar is more relevant for them. It also means that there are other important times in the calendar to reach out to DAF donors specifically, like in January after they’ve likely made additional contributions to their DAF in the prior month, or October for [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday). Another important thing to keep in mind this year is that DAFs are restricted from supporting political campaigns. That means that you don’t need to worry about a DAF donor’s giving budget being depleted from the election\! 1. Thank your DAF Donors Showing gratitude to your DAF donors is essential, but it can be tricky when gifts take time to arrive or when you don’t have a donor’s contact information. DAFpay helps streamline this by providing key donor details like names and email addresses. Even if you don’t have this data, prioritizing better data entry and tracking standards in your CRM can improve your ability to acknowledge DAF gifts efficiently. Remember: thanking donors is an important step in building long\-term relationships and encouraging future giving. ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Top 10 Takeaways from the 2024 National Philanthropic Trust DAF Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report - Published: 2024-11-13 > This week, the National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) unveiled their highly anticipated annual Donor-Advised Fund Report—the only... #### A puzzling 2023 data set for the DAF market provides mixed indications on the direction of the DAF market This week, the National Philanthropic Trust \(NPT\) unveiled their highly anticipated [annual Donor\-Advised Fund Report](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) —the only industry\-wide data source for annual DAF market statistics. The report offers some of the best insights available into the latest data and trends shaping the DAF landscape. However, this year’s data presents a more complex picture, without as much of a clear overarching narrative. This year there are some significant revisions to prior\-year data and noticeable fluctuations in several key metrics. In some cases, trends even seem to be moving in opposite directions: asset values swelled with strong public markets, but contributions fell precipitously. Total grant volume and the number of accounts were pretty flat. This is a good place to remind ourselves that this is an incredibly challenging data set to pull together and is typically best viewed in a longer term context. This report is sourced from over 1,140 annual tax filings by DAF providers who all have a variety of fiscal year ends: March, June, September or December. Regardless of when any particular DAF’s fiscal year ended, that is still counted as 2023 data. This report is best viewed as a rolling indicator of the DAF market. While it is the most definitive data source, it’s good to assess the market alongside individual reports by DAF providers, research from the DAF Research Collaborative and the DAF Fundraising Report for a more holistic view. The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), released in July by Chariot and K2D Strategies, analyzed nonprofit data on their volume of DAF gifts received in 2019 through 2023. The report showed a similar “leveling off” of year\-over\-year growth in 2023, following rapid growth for the prior 4 years among most participants. The 2025 report should also give one of the first indications of these trends next year \(nonprofits can [sign up here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-report-interest-form) if they’re interested in learning more about participation\). ### Top 10 takeaways from the 2024 NPT report: ##### 1. DAF Assets: - DAF assets saw a significant increase in 2023, driven largely by a broadly positive market. Assets rose by 9.9%, from $228.92 billion to $251.52 billion— a massive pool of funds that is already committed to philanthropy. It’s clear that DAFs will continue to play a key role in nonprofit funding in the coming years. ##### 2. DAF Contributions: Contributions to DAFs saw a sharp decline, marking the biggest year\-over\-year drop in history. Contributions fell by 21.7%, decreasing from $75.94 billion in 2022 to $59.43 billion in 2023. - This substantial decline may be partly explained by more challenging market conditions in the prior year; donors may have chosen to let their personal investment accounts recover before transferring additional funds to their DAFs. Another possible factor is that, with asset values within DAF accounts growing so much, some donors may have felt less urgency to make new contributions, as their existing investments were already yielding strong returns and expanding their giving capacity. ##### 3. DAF Grants: The volume of grants disbursed by DAF account holders experienced a slight deceleration, declining by 1.4% from $55.53 billion in 2022 to $54.77 billion in 2023. Despite the drop in new contributions, DAF disbursements remained steady, reflecting the commitment to maintain giving levels even as contributions into DAFs fluctuated. This resilience in disbursements indicates that while DAF contributions may vary with market trends, the funds’ disbursement activities continue to support nonprofits consistently. ##### 4. Account Growth: The number of accounts grew modestly, 0.6%, to 1,782,281. This might come as a surprise to many given the attention on DAFs and how many more people appear to be using them. It also appears the calculation methodology for number accounts changed this year as meaningful prior year revisions were made that changed recent growth trajectory, but unfortunately there wasn’t any disclosure on this point. This revision also seems to have impacted the trajectory of average account size \- which previously showed a long term trend of steady decreases, indicating a more democratized use of DAFs. However, the latest data shows an average account size of $141,120, growing 9% year\-over\-year and 49% compared with the 2019 numbers. While there’s more questions than answers on this point, an important thing to remember is that the majority of DAF accounts are shared by 2 or more people \(e.g. a couple or a family\), according to [the DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/), so over 3.5 million people are using DAFs. ##### 5. Payout Rate: The payout rate, or the percentage of total assets that get distributed to nonprofits, remained steady at 23.9%, dropping 0.8% from 2022. The payout rate from DAFs has been one of the most consistent figures over the long history of this report. The 10\-year average is 22.7% and in no single year has the overall payout rate been below 20%. This is one of the most important indicators of the impact DAFs have on the nonprofit industry and on individual’s philanthropy. ##### 6. DAFs vs. Private Foundations: DAFs are often criticized for not having a minimum required payout rate like the private foundation threshold of 5%, but in practice DAFs are used much more actively in giving. Private foundations hold 6x more assets than DAFs, with $1.48 trillion in assets compared to $251.52 billion in DAFs. And yet, private foundations only distribute 2x the grant volume of DAFs. In 2023, private foundations distributed $114.11 billion in grants, while DAFs distributed $54.77 billion. ##### 7. Single Issue Charities: The DAF fundraising report also gives us a valuable look into how trends are impacting different types of DAFs. One of the 3 categories they break out are Single\-Issue charities that serve as DAF sponsors. These can often be religiously affiliated DAFs or DAF programs hosted by individual university, hospital or large nonprofit. Single\-issue charities defied the broader trends this year, experiencing a significant spike in both grants and payout rates. Grants from these charities rose 26.3%, increasing to $7.19 billion in 2023 from $5.69 billion in 2022. - The total payout rate rose to 34.2% in 2023, up from 26.7% in the previous year. - One example of this is the Jewish Communal Fund of NYC, which [reported](https://jcfny.org/app/uploads/2024/04/2023-JCF-Giving-Report.pdf) an increase in annual grantmaking of over 50% in 2023, disbursing over $900 million in one year. ##### 8. Community Foundations: Community foundations appear to be the hardest hit by declining contributions, with a 31% decrease year\-over\-year. Despite this drop in contributions, their assets have remained stable, bolstered by strong market performance. In fact, their payout rates have increased meaningfully, indicating that while contributions may be down, these account holders have been able to maintain and even enhance their charitable giving. ##### 9. Post\-Pandemic Normalization: Thinking about these findings in a longer term context, it seems like there is a clear trend of normalization in the market post\-pandemic. We saw huge surges in 2021 in many key indicators, with some of the largest single year increases on record in contributions, grants, assets and accounts. These figures are all still extremely elevated from their 2019 numbers, but have either fallen off of those sharp peaks, or slowed their rate of growth. ##### 10. Significant Data Revisions The report includes some substantial revisions to prior\-year data – some of the 2022 numbers vary in this report from how they were presented last year – which is meaningful and intriguing to analyze on their own. - Some of the bigger changes like Number of Accounts and Average Account Sizes weren’t really explained, but we did get additional insight into the DAF Grants calculation. ##### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## A Guide to DAF Giving Security - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/give-confidently-with-your-daf-this-giving-season - Published: 2024-11-11 > In recent years, DAFs have experienced a remarkable rise in popularity. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, the amount of... In recent years, DAFs have experienced a remarkable rise in popularity. According to the [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/), the amount of donor advised funds opened by Americans has grown 9x in the past 10 years.And it’s not just the number of funds that’s grown — the volume of grants from DAFs has also seen a substantial rise. While DAF grants represented just 7% of charitable contributions in 2017, they accounted for 17% in 2022 – that’s $52 billion dollars directed from DAFs to nonprofits \(also per [NPT](https://www.nptrust.org/)\). #### Read more about [why donors use DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) This article will cover: - The security benefits that DAF giving presents relative to other ways to give online - The new risks that DAF giving introduces - They ways that DAFpay addresses these risks - Additional steps nonprofits and donors can take to protect themselves As DAF usage continues to grow, all stakeholders –DAF providers, nonprofits, and donors alike—should be intentional about making the most of this giving tool.While DAFs do offer some security improvements compared with other donation methods, it’s important that nonprofits and donors are aware of the most common risks that come with DAF giving and most effective ways to avoid them. According to [Giving Compass](https://5154904.hs-sites.com/daf-donor-content-preferences-impact-on-giving-behaviors?__hstc=156812004.2df6c623c8cfe72af606cc65a20fd0e1.1722952698856.1730743090370.1730749689010.255&__hssc=156812004.3.1730749689010&__hsfp=394787271), DAF donors tend to be highly conscientious, with 97% of DAF donors conducting due diligence before giving. They will therefore value the additional information that ensures their gift is made securely. ### Security Benefits of DAF Giving There’s been increasing focus on the risks around using credit cards or “peer\-to\-peer” payment tools like Venmo and Cashapp in general, and concerns about fraudulent charity schemes. In 2024 alone, 60% of credit card holders in the U.S. fell victim to fraud \([Security.Org](http://Security.Org)\). And only 7% of those instances were due to lost credit cards, the rest occurred because individuals remotely accessed personal data and account information. The amount of unauthorized purchases attributed to credit card fraud has surpassed $5 billion for the 2024 year. DAFs mitigate online giving risks in two primary ways: 1. DAF providers add a layer of diligence, ensuring donations are sent to IRS\-compliant organizations – in other words – real nonprofits. 2. Whether a DAF account holder is going through their provider portal or logging in using DAFpay, a 3\-click DAF payment option, they are securely accessing and taking actions in their account. With DAFpay, DAF account details are fully encrypted in transit and never stored**.** The risks that DAF giving does present are instead related to funds going to unintended recipients, getting lost, or getting delayed. ### Top 3 Risks of DAF Giving—and How to Minimize Them #### Risk 1: Unintended Recipients - When DAF donors login to their DAF portal, they always have to look up the organization they want to support. However, most DAF portals will only make an organization searchable by its legal name or EIN \(tax ID number\). This can present a lot of donor confusion in three common instances: - - The organization they want to support has a different legal name than the marketing name that donors are searching. - There are more than 1.5 million nonprofits in the US and many of them have very similar names. - Many organizations technically operate across multiple EINs and it can be difficult to tell which entity to select. - This confusion can result in gifts not getting completed or being unintentionally sent to the wrong organization. ##### How DAFpay addresses this risk:*The Correct Recipient is Pre\-Selected* - Since DAFpay lets a donor use their DAF on a specific organization’s donation form, the right EIN is already pre\-selected when they check out. They don’t need to go to their portal separately and they don’t need to look anything up, so it eliminates the risk of picking the wrong organization \- or giving up and not completing your gift. DAFpay eliminates the risk of ##### Other ways to help: - Anytime you’re giving through a DAF portal, confirm the benefitting organization’s Tax ID number \(aka their EIN\) and search by it instead of the name, to avoid sending gifts to unintended organizations. #### Risk 2: Lost and Delayed Gifts - Mailed checks, the most common method for DAF disbursement, often encounter issues that can delay or disrupt the donation process. Common problems include errors in recipient names or addresses, which can lead to checks being returned or misdelivered. Checks are also vulnerable to loss, damage or even fraud when in transit – in 2023, [the AARP](https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2023/things-you-should-not-send-in-the-mail.html#:~:text=Some%20criminals%20use%20that%20information,avoid%20mailing%20checks%2C%20if%20possible.) even reported that banks and USPS discourage folks from mailing checks altogether due to this security concern. Additionally, processing times for paper checks are much longer than digital transactions, which slows down the availability of funds to nonprofits in need. These factors make checks a less reliable method for time\-sensitive contributions – especially since the nonprofit doesn’t know anything about the gift until it arrives. ##### How DAFpay addresses this risk: Immediate Notification - When a gift is made through DAFpay, the benefiting nonprofit is alerted immediately, so they know to expect a gift and can initiate prompt outreach if issues arise. In the case that something goes wrong with check delivery, organizations can address it vs. potentially never even realizing a donation was made. ##### Other ways to help: - Notify the nonprofit when making a DAF gift through your portal, so they are aware that payment should be on its way and can troubleshoot if it is lost or delayed. #### Risk 3: Lack of Proper Attribution - Most DAF systems are not set up to easily share a DAF account holder’s name and email with a nonprofit. When giving through their DAF portal, a donor would have to go the extra mile to include their full name and email in the memo field for the receiving nonprofit to have certainty on which donor recommended the gift and how to contact them. Without good data, nonprofit record keeping and stewardship for DAF gifts is extremely lacking. This means that these supporters often don’t get the acknowledgement or recognition they expect for certain levels of support, leaving them feeling under\-appreciated and disconnected. ##### How DAFpay addresses this risk: Seamless Donor\-Nonprofit Connection - Donors are instantly linked to their gifts, avoiding back\-and\-forths that might otherwise be necessary to determine a specific donor and ensuring they are properly acknowledged. - These back\-and\-forth exchanges can be tedious, unproductive, and even awkward, especially in the situation where a nonprofit needs to ask multiple donors if they’ve made a recent gift. ##### Other ways to help: - When submitting DAF gifts through your DAF portal, include detailed information in the memo field to help the nonprofit recognize your donation*.* - This information might include a specific campaign, a full name, and/or an email. DAFs are shaping the future of philanthropy—driving more donations and fostering deeper donor engagement. According to [the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), when donors switch to giving via DAFs, their annual support of an organization increases by an impressive 96%. With the rapid rise in DAF giving, everyone in the sector needs to increase the focus on making the DAF giving experience more seamless, secure and efficient. All of us in the nonprofit sector – organizations, fundraising platforms, and donors alike – should focus on adopting best practices with DAF giving. These best practices include enabling DAFpay in all online donation experiences, and taking steps to ensure that a DAF gift is easy to track. #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## 2025: A Pivotal Year for Philanthropy in Washington - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/2025-a-pivotal-year-for-philanthropy-in-washington - Published: 2024-10-22 > At the 2024 DAF Giving Summit, four leading Donor Advised Fund CEOs shared their insights on the biggest legislative threats to... #### At the 2024 DAF Giving Summit, four leading Donor Advised Fund CEOs shared their insights on the biggest legislative threats to philanthropy that could come in next year’s congressional tax code deliberations One of the highlights of the 2024 [DAF Giving Summit](https://dafgivingsummit.com/) in Nashville was the opening keynote that featured a panel of leading DAF CEOs, moderated by [Sandra Swirski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-swirski-348015a/), Founder of [Integer](https://integerpolicy.com/), a full\-service advocacy firm that specializes in nonprofit policy. The panel included: - [Ron Ransom](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-ransom-84b18bb/), CEO of [American Endowment Foundation](https://www.aefonline.org/) \(AEF\) - [Rachel Schnoll](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-schnoll/), CEO of [Jewish Communal Fund](https://jcfny.org/) \(JCF\) - [Holly Welch Stubbing](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hwelch/), CEO of [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/) \(NPT\) - [Debbie Wilkerson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-wilkerson-95a4129/), President & CEO of [Greater Kansas City Community Foundation](https://www.growyourgiving.org/) \(GKCCF\) Sandra started the conversation with an excellent recap of the situation in Washington. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is due to expire at the end of 2025. If that tax cut package expires in full, it’s estimated that individuals and companies could face an estimated [$5 trillion in incremental taxes](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/the-new-cost-for-2025-tax-cut-extensions-5-trillion/). Regardless of which party is in power next year, no one will want to be responsible for the largest tax hike in history. That means that 2025 will be filled with heated discussion and deliberation in congress about what elements to keep or replace. Given the heightened scrutiny of philanthropy and the rapid rise of Donor Advised Funds, it’s nearly guaranteed that some proposed changes to the charitable giving tax scheme will be a part of the conversation. Any provisions that complicate or reduce the tax benefits for philanthropy are the top concern for the speakers on this panel. They know that everyone in congress will be looking for new sources of revenue in the negotiations and it’s crucial for the philanthropy sector to get ahead of the risks by proactively engaging with lawmakers. As Sandra so eloquently reminded everyone, “In Washington, if you’re not at the table, you’re likely to be on the menu.” Here are some of the group’s top suggestions on the best ways for nonprofits to get engaged with Advocacy for the sector. “In Washington, if you’re not at the table, you’re likely to be on the menu.” ### DAFs & Nonprofits Can Be More Aligned with their Messaging The most important thing is that legislators have a consistent and clear message in mind about philanthropy during these upcoming deliberations. They should be hearing from everyone about how crucial it is to keep philanthropic dollars flowing to nonprofits. As Rachel Schnoll from JCF said, “Keeping philanthropy streamlined & easy for Americans is our top priority.” Largely unfounded criticism of the sector has been on the rise, making it an easier target for new provisions that could be detrimental. As Ron Ransom from AEF pointed out, “Despite all the evidence on how DAFs expand people’s philanthropy, we as an industry are under attack. When we’re under attack, we need to come together.” This evidence includes [payout rates north of 20% for 15 years](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022), ever since National Philanthropic Trust started tracking. “Despite all the evidence on how DAFs expand people’s philanthropy, we as an industry are under attack. When we’re under attack, we need to come together.” Several of the panelists addressed criticism that they’ve heard from nonprofits, and encouraged folks to shift the language they use to be more constructive and accurate. DAFs don’t “lock up” money for charity; they help commit more money to philanthropy. Once assets are put in a DAF, they can’t be used for any other purpose. The alternative to a DAF contribution is not a direct nonprofit donation; it’s more likely that the assets would stay in the donor’s general portfolio. While general individual giving is flat to declining, DAFs are a large and fast\-growing source of growth for nonprofits \(as demonstrated in the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)\). In order to ensure this critical revenue channel keeps growing for nonprofits, DAFs and nonprofits need to remain arm\-in\-arm in advocacy efforts. Figure from the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report #### Nonprofits Ensuring their Voices are Heard Other industries have been active with advocacy efforts on the hill for a very long time. Holly Welch Stubbing from NPT described the maturation challenge that the nonprofit sector faces and how much more often legislators are hearing from other industry advocates. The sector also has significantly fewer resources to invest in advocacy, which means “we always have to punch above our weight,” according to Holly. This also means that broad\-based involvement across the sector and consistent messaging is even more critical. #### Ability for Nonprofits to Make an Impact with Legislators Advocacy and lobbying efforts can seem extremely intimidating and out of reach for many nonprofits. In addition to emphasizing the importance of nonprofits getting involved in the conversation, the group also laid out specific ways to take action. 1. **Don’t go at it alone** 2. 1. There are many nonprofit groups that engage with legislators in Washington on behalf of groups of nonprofit organizations. Look into opportunities with local and national associations that represent organizations \- like the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Council on Foundations, The Nonprofit Alliance, etc. You can leverage their resources, join in their activations and seek advice on deeper engagement. 3. **Reach out to your local representation** 4. 1. Especially during election cycles, when folks are spending significant time in their home districts campaigning, it’s a great time to reach out to elected officials. You can take those opportunities to highlight great work being done in their own community by nonprofits and the importance of national legislation that is supportive of nonprofits on the local level. 5. **Harness the power of story** 6. 1. While specific data points and research are definitely helpful, nothing is more powerful for a busy legislator than a compelling story of impact. They are inundated with inbounds and requests, but vivid narratives of how DAF giving leads to measurable impact in their own communities are bound to stick with them. As Sandra said, “nonprofits sharing the importance and difference DAFs make to lawmakers, those stories really make a difference.” 7. **Don’t underestimate the power of your voice** 8. 1. Advocacy is going to be new to a lot of nonprofit leaders, but that doesn’t mean they don’t belong in these conversations. As Debbie Wilkerson from GKCCF advised, “Nonprofits need to stay vigilant and stay aware. You have a voice and just need to find your way to plug in.” “Nonprofits need to stay vigilant and stay aware. You have a voice and just need to find your way to plug in.” #### Opportunities for the Sector to be Proactive in Washington While much of the conversation covered the ways that the sector can protect itself against threats, there is also an opportunity to be proactive and propose changes that would be productive. The conversation included many interesting suggestions where philanthropy leaders can lean in on changes they would like to see that can improve processes and increase giving. Given that the nonprofit sector will be part of the tax conversation, it is essential for the sector to put forth the first proposals, ones that are actually clarifying and helpful. There are many things in the existing regulations that are confusing and limiting as written, and providing clearer explanations would improve things for regulators, donors and nonprofits. Debbie shared, “Clarity on how you can use DAFs for events and the tax deductible portion would be incredibly helpful, for example. Aligning with other tax rules makes a ton of sense.” **To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, **[**subscribe**](https://www.givechariot.com/)** to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on **[**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true)**.** --- ## 7 practical steps to improve the nonprofit experience with DAF giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-practical-steps-to-improve-the-nonprofit-experience-with-daf-giving - Published: 2024-10-21 > Last week, Chariot attended the third annual DAF Giving Summit for the third year in a row and gained tremendous insight from the DAF... #### Recapping the Nonprofit & DAF roundtable at the 2024 DAF Giving Summit, hosted by Chariot Last week, Chariot attended the third annual DAF Giving Summit for the third year in a row and gained tremendous insight from the DAF sponsors, technology providers, wealth advisors and nonprofits that attend. As the interest in and activity around Donor Advised Funds continues to grow at an exponential rate, attendance at the Giving Summit has followed suit. This year, there were over 400 people in attendance \- a 2x increase from its first year\! Chariot also had the privilege of hosting a breakfast roundtable discussion on digital DAF giving. What unfolded was a phenomenal conversation between nonprofit leaders and DAF sponsors as folks shared openly and productively ideated on steps everyone can take to improve the DAF giving experience. First, nonprofit fundraisers in the room \- the Wounded Warrior Project, Planned Parenthood, MIT, etc. \- walked through the biggest challenges they face operationally with the explosion in DAF giving: ### Top Nonprofit Operational Challenges with DAF Giving - **Database Limitations**: Nonprofits’ systems aren’t set up for proper recording of DAF gifts. Most organizations are using tools built 10\+ years ago to track their donor data, so they have had to use workaround solutions to properly track things like Hard Credits, Soft Credits, and Fund Names that are specific to DAFs. The patchwork solutions are no longer sufficient as DAF giving has exploded. 3 of the attendees shared that within their mid\-level giving programs, 40\-80% of their donors are using DAFs. - **Anonymous Gifts**: The prevalence of anonymous gifts and, more often, gifts without any usable information \(i.e. they only have a fund name that doesn’t identify the donor clearly\), remains a significant burden to proper record keeping. Teams struggle to tie DAF gifts to a specific donor record and thank them properly. - **Delayed Stewardship**: the fact that nonprofits don’t know about a gift until it arrives, which can take weeks for most DAFs, puts significant time between when a donor makes a gift and hears from the organization \- if they hear from them at all. Donors often complain about this delay in acknowledgement. - **Gifts Going to the Wrong Organization**: There were several experiences shared of donors selecting the wrong organization in their DAF portal because many have similar names. Folks also mentioned some difficulty in updating or supplementing data about their organization in the databases that DAFs are referencing \(i.e. adding a secondary address for the org’s headquarters as well as that of their gift processing PO Box which can give donors pause when submitting grant requests\). - **Difficulty Segmenting & Communicating**: Many folks mentioned how difficult it is to know the way that DAF donors prefer being contacted. Since they go into their DAF portal to submit gifts, it’s nearly impossible to tie that action to a specific mailer, email or advertisement. The receipt of gift is disconnected from the method of solicitation, which is how all other donor communication works for a nonprofit. Many nonprofits noted how Chariot’s solution [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) helps address these challenges by offering a 3\-click DAF payment option that can be embedded into donation forms and captures DAF donor name & email immediately. Even with DAFpay, many DAF donors do still continue to make gifts directly through their portal, which leads to the challenges detailed above. Luckily, many of the DAF providers in the room \- like United Charitable, Jewish Federations of North America, Ren, The Dallas Foundation, etc. \- offered incredibly helpful suggestions to improve engagement with DAF donors. #### Advice for nonprofits on better DAF engagement 1. **Make your EIN easy to find** Your EIN is the best way for a donor to look up your organization in their portal and not confuse organizations with similar names. Make it easy to find on your website \(the homepage footer, about us page and DAF page in your ways to give section are a must\). It’s also helpful to include your EIN in any solicitation to DAF donors. 1. **Sign up for Electronic Payments** Many DAF providers do now offer the option to receive gifts as an Electronic Funds Transfer \(EFT\) if an organization adds their account & routing number to the system. This allows payments to be received much faster so stewardship can start sooner. 1. **Personalize Acknowledgements** Many organizations reach out to DAFs when they can’t identify the donor behind a DAF gift seeking more information. If the DAF is unable to share more information, they do often pass an acknowledgement on to the donor \- especially if it’s clear that it is personalized and not a template. 1. **Tell Donors to Use the Memo Line** Whenever soliciting DAF donors specifically, encouraging them to provide as much detail as possible on their grant recommendation in the memo line is helpful to the recipient nonprofit and the DAF provider to diligence more quickly. 1. **Share the DAF Fundraising Report with your team** The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) contains a long list of best practices for DAF donor data that will help any nonprofit align their internal team around a consistent method for DAF gift tracking. 1. **Try Segmenting Communications by the DAF used** In an effort to fine\-tune the best communication style for DAF donors, folks discussed how the specific DAF provider a donor is using can indicate a lot about their behavior and preferences. 97% of Fidelity donors are making recommendations through their portal online \- so trying more email communication with this largely “online” donor segment might be effective. Since Daffy had the first DAF mobile app, many of their DAF donors are giving through their phone \- try targeted SMS communication for this segment. Many smaller community foundation DAF holders are still calling their grant requests in \- try more direct mail with this audience. Understanding these differences can help you tailor outreach \- and establish a baseline to experiment from. 1. **Reach out\!** DAFs, especially smaller or regional ones, want nonprofits to come to them. They appreciate building relationships with organizations and better understanding their work, and can then also make sure the organization’s information is correct in their system. While DAF administrators generally don’t make specific recommendations to DAF account holders, if they receive questions about specific cause areas, it is helpful to have some relevant organizations top of mind. ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news,[subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/)to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## First-Ever DAF Day Successfully Kicks Off Giving Season, Participants See Everything From $3 Million Increases to Their Biggest Giving Day Ever - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday - Published: 2024-10-15 > More than 1,200 nonprofits joined dozens of DAF providers and  fundraising platforms for the industry-wide day dedicated to DAF giving on October 10th.NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 15, 2024 -- Chariot, the Donor Advised Fund (DAF) payments company, has announced preliminary results of the first DAF Day. October 10th was the first national giving day dedicated to DAFs, with a goal of boosting usage and adoption of this essential giving vehicle that has been proven to drastically increase donation volume fo #### More than 1,200 nonprofits joined dozens of DAF providers and fundraising platforms for the industry\-wide day dedicated to DAF giving on October 10th. **NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 15, 2024**\-\- [Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/about-us), the Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) payments company, has announced preliminary results of the first DAF Day. October 10th was the first national giving day dedicated to DAFs, with a goal of boosting usage and adoption of this essential giving vehicle that has been [proven to drastically increase donation volume](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) for individuals.Many of the 1,250\+ participating organizations have already reported record\-breaking raises and levels of participation. [The Donor’s Fund](http://www.thedonorsfund.org/), a Donor Advised Fund that [recently surpassed $1 billion](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925320046/en/The-Donors-Fund-Surpasses-One-Billion-Dollars-in-Charitable-Transactions) in total grant volume, saw their daily giving increase by 4x on DAF Day, resulting in a $3 million surge. [Daffy](http://www.daffy.org/), a [high\-growth, mobile\-first DAF provider](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2023), saw a 440% increase in their daily donations on DAF Day."We were thrilled to see the surge in engagement surrounding DAF Day,” added Adam Nash, Co\-Founder and CEO of Daffy. “This industry\-wide initiative not only highlighted the power of DAFs in increasing individual giving but also aligned perfectly with our mission—to help people be more generous, more often. It gave our members a meaningful opportunity to join a larger movement and make an even greater impact.” Chariot was the organizing force behind the DAF Day movement, and equipped all participants with a robust marketing toolkit and educational webinar series. These efforts ultimately led to millions of emails, texts, mailers and social media impressions about Donor Advised Funds to the donating public. Chariot also provided many of the participating nonprofits with DAFpay technology leading up to October 10th. DAFpay enables an “express checkout” experience for DAF donors within a nonprofit’s donation forms, akin to Google Pay or Apple Pay. While a more complete picture of DAF Day’s impact will take some time to assess, given how much DAF giving still happens “offline” from over 1,100 DAFs to more than 1 million nonprofits, the early indications are that the first year of this grassroots effort sparked tremendous results. “No matter how you measure it, the level of engagement was absolutely incredible,” shares [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Chariot’s Head of Strategy who spearheaded the initiative. “We saw a record number of organizations getting DAF Gifts through DAFpay in a single day, 4x the prior high water mark \- which was actually set just the day before on October 9th\!” The number of gifts on October 10th was 10x the year\-to\-date daily median and the dollar volume was 8x the year\-to\-date daily median through Chariot’s DAFpay payment option. Participating nonprofits deployed a wide variety of tactics to boost DAF donor giving on DAF Day \- from a Wall Street Journal advertisement for Doctors Without Borders, to Google ad words for Candid, to a million\-dollar match campaign by the ACLU Foundation. Many of the nonprofits that helped launch DAF Day in late July are also sharing exciting initial results. The [ACLU Foundation](http://aclu.org/) saw more digital DAF giving than anyone when they rolled DAFpay out to their full donor audience for the first time on October 10th, and their average DAFpay gift was $1,200. “Giving days are incredibly motivating to our supporters,” says Meghan Lee, Associate Director of impact giving for the ACLU. “As we’ve watched the rapid increase in DAF usage over the past few years, it made perfect sense for us to partner in a giving day dedicated to this critical donor segment.” [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/) has already been a top recipient of DAF gifts through DAFpay over the course of 2024, but still saw a surge on DAF Day \- 2x their own prior record. “DAF giving has become a core part of our overall fundraising strategy,” shares [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/), Komen’s Vice President of Major Gifts & Planned Giving. “Combining the technology of DAFpay with an exciting and collective movement in DAF Day is clearly spurring a new wave of DAF giving \- one that nonprofits everywhere are in desperate need of.” As word got out about the first\-ever DAF Day, the number of organizations participating grew exponentially: 40 nonprofits signed on before the announcement on July 30, reaching 300 by Sept. 25, to 500 on Sept. 30, all the way to more than 1,200 total by Oct. 10. “We were proud to participate in the first\-ever DAF Day as a way to educate and inspire our community to learn more about donor advised funds and how they can make an immediate impact on Parkinson's research, while creating a legacy of philanthropy,” shares [Sarah Chatham](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-c-a2984612/), Vice President and Head of Individual Giving at [The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds), which was also a launch partner for DAF Day. “Like many nonprofit organizations, we have been working to build appropriate strategies that engage this fast\-growing donor segment. DAF Day gave us a collective focal point to rally around – both within our organization and among DAF donors.” In the coming weeks, Chariot will collect more comprehensive DAF Day data and feedback from all participants. That additional data will be released by Chariot later this year, providing more specific insights into the impact of the inaugural DAF Day and the potential for many years to come. Next up: DAF Day 2025 is slated for Thursday, October 9th of next year. **About Chariot** Chariot is the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, allows donors to give with their DAF anywhere they are inspired to give online. This enables donors to use their DAF in more places, more often, and unlocks more DAF gifts with better information for nonprofits. Chariot powers direct DAF payments for many of the largest nonprofits in the country, such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. **Media Contact: Consort Partners** [press@givechariot.com](mailto:press@givechariot.com) --- ## Get your own Donor Advised Fund (DAF)! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf - Published: 2024-10-09 > You may have heard how DAFs are a smart choice for active donors. You may not have heard how easy it can be to set one up for yourself! #### You may have heard how DAFs are a smart choice for active donors. You may*not*have heard how easy it can be to set one up for yourself\! Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy for a reason \- they provide many benefits for donors and are becoming more accessible than ever. In this article we will cover: - Background on DAFs - Benefits of Donor Advised Funds for donors - How to most easily set up a DAF for yourself - How to get the most out of your DAF ### Background on DAFs A Donor Advised Fund, or “DAF” as they are commonly called, is a tax\-advantaged charitable giving account. DAFs are often compared to a 401\(k\) for retirement savings or a Health Savings Account \(HSA\) for healthcare expenses. Any person, couple, family – or even company – can open a DAF account at one of more than 1,100 providers around the country. DAFs have surged in popularity in recent years because they are incredibly effective at increasing giving capacity and streamlining philanthropy. The power of DAFs lies in their simplicity: #### Here are a few important rules about using DAFs: - Once contributed, you can’t take money out of a DAF for anything. - - Funds can only leave your DAF as a grant to an eligible nonprofit. - You’re technically “recommending” a grant out of your DAF account because the DAF Sponsor needs to approve each request. - - The DAF Sponsor reserves the right to decline any request based on their own diligence, but typically requests are approved that are for a 501\(c\)3 nonprofit that is in good standing with the IRS. - Some DAFs do have more stringent restrictions / limitations \(i.e. religiously affiliated DAFs\), so check and make sure you’re aligned with their limitations. - You can’t receive any personal benefit for making a DAF grant. - - That’s why you can’t use a DAF to “buy” things like event tickets, gala tables, auction items, non\-tax deductible memberships, etc. - Making donations out of your DAF *is not *a tax deductible event. - - Remember, you already got your tax deduction from your contribution *into *your DAF, so you don’t get any more tax benefit when grants *go out *the DAF. - You should name a beneficiary to your DAF. - - If you were to pass away, you can name an individual as a successor advisor to your account or specific nonprofits to receive a distribution of your account balance. - Otherwise the balance in your account is assumed by the DAF Provider itself for their general granting fund. ### Benefits of Donor Advised Funds ##### Increased Giving Capacity The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) revealed that once a donor switches to supporting an organization from their DAF instead of a credit card, their average annual support increased by 96%, as [covered by Barrons](https://www.barrons.com/articles/donors-who-give-through-dafs-tend-to-be-generous-contributors-study-finds-83f0ac8f). Why? ###### Figure from the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) ###### There are 3 ways in which DAFs help donors give even more: 1. Tax savings 2. 1. When you contribute to a DAF, you can deduct the full contribution from your taxable income in that year. Given how high the minimum standard deduction is \(as described in this [Forbes article](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucebrumberg/2024/06/25/7-reasons-to-give-via-donor-advised-funds-instead-of-credit-card-check-or-stock/)\), many folks make larger one\-time contributions to their DAFs that’s above the minimum standard deduction and grant out to nonprofits in subsequent years. This practice is commonly referred to as “bunching.” 2. If you contribute non\-cash assets to your DAF, like stock shares or mutual funds, that have appreciated in value, you also avoid any capital gains tax that you would’ve owed if you had sold them in the open market. Many folks get highly strategic with this practice, reviewing their portfolio each year and contributing their best performing securities to their DAF to maximize their tax benefit. That’s why at [DAF Providers like Fidelity](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2024-giving-report.html), we see that 63% of contributions are in the form of non\-cash assets. 3. Once cash or assets are contributed to your DAF, they can be invested and also grow tax free\! 3. Investment Growth 4. 1. With a DAF account, you’re proactively setting aside funds for your philanthropy that are automatically invested in the market. That way your committed charitable dollars are growing in the background, making you more generous whenever you want to give. 5. Accountability 6. 1. The most powerful part of a DAF is the accountability it provides for your giving goals. When you proactively set aside a budget for giving at the start of the year, or automatically contribute a certain amount to your DAF periodically, you’re no longer making several micro decisions and gifts to hit your budgeting goal over the course of the year. You’ve taken the budget consideration out of the equation whenever you’re considering a donation. Instead, you’re just making an allocation decision. 2. DAF donors often compare the sensation to giving yourself a gift card, that makes you more primed to make donations, and also think more deeply about the causes you want to support and be more intentional with your giving. ###### When you contribute to a DAF, you can deduct the full contribution from your taxable income in that year. ##### Streamlined Philanthropy Most folks are familiar with the experience at the end of the year trying to remember all the donations you made over the year. You might look through credit card statements, emails, etc. trying to track everything down \- and also realize which organizations you haven’t given to that year. With a DAF, everything is in one place that you can easily check any time. It makes it easy to track and review giving, plus most DAF providers have options to re\-grant or set your grant requests to automatically happen on a recurring basis. ##### Easier to Use While DAFs used to require a phone call \- or maybe even a fax \- to make a grant request from your account, the technology underlying DAF providers has come a long way\! Every DAF now has an online login portal for account holders and several even have mobile apps to manage your account through. ### How to set up a DAF for yourself While DAFs historically were thought of as a tool for the ultra\-wealthy, that is no longer the case. Millions of people are using DAFs to be tax\-smart with their giving or just streamline their own philanthropy. DAFs used to have 5\-figure minimum account sizes, that made them inaccessible to the vast majority of donors. Now, many providers have drastically lowered their fees, account minimums requirements and minimum grant sizes. There are a few DAF options with no minimum requirements that are great options for anyone who wants to easily test out a DAF\! 1. **Fidelity and Schwab**: The two largest DAF providers, [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/) and [Schwab Charitable](https://www.schwabcharitable.org/), offer DAFs with no minimum account balances and a minimum gift size of $50. While the setup process may involve manual paperwork, these platforms provide accessibility and flexibility for donors \- especially if you already manage your personal finances with these companies. 2. **Daffy**: With easy onboarding and a mobile app interface, [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/) appeals to donors seeking simplicity and convenience. There are minimal monthly fees for contributions exceeding $100, its low entry barrier makes it an attractive option for those starting their philanthropic journey. Their minimum donation size is $18. 3. **Charityvest**: [Charityvest](https://www.charityvest.org/) offers a user\-friendly platform with a minimum gift size of $20. While accounts are initially free, they do have small administrative fees once you’re investing those dollars. 4. **DonorsFund**: [DonorsFund](https://thedonorsfund.org/) offers no minimum deposit and no annual fees with a modern technology platform. They also offer a giving card and prefilled certificates to make your DAF giving as easy and social as possible. Many donors also opt to hold their DAF with an entity that serves a local community \(like [Dallas Jewish Community Foundation](https://djcf.org/) or [Brooklyn Org](https://brooklyn.org/funds/)\) or is aligned with their religious beliefs \(like [National Christian Foundation](https://www.ncfgiving.com/), [OJC Fund](https://ojcfund.org/index.html) or the [American Muslim Community Foundation](https://amuslimcf.org/)\). These are just a few of the more than 1,100 DAFs available. If you’d like to explore more options, check out [donoradvisedfunds.com](http://donoradvisedfunds.com) for even more comparison and analysis. ### How to Maximize your DAF This section was recently featured in [an article on Giving Compass](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) A major reason for the recent focus on DAFs is the increasingly easy, social, and connected ways that a DAF can be used online. Historically, when DAF users were inspired to give in a more spontaneous fashion \(a friend’s marathon fundraiser, a cousin’s birthday campaign, etc.\), they opted to use their credit card instead of their DAF. In fact, the recent [Donor Satisfaction Report](https://5154904.hs-sites.com/daf-donor-content-preferences-impact-on-giving-behaviors?__hstc=156812004.b6d6a6ab771fa12c30945462e491ae24.1698934310017.1728326628049.1728340121240.822&__hssc=156812004.2.1728340121240&__hsfp=782131645) from Giving Compass and The Lilly School of Philanthropy found that 37% of DAF donors surveyed did not use their DAF for their most recent donation, citing the extra steps required. That’s all rapidly changing with 5 exciting new initiatives, features, and industry collaboration: 1. **DAF Day on 10/10 \- the first ever global giving day dedicated to Donor\-Advised Funds** One of the biggest challenges that DAFs face is that they are not very well known or understood. Only 17% of Americans know what a DAF is \(according to [a recent poll](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf)\), 42% of nonprofits don’t mention DAFs in any of their communications \(according to [a recent survey](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report)\), and 37% of people with DAFs don’t use them in a given year \(according to [recent research](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-dafs)\). In 2024, a group of leading nonprofits, DAFs, and fundraising technology providers got together and [created DAF Day](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nonprofits-unite-daf-day-boosting-141600007.html) on October 10 to help address the DAF awareness problem. The movement now has over 1,000 nonprofits participating, reaching millions of donors to educate them about DAFs and encourage them to join this collective moment to demonstrate unprecedented generosity with Donor\-Advised Funds. ###### In 2024, a group of leading nonprofits, DAFs, and fundraising technology providers got together and[created DAF Day](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nonprofits-unite-daf-day-boosting-141600007.html)on October 10 to help address the DAF awareness problem This initiative is making waves in the sector, with coverage in [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/charities-daf-donations), [Forbes,](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhessekiel/2024/10/01/daf-day-24-a-start-to-freeing-billions-of-charitable-giving-dollars/) and [The Chronicle of](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/gifts-from-dafs-are-nearly-10-of-all-giving-how-nonprofits-are-trying-to-court-those-donors)[Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/gifts-from-dafs-are-nearly-10-of-all-giving-how-nonprofits-are-trying-to-court-those-donors). Anyone with a DAF is invited to join the giving celebration. You can learn more, sign up, and find participating organizations to support with your DAF at [www.dafday.com](http://www.dafday.com). 1. **Higher impact DAF giving in moments of crisis** With devastating weather events up\-ending communities around the US recently, DAFs have become a critical way in which dedicated philanthropic dollars can be deployed to support those most in need. Platforms that facilitate crisis response giving, like [GoFundMe](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/24174014869915-How-to-donate-with-your-Donor-Advised-Fund-DAF), have even added a DAF payment option called “[DAFpay](https://www.dafpay.com/)” that lets DAF donors give with their DAF in three clicks right in their forms. Their gift appears on the campaign page in real\-time, and the benefitting organization can incorporate those dollars into their crisis response immediately. When these gifts are made from a DAF portal instead, it can take days or weeks for the recipient to know anything about it. You can learn more about [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)’s crisis response work and how DAFs support it [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/creating-climate-crisis-readiness-with-gofundme-org-this-summer). 1. **DAF donor participation in peer\-to\-peer fundraising \(rides, walks, etc.\)** The most common reason people give is because they are asked—and the most common reason people ask is because they are participating in a fundraising event themselves. Between bike rides, walks, and even mustache\-growing challenges, billions of dollars are raised for charity each year through this phenomenon, which is commonly referred to as “peer\-to\-peer” fundraising. Peer\-to\-peer fundraising is so engaging because it’s social, it’s time\-bound and it’s personal. Unfortunately, DAF donors have often been left out of that experience because it’s so time\-consuming to make sure a DAF grant ultimately gets attributed to a specific person’s campaign. However, many of the country’s largest events, like [Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimers](https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=walk_homepage), [The Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.pmc.org/), [Susan G Komen’s 3\-Day](https://www.the3day.org/site/SPageServer/?NONCE_TOKEN=530216782CB4BF6AF5C78973615FE6DB), and [March of Dimes March for Babies](https://marchforbabies.org/?PersonId=132869) now have DAFpay as a core integrated payment option that gives a DAF donor the same level of engagement as someone using a credit card. In fact, one donor and 37\-year veteran of the Pan\-Mass Challenge was so excited about using DAFpay to give to the ride this year that he wrote[an article in Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucebrumberg/2024/06/25/7-reasons-to-give-via-donor-advised-funds-instead-of-credit-card-check-or-stock/)about how it’s even easier than a credit card. 1. **Real\-time DAF gifts for Giving Day campaigns** It’s not just DAF Day that encourages DAF giving on a particular day. Organizations around the country are making it easier and more engaging for donors to give from their DAF and show up in the real\-time tracker for time\-bound campaigns. From schools to athletic clubs, thousands of organizations are combining the potential of DAF giving with the competitive spirit and camaraderie of these events. [Community Rowing Inc.](https://www.givechariot.com/community-rowing-sep-2024) in Boston is now getting more than 30% of their giving day fundraising on [Givebutter](https://help.givebutter.com/en/articles/6764835-how-to-use-givebutter-s-dafpay-donation-method) through digital DAF gifts, driving 100% of their year\-over\-year growth. 1. **Take advantage of the record high stock market\!** There’s no better time to contribute non\-cash assets to your DAF, like stock and mutual fund holdings, than when the market is at record highs. You can capture three layers of tax benefits \- deducting the total face value of the securities from your taxable income this year, avoiding any capital gains tax that would’ve been owed if the securities had been sold outright, and the money in your DAF account will continue to grow tax\-free\! This is the perfect time to review the biggest winners in your portfolio, discuss with your financial advisor, and contribute to your DAF before year\-end. Explore ways to contribute to your DAF in this [helpful overview](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/giving-account/what-you-can-donate.html?immid=EML_935&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EML_935) from Fidelity. ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## The DAF Day Countdown Is On: 10 Last-Minute Prep Tips for Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/thecountdown - Published: 2024-10-04 > DAF Day is just days away. And if that makes you break a sweat, don’t worry. Whether you’re already on the DAF Day train or you’re just now considering it, it’s never too late to join in—especially with this list of actionable tips to help you launch your campaign in no time. DAF giving could change everythingRight now, $230 billion in DAF funding is just waiting to be given to organizations like yours. But even though DAFs are an incredible resource, 42 percent of nonprofits don’t mention DAFs [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) is just days away. And if that makes you break a sweat, don’t worry. Whether you’re already on the DAF Day train or you’re just now considering it, it’s never too late to join in—especially with this list of actionable tips to help you launch your campaign in no time. ### DAF giving could change everything Right now, [$230 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in DAF funding is just waiting to be given to organizations like yours. But even though DAFs are an incredible resource, [42 percent](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report) of nonprofits don’t mention DAFs in their marketing. In short, DAFs have a major awareness problem—and DAF Day is seeking to solve it. On October 10th, nonprofits, DAFs, and donors are coming together to unleash a wave of DAF giving to nonprofit organizations. Your donors want to drive the greatest possible impact, but since only [17 percent](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) of US adults know what a DAF is, it’s up to you to tell them about philanthropy’s best kept secret—and now’s your chance\! The more supporters know about the power of DAFs, the more DAF donors you’ll have. Consider this: the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) revealed that once a donor sets up a DAF account, their giving increases by96percent. Imagine what you could do for your mission if all of your donors gave with a DAF. ### Stand up your DAF Day campaign in a flash with these 10 tips We spoke with marketing pros on how your organization can make the most of DAF Day. Our conversation featured: - [Jess Campbell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-campbell-outintheboons/), Founder of Out in the Boons - [Sonia Hildner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniahildner/), Founder of One Wild Goose - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy, Chariot Here are their top tips that you and your team can leverage today: ## 1. Talk about DAFs on your website The first thing a donor will do before making a DAF gift to your organization is search for your website. When someone lands on your website, what will they find? Will they see an invitation to give via DAF, and if so, is it easy for them to find the information they need? If your website could use a DAF\-centric, follow these tips to encourage and support DAF giving: #### Create a dedicated DAF giving page on your website. In the “Ways to Give” section of your website, you’ll want to include a mention of donor advised funds and link to a DAF giving page within your site that includes: 101 info on donor advised funds: There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. [Copy and paste our DAF 101 content](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf) and tailor it to your nonprofit. Your EIN: If you don’t use [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) for DAF donation processing, a donor will need your EIN to look up your organization and give. **Quick pro tips** - Get inspiration from stunning DAF pages on these websites: [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds), [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html), [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/), and [Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds). - Ask a friend to make a DAF donation on your website, but don’t tell them how to do it. Did they have questions? Consider any aspect of the process that confuses them an opportunity to improve it. - Don’t stop at your website. Most DAF platforms pull information from your nonprofit’s profile on Candid. [Visit Candid today](http://candid.org) to ensure your profile—especially your EIN—is correct. ## 2. Equip donors to give in three clicks with DAFpay Let’s face it: the traditional DAF donation process could be a*lot*easier. Historically, DAF donors visit a DAF portal to request that a grant be sent from their DAF account. Next, a DAF manager serves as a middle person in the process and sends a grant to the donor’s chosen nonprofit. Oftentimes, this process takes weeks, and the donor’s name and contact information are left off the gift, making it difficult for the nonprofit to thank that donor or re\-engage them in the future. Fortunately, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) is changing the way DAF donations are made. When your organization adds a DAFpay button to your donation form, a donor can give via DAF in just three clicks. And best of all, your nonprofit gets the funds right away directly from the donor—along with their contact information. Chances are, your fundraising platform already has DAFpay enabled, and you just need to turn it on. [See if your fundraising platform is on our integrated partners list.](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) If yours isn’t set with DAFpay, you can opt to create your campaign using a crowdfunding site that has DAF Pay enabled, such as GoFundMe, Pledge, and GiveButter. Whether your fundraising platform is already on board or you’d like to create a one\-off DAF Day giving page, check out these six easy ways to get equipped with DAFpay in just minutes. ### Access DAFPay for Free It's easy to get equipped with DAFpay in just minutes. Click Here ## 3. Sign up to get the free DAF Day Marketing Toolkit The DAF Day Marketing Toolkit is packed with Canva templates for a ready\-made DAF Day campaign. It includes color palettes, logos, and social media assets you can copy and repurpose using Canva, which makes it easy to incorporate your nonprofit’s brand and mission. ## Get your Marketing Toolkit Now Join the DAF Day movement, and we’ll send campaign assets right to your inbox. Register now **Quick pro tip:**When you receive a link to the toolkit, go to File \> Make a copy for any asset you’d like to edit. ## 4. Add your organization to the DAF Day Donate Page Many donors will celebrate DAF Day by checking out the [dafday.com](http://dafday.com) website. Make sure your organization is featured as a participating nonprofit by claiming your Chariot account and answering the two DAF Day questions in your dashboard \(your logo \+ your preferred DAF Giving URL\). Get on the list ## 5. Set goals with a dedicated DAF Day team Donors love a goalpost, and so does your team. When you’re aligned on the*Why?*of your campaign, the*How?*will follow much more easily. Once you’ve rounded up a handful of team members who can lend their efforts to your DAF Day campaign, craft an internal power statement. A power statement is like an affirmation, but it’s more than a feel\-good exercise. It’s the North Star of your DAF Day campaign. A power statement for a food pantry could be: You have the power to fund a new refrigerated truck to reach hundreds more residents in need. That statement can translate to donors as,”When you help Marigold Food Pantry raise $100,000 on DAF Day, you help fund a refrigerated truck to reach hundreds more residents in need in our community. From there, think about what it will take to achieve that goal. What is your average DAF donation? How many will you need to receive to reach that number? How many new DAF donors could join your current ones and make that goal a reality? How will you spread the word? ## 6. Call your enthusiastic DAF donors DAF donors come in all shapes and sizes, and the best way to engage this diverse community is to ask them why they give with their DAF, along with the types of stories that resonate with them. Not to mention, you can make sure your highly\-engaged DAF donors give on October 10th and spread the word to their colleagues and friends. ## 7. Create a DAF Day marketing plan To create a hit campaign, your team needs to rally around a definitive plan. Follow these guidelines to shape your communications, from content themes to cadence. ### Meet your donors where they are. There’s no need to spread yourself thin and start engaging on channels you haven’t yet invested in. Where are your donors today? If that’s LinkedIn and email, then focus on those avenues. If it’s email, Facebook, and Instagram, then those three are the main attractions of your campaign—although it’s always a good idea to share about your organization’s DAF Day participation from your personal LinkedIn and social media accounts. ### Follow best practices for each channel. Every channel has its must\-dos and current trends, and if you want to make the most of your posts, it’s best to pay attention to them. If you’re posting on Instagram, carousels and reels are king. \(If you get the DAF Day Marketing Toolkit, a carousel is included.\) When you’re drafting a lengthier post on LinkedIn, make sure that the first line is incredibly compelling. That way you’ll gain lots of readers who are willing to click “Read more” and see the full story below the truncated content. ### Determine the right email frequency. Data shows the more emails you send, the more money you'll raise. That said, “more” is different from one organization to the next. For example, if your nonprofit sends a single quarterly email, you won’t want to send multiple emails in a single day out of nowhere. Instead, you’ll need to warm up your audience to that cadence by increasing email communication to once or twice a week leading up to DAF Day. On the other hand, if your organization emails your donor list once a week, those donors are primed and ready for a flurry of DAF Day communications. ### Consider these suggested DAF Day emails. DAF Day is just days away, so each message has to count. Consider adding these emails to your marketing plan to encourage as many people as possible to join in. If you can, segment by DAF and non\-DAF donors and tailor the message accordingly. Join us on DAF Day: Send an introductory email with your DAF Day fundraising goal, an invitation for donors to give, along with DAF 101 information for the non\-DAF donor segment. DAF Day reminder: Send an email on October 9th reminding donors about your goal and their impact when they pitch in. If donors pledged to match their gift, this is the perfect time to mention it. Morning kickoff:Send an email on the morning of October 10th that serves as a kickoff for your fundraiser and links to your donation page. Evening last call: Send a final email letting donors know how close you are to your goal and thanking them for participating by giving and sharing your campaign on social media. #### Quick pro tips - Send your emails from a person instead of your organization. For example, if donors are used to seeing your nonprofit’s name in their inbox, it might not stand out. However if they see a “Jamie Schultz” as the sender, they’re more likely to want to find out what the email is about. - Try using CAPS in your subject line to capture donors’ attention. For example:*TOMORROW: For 24 hours, your DAF gift will be doubled* - Toss an emoji in the front of the subject line or play around with the preview text by adding a string of emojis as the first six characters, like: ❗❗❗❗❗❗ - Get instant feedback and suggestions to improve your subject lines at [subjectline.com](http://subjectline.com). #### Create social content that speaks to various types of DAF donors See examples of content by DAF donor type in this [template\-packed article](https://www.givechariot.com/post/5-easy-steps-to-engaging-daf-donors-on-daf-day-and-beyond). #### Don’t be shy—keep asking\! No, you’re not annoying your donors by posting more than once a day. Remember, people aren’t digesting your campaign in a linear way. In fact, they likely won’t even see each post you make or email you send given how crowded the digital world is. And this isn’t just a challenge for your organization—engagement is down everywhere. But that’s okay\! All you’re aiming for is an impression, a chance to get in front of people who care about your mission. ## 8. Update your LinkedIn profile As a fundraiser, you’re probably planning on spreading the word about DAF Day to your network on LinkedIn. Lucky for you, we’ve created a LinkedIn profile image template that lets everyone know you’re in for October 10th. Here’s how to add a DAF Day image treatment to your profile image: 1. [Copy the page from Canva.](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGSQYCW8TE/KoJETwHILIzR-qTpFZKI9g/view?utm_content=DAGSQYCW8TE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor) 2. Drag and drop your photo into the image asset. 3. Download the image. 4. Upload the image to your LinkedIn profile. Once your photo is set for DAF Day, upload the DAF Day LinkedIn background image to match. ## 9. Create a DAF Day landing page Your DAF Day deserves its own landing page for a number of reasons that will lend to your future DAF fundraising strategy. Here’s why: - Since storytelling lives at the heart of the most successful campaigns, connecting your ask to DAF Day on its own page empowers you to tailor your ask to the spirit of the day. Be sure to spotlight a DAF donor via video or by using written quotes that communicate why they love supporting your mission using their DAF account. - DAF Day is brand new, so you have an awesome opportunity to rank for the term “DAF Day” by following this URL format: [yourorganization.org/dafday](http://yourorganization.org/dafday). For this year and next year’s DAF Day, this page will be SEO gold. - By asking people to sign up on your landing page, you’re building a list of donor leads who are interested in giving via DAF and participating in DAF Day. One great idea is to create a downloadable DAF explainer that requires an email. - If your organization uses Google Ads \(remember nonprofits are eligible for Google Ad grants\!\), pointing your ads to a page that is specific to DAF Day versus your website will directly relate to the search terms you’ve chosen. This way, donors who click through your ads will land directly on the CTA you want them to engage with. We love how the Michael J. Fox Foundation approached its DAF Day landing page. [Take a look](https://www.michaeljfox.org/dafday) and follow their lead. ## 10. Map out a plan for October 11th How are you thanking the DAF donors who make your DAF Day campaign a success? Make sure no one gets missed by deciding your day\-after plan before DAF Day is done. Consider these options: - Personal emails: Michael J. Fox receives [a 50 percent response](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) rate to their DAFpay thank you emails. How’s that for instant re\-engagement? - Handwritten notes: Receiving a letter is always meaningful. - Text messages: You can bet donors will check their phones. - Voice memos: “It’s like a little cameo from your favorite nonprofit.” No matter which thank\-you methods you choose, be mindful that gifts that don’t come through DAFpay will have a waiting period before you receive the funds. Because of this tricky process, we also recommend sending a generic DAF Day email to all donors the following day. Instead of explicitly saying, “Thank you for your donation,” you can update donors on your fundraising results, remind them about the power of DAF giving, and communicate how grateful you are to belong to such a wonderful community. ## We’re here for you If you need help getting set with DAFpay or have questions about your DAF Day campaign, reach out anytime to [the DAF Day team](https://www.dafday.com/). --- ## 6 free and easy ways to access DAFpay for your fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising - Published: 2024-09-30 > With the recent exponential growth in DAF giving, organizations everywhere are seeking more ways to find more DAF donors and increase... ### Unlocking seamless digital DAF giving is within reach for everyone \- here’s how. With the [recent exponential growth](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) in DAF giving, organizations everywhere are seeking more ways to find more DAF donors and increase their DAF fundraising. The best way to achieve these goals is to remind your donors about DAF giving at the moment they are inspired to give, and make it as easy as possible. [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) by Chariot is the 3\-click DAF payment option that can be embedded into any form or website, providing the most effective way to spur more DAF support. Especially with [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) around the corner on 10/10/2024, giving your supporters the easiest way to pay with their DAF is your best chance to maximize DAF giving. Another perk of tapping into DAFpay for DAF Day is that DAF support can appear on the [DAF Day Donate Page](https://app.dafday.com/) leaderboards immediately. For most DAF Donors, it will be the first time they will see their DAF gift’s impact on a time\-based fundraising campaign in real time\! If you’re worried that upfront costs or contracts will prevent you from using DAFpay in this year’s DAF Day, you’ll be surprised to know that DAFpay is more accessible than you might think\! #### Here are 6 ways you can leverage DAFpay in your DAF Day campaign \- and beyond. ##### 1. Check your current Fundraising Platform provider\(s\) DAFpay is already natively integrated with dozens of fundraising technology providers as a core payment option. The first thing you should do is check if a fundraising tool that you already use is included on our [list of live integrations](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), and make sure you have DAFpay activated. If you have questions about the steps for activation, please consult our [knowledge hub](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/) where we have detailed directions for each integration. ##### 2. Ask your Fundraising Platform provider\(s\) for DAFpay The Chariot team is working diligently to add DAFpay as a native payment option in any place where someone can donate online. But, the companies that provide donation forms need to hear the need for DAFpay from their customers in order to prioritize the work to build the integration with us. Make sure they know it is a big priority for your organization\! ##### 3. Claim your Chariot Account Regardless of whether your current fundraising platform provider has DAFpay or not, the simple step of claiming your organization’s Chariot account will open up more avenues for DAF giving. Claiming your account will let your organization: - Appear on public DAF giving pages like the DAF Day Donate page - - Note: For the DAF Day Donate page specifically, you need to populate your logo & preferred DAF giving URL in your Chariot account \- more detailed directions[here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-the-daf-day-donate-page). - Receive DAF gifts faster from crowdfunding sites \(e.g. GoFundMe\). - - Because anyone can fundraise for you on a 3rd party site where DAFpay is enabled, people could start making DAFpay gifts to support you at any time. Once you’ve claimed your Chariot account, any DAFpay gifts made in any 3rd party fundraisers can be sent directly to your organization instead of going through a 3rd party. - See DAFpay gifts in one central dashboard. - No matter where a DAFpay gift was made or by whom, you’ll be able to review all the details in your Chariot dashboard. - Actively use a fundraising tool that has integrated DAFpay for a DAF specific campaign… like DAF Day\! The following are partners of Chariot that offer self\-serve fundraising pages with no set up costs, that you can start using in minutes \- perfect for a standalone campaign page for DAF Day. ##### 4. Use a Givebutter Form Givebutter offers extremely flexible fundraising forms that you can use as a standalone webpage to link to, or even embed into your website. There is no cost to start using Givebutter and you can toggle DAFpay on in one click \(full directions [here](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/9194749-getting-started-with-givebutter)\). Check out how [Community Rowing maximized DAF giving](https://www.givechariot.com/community-rowing-sep-2024) with the DAFpay x Givebutter integration for a Giving Day campaign. ##### 5. Create a GoFundMe page Any fundraising page for a DAF\-eligible organization on GoFundMe automatically has DAFpay enabled. You can either create a campaign benefitting your organization through [Charity Fundraisers](https://www.gofundme.com/c/start/charity-fundraising), or [sign up for GoFundMe as a charity](https://www.gofundme.com/sign-up?redirect=/charity-sign-up) to have full visibility into all fundraising on GoFundMe for your organization. You can link supporters to this specific page any time you want to highlight DAF giving. See the full details on DAF giving through GoFundMe [here](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/24174014869915-How-to-donate-with-your-Donor-Advised-Fund-DAF). ##### 6. Try a Pledge campaign or donation form Pledge campaigns and forms automatically have DAFpay enabled and are highly flexible \- they can be hosted by Pledge or embedded into your own webpages. Campaign features, like the live fundraising thermometer, help motivate your DAF donors\! For more details on the DAFpay x Pledge integration, and how to get started visit this [guide](https://www.pledge.to/blog/unlocking-230-billion-in-impact-announcing-our-new-partnership-with-dafpay-by-chariot). ### For any other questions on accessing DAFpay on DAF Day, feel free to reach out to us at [dafday@givechariot.com](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com). --- ## 5 easy steps to engaging DAF donors on DAF Day and beyond - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/5-easy-steps-to-engaging-daf-donors-on-daf-day-and-beyond - Published: 2024-09-30 > If your team is sharpening its focus on donor-advised funds, you’ve got good reasons to head in this direction. According to the DAF Fundraising Report, giving increases 96 percent when a donor sets up a DAF. Imagine if all of your donors made this switch! The good news is, promoting DAF giving is easier than you think—especially with DAF Day just one week away.Your opportunity on DAF DayDAF Day is a national day to celebrate DAF giving and generate awareness around the power of DAFs. The first- If your team is sharpening its focus on donor\-advised funds, you’ve got good reasons to head in this direction. According to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), giving increases 96 percent when a donor sets up a DAF. Imagine if all of your donors made this switch\! The good news is, promoting DAF giving is easier than you think—especially with DAF Day just one week away. ## Your opportunity on DAF Day DAF Day is a national day to celebrate DAF giving and generate awareness around the power of DAFs. The first\-ever DAF Day takes place on October 10th. On this day, nonprofits, donors, and DAFs will band together to unleash a wave of DAF donations to 501\(c\)\(3\) organizations nationwide. Right now just [42 percent](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report) of nonprofits mention DAFs in their marketing. If your nonprofit is part of this group, now’s your chance to make a change. ## Get your DAF Day Toolkit Join the DAF Day movement for free, and we’ll send everything you need to prep for October 10th right to your inbox Join now Now that you’re tracking toward October 10th, use this opportunity to build a broader DAF fundraising strategy. We sat down with nonprofit leaders to discuss actionable approaches to DAF fundraising that your team can leverage well beyond DAF Day. Our conversation included: - [Brandolon Barnett](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandolon/), Head of Innovation & Philanthropy, Giving Compass - [Tracy Waksler](https://www.linkedin.com/in/waksler/), VP of Growth, Candid - [Tanya Gulliver\-Garcia](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyagulliver/), Center for Disaster Philanthropy - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy, Chariot Put their tried\-and\-true advice into practice with these easy steps to grow your DAF donor community. ## Step 1. Want more DAF donations? Start using one yourself Just [17 percent](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) of US adults understand what a donor advised fund is and why it’s beneficial. With a stat like that, it’s not surprising that many fundraisers don’t have their own DAF account—but when you don’t experience what it’s like to have and give from a DAF, you’re missing out. The more you [give from your DAF as a nonprofit fundraiser](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-nonprofit-fundraisers-should-get-their-own-donor-advised-fund-daf), the more you understand its benefits and can communicate them to your donors. Plus, giving via DAF can inspire new ways to improve the donor experience at your own organization. The [DAF Donor Satisfaction Survey](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) revealed that 37 percent of DAF donors didn’t give from their DAF for their most recent donation. By becoming a DAF donor and experiencing the process of DAF giving firsthand, it’s easier to pinpoint why. Understanding the sometimes frustrating and unnecessary steps in the process can help you streamline DAF giving at your own organization, which can lead to the boost in DAF donors and grants you want to see over time. ## Step 2. Make DAF giving as easy as every other type of donation On average, DAF gifts in the DAF Fundraising Report were 20 times larger than non\-DAF gifts \(even with major gifts over $25,000 excluded\!\). While that’s great news, if donating to your nonprofit with a credit card is easier than giving from a DAF, you’re probably missing out on critical funds. Historically, DAF giving has been clunky. First, a donor needs to leave the donation form or website where they were initially inspired to give to log in to a typically antiquated platform. Here, they’ll need to locate the organization they’d like to support by legal name or EIN, then answer several more questions. Next, the DAF manager creates a grant and distributes it to the donor’s designated nonprofit. What’s worse, this dated process is just as frustrating for organizations as it is for donors. The time between submitting the grant request to the organization receiving the gift could take weeks, and the donor information the organization received is often incomplete, with no donor name or contact information. If this process is all too familiar, it’s time to switch to [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/). When your nonprofit adds a DAFpay button to your donation forms, donors can give directly from their DAFs in just three clicks—without ever leaving your website. It’s as easy as giving with a credit card or PayPal. And best of all, DAFpay gifts come with a donor’s name and email, so you can thank donors in real time and re\-engage them whenever you like. ## Step 3. Familiarize yourself with the types of DAF donors Once you’ve improved your DAF donor experience, think about who’s giving DAF gifts. This information will serve as the foundation for your DAF\-related content. **Non\-DAF donors** Remember only [17 percent](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) of US adults know what a DAF is, so chances are, many of your donors don’t know what they’re missing. The first step to growing your DAF donor community is ensuring all of your donors know what a DAF is, along with its benefits. **Cause\-driven donors** Donors who are very passionate about a specific cause often look to DAFs to reach their philanthropic goals. Knowing the impact of their DAF is everything to these donors, and communicating their value to your mission will encourage them to give again and again. **Families** DAFs give families something special to rally around, because a DAF account takes on a new purpose for the parents who fund it when they can pass their values of philanthropy and giving with intention on to their kids. Right now, many parents in your donor community are passionate about your cause. Make those relationships even more meaningful by inviting them to use a DAF so their children can join in. **Of\-the\-moment donors** Lots of donors are motivated by headline\-worthy happenings connected to your mission. These donors typically give online, responding to the social media buzz around a particular event. Some DAF donors appreciate having funds on hand to contribute to disaster relief, while others embrace the ability to make a donation when the political climate drives an urgent need. Your organization can appeal to these donors by sharing how it’s responding to current events on social media as they unfold. But in addition to quick\-hitting, highly visual content, you’ll want to mention they can give via DAF and make that process as easy as possible. ## Step 4. Understand how donors see your nonprofit A whopping [97 percent](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) of DAF donors engaged in some form of research before making a donation. And with so many online scams these days, who can blame them? Put yourself in a donor’s shoes—what do you see when you research your organization? Is it easy for donors to verify your mission, work, 501\(c\)\(3\) status, and compliance with federal and state obligations? In addition to reviewing your website, it’s important to check your profile on Candid. This database, formerly known as GuideStar, is a trusted third\-party resource for donors seeking verification. It only takes minutes to review your [Candid profile](https://candid.org/), so check it out to make sure the information is complete, accurate, and current. ## Step 5. Create a DAF\-focused content stream Just because your donor has a DAF doesn’t mean they’re using it. In fact, a recent study showed that a staggering [37 percent](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) of DAF accounts go untouched in any given year. It’s your team’s job to remind DAF donors about the powerful tool they have at their fingertips. There are two ways you can do this: - First, meet donors where they give and highlight DAF giving in all of your donation forms—adding a DAFpay button makes that as intuitive as possible. - Second, take a proactive approach by distributing DAF\-related content the same way you would for any other fundraising campaign. Not sure how to go about DAF\-centric content? Here are some themes you can easily tailor to each donor type and your mission. And don’t stop at text\-based posts. You can translate any of these content themes to video, which is the perfect medium if you want to stand out on crowded social media feeds. ### Non\-DAF donors: Let everyone in on the best way to give **POST 1: THE 101 EXPLAINER** This post is a simple definition. Consider including a link to this detailed DAF 101 page[here](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf). This post is available for you to use in the DAF Day Marketing Toolkit\! Get access to it when you sign up for DAF Day [here](https://www.dafday.com/join-us). **POST 2: QUICK HIT BENEFITS** Donors need to understand the *why *behind DAF giving. You can share the benefits in a text\-based carousel and a video with DAF donors sharing why they like giving this way. This post is available for you to use in the DAF Day Marketing Toolkit\! Get access to it when you sign up for DAF Day [here](https://www.dafday.com/join-us). **POST 3: EVERYONE’S INVITED** For decades, DAFs carried sky\-high minimums that barred most donors from having one. Let them know the times have changed with this quick announcement. ### Cause\-driven donors: Be hyper\-specific about the tangible impact of their DAF gift Give donors the ability to connect their DAF dollars to direct impact. Feature photos of who they’ll help or have the recipients of their generosity share about just what their gift means in a video. **Example copy:***Your $1,000 DAF donation equips 5 students with laptops & internet access from freshman to senior year. Give opportunity in just 3 clicks: \[Add a link to a donation form with a DAFpay button here.\]* **Try it with your mission using this formula:***Your \[GIFT AMOUNT\] DAF donation \[VERB/WHAT IT DOES\] \[RECIPIENT/WHO IT HELPS\] \[HOW IT HELPS THEM\]. Give \[WHAT THE GIFT’S ULTIMATE OUTCOME IS\] in just three clicks: \[DONATION FORM LINK\]* ### Families and couples: Share the joy in giving together Families and couples who give jointly are excited to share about their favorite hobby. Ask DAF donors who give in groups if they’d like to be featured in a social media post and on your website. **Example copy:***Meet the parents inspiring a new generation of philanthropy through DAF giving. “We order the pizza and the* *kids pick where we should give.” Hear the Lantz family’s story: \[Link to a blog post or video spotlighting the featured DAF donors\]* **Try it with your donors using this copy:***Meet the parents inspiring a new generation of philanthropy through DAF giving. “\[QUOTE FROM PARENTS ABOUT GIVING TOGETHER.” Hear the \[LAST NAME\] family’s story: \[Link to a blog post or video spotlighting the featured DAF donors\]* ### Of\-the\-moment donors: Drive maximum impact through the power of gift\-matching When donors respond to a newsworthy need, they want their efforts to count. Let them know how to do the most good by leveraging their DAF to rally others around their cause. **Example copy:***Creating a fundraiser? 84% of donors are more likely to give if you match their gift. Match with your DAF: \[Add a link to a donation form with a DAFpay button here.\]* [Source: Double the Donation](https://doublethedonation.com/matching-gift-statistics/) ## Invite your donors to attend our next webinar that’s especially for them **The DAF Day Countdown Is On:** **A Last\-Minute Prep Session for Nonprofits** Wednesday, October 2nd at 12:00 PM Just one week left until the big day—but don’t stress, we’ll help you get set\! In this session, we’ll cover a list of to\-dos you’ll want to complete in the coming days and discuss your questions and ideas for a hit campaign. Register now --- ## 7 Takeaways from The DAF Donor Satisfaction Survey by Giving Compass & The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph - Published: 2024-09-25 > Giving Compass, a nonprofit platform helping donors make more informed and impactful charitable donations, partnered with... [Giving Compass](https://givingcompass.org/), a nonprofit platform helping donors make more informed and impactful charitable donations, partnered with [Dr. Sara Konrath](https://www.linkedin.com/in/skonrath/) from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy to release a landmark new study: “Donor Satisfaction and Unlocking Public Sector Funding from DAFs.” The study explores the psychology of DAF donors, identifying the key factors that propel DAF giving – and what hinders it. Chariot’s Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), served on the study’s Advisory Committee, lending his expertise on DAFs and donor behavior. We’ve rounded up our key takeaways and the top action items for nonprofits below: ### 1. 97% of DAF donors do some kind of diligence before giving. DAF donors are intentional about their giving – all aspects of it\! We know they’re thoughtful about how they allocate their funds towards charity, so it shouldn’t be surprising that DAF donors also seek to maximize their impact by researching the most effective nonprofits. The two most popular ways donors sought information were **word of mouth **and **Google search**. Action items: - Can your supporters easily share the positive impact of your organization? - Have you published impact stories that supporters can retell? - When someone searches your organization on Google, do you know what they find? - If someone searches your organization \+ “DAF,” does your DAF page come up? ### 2. 68% of DAF donors are motivated by long term impact. ##### "Impact means change, so things don’t just continue as they are. So how does my donation make a change?" *Report Participant— Anonymous Female Donor, Age 55* When asked how they understood impactful giving, 68% of DAF donors focused on the sustained long term effects of their donation – the top three answers were improving people’s lives, advancing a nonprofit’s mission, and contributing to long term change. These donors are involved with philanthropy for the long haul. And often, it’s not lack of funds that stops them from giving, it’s lack of trust. Donors want to see how their gifts are making a difference. Action items: - How are you building trust with your past and future supporters? - Does your public messaging clarify the urgency of your mission and long\-term potential of your organization? - Do you invite donors to in\-person events to see the work of your organization firsthand? ### 3. 37% of DAF Donors didn’t use their DAF to make their most recent donation, citing extra steps. Even though a DAF donor made the extra effort to set up a dedicated financial account for their philanthropy, they still are deterred from using their DAF when it isn’t easy. A participant in the Giving Compass study described this scenario: ##### “I didn't use my donor advised fund because there are just many more steps with the donor advised funds, and frankly, I often forget that it's there. So when I'm asked in the moment to donate or if something comes up, it's so easy just to start the process and put my information, and by the time I'm finished, I have forgotten that, oh, yes, I have a donor advised fund to pull from.” *Report Participant – Anonymous Female Donor, Age 52* Many DAF donors use DAFs for their planned annual gifts – the ones they decide to give when contemplating their yearly financials. However, when they come across a worthy cause more spontaneously—perhaps through a friend, family member, or local nonprofit—they give with a credit card instead of a DAF due to the extra steps required. This trend presents a significant missed opportunity for organizations that don’t get those DAF gifts. The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that the same donor’s gift size increased an impressive 96% when they started giving through their DAF. So, what can nonprofits do to encourage donors with DAFs to always use them for giving, spontaneous gift or not? Ensure that the process of giving to your organization through a DAF is a breeze\! Action items: - Does your ways to give page feature information about DAFs? - Do you have your nonprofit’s EIN easily discoverable on your website \- especially on your DAF ways to give page? - Have you checked [if your fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations) has DAFpay available? If not, [have you requested they add the integration](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/8736833-what-should-i-do-if-my-fundraising-platform-is-not-listed-on-chariot-s-integration-page)? DAFpay eliminates the extra steps required for DAF gifts and facilitates donation via DAF in just 3 clicks\! ### 4. 84% of DAF donors who chose not to use their DAF for their most recent donation were making a gift to a local organization Too often, DAF donors are opting to give through an alternate method than their DAF, especially when supporting small or local organizations. This tendency is further demonstrated by the fact that 57% of donors surveyed confirmed they support large and international organizations from their DAF \- 25% of them supporting one of the same 3 organizations\! This highlights a huge opportunity for locally\-based nonprofits: the $230 billion dollars in DAFs should be distributed equitably amongst larger and smaller nonprofits, rather than disproportionately benefiting the larger ones. What can local nonprofits do to reach new DAF donors? There are likely many DAF donors in their donor files that aren’t yet using their DAF to support them \- as this study’s data reminds us. The best way to get those donors to use their DAF is to **remind them and make it easy.** Action items: - Do you send emails to your donors highlighting the ability to support your organization through a DAF? - Does your website include a banner, dedicated page, or section on your main donation form that provides the same information? ### 5. 98% of donors were positively impacted when shown a video about an organization they might give to. One of the challenges to get DAF donors supporting more small and local organizations is making sure they have enough information to feel confident in their gift’s impact. This study showed that when participants watched a video about an organization, 15% more people felt they had sufficient information to donate compared to when they only read an excerpt about an organization’s mission. Video storytelling is highly motivating to DAF donors, particularly for smaller organizations that are new to them. More donors reported feeling informed about an organization after watching a video than reading an excerpt, even when the video focused on a preselected organization and the excerpt described an organization they had personally chosen to explore. Action items: - Have you tried using a video to communicate your nonprofit’s message? - Are you staying up\-to\-date on the latest marketing tools and surveys in order to enhance your marketing strategies? - Do you test different messaging strategies with your audience \(text vs. video, image vs. no\-image, etc.\)? ### 6. 54% of DAF Donors view themselves as experts – and experts give more. We know that DAF donors are highly intentional with their philanthropy \- they went out of their way to set up a separate, restricted financial account just for giving. These findings are also an important reminder that DAF donors identify as “smart” givers, and as that sentiment grows, gift size increases\! The Giving Compass report cited a [Bank of America study](https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/2fd1581e-c1a0-43de-a174-a3080d019fc2/content) that found that the amount given by a donor correlates to the level of knowledge that the donor considers themselves to have on the causes they are supporting. A self\-reported “expert” gives $43K on average, someone “knowledgeable” gives $14K, and a “novice” gives $2K. Action items: - Do you segment your donor base in order to communicate a tailored message with your DAF donors? - Does your messaging communicate how your organization is the “smart” choice for this kind of donor, with specifics on your mission and impact? - Do you send thank you messages to your DAF donors \(instead of tax receipts\!\), thanking them for their donation and recording that they gave via DAF? \(“Expert” donors have high standards and effective stewardship should be a high priority\!\) ### 7. Only 10% of “affluent” households use DAFs – we’re at the very beginning of this wave\! While the number of DAF accounts has increased by 9x in the past 10 years \(according to [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/)\), there’s likely to be significantly more growth on the horizon. While DAFs are increasingly accessible to all types of donors, there’s still a huge growth opportunity among their traditional audience: affluent households. According to the study conducted by Bank of America, cited above, only 10% of affluent households are using a DAF today, and the remaining 90% are likely to [find significant value from DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf)– they can streamline their philanthropy, increase their generosity, and optimize their taxes. Action items: - Are you discussing DAF giving in your 1x1 donor conversations? - Is your staff comfortable talking about DAFs with your donors? - Have you joined [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/), a national giving day dedicated to DAFs on October 10th, 2024 that’s engaging all kinds of donors in DAF education? This report provides an incredibly valuable addition to the growing list of research on DAF giving. It offers a unique and quantitative look at DAF donor behavior across a wide range of demographics that can help any nonprofit improve their DAF fundraising strategy. To dive deeper into all of the data and insights, download the full report [here](https://5154904.hs-sites.com/daf-donor-content-preferences-impact-on-giving-behaviors). If you’re interested in more DAF research, check out other recent summaries: - [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donor-advised-funds-increase-annual-giving-by-96-reveals-new-chariot-k2d-strategies-five-year-stud) - [DAF Research Collaborative Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds) - [Fidelity Charitable’s 2024 DAF Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report) ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news, [subscribe](https://www.givechariot.com/) to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## How to Craft Your Winning DAF Strategy: 7 Secrets of DAF Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-to-craft-your-winning-daf-strategy-7-secrets-of-daf-fundraising - Published: 2024-09-24 > Most nonprofit organizations haven't tapped into DAFs for their fundraising strategy yet. Unlike your seasonal campaigns, DAFs need some education for your donors, staff, and board, and that's expected. But the extra effort you'll spend is minimal compared to the dazzling results. According to the DAF Fundraising Report, a donor’s annual giving increases by 96 percent when they begin using a DAF. And while that’s a jaw-dropping number, it gets even better—the top 25 percent of DAF donors in the Most nonprofit organizations haven't tapped into DAFs for their fundraising strategy yet. Unlike your seasonal campaigns, DAFs need some education for your donors, staff, and [board](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-biggest-untapped-opportunity-for-daf-day-success-your-board), and that's expected. But the extra effort you'll spend is minimal compared to [the dazzling results](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-future-of-fundraising-10-ways-dafs-are-taking-individual-giving-to-new-heights). According to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), a donor’s annual giving increases by 96 percent when they begin using a DAF. And while that’s a jaw\-dropping number, it gets even better—the top 25 percent of DAF donors in the study gives 200 percent more. If you’re ready to begin or reinvest in DAF fundraising, we’ve rounded up secrets to success from sought\-after nonprofit leaders: - [Amanda Brown Lierman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakarynnebrown/), Executive Director at [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) - [Emily Rasmussen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-rasmussen-02816619/), Founder & CEO at Grapevine - [Nohe Ka](https://www.linkedin.com/in/noheka/), Fred Hutch Cancer Center Executive Director, Gift Services and Data Management - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy, Chariot Before we reveal the secrets, let’s start with the basics, along with an exciting opportunity to reintroduce DAF giving to your entire donor community. ## The seismic shift to DAF giving, explained Across the nonprofit sector, DAF usage is growing [85 percent](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwuMC2BhA7EiwAmJKRrC7DxAdyGyqavQYH2LOVXTgSYhUSVyt5W9kRB30itNwsZPu_BAP_ZBoCfDAQAvD_BwE) each year on average. These wow\-worthy changes in donor behavior aren’t happening in a vacuum—your organization can inspire DAF giving, too. If your donors aren’t giving by DAF, it’s an easy fix. Chances are, they probably don’t know DAFs exist. Only 17 percent of US adults know what a DAF is, and [42 percent](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report) of nonprofits don’t mention DAFs in their [marketing](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-daf-day-marketing-playbook-for-nonprofits). To explain DAFs to donors, start in [the simplest terms](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donor-advised-funds-101-donor-benefits-daf-myths-how-nonprofits-can-spark-daf-giving): a DAF is like a 401k for charitable giving. On a regular basis, you can automatically deposit funds into a DAF account that are specifically reserved for supporting the causes you care about. As for DAF benefits, zero in on these three: **Accessibility:**DAFs are for everybody. In the past, DAF accounts required minimums that barred many donors from participating. Now, anyone can open a DAF account at any amount. A DAF gift can range from $20 to millions of dollars. **Convenience:**DAFs make supporting organizations and helping out in times of crisis an easy decision. There’s no question of whether you can give—the funds are already waiting in your DAF account. Additionally, many nonprofits are taking the middle person out of DAF giving by adding a [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) button to donation forms. That way, donors don’t have to contact a DAF manager. They can give from their DAF in three quick clicks, just like they would using PayPal or a credit card. And best of all, your organization gets the funds and the donor’s contact information the moment they donate. **Philanthropy management:**When a donor gives from a DAF, they only need to include their contribution to their DAF in their tax filing—no scrambling to find random receipts. Plus, this simple way to optimize your taxes means you have even more funds to give to your favorite organizations. ## DAF Day: the perfect way to kick off DAF fundraising DAF giving can only reach its potential if donors know about it. That’s why we’re coming together to spotlight the power of DAFs on [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) this October 10th. On this day, DAF donors, DAFs, and nonprofits will unleash a wave of DAF giving to organizations throughout the US, and [your organization is welcome to join us](https://www.givechariot.com/post/10-reasons-your-nonprofit-should-join-daf-day-today). DAF giving can only reach its potential if donors know about it. That’s why we’re coming together to spotlight the power of DAFs on [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) this October 10th. On this day, DAF donors, DAFs, and nonprofits will unleash a wave of DAF giving to organizations throughout the US, and [your organization is welcome to join us](https://www.givechariot.com/post/10-reasons-your-nonprofit-should-join-daf-day-today). ## Get your DAF Day Toolkit Join the DAF Day movement for free, and we’ll send everything you need to prep for October 10th right to your inbox Join now ## 7 Secrets of DAF giving to influence your fundraising strategy Now that you’re taking a closer look at DAF fundraising for your organization, here are the secrets to help you present DAF giving to your donor community. Secret 1: Promote DAF benefits to every type of donor Social media has made giving with friends a norm, and that’s a good thing. Now, people you know and love can start fundraisers for all kinds of things: annual races, birthday celebrations—even to promote the latest campaign of their favorite organization. Nonprofit organizations can drive even more revenue for their missions by promoting DAF giving in these moments. Even donors that have a DAF will too often reach for their credit cards, but that means you’re missing out on the larger gifts that happen when donors give from their DAF instead. In a study from the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), DAF gifts were 20 times larger than non\-DAF gifts, on average. Consider that this study excluded major gifts over $25,000, and you have every reason to encourage DAF giving in peer\-to\-peer fundraising. For example, donors who give to March of Dimes [increased their gift size by 8x](https://www.givechariot.com/march-of-dimes-case-study) when they switched from giving by credit card to giving through a DAF. And while the overall industry average for credit card gifts is $204, March of Dimes sees digital DAF gifts through DAFpay that average a whopping $1,100. The reason for this dramatic difference in gift amounts is obvious. For DAF donors, charitable funds are readily available in their DAF account at any time. In other words, when an opportunity to give with folks they want to connect with arises, there’s no barrier to jumping in. Secret 2: DAFs can come to the rescue in time\-sensitive fundraising moments Times of crisis and urgent needs can transform into the most compelling fundraising appeals. When a donor has a DAF, they have funds set aside to help your organization. All you need to do is craft your ask in a way that moves them. When a donor is motivated by a crisis situation, they want to know that their gift is connected to direct action. Here are a few tips to ensure donors choose your nonprofit: - Be clear about your needs: What is the need and why? Where is the money going? A program? A project? Who is it helping and how? - Translate a gift amount to specific outcomes:*$200 feeds all of our sweet shelter dogs for one week.* - Ask donors to spread the word: Include an invitation for donors to do what they love—asking their networks to pitch in, too. For even more engagement, consider regularly promoting the idea of matching gift campaigns to DAF donors. This way, they’ll already know what to do when an urgent need arises. Secret 3: DAF gifts don’t have to be anonymous In the past, just about every gift your organization received paired a name with the donated funds. But the norm for DAFs is quite different. Traditionally, when a donor gives from their DAF account, they need to reach out to their DAF manager, who then awards the organization a grant. Oftentimes, the donor’s information is left off of the gift, and the receiving nonprofit only has a mysterious DAF name connected to it. And when DAF donations are given to a peer\-to\-peer fundraiser, the details are totally nonexistent. The data problem with DAFs isn’t by design. It’s just a result of a clunky, outdated process. In fact, only [4 percent of DAF gifts](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-dafs) are intended to be 100 percent anonymous. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to get that DAF donor information so you can be sure to properly recognize the MVPs in your community: **Add a DAFpay button to your donation forms: **DAFpay allows donors to give directly, so your nonprofit gets their data in real time. **Reach out to the DAF: **A DAF manager may be able to share donor details with your organization if you ask. **Check with your major gifts team: **Someone who regularly engages DAF donors might be able to reveal who“Smith Fund” is in an instant. **See if a similar\-sized gift was made before: **Some DAF donors make annual gifts that can be oddly specific so they are easier to identify. \(For example, $10,432 made in 2022 and 2023\) Remember, donor data isn’t a nice\-to\-have. It’s the lifeblood of your organization. Someone who gives to your organization once is much more likely to give in the future, and you need their contact information to re\-engage them. Secret 4: DAFs are a massive opportunity for planned giving conversations DAFs empower donors to create a lasting legacy for their entire family. We often see DAFs take on an integral role in the home, as parents invite their children to help them decide where and how to give. These conversations create generations of generous people who see beyond themselves, who show up in the world with a desire to make a difference—and who wouldn’t want that for their kids? When it comes to planned giving conversations, DAFs should always be mentioned. A surprising [thirty percent](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) of DAF accounts are not handed down to a family member, so your organization could be named as the final recipient of their DAF balance if they were to pass away. Secret 5: DAFs can be used for recurring gifts According to the DAF Fundraising Report, DAF donor retention rates are 15 percent higher than non\-DAF donors on average. Because DAF donors consistently reserve money for charitable giving, committing to a recurring gift is an easier decision. In some ways, they’ve already done just that by having a DAF in the first place. The best news? You’ll soon be able to promote recurring gifts without lifting a finger. [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) is currently rolling out recurring DAF gifts with select partners. If you’d like to learn more, reach out [here](https://www.givechariot.com/contact). While adding this button to your forms is a no\-brainer, there’s one crucial question you need to consider if you really want to see recurring giving via DAF take off. What does it mean to be a recurring DAF donor at your organization? A recurring DAF donor isn’t someone who gives and disappears. They’re in it for the long haul. They’re someone who, month after month, fuels your ability to run your programs, pay your staff, and make your mission a reality. A recurring DAF donor should be treated like exactly who they are—a dedicated member of your team. There are many ways you can elicit this feeling, including: - Providing them with personal updates about the impact of their gift - Recruiting them to serve as advisors for DAF\-funded projects - Spotlighting their generosity in your newsletters Or, you could simply ask a recurring DAF donor how they’d like to be involved and create exclusive opportunities tailored to their interests. Secret 6: DAF donors can submit DAF gifts for employee matching A staggering [78 percent](https://www.classy.org/blog/matching-gift-potential/#:~:text=Many%20donors%20are%20unaware%20of,engagement%E2%80%945x%20the%20average%20rate.) of employees are unaware that their company offers matching gifts, so it’s no surprise that even more don’t know that their employer will match when they give via DAF. Take a moment to reach out to partner companies with matching gift programs. In addition to requesting that they send employees a reminder, consider taking on a bit of the lift for them so they’re more likely to hit send. With your request, provide them an email template letting them know that they’ll match employee gifts, along with the added benefit that employees qualify for the match when they give via DAF. Secret 7: DAF donors can be a part of a collective moment like a Giving Day Donors give because they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, so creating holidays to celebrate DAF giving as a collective is a great way to engage them—like DAF Day. DAF Day is a wonderful opportunity to join together around DAF fundraising because the movement is already underway. [Become a DAF Day participant](https://www.dafday.com/join-us), set up your [DAF Day donation page](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-the-daf-day-donate-page), and start promoting DAFs in a new and delightfully social way. ## Invite your donors to attend our next webinar that’s especially for them **DAF Day for Donors: Show Your Network Why You DAF** Thursday, September 26th at 5:00 PM Get the most from your first DAF Day—for you, your network, and your favorite causes Register now --- ## The biggest untapped opportunity for DAF Day success? Your board. - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-biggest-untapped-opportunity-for-daf-day-success-your-board - Published: 2024-09-13 > As a board member, you’re an indispensable champion for the causes you care about. You leverage your connections to inspire giving and lend your expertise to amplify your favorite organization. And thanks to your innovative spirit, you’re always looking for that next big idea to amplify its mission. If you need inspiration for year-end fundraising, consider DAF Day the perfect opportunity to spark greater giving.What is DAF Day?DAF Day is a dedicated day of giving from donor advised funds on Oct As a board member, you’re an indispensable champion for the causes you care about. You leverage your connections to inspire giving and lend your expertise to amplify your favorite organization. And thanks to your innovative spirit, you’re always looking for that next big idea to amplify its mission. If you need inspiration for year\-end fundraising, consider DAF Day the perfect opportunity to spark greater giving. ## What is DAF Day? [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) is a dedicated day of giving from donor advised funds on October 10, 2024. For 24 hours, nonprofits, DAFs, and donors will band together and unleash a wave of DAF giving to organizations throughout the US. And since DAF Day’s less than one month away, now’s the time to start getting prepped. The key to [DAF Day success](https://www.givechariot.com/post/10-reasons-your-nonprofit-should-join-daf-day-today)? Awareness. This year is the first one, so [spreading the word](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-daf-day-marketing-playbook-for-nonprofits) to donors and your network is a must. Read on for tips and strategies to inspire your DAF Day participation from people leading the DAF Day charge at their organizations, including: - [Paula Schneider](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-schneider-6322661a/), CEO at Susan G. Komen - [Cherry Z. Gamble](https://www.linkedin.com/in/czgamble/), CDO at Southern Poverty Law Center - [Michele Walsh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/walshmichele/), Chief Philanthropy Officer at UNICEF - [Jill Schlesinger](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/), Business Analyst from CBS News and Personal Finance Expert - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), Head of Strategy at Chariot \([givechariot.com](http://givechariot.com)\) Before we begin with board member participation, let’s talk DAF basics. ## The benefits of DAF giving for donors and nonprofits Whether you already use a DAF or you’re still learning about them, let’s review why they’re so valuable—then pass it on to whoever will listen\! ### DAF benefits for donors #### Convenience First, DAFs provide donors with a convenient way to set aside money for charity. DAFs allow donors to automatically deposit funds into a DAF account. In the simplest of definitions, a DAF is like a 401k but for charitable giving. As a DAF donor, there’s no question of money when you feel motivated to give. It’s right there waiting in your DAF account, ready to make a difference. #### Simple tax management Once you start using a DAF, you no longer have to hunt down individual tax receipts for every charitable gift. Instead, you’ll receive a single tax receipt documenting all your contributions to the DAF account, taking some of the hassle out of tax time. #### A better, more strategic way to give DAFs empower donors to align their giving with their philanthropic goals. With a DAF, you can set up recurring DAF gifts to provide regular support for the organizations and causes of your choice. #### No minimums DAFs make it easy to be generous. Southern Poverty Law Center reports that in recent years, donors have switched from using family foundations to donor advised funds because there’s no minimum contribution—plus a DAF is far easier to set up than a foundation. ### DAF benefits for nonprofits #### Increased giving and retention According to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report): - When a donor starts giving from a DAF, their annual giving increases by 96 percent. - DAF revenue is growing 214x faster than non\-DAF revenue. - DAF donor retention is an average of 15 percent higher than non\-DAF donors. [DAFs are having a moment](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-future-of-fundraising-10-ways-dafs-are-taking-individual-giving-to-new-heights). DAF donors have grown by 79 percent, while non\-DAF donors have declined by 6 percent. This means DAF giving wins once donors know it’s an option—and that’s where board members like you come in. ## DAF Day for board members: 5 ways you can maximize your nonprofit’s DAF Day impact Want to know how you can help your organizations achieve DAF Day success? Here’s a list of actions you can start taking today. ### 1. Start using a DAF to support your top causes If you don’t have a DAF just yet or you do but haven’t been using it, begin treating your DAF account as your sole way of giving. Not only will this be a whole lot more convenient, it will also equip you to rattle off [DAF benefits](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donor-advised-funds-101-donor-benefits-daf-myths-how-nonprofits-can-spark-daf-giving) to the folks in your network who have yet to join in. If you have kids with the same philanthropic spirit, make DAF giving a family event. One family mentioned how each member contributes to a single family DAF and holds quarterly family meetings to share the causes they plan to support together. Ready to get started? Learn more about DAFs \(including how to set one up\) [here](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf). ### 2. Simplify DAF giving at your organization Traditionally giving a DAF gift involves a DAF manager between the donor and the receiving organization. This means your nonprofit doesn’t immediately get the DAF donation, nor do you receive the donor’s information for thank\-yous and future solicitations. It’s a process that’s historically considered clunky and disappointingly impersonal—but fortunately, all of that has changed. With [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/), you can equip donors to give directly from their DAF with just three clicks. All you need to do is ensure that your organization adds a DAFpay button to all of their donation forms. Here’s how it works: ### 3. Commit to the 10\-10\-10 pledge You’re a board member, so going big is what you do—especially when it comes to special events. For DAF Day, consider doing just that with a 10\-10\-10 pledge—that means commiting to giving 10 percent of your DAF on October 10th \(10/10\) for DAF Day. And since 10\-10\-10 has such a nice ring to it, it’s an easy idea to share with DAF holders in your network. ### 4. Shape the conversation around an individual donor’s motivations Fundraising conversations typically focus on a particular cause that may or may not be close to a prospective donor’s heart. In some ways, starting conversations about DAF Day is easier because DAF Day isn’t dedicated to any particular cause. To prepare for DAF Day, have one\-on\-one conversations with folks in your network about Step 1—understanding the benefits of a DAF and setting up an account. Once they’re on board with DAF giving and participating on October 10, you can mention that your organization will join in. ### 5. Launch a DAF Day matching gift campaign Thanks to social media buzz and DAFpay technology, you can promote DAF giving as a community celebration. Set up a matching gift campaign for DAF Day and share your fundraiser with people in your network who’d love nothing more than to support you in raising money for your favorite cause. --- ## Whether You Have $10 or $10M, Transferring Your DAF Just Got 10x Easier - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/whether-you-have-10-or-10m-transferring-your-daf-just-got-10x-easier - Published: 2024-09-12 > Chariot teams up with Daffy to launch a new use case for DAFpay: DAF-to-DAF transfers within DAF accounts. ### Chariot teams up with Daffy to launch a new use case for DAFpay: DAF\-to\-DAF transfers within DAF accounts. For the past 2 years, DAFpay has helped thousands of donors and charities [streamline and grow DAF giving](https://www.givechariot.com/case-studies). Being able to give from your DAF in 3 clicks, right in a nonprofit’s donation form lets people use their DAF more easily, more often and in more places. DAFpay also saves nonprofits time on gift processing, data management and stewardship of DAF gifts. We quickly learned from our DAF partners that there is a similar opportunity for improvement in how people fund their DAF accounts. Many new customers at [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/), for example, already have another DAF account at a different DAF provider and they’re looking for a change. However, submitting a request to move funds from one DAF provider to another and making sure it gets to the right new account quickly, can be a hands\-on and frustrating process. In 2023, the median DAF transfer to Daffy was $10,000, with transfers ranging from as little as $100 to as much as $5.5 million. Some members transfer a small amount of money to try Daffy out, others make regular consistent transfers and still others transfer their whole balance because they prefer their new provider. The phenomenon of DAF transfers became so common that this year, [Daffy teamed up with Chariot](http://daffy.org/resources/daf-transfers) to streamline the account funding experience to help more people be even more generous. Today, we’re excited to announce that Daffy is the first DAF to integrate DAFpay™️, our 3\-click DAF payment option, into their platform, making it even easier for Daffy members to transfer part or all of their outside donor\-advised fund accounts to Daffy. #### How It Works If you’re already a Daffy member, simply go to “Add Funds,” select “Donor\-advised fund transfer,” and choose your existing DAF provider. If your provider is one of the 200\+ supported by Chariot’s DAFpay™️, you’ll be prompted to sign in to your account. This allows you to transfer part or all of your existing DAF to Daffy in seconds—all without leaving the Daffy platform. Once a donor has funded their Daffy account through DAFpay, they can also use their Daffy account to make gifts directly in nonprofit donation forms wherever they see the DAFpay option. They can also review and manage their giving in Daffy’s slick mobile app and check out all of the [other exciting features](https://www.daffy.org/resources/a-better-system-for-giving) they offer with their modern DAF tech. If you are a DAF provider interested in leveraging DAFpay to streamline how your account holders fund their accounts, please [reach out](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form). --- ## Introducing the DAF Day Donate Page - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/introducing-the-daf-day-donate-page - Published: 2024-09-10 > You can now look up participating nonprofits and how to most easily support them with your DAF directly on the DAF Day website! #### You can now look up participating nonprofits and how to most easily support them with your DAF directly on the DAF Day website\! Hundreds of nonprofits have signed up for the inaugural [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com) on 10/10 \- the first\-ever national giving day dedicated to Donor Advised Fund giving. Now any donor participating in DAF Day can easily [search and support all participating nonprofits](https://app.dafday.com/) on the DAF Day site. For participating nonprofits to appear on this page, all they need to do is: 1. Log into their [Chariot dashboard](https://login.givechariot.com/u/login?state=hKFo2SBPSzJibExFSWM2QnJFMTU4ZTlxdGNDellXV0N6LXAyZqFur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIDBZbnRlcE5YYTVGcVBELThvSmVIYTFTLWs3QlNxZnBZo2NpZNkgamRlSlE1YVR6RUhSZE5uTzFDbFh3RjJUZzlQREd0OEs) 2. Add your organization’s logo 3. Add a URL to your preferred page for DAF giving Then you’ll automatically appear and be searchable on the DAF Day site\! If your organization has not yet claimed your Chariot account, you can easily do so [here](https://login.givechariot.com/u/signup?state=hKFo2SByanR0azMzQzZhRWo5WFpSYlNyZWVDdEh6eGszQzFnS6Fur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIG1Bc1hmMjNxOFRxWURIOHIwdGlCMmpjeUZpS1pfMWU3o2NpZNkgamRlSlE1YVR6RUhSZE5uTzFDbFh3RjJUZzlQREd0OEs). This will also allow you to see any gifts made with DAFpay to your organization through crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe, Pledge, Givebutter, etc., even before your organization is using DAFpay yourselves. Once you’ve claimed your account, you can add the logo and URL detailed above and automatically appear on the DAF Day donate page\! More details on how to claim your Chariot account can be found [here](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/9853527-preparing-for-daf-day-2024). ##### Please note: For the easiest process, someone with an email domain that matches your organization's website should claim the Chariot account. Otherwise the verification process does take some extra steps. Frequently asked questions ##### Which logo should we use? The logos appear in circles on the DAF Day site, so recommend a square version of your logo vs. a long horizontal one. Note that the name of your organization does appear directly beneath the logo for clarity. ##### Which URL should we use for DAF Day Donations? Wherever it’s easiest for a DAF donor to follow through on their intention to support your organization with their DAF\! Here’s four options to consider: 1. If you have DAFpay enabled on a standalone page of your website, like [Michael J. Fox Foundation does](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds), send them there. 2. 1. *Bonus*: if you have the bandwidth internally, could you create a special landing page for DAF Day to include here? 3. If you have DAFpay enabled as a payment option in your main donate form send them there. 4. If you don’t have DAFpay yet, consider creating specific DAF Day campaign page you can link to with one of our [integrated partners](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) that specializes in standalone giving day campaigns \- GoFundeMe, Givebutter, Pledge, CauseMatch, CrowdChange, etc. 5. Otherwise, linking to a DAF page on your website that at least provides your organization’s EIN, legal name, address and a contact person is still helpful. ##### Can we update the logo or URL in the future? Yes, you can update the items in your Chariot profile anytime you log into your dashboard. ##### Why do we need to claim our Chariot account? In order to build the DAF Day giving page with all the details and filter options, we need to reference our database. It’s also a free and user\-friendly way to gather and update key details on your organization from a verified representative. There’s no obligation to use DAFpay after claiming your account, but you will have visibility on DAFpay gifts made in support of your organization anywhere online. --- ## The Future of Fundraising: 10 Ways DAFs Are Taking Individual Giving to New Heights - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-future-of-fundraising-10-ways-dafs-are-taking-individual-giving-to-new-heights - Published: 2024-08-30 > As DAFs gain popularity, nonprofit organizations of all sizes are looking for direction on the best way to engage with this fast growing too For the past 10 years, the number of DAF accounts has grown an average of [85 percent](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwuMC2BhA7EiwAmJKRrC7DxAdyGyqavQYH2LOVXTgSYhUSVyt5W9kRB30itNwsZPu_BAP_ZBoCfDAQAvD_BwE) each year, with no signs of slowing down. That means the 3 million people using DAFs today will likely grow to the 60 million who use 401ks in the years ahead. As DAFs gain popularity, nonprofit organizations of all sizes are looking for direction on the best way to engage with this fast growing tool for giving. Now, fundraisers can look to fresh data that illuminates just how impactful DAF donors can be. We sat down with leaders from across the nonprofit sector to delve into the most recent DAF data from the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), along with case studies featuring the [March of Dimes](https://www.givechariot.com/march-of-dimes-case-study) and [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study). We spoke with: - [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff), President & Founder of K2D Strategies - [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884?challengeId=AQHjOiWM6t0qUgAAAZGb9lc2nxiRZt3aYFEjPJuS3LvZHO5OwaQM0Y9Im0Fg5F-V__sgztcJnF6FbLFtXFoJQwNDkzrlnyjaXw&submissionId=06a5b770-0b12-f017-a15a-432787e7d747&challengeSource=AgGJ8Kvq7zU2bwAAAZGb9rO6Sx2OIuKUyeY13oK87sxP1_AUYz7Gf-3GAw5wWeQ&challegeType=AgEH3EgZ218srwAAAZGb9rO-UfESp5bC1ShgEP7W2zUfDrYgAT09hhc&memberId=AgFiRcl4vuI2ywAAAZGb9rPB0QLtQzN6NlBoTwqtwt0OKU4&recognizeDevice=AgE7k-kZ0svlmgAAAZGb9rPFF32kdl79DoNcLA-1CwgRi2Q1S0VQ), VP of Major, Principal and Planned Giving at March of Dimes - [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-sommer-366a17a), CFO at Pan\-Mass Challenge - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy, Chariot If you’re part of the [42 percent](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report) of nonprofits that don’t mention DAFs in their marketing or if your DAF fundraising initiatives could use a serious upgrade, read on to see the numbers that show why you should join us in celebrating [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) on October 10th. DAF Day is a dedicated day of giving when donors, nonprofits, and DAFs band together to show the collective power of DAF giving. Register your organization to spark excitement for DAF giving in your community today. Now that you’ve joined the movement, let’s learn ten ways DAFs are transforming the fundraising landscape—and what that could mean for your organization. ## 1. DAFs can be used as a core “payment” option for online fundraising Up until recently, the DAF giving process was a time\-consuming, multi\-step process that placed a middle person managing the DAF account between the donor and the organization. Now, you can give donors a better way to DAF online with [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/). No more sending DAF donors away from your webpage to make a gift. Simply add a DAFpay button to your donation form and they can make a DAF donation in just three clicks. It’s as easy as paying with a credit card. And best of all, your nonprofit gets the donor’s details instantly so you can say thanks directly when it matters most—the moment they choose to give. Learn More ## 2. DAFs are a main source of growth for many nonprofits According to [Giving USA](https://givingusa.org/5-takeaways-and-next-steps-from-the-giving-usa-2024-report/#:~:text=Total%20estimated%20charitable%20giving%20in%20the%20U.S.%20reached%20%24557.16%20billion.&text=This%20is%20a%20giving%20high,2.1%25%20when%20adjusted%20for%20inflation.), inflation is impacting more than grocery prices. Individual giving declined 2.4 percent in 2023 when adjusted for inflation, which left many nonprofits seeking effective ways to fill in the revenue gap—that’s where DAFs have made a major difference. The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report found that while 50 percent of organizations that experienced a decline in non\-DAF giving between 2019 and 2023, one\-third fully offset the decline with DAF revenue growth. Among participants in the report, median DAF growth was an incredible [214 percent](https://blog.candid.org/post/5-takeaways-2024-daf-donors-fundraising-report/) compared to just one percent growth in non\-DAF donations. Pan\-Mass Challenge weathered the downward trend in non\-DAF giving by investing in DAF initiatives. Today, DAF gifts amount to a jaw\-dropping 47 percent of its year\-over\-year growth. ## 3. DAF gifts are much, much larger—even when they’re given online Your team likely spends a tremendous amount of your limited time and resources striving to increase online donations, but if you’re not intentionally driving more DAF giving, you’re probably missing out on a big opportunity. In the DAF Fundraising Report, DAF gifts were 20 times larger than non\-DAF gifts, on average—and that’s excluding major gifts over $25,000\! This stark contrast remains when looking at online giving alone. The overall industry average for credit card gifts is just $204, while organizations like March of Dimes see digital DAF gifts through DAFpay averaging $1,100. Even Pan\-Mass Challenge, who pioneered digital DAF giving with a more rudimentary solution in years past, saw a 27 percent increase in average digital DAF gift size once implementing DAFpay at the start of 2024. Seamlessly embedded DAF giving resulted in 5,000 digital DAF gifts from donors using over 100 DAF providers that were new to the PMC. The secret sauce to increasing average gift size with DAF giving? Go digital and make it easy. ## 4. DAFs increase generosity Every organization hopes to inspire donors to give more money and give more often, and DAFs have an edge. The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report studied 16,000 instances of donors who opened DAF accounts in favor of individual giving, and here’s what it showed: - Giving increases 96 percent when a donor sets up a DAF - Median giving increases by 78 percent - The top 25 percent of DAF donors increase their giving by over 200 percent These numbers are mind\-blowing, but when you consider the idea of a DAF, they make perfect sense. A DAF is an investment account specifically designed for charitable giving, so DAF holders already have funds set aside to allow them to be generous at any time. When you ask, they’re ready to give. Currently, over [$230 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in DAF funding is available to make a difference—it’s up to you to remind your donors about the impact they can make through DAF giving. ## 5. DAF donors give more frequently When a donor sets up a charitable giving account, supporting the causes they care about becomes more of a lifestyle than a once\-in\-a\-while gesture. DAF donors give throughout the year—for birthdays, holidays, and, of course, in response to your personal outreach and campaigns. According to the DAF Fundraising Report, 30 percent of DAF donors give two or more gifts to the same organization every year. The easiest way to encourage repeat DAF gifts? Put DAF giving front and center on your donation pages. For example, one DAF donor gave a $5,000 donation through the Ways to Give page on the March of Dimes website using the DAFpay button. Just two months later, that donor gave a second DAF gift of $750 just two months later on a March for Babies campaign page using the DAFpay option once again. ## 6. DAF donors have higher retention Acquiring a new donor can cost anywhere from [50\-100 percent](https://doublethedonation.com/why-your-nonprofit-should-emphasize-retention/#:~:text=Costs.,dollars%20spent%20on%20donor%20outreach.) of their first gift, so ensuring first\-time donors give again is essential to the longevity of your organization. The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report reveals that a DAF donor has an average retention rate of 60 percent. That’s a 15 percent higher retention rate than one\-time donors, meaning the effort you spend promoting DAF gifts can generate ROI well beyond that first gift. ## 7. DAF donors are “hiding” in your donor community Many of your donors would gladly give via DAF if they knew it was an option. In the report, 26 percent of DAF donors previously gave to the same organization with a credit card. \(Note that this data is collected from a five\-year window, so this is likely an underreported number.\) Much of this is due to many DAF donors simply forgetting about their giving account. On average, [37 percent](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) of DAF accounts are left unused in any given year—but you can bet they gave donations with their credit card during that time. Fortunately, keeping DAF gifts flowing to your organization isn’t an uphill climb when you approach it as a team. When it comes to growing your DAF impact, education is key. Here are several ways to educate everyone in your community: - Rally your staff around the undeniable impact of DAFs. From your board members to your volunteers, everyone should know what a DAF is and its benefits and communicate about DAFs to anyone who will listen. - Give donors [simple, scannable, 101\-style information](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf) about DAFs and DAF giving. Let them know the possibility of recurring DAF gifts, along with the ease of giving stocks and cryptocurrency through a DAF account. - Make DAF giving an option for every campaign by adding a DAFpay button to all of your donation pages. - Launch a [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) campaign to shine a spotlight on DAF giving across your organization. ## 8. DAF donors deserve better stewardship A recent study conducted a [DAF “Secret Shopper” experience](https://k2dstrategies.com/2022/11/mission-possible-daf-secret-shopper-edition/), making DAF gifts ranging from a hundred to a thousand dollars for 25 organizations. It tracked every step of the DAF donor experience, from gifting to acknowledgements. Without a DAFpay option, the giving process for all organizations was needlessly time consuming and complex, and recipient access to donor information was anything but instant. Acknowledgements took a very long time, leading to a disappointing donor experience. One large nonprofit sent an acknowledgement three months after receiving a gift—and they had sent three solicitations in the interim. Many organizations sent solicitations following the DAF gift, but not one made a specific ask for a future DAF gift. The organizations only asked for a gift in generic terms. The main takeaway? DAF donors deserve a whole lot better. Consider your DAF donor experience and how you can improve it: - How easy is the act of DAF giving? - How soon are donors thanked? - What does solicitation look like following their gift? By putting yourself in the shoes of DAF donors, you can discover opportunities to retain these valuable supporters for years to come. ## 9. DAF data offers a wealth of opportunity Your DAF data can serve as the foundation for your most successful fundraising initiatives, but chances are, it’s probably somewhat messy and incomplete. Think about it: if a DAF donor gives from their DAF account through Fidelity, your organization is tasked with recording and organizing three players around a single gift. And without a set process, each staff member can label who gets the hard credit and who gets the soft credit differently—or not record the extra players at all. Before diving into your DAF data, you need to rally your team and decide on a process for these often complex gifts. Next, review how your CRM currently manages DAF gifts. Is it recognizing DAF gifts or labeling them as one\-time donations? Finally, zero in on those DAF gifts with the cryptic donor names. If you see a DAF gift from a name like “The Puppies Foundation,” create a team similar to your moves management team to investigate. With minimal outreach, they’ll likely come across a staff member or volunteer who will know the real person behind the name. Moving forward, you can future proof your DAF data collection by encouraging digital DAF gifts. When you add the DAFpay button to your giving pages and donation forms, DAF donors who give instantly send their name and email address to your nonprofit along with their gift. Best of all, this data can flow into your CRM with every detail labeled properly for thank yous, acknowledgements, and future solicitation. ## 10. DAF gifts can power your peer\-to\-peer campaigns For many organizations, peer\-to\-peer campaigns generate so much buzz and revenue because it lives at the heart of fundraising—real, meaningful, *personal *relationships. But when you ask your donor community to fundraise for you, it’s important to set them up for success, especially when you want to encourage giving from DAFs. In addition to the top benefit of spotlighting DAF gifts as an option directly on donation forms, Pan\-Mass Challenge equipped their bike\-a\-thon fundraisers to solicit DAF gifts in the easiest way possible—by allowing supporters to give from their DAFs online the same way they would from their PayPal accounts, from a vast variety of DAF providers. Spark DAF giving at your organization The numbers speak for themselves, but let us help. DAF giving is the future, and now is the perfect time to get on board with DAF Day just weeks away. Start the year’s most promising campaign by sharing this blog post with your organization’s leaders today. ### Don't miss our next webinar: Save your spot --- ## The DAF Day marketing playbook for nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-daf-day-marketing-playbook-for-nonprofits - Published: 2024-08-23 > As DAFs (donor advised funds) grow in popularity, more and more organizations like yours are seeking fresh ways to activate existing DAF donors and bring new ones into the fold—and for good reason. When donors sign up for a DAF account, their average change in annual giving grows by a jaw-dropping 96 percent. In recent years, DAF donors have provided reliable revenue for nonprofits of all sizes. They’ve funded critical services, desperately needed programs, and long-awaited community spaces. But As DAFs \(donor advised funds\) grow in popularity, more and more organizations like yours are seeking fresh ways to activate existing DAF donors and bring new ones into the fold—and for good reason. When donors sign up for a DAF account, their average change in annual giving grows by a jaw\-dropping [96 percent](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). In recent years, DAF donors have provided reliable revenue for nonprofits of all sizes. They’ve funded critical services, desperately needed programs, and long\-awaited community spaces. But while we’ve seen the amazing difference DAF donors can make, it’s not always headline news. That’s why we’re shining a bright light on DAF impact with [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) on October 10th. DAF Day is a dedicated day of DAF giving. It serves as a banner opportunity for donors, nonprofits, and DAFs to show the dazzling power of DAF giving when we do it together. If you’re thinking, “Do we have time to join DAF Day this year?” the answer is absolutely\! With the DAF Day Toolkit and internal excitement, you can put together a hit campaign with the lightest lift and impressive ROI. To help you kick off your DAF Day participation, we sat down with nonprofit communications and donor engagement leaders to find out how they’re preparing for the first ever DAF Day. Our conversation featured: - [Cathy Asmus](https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-asmus/), Development Manager, Growth & Stewardship, ACLU - [Rupert Schutz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupertschutz/), Director, Digital Performance at Boys & Girls Clubs of America - [Kelley Riedy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelleyriedy/), National Executive Lead, Marketing Communications & Donor Engagement, American Heart Association - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy, Chariot Read on to learn the benefits of joining DAF Day, tips to build and run a successful campaign, and DAF donor engagement strategies you can use before and beyond the big day. ### Why join the DAF Day movement? As a nonprofit professional with a lean budget, you typically don’t have the time or resources to take on every buzzy holiday. But when it comes to DAF Day, your participation could be one of the best moves you make to kick off the year\-end fundraising rush. It’s not just a fleeting trend or single\-day initiative—DAF Day is designed to position DAF giving as a social and communal way for your biggest supporters to fund meaningful change, on 10/10 and beyond. #### Embrace the buzz of an icon day with your entire team In addition to offering a fresh way to engage and expand your donor community, DAF Day creates momentum around fundraising’s greatest untapped resource through an exciting cross\-departmental initiative. To wrap your arms around this momentous day, you’ll need to break the silos, bring team members together, and dig into all things DAF. While your marketing folks are the first people to come to mind, you’ll need support from others on staff to help your DAF donor and impact stories shine, from people working in the field tosenior leaders and board members. #### Spark new energy in your DAF fundraising Traditionally, the act of giving from a donor advised fund has been a lonely one. A DAF donor would choose a nonprofit and contact their DAF to serve as a middle person in distributing the grant—no one\-on\-one connection with the nonprofit and no social media buzz around the gift and its cause. On DAF Day, DAF donors, nonprofits, and DAFs are rallying collectively to support DAF giving and talk about its impact. Now, your donors have their first opportunity to experience DAF giving the way it should be. DAF Day planning efficiency tips to consider Borrow these tips to ensure a smooth ride to DAF Day success. If you only take one, [signing up for the free DAF Day Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/join-us) is a must. #### Appoint a DAF Day champion While many staff members will contribute to your DAF Day campaign, it’s important to have an internal champion who can maintain both momentum and alignment. Recruiting a senior leader for this role is an easy way to secure buy\-in, and picking someone who leads your individual giving initiatives could be a natural fit. No matter who you choose, be sure they can bring team members together across marketing and fundraising with their knack for strategic planning and contagious enthusiasm. Look to the free DAF Day Toolkit for marketing tips and assets You have more time than you think to create your DAF Day campaign. The DAF Day Toolkit has done a good bit of work for you. Discover social media assets, logos, email templates, and more. [Get yours now](https://www.dafday.com/join-us) for ready\-made DAF Day materials and campaign inspiration. #### Create a DAF Day timeline that works for your team Year\-end fundraising is a mad dash for every organization, but lucky for you, DAF Day prep can flex to your schedule. No matter how you decide to participate, there’s no time that’s too late to engage. While many organizations are sending a Save the Date a month before with DAF 101 resources and opportunities to gauge donor interest, others are paring down their outreach by sending one email the day before, two the day of, and spreading the word on social media. As long as you’re set up with DAF basics, you can pull it all together in a snap. \(Pro tip: [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) allows donors to give from their DAF account in just three clicks. Learn more about how you can add a DAFpay button to your donation form.\) Stay organized with a dedicated DAF Day shared drive From logos and assets for social to email copy and DAF 101 information, your campaign will feature many moving parts that different team members will want to access. To ensure consistency across all channels and communications, create a DAF Day shared drive where you can keep all of your DAF Day materials in one easily accessible place. ### 9 donor engagement strategies for DAF Day success Once your staff is aligned on your DAF Day participation, the fun begins because now it’s time to let your donors in. This first\-ever day of giving from donor advised funds calls for donor engagement strategies you regularly lean on, along with some twists that invite you to be creative. Check out this list of recommendations before you begin. #### 1. Promote DAF Day through a variety of channels Not everyone is glued to their inbox, so the best way to spread the word about DAF Day is to do it in multiple ways. Consider the following channels as part of your outreach: - **Social media: Most organizations are betting big on social media for their DAF Day campaigns, where donors can publicly engage with your campaign, share your content, and ask their friends to join in.** - **Email:**Catch donors in their inboxes with DAF Day promotions, donor spotlights, and campaign updates. - **Direct mail:**Opt for postcards to save on postage and supplies. - **SMS:**Americans check their phones an average of [96 times](https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/americans-check-their-phones-96-times-a-day/vi-AA1o25HS#:~:text=A%20recent%20survey%20conducted%20by,to%20use%20their%20phone%20less.) per day, making text message marketing a reliable channel to reach donors who opt in. - **Website**: Create a [dedicated web page](https://www.bgca.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/) on your website for DAF giving that lives beyond DAF Day. - **Ads / SEO: Engage new donors with ads targeting people who care about your mission and causes.** Remember, while we recommend social media for your DAF Day campaign, you don’t have to take on every channel. Choose the ones that give you the best opportunity to connect with your donors, and feel free to pivot and invest in new channels if the data tells you to try another way. #### 2. Speak to donors, not at them through smart segmentation Like most campaigns, segmentation is key to achieving an enthusiastic response. If your current DAF donors typically interact with your organization through relationship managers, continue that one\-on\-one communication process for DAF Day because they’ll expect it. In the same way, you’ll want to take this route with high\-dollar donors or potential major donors you’ve determined through wealth screening. The idea that only high\-net\-worth donors have DAFs is a myth, so be sure to create another segment of donors who would be likely to join in. For example, consider reaching out to donors who have given DAF gifts in the $50\-$100 range via email. Finally, let your current supporters without DAFs know about DAF Day and promote DAFs as a benefit\-packed giving option through emails and social media posts. This will require some education, but it’s well worth the effort. #### 3. Start with a 101 approach for non\-DAF folks Just 17 percent of US adults know what a DAF is, so as we just mentioned, education is essential to expanding your DAF donor network. [The DAF Day website](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf) contains basic information to help anyone understand what a DAF is, its many benefits, and how they can get an account. You may want to add other facts, like the opportunity to create a legacy of generosity by choosing your favorite nonprofit to be a beneficiary of your DAF the moment you sign up for one. #### 4. Show the faces of your DAF Day community Nothing sparks the desire to give like authentic human stories, and lucky for your organization, your donors and staff members have plenty of them. Feature donors in your DAF Day emails and social media posts. Include pictures and quotes that share why they’re giving on DAF Day or how DAF giving has helped them accelerate their impact. Keep diversity in mind here, as DAFs are no longer just a tool for older, high\-dollar donors. You can also spotlight staff members who work in the field or constituents who directly benefit from your nonprofit’s support so donors can directly connect their gift with the change they can create. #### 5. Make DAF giving as easy as possible DAF donors are changing, and so is the way we give from DAF accounts. Cut out the middle person with DAFpay. Rather than requiring a donor to contact a DAF manager to award funds to a nonprofit from their DAF account, DAFpay empowers donors to give directly from their DAF account to a nonprofit in three quick clicks. Simply [add a DAFpay button](https://www.givechariot.com/) to your donation form, and DAF donors will be all set to give. #### 6. Matching gift campaigns Invite donors to be a DAF Day hero by launching a matching gift campaign specific to your organization on 10/10. Community leaders and board members who champion your cause regularly will likely jump right in but don’t hesitate to make a broader ask to younger donors on social media who would love nothing more than to use their social savvy to promote your cause and collective generosity. #### 7. Dive into the personal finance trend These days, many of your donors are seeking better ways to save, stretch, and invest their money. Search [\#MoneyTok](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/MoneyTok) on TikTok and you’ll see a wave of personal finance tips and money gurus doling out all kinds of advice. From tax benefits to the ability to instantly reserve money for giving, DAFs come with a number of benefits that donors aren’t necessarily aware of until you tell them. Include money\-related DAF benefits in a scannable bulleted list in your emails, on social media, and on your dedicated DAF giving page. If you’re lucky enough to have a board member or donor in the personal finance space, ask them to drum up a one\-pager for you. #### 8. Invite donors to help you fundraise for DAF Day Your most passionate supporters will want to go beyond giving on DAF Day, so point them toward resources to help them amplify your DAF Day campaign. Chariot is hosting DAF Day [webinars specifically for donors and board members](http://dafday.com/events): Pass the word onto your donor community, and you might just end up with an army of champions ready to ensure that everyone knows about their DAF Day opportunity. #### 9. Consider DAF Day a learning experience Setting a dollar goal for your DAF Day campaign may feel like a natural move, but because this is the first year, we recommend metrics that can help you better prepare for next year’s big day. Consider noting the following: - Number of donors who gave from DAFs - Number of DAF gifts - Average gift amount - Email and social media metrics - Number of new DAF donors - Number of matching gift campaigns - Matching gift fundraising amount - Total DAF Day fundraising amount By tracking these metrics, you can set a foundation for success next year. For example, you’ll have a ready\-made list of DAF donors who will be in for 2025, not to mention matching gift magicians you’ll want to reach out to and ask about their experience. You can also use this donor list to retarget for Giving Tuesday and year\-end fundraising initiatives. Rather than fixating on final amounts, ruminate on the awesome opportunities that await you the next time around. Our suggestion? Host a data review session with everyone on your team who participated in your campaign a week or two after DAF Day. After the numbers portion, kick off a brainstorm for next year while this year’s experiences are still fresh and can inspire fantastic suggestions. ### It’s okay for plans to come together in real time Need to get stakeholder buy\-in? It’s never too late to join in\! DAF Day is designed to seamlessly integrate with the timelines and structures of every organization. Sign up now and discover how you can make DAF Day a buzz\-worthy celebration for donors, staff, and mission. --- ## Donor Advised Funds 101: Donor Benefits, DAF Myths & How Nonprofits can Spark DAF Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/donor-advised-funds-101-donor-benefits-daf-myths-how-nonprofits-can-spark-daf-giving - Published: 2024-08-13 > While donor advised funds (DAFs) have long been a mystery to the public, their impact is just too powerful to ignore. Research from The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report shows that once a donor starts using  a DAF account instead of other ways to give, like a credit, their annual giving to an organization they already supported increases by an incredible 96 percent. The reason so many donors aren’t aware of DAFs and 37 percent of DAF accounts go unused in a given year? We’re just not talking about it While donor advised funds \(DAFs\) have long been a mystery to the public, their impact is just too powerful to ignore. Research from [The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) shows that once a donor starts using a DAF account instead of other ways to give, like a credit, their annual giving to an organization they already supported increases by an incredible 96 percent. The reason so many donors aren’t aware of DAFs and [37 percent](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) of DAF accounts go unused in a given year? We’re just not talking about it enough. To start the conversation in a way that maintains momentum, it’s important to begin with the basics. That’s why we sat down with DAF experts to explore what a donor advised fund actually is, its many benefits to donors, and how nonprofits can kick off or improve their DAF\-related communications. This eye\-opening talk featured: - [Adam Nash](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnash), Founder & CEO of [Daffy](http://daffy.org) - [Megan Hyman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganartz), CEO at the [Dallas Jewish Community Foundation](https://djcf.org/) - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), Head of Strategy at [Chariot](http://givechariot.com) Let’s dive into the definition, amazing upsides of a charitable giving account, and how you can spread the word. \(Pro tip: [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) is a national day of DAF giving taking place on October 10th. You can get ahead of the game by [joining the DAF Day movement](https://www.dafday.com/join-us) for free right now.\) ## What is a donor advised fund \(DAF\)? In the most relatable terms, a donor advised fund \(DAF\) is like a 401\(k\) or IRA for charitable giving. Think of it this way: Just like the money and assets you funnel into a 401\(k\) are explicitly designated for retirement, the money and assets you deposit into a donor advised fund are reserved for donations for 501\(c\) 3 charitable organizations. When you deposit money or assets into a donor advised fund account, you receive an immediate tax deduction for the donation amount. Better yet, you avoid any associated capital gains tax on appreciated assets you contribute, and your investments in the DAF account grow tax\-free over time. Making a grant or donation to a charity from a donor advised fund is easier than ever thanks to fresh tech that eliminates traditional steps. Until recently, you’d have to navigate away from a donation form to your DAF account portal, look up the organization and take several extra steps. From there, the donor\-advised fund takes care of sending it off, but the nonprofit doesn’t know anything about the gift until it arrives in the mail. Now, tools like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) eliminate the middle\-person experience by enabling DAF donors to give from DAFs directly in just three clicks from a button on a nonprofit’s donation form \- greatly improving the donor and nonprofit experience. ## DAFs answer donors’ toughest questions Charitable giving can be challenging because that act of doing good lives at the intersection of two important questions: - How much can I afford to give? - What organization should I give to? DAFs take that first question off the table. With money already set aside, donors feel free to dole out support because the budgeting decision is already taken care of. Now they get to just focus on the joy of giving\! As for choosing the organization, donors can support their go\-tos, along with nonprofits that are new to them, especially at a time when natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and political events prompt us to pitch in at a moment's notice. ## Why donors love DAFs \(once you tell them to get one\) You may think that you need to encourage existing DAF donors to contribute to their accounts, but chances are, they’ve got plenty to give. They're just waiting for your organization to ask for it. DAFs come with instant benefits—and not just for nonprofits. Here are some top reasons why donors enjoy having a DAF. \(And by all means, pass this along\!\) All of your giving is in one place Lots of busy working folks and parents want to participate in philanthropy, but packed schedules and mile\-long to\-do lists can easily get in the way. DAFs streamline giving, enabling you to effortlessly set aside money for charitable giving and easily organize tax information. For example, [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/) even folds the DAF giving process into a simple and convenient mobile app. #### Giving consistently is a breeze Take a set\-it\-and\-forget\-it approach to the causes you care about. DAF donors can automate DAF gifts for the schools, community nonprofits, and organizations you support year\-round. #### Tax deductions are surprisingly easy Changing tax codes prompt donors to explore new ways of getting the most from their donations. DAFs enable donors to claim a deduction the moment they give to their DAF account—even if they didn’t actually give to a nonprofit from it yet. When you set up a DAF, you don’t need to search for receipts in your inbox, desk drawer, and wherever else you may have stashed them. Your DAF account serves as a single record for every gift, which makes—at least this aspect of tax time—delightfully painless. #### DAFs help you set goals around your giving One of the first things you do when opening a DAF account is decide how much you’d like to set aside for the causes you care about. When you set goals to retire or buy a house, you tend to contribute more to those savings accounts. In the same way, a DAF asks you to think about what you’d like to achieve as a philanthropist and automate contributions to your DAF account accordingly. DAFs empower you to be the generous person you are Generous folks like yourself want to support critical causes whether the market is up and down. Fortunately, lean years can still be charitable ones when you have a DAF account because you’ve already set money aside ## Busting myths about DAF holders Common misconceptions about DAFs can prevent organizations having conversations with donors who would enthusiastically join in. As a matter of fact, DAF donors have grown [79 percent compared to a 6 percent decline](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) in non\-DAF donors. The secret? Include everyone in your DAF solicitations—just segment your messaging accordingly. DAFs are just a tax\-avoidant wealth hoarding tool False. We need to dust off this old myth and show it for what it really is. While DAFs do provide tax benefits, their real value for the vast majority of DAF users lies in the ability to promote greater giving. By reserving funds for charitable purposes, DAFs empower donors to give more easily and in larger amounts than they would on a one\-off basis. Offering the ability to support all types of causes consistently, DAFs encourage a lifestyle that drives impact through philanthropic action. It’s also important to keep in mind that once money is contributed to a DAF account, it can’t be withdrawn for any reason. The only way it leaves the account is as a grant to charity. #### DAFs are reserved for high\-net\-worth donors False. It’s no wonder DAFs are an unknown force in philanthropy. In the past, people learned about them from a high\-end wealth manager or financial advisor, which means everyday donors missed out on the opportunity to give with a donor advised fund account. Today, DAFs are available to everyone, not just folks with financial advisors who require multi\-million dollar minimums. DAF activity is exploding through recent company offerings, financial advising services, and fundraising solicitations from plugged\-in nonprofits. #### Only older donors use charitable giving accounts False. While DAF donors have traditionally skewed older, new technology welcomes younger donors to embrace philanthropy. This opens a whole new host of opportunities to speak to DAF giving in new ways. You can educate donors about the ease of DAF apps, add [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) buttons to your online donation forms, and inspire matching gift campaigns that bring a welcome social aspect to the DAF giving experience. ## 10 ways your nonprofit can boost DAF giving At the heart of organizations that thrive through DAF giving is a passion for sparking important conversations. Check out these actions you can take today to help you, your team, and your donor community build a culture around DAF giving. ### 1. Work directly with a community DAF A community foundation brings together nonprofits and donors around a common cause and shared vision. Community foundations can take on all sorts of views—regional, religious, and identities, to name a few. A great way to start? Apply for a grant from a community foundation that aligns with your mission. In addition to becoming eligible for crucial funds, the folks who manage these foundations can get familiar with your organization and play matchmaker with the DAF holders who’d love nothing more than to be your nonprofit’s champion. ### 2. Make DAF giving a family affair There’s something extra gratifying about social giving, and supporting shared causes with family members can be a lifelong bonding experience. Some DAFs allow entire families to contribute and give from an account, so be sure to let donors in on this special way to give that inspires your most passionate supporters from future generations. ### 3. Promote DAF giving to corporate sponsors You already have companies supporting your organization through fundraising events and volunteer initiatives, so why not suggest a DAF addition to their slate of employee benefits? Many companies are beginning to tap into charitable giving by enabling employees to deposit funds into charitable giving accounts directly from their paychecks. And lots of employers are even giving a match. ### 4. Present DAFs as a vehicle for all kinds of gifts Make it even easier for donors to give stock, ETFs, mutual funds, and crypto through a DAF account. By encouraging donors to deposit funds and assets into a charitable giving account and then give through the DAF, your organization can help donors streamline the giving process on both ends for every way they want to support your organization. ### 5. Adopt DAF giving tools that ease giving and spark relationships When your nonprofit adds a [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) button to your donation forms, the donor can give without a DAF managing the transaction. So rather than waiting for the funds to be distributed and the DAF to confirm if the donor wants to be contacted, your organization gets the funds and the contact information right away, which means that “Thank you” can reach the donor when it matters most—the same day they give. ### 6. Build a professional advisor committee Some of your greatest DAF advocates are already in your donor community. Recruit financial advisors who support your organization to introduce their clients to DAFs and educate them on the benefits of leveraging charitable giving accounts to give cash, stock, and other assets. ### 7. Educate donors just how easy DAF giving can be Right now, [$230 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in assets are set aside in DAF accounts. Tell your donors about the latest innovations in DAF giving so they can put those funds to work at your organization. For example, add a [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/) button to your donation form and show them that giving from your DAF is now as easy as paying with a credit card. From there, keep tabs on [DAF apps](https://www.daffy.org/) and their growing capabilities, from managing employee giving programs to launching matching gift campaigns. ### 8. Inspire donors to design their giving plan around what’s ahead Invite your donors to invest in the future of your mission beyond the coming year. Rather than only asking for an immediate need, communicate how their DAF gifts can impact your mission in years four, five, and six. With regular updates and impact data, they’ll relish in all you can achieve as you commit to the cause together. ### 9. Encourage matching gift campaigns Social giving can be lots of fun, and since DAFs are available to everyone, you’re missing out by not sharing about the magic of matching gift campaigns. DAF holders can pledge any amount from their DAF and ask their network to give, promising to double their amount. DAF holders will love bringing together colleagues and friends for their favorite cause and bask in the joy of driving even more impact than they would have if they gave from their account without inviting others to join in. ### 10. Join the DAF Day movement to rally your community around DAF giving DAF Day is just around the corner, but you can trek toward October 11th well prepared by joining the DAF Day movement right now. This single day of giving brings donors, DAFs, and nonprofits together for an unprecedented stream of DAF giving to the causes we care about most. Need messaging? Look to the DAF Day toolkit you’ll receive when you sign up for free to help you pull together a DAF Day campaign in a flash. And for donor communications beyond DAF Day, we hope the best practices and donor benefits listed in this post can give you a solid foundation for how you kick off and grow the DAF conversation. Join now --- ## Chariot Announces $11 Million Series A Investment Round, Led by Maveron - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-announces-11-million-series-a-investment-round-led-by-maveron - Published: 2024-08-09 > The new capital and partnership will accelerate Chariot’s build out of critical giving infrastructure that will expand philanthropy and improve the work of nonprofits.Today, we’re incredibly excited to share that we have closed our $11 million Series A investment round, led by Maveron. Dan Levitan, who co-founded Maveron in 1998 with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, has also joined our board of directors. Exclusive coverage of the round by Axios can be found here, and you can read Maveron’s ann #### The new capital and partnership will accelerate Chariot’s build out of critical giving infrastructure that will expand philanthropy and improve the work of nonprofits. Today, we’re incredibly excited to share that we have closed our $11 million Series A investment round, led by [Maveron](https://www.maveron.com/).[Dan Levitan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlevitan/), who co\-founded Maveron in 1998 with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, has also joined our board of directors. Exclusive coverage of the round by Axios can be found [here](https://www.axios.com/pro/fintech-deals/2024/08/08/exclusive-daf-payments-company-chariot-raises-11m), and you can read Maveron’s announcement [here](https://maveron.medium.com/our-investment-in-chariot-e356459cd15a). Typically, when you meet with an investor for the first time, they spend the majority of the conversation trying to dig into the ins and outs of the business. Maveron was different. They first wanted to deeply understand the team: what our values were and what we stood for. With that foundation, they started to evaluate the business more closely. Maveron believes that the best companies are built by teams that have a profound care for their customers—a philosophy we wholeheartedly share. Maveron also counts many large nonprofits as their own LPs \(limited partner investors\), and their leadership team is extremely active in the nonprofit community. We all believe that the world desperately needs more giving, and that modern payments technology custom\-built for philanthropy can unlock the exponential growth in generosity we’ve all been waiting for. For Chariot and the thousands of nonprofits we support, we couldn’t imagine a more fitting Series A lead. We founded Chariot in early 2022, after we stumbled upon a major gap in the online giving ecosystem. We were seeking tools to help us stay accountable to our own goal of giving 10% of our income to charity and found out about Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\). **Check out our **[**founding story**](https://www.givechariot.com/about-us)** to learn more about our journey from spreadsheets to track our 10% giving goals, to building new payment infrastructure dedicated to giving\!** A DAF is a charitable giving account that lets you make tax\-deductible contributions, invest the balance, and grant out to charities over time. As we adopted the vehicle ourselves, and encouraged our network to use DAFs as well, we saw some incredible impact. People got more involved with their philanthropy, set goals, and significantly increased their giving – but there was a major problem. We couldn’t use our DAF dollars in any of the places online we were most inspired to give: a nonprofit’s website, a friend’s birthday fundraiser, a family member’s marathon page, etc. If DAFs aren’t usable where most people give, we knew they weren’t a complete solution to maximize philanthropy. DAFs hold $230 billion in assets and grant out over $52 billion per year to nonprofits on behalf of over 3 million people using DAFs. It’s the fastest growing segment of philanthropy, by far, but that’s still just the tip of the iceberg. We set out to build a payment option that could be embedded into any donation form, making DAFs easier to use than a credit card and putting DAFs front\-and\-center for the millions of people giving online that could also use a DAF to expand their own philanthropy. With proper DAF payments infrastructure in place, we expect DAFs to become as common as 401\(k\)s in the near future \- which are used by over 60 million Americans. Chariot now powers seamless DAF giving for tens of thousands of nonprofits charities, including some of the most well\-known nonprofits in the country, like [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://secure2.convio.net/mskcc/site/Donation2?df_id=19195&19195.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&s_channel=2024-MSKCCNavigation), [Central Park Conservancy](https://secure.centralparknyc.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9045&mfc_pref=T&9045.donation=form1&s_src=dfyxxw&s_subsrc=web_utilnav&_gl=1*1h1w96g*_gcl_au*MTQwNTk2NjcyLjE3MTkzNDAxNjY.*_ga*MTA5ODg0NDk5LjE3MTA4ODQzMzg.*_ga_2CXWMNPYQS*MTcyMzA3ODE5OC4zMi4wLjE3MjMwNzgxOTguMC4wLjA), [Boys & Girls Club of America](https://www.bgca.org/?form=donate), [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.pmc.org/), and [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds). DAFpay is also now a primary payment option on leading fundraising platforms like [GoFundMe charity pages](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/24174014869915-How-to-donate-with-your-Donor-Advised-Fund-DAF), [Givebutter](https://help.givebutter.com/en/articles/6764835-how-to-use-givebutter-s-dafpay-donation-method), [DonorDrive](https://www.donordrive.com/resources/blog-donor-advised-funds-release/), [Springboard by Jackson River](https://www.jacksonriver.com/), [Engaging Networks](https://knowledge.engagingnetworks.net/datareports/engaging-networks-donor-advised-fund-daf-integrati), and dozens more. We are already driving millions in new online DAF Giving by thousands of donors, and we’re only getting started. “We are very excited to be partnered with Chariot as they help make charitable giving through DAFs a better experience for charities, donors and DAF providers,” shares Dan Levitan, Co\-Founder and Partner at Maveron. “The Chariot team is fully aligned with these three constituencies to increase the amount and ease of giving via DAFs.” This new investment will allow us to ensure that DAFpay is present in every place that someone could donate online and expand our technology to solve more problems in the DAF ecosystem. Thank you to all of our nonprofit, fundraising platform,s and DAF partners that have made it possible for our technology to reach millions of people, making a new form of easy DAF giving finally possible. We owe a special shout out to [our Nonprofit Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council) who has been an integral part of our journey so far. Maveron was joined in this round by our seed investors – Spark Capital, SV Angel and Y Combinator – as well as a long list of inspiring angel investors – Adam Grant, Angela Duckworth, Mike Massaro, Ben Golub, Adam Nash, and many others. Our fully in\-person and high\-energy team is growing. [Join us](https://www.givechariot.com/careers)\! Sincerely, Salo, Aaron & Drew --- ## 10 Reasons your Nonprofit Should Join DAF Day Today - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/10-reasons-your-nonprofit-should-join-daf-day-today - Published: 2024-08-06 > Let’s face it—fundraising is anything but easy. And just because donor participation is decreasing and your resources are stretched thin doesn’t mean that your organization’s essential work is any less needed. For decades, donor advised funds (DAFs) have been an afterthought, with many nonprofits focusing on acquiring smaller gifts on a more immediate and frequent basis. But as the culture of DAF philanthropy extends beyond high-net-worth donors and new technology makes giving from a DAF as easy Let’s face it—fundraising is anything but easy. And just because donor participation is decreasing and your resources are stretched thin doesn’t mean that your organization’s essential work is any less needed. For decades, donor advised funds \(DAFs\) have been an afterthought, with many nonprofits focusing on acquiring smaller gifts on a more immediate and frequent basis. But as the culture of DAF philanthropy extends beyond high\-net\-worth donors and new technology makes giving from a DAF as easy as using a credit card, this powerful fundraising vehicle is ready to have its moment. On October 10th, we’re rallying nonprofit organizations, donors, and DAFs to celebrate the first\-ever [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/). DAF Day is the start of a movement to redefine DAF giving as a vehicle for every generation. Now it’s time to activate your community, from DAF donors who are just waiting to make a difference to new supporters who don’t yet know about this effective method of giving. We welcome you to join the DAF Day movement as we come together to cultivate lifelong supporters—ones who will lead us into a future built on limitless hope, bold activism, and the kind of generosity that invites everyone to participate. To kick off our DAF Day announcement, we spoke to nonprofit leaders about the state of DAFs, how nonprofits can benefit from signing up for DAF Day, and what’s ahead as we track toward October 10th. This critical conversation featured: - [Tanya Mujica Keenan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-mujica-keenan-66704595/), Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - [Becca Lockhart](https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-lockhart), VP, Head of Fundraising Campaigns at the Michael J. Fox Foundation - [Carlos Pena](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlospena333), Director of Donor Advised Funds, International Rescue Committee - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), Head of Strategy, Chariot \([givechariot.com](http://givechariot.com)\) Signing up and joining the DAF Day movement is completely free and takes just a few minutes. If you’re on the fence, here are just some of the many reasons your organization can benefit from embracing this new wave of DAF giving. ### 1. DAFs are the fastest\-growing philanthropic vehicle From financial advisors starting the conversation to employers making DAFs part of compensation, this win\-win way to give just keeps getting bigger. In fact, DAF donors have grown by [79 percent compared to a 6 percent decline](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) in non\-DAF donors. And this jump in participants means DAF revenue is growing, too—a jaw\-dropping [214 times faste](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)r than non\-DAF revenue. ### 2. DAFs are a surprisingly untapped resource Did you know that only 3 million people use DAFs, while 60 million use a 401k? [One report](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) revealed that just 17 percent of US adults even know what a DAF is. And although DAFs are a proven method to supercharge donor giving, just [42 percent](https://www.nonprofits.freewill.com/resources/reports/2024-daf-report) of nonprofits mention DAFs in their donor communications and marketing. With so much potential and so little fanfare, we haven’t yet seen the massive impact DAF giving can create. DAF Day shines a bright light on the power of DAFs and unites nonprofits, DAFs, and donors around harnessing it on October 10th and well beyond the big day. ### 3. DAF donors could use some inspiration You may think that you need to encourage existing DAF donors to contribute to their accounts, but chances are, they’ve got plenty to give. They're just waiting for your organization to ask for it. Currently, [$230 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in DAF accounts are reserved for donors to distribute to 501\(c\)\(3\) nonprofits like yours. Data shows that if you don’t start the conversation, that would\-be donor will continue to allow the funds to exist untouched in the account. [The DAF Research Collaborative](https://inequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Summary-of-American-Opinions-on-Charitable-Reform-Measures_Final-3-6-24.pdf) reports that a shocking 37 percent of DAF accounts go unused in any given year. With October 10th just weeks away, now’s your chance to start the conversation about DAF giving with the folks who are already invested. ### 4. DAF Day brings donor advised fund giving to the forefront DAF Day is more than a potential boost to your end\-of\-year revenue. Rather than launching a one\-off campaign to boost DAF engagement at your organization, DAF Day partners benefit from a central platform that can show skyrocketing momentum and community participation around DAF giving, which will only encourage more. We’re working together to redefine DAF giving so it can become part of donor vocabulary in a positive way now and for your future DAF giving campaigns. ### 5. Donors enjoy banding together for a dedicated day of giving Unlike buzzy philanthropic vehicles like peer\-to\-peer fundraising, DAF giving has been missing out on the social component of supporting the causes we care about most in the company of friends. DAF Day is changing the DAF experience from an isolated mode of philanthropy to a communal one that thrives on conversation and lights up social media. On October 10th, we’re going to DAF together, tell everyone why we do it, and inspire people in our networks to DAF along with us. ### 6. Turn enthusiastic supporters into new DAF donors Before you flock to your wealth screening tool to pick out specific donors for DAF Day solicitations, consider the expanded demographics willing to give these types of donations. While one\-on\-one outreach to major donors is an excellent part of your DAF Day strategy, consider these numbers from donors who give through [Chariot’s](https://www.givechariot.com/) DAFpay that suggest casting a wider net: The average DAF gift is over $1,000, but the median gift is around $250. First\-time DAF donors often start with smaller gifts but increase their gift amount as you nurture the relationship. The average DAF balance is almost $120,000, meaning that cultivating a potential DAF donor who doesn’t fall at the top of a wealth screening list could become one of your biggest donors over time. The key to converting non\-DAF donors is to educate them on DAF giving’s many benefits, from its impact on your organization to how it helps them support causes they care about more easily while enjoying tax benefits in the process. ### 7. DAF donors give more That extra effort you funnel into DAF Day participation could pay off big for your organization. [The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) revealed that as soon as a donor opens a DAF account, they increase their annual giving by a whopping 96%. Remember that number when you invite current DAF donors to join the DAF Day movement. Ask them to commit 10% of their DAF funds to their chosen cause on 10/10 and encourage them to share about their participation so people in their network can DAF with them. ### 8. Develop DAF benchmarks and goals for your organization Q4 is just around the corner, so it’s the perfect time to consider how you plan to accelerate fundraising in the coming weeks. DAF Day provides your team with a unique opportunity to explore your donor advised fund marketing strategy to date, along with how you intend to harness DAFs as a surefire way to sustain your mission. ### 9. Your nonprofit can pursue DAFs as a community effort DAF Day is a community of fundraising leaders who exchange ideas, share resources, and rally a national community of donors to embrace a better way to give. By signing up for DAF Day, you can organize your team around a shared timeline that all DAF participants can track toward together. The best part about that? You’ll have access to resources and inspiration that can only come from a unified collective. ### 10. We’ve got campaign assets and DAF\-centric tech ready for you to use today Because marketing and donor education are crucial to successful DAF Day participation, Chariot has created a wealth of resources that your organization can leverage right now, including: ##### A complete DAF Day Marketing Toolkit Once you sign up to join the DAF Day movement, we’ll send you a toolkit packed with marketing assets that you can adapt to your organization’s DAF Day campaign. It includes: - Brand elements and guidelines - Email copy - DAF Day webpage templates - Social media assets - Blog post templates [Join now](https://www.dafday.com/join-us) ##### A DAF Day Webinar Series Save your spot for our free DAF Day webinars featuring industry leaders discussing all things DAFs and DAF Day. These can’t\-miss conversations will cover topics like internal team education, campaign planning, and how to get your donors and board members set to make October 10th a dazzling success. [Register for webinar](https://www.dafday.com/events) ##### DAFpay for Donation Forms Adding a DAFpay button to your donation form can empower supporters to donate DAF gifts in just three quick clicks. See how it works: [Learn more about DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) ### Don’t wait—DAF Day starts now With the buzz of DAF Day well underway, participating nonprofits are seeing DAF donations rolling in before the big day. Their advice? Get your donation forms set with DAFpay so you don’t miss any early gifts, and sign up to receive the toolkit so you can start building your campaign. [Join u](https://www.dafday.com/join-us) --- ## Nonprofits Unite For DAF Day: Boosting Philanthropy Nationwide - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/nonprofits-unite-for-daf-day-boosting-philanthropy-nationwide - Published: 2024-08-01 > Top Charities, including Central Park Conservancy, Michael J. Fox Foundation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, partner with Chariot to drive increased Donor Advised Fund givingAs seen on Yahoo FinanceNEW YORK CITY, July 31, 2024 -- Chariot, the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving, announces the launch of DAF Day, a new kind of giving day that reframes how donor advised funds are used – and who uses them. Partnering with top nonprofits like Central Park Conserv #### Top Charities, including Central Park Conservancy, Michael J. Fox Foundation and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, partner with Chariot to drive increased Donor Advised Fund giving *As seen on *[*Yahoo Finance*](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nonprofits-unite-daf-day-boosting-141600007.html) **NEW YORK CITY, July 31, 2024**\-\- [Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/about-us), the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving, announces the launch of DAF Day, a new kind of giving day that reframes how donor advised funds are used – and who uses them.Partnering with top nonprofits like [Central Park Conservancy](https://www.centralparknyc.org/), [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://www.mskcc.org/), and [The Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds), this collaborative group aims to boost the usage and adoption of this fast\-growing philanthropic vehicle in the weeks leading up to DAF Day on October 10th. DAF Day provides a shared framework for nonprofits to tap into the power of Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\), a widely underutilized fundraising channel. While 42% of nonprofits are not marketing DAFs, DAF donations have become a critical source of revenue. [New research on nonprofit DAF fundraising](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) indicates that DAF revenue has grown 214% since 2019, while non\-DAF revenue declined for half by the participants in the same period. The research also shows the benefit to nonprofits when their current supporters start using a DAF \- increasing their annual giving by 96%, on average. With $230 billion already set aside for giving in DAF accounts, the potential for nonprofits is immense. DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, is a key part of the initiative as it enables real\-time participation and recognition of DAF donors in a giving day \- something that’s never been possible before. Chariot is launching DAF Day with dozens of leading nonprofits and fundraising platforms \(such as [GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/), [Givebutter](https://givebutter.com/), [Springboard by JacksonRiver](https://www.jacksonriver.com/springboard) and [Gravyty](https://gravyty.com/)\). Innovative Donor Advised Fund providers such as [Charityvest](https://www.charityvest.org/), [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/), [UI Charitable](https://www.uicharitable.org/) and the [Dallas Jewish Community Foundation](https://djcf.org/), are participating too. Any organization can join the growing movement at [dafday.com](http://dafday.com) before October 10th. Participating organizations are all committing to spreading the word about DAF Day to their audience, with the goal of activating as many existing DAF donors to make a DAF gift on October 10th, and more donors to set up a DAF and increase their giving capacity in advance of DAF Day. Donors are encouraged to sign up at [DAFday.com](http://DAFday.com) to build momentum leading up to the big day. In order to maximize the impact on DAF Day, donors are asked to: - Set an intention: Affirm they will make at least one DAF gift on Oct. 10. - Make a goal: Share how much they hope to give from their DAF in one day. - Rep their nonprofit and DAF: List the DAF they use and the nonprofit\(s\) they wish to support “DAF donors are the most promising source of growth in our fundraising,” says Paula Schneider, CEO of [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/other-ways/), another DAF Day launch partner. “DAF Day gives the sector a rallying cry to activate these donors in an exciting and connected giving moment –and DAFpay has made this possible for the first time ever. We also know our supporters will be particularly engaged in October since it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month\!” Chariot’s DAFpay technology allows donors to make DAF payments in just three clicks on nonprofit fundraising forms and websites. Historically DAF donors have been left out of time\-sensitive fundraising, since gifts made through their DAF portal weren’t known by nonprofits until weeks or months later when they arrived. “DAF Day represents the culmination of years of work led by Chariot and our many partners to shift how DAFs are used,” says Salo Serfati, co\-founder and CEO of Chariot. “The advances in research and technology have unlocked this opportunity to use a DAF right when we’re most inspired to give. It’s time we DAF together on October 10th\!” **About Chariot** Chariot is the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, allows donors to give with their DAF anywhere they are inspired to give online. This enables donors to use their DAF in more places, more often, and unlocks more DAF gifts with better information for nonprofits. Chariot powers direct DAF payments for many of the largest nonprofits in the country, such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. **Media Contact: Consort Partners** [press@givechariot.com](mailto:press@givechariot.com) --- ## Introducing DAF Day: The Story Behind the New Giving Day on 10/10 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/introducing-daf-day-the-story-behind-the-new-giving-day-on-10-10 - Published: 2024-07-30 > Today, Chariot announced the launch of the first-ever DAF Day on October 10th, 2024, alongside dozens of nonprofit, DAF and fundraising platform partnersThe DAF Day story started several years ago, when a group of friends made a pact to all donate 10% of their income to charity, every year. They sought a tool to make it easy to track their giving and hold themselves accountable to their shared goal. This search led them to something called a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) - a tax-advantaged charitable #### Today, Chariot announced the launch of the first\-ever DAF Day on October 10th, 2024, alongside dozens of nonprofit, DAF and fundraising platform partners The [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com) story started several years ago, when a group of friends made a pact to all donate 10% of their income to charity, every year. They sought a tool to make it easy to track their giving and hold themselves accountable to their shared goal. This search led them to something called a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) \- a tax\-advantaged charitable giving account that lets you automate contributions, centrally manage your donations, and expand your giving capacity. It seemed like the perfect answer at first, but something was missing. Whenever they were inspired to make a gift online \- like for a giving day \- they weren’t able to fully participate. If they made a gift with their DAF portal, it wasn’t counted in the real\-time total, and they were left out of the giving day. If they made a credit card gift, they missed all the benefits of the DAF they were excited about. It no longer felt like an experience of connection with a community \- like their 10% pact. They had to use their DAF all alone, disconnected from the organization. Two of those friends were Salomon Serfati and Aaron Kahane, who looped in a third, Drew Schneider, as they set out to connect DAF giving directly to those inspirational moments of online fundraising and giving. They founded a payments company dedicated to DAF giving, called Chariot. Now, Chariot’s big innovation \-[DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay)\- has embedded 3\-click DAF giving into donation forms for tens of thousands of nonprofits around the country. As Chariot’s partners began to better understand the real value of DAFs to their missions \- through research like [The DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) \- they realized the possibilities DAFpay offers for more connected DAF giving. A new idea struck. What if we all decided on a single day to activate DAF donations together? How many more people would take advantage of DAFs to expand their philanthropy? How many DAF donors would give at once if they truly felt connected? How much more giving could we spur with a shared goal? If this happened on October 10th–10/10, how many folks could even give out 10% of their DAF on a single day, together? Could a national giving day dedicated to DAF giving unlock their full potential of donor advised funds for philanthropy? We are going to kick this off with the first ever DAF Day on **October 10th, 2024. **We hope you’ll join us. Sincerely, The Chariot Team \+ DAF Day Launch Partners \-\- **Nonprofit Partners** **Donor Advised Fund Partners** **Fundraising Platform Partners** --- ## Donor Advised Funds Increase Annual Giving by 96%, Reveals New Chariot/K2D Strategies Five-Year Study With 20 Leading Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/donor-advised-funds-increase-annual-giving-by-96-reveals-new-chariot-k2d-strategies-five-year-stud - Published: 2024-07-26 > As reported on Yahoo Finance on July 25, 2024NEW YORK CITY, July 25, 2024 -- Chariot, the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving, and K2D Strategies, the full-service direct response fundraising and engagement agency, today released the inaugural DAF Fundraising Report on the nonprofit experience with DAF fundraising. The benchmark study shows the increasing effectiveness of DAFs in enabling donors to give more, and more often. Non-DAF donors who transitioned to using a DA *As reported on *[*Yahoo Finance*](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donor-advised-funds-increase-annual-153700346.html)* on July 25, 2024* **NEW YORK CITY, July 25, 2024**\-\-[Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/about-us), the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving, and [K2D Strategies,](https://k2dstrategies.com/) the full\-service direct response fundraising and engagement agency, today released the inaugural DAF Fundraising Report on the nonprofit experience with DAF fundraising. The benchmark study shows the increasing effectiveness of DAFs in enabling donors to give more, and more often.Non\-DAF donors who transitioned to using a DAF within the five years of the study nearly doubled their yearly donations, increasing their annual giving to the same organization by 96%. The study documents historical giving data from 2019\-23 collected from 20 leading nonprofits, analyzing over $10 billion in fundraising from 78 million transactions. [The American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html), [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/other-ways/), [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds), and the [ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund) are among the participating nonprofits selected to represent a wide range of organizations varying in size, area of specialization, and location. [The DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) provides the first wide\-scale nonprofit perspective of DAF donations, offering new insight into trends in DAF usage from 2019\-23. The study outlines the growth in DAF revenue and DAF donors relative to non\-DAF revenue and donors – as well as a first\-of\-its\-kind insight into how DAF adoption actually changes donor behavior. Key findings include: - **DAFs are incredibly valuable for nonprofits**: Once someone starts giving from their DAF, their annual giving increases by **96%.** - **DAFs are the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy: **DAF Revenue is growing **214x **faster than non\-DAF Revenue in the sample group. - **DAF donors are bucking the trend of declining donor participation: **DAF Donors have grown **79% **while non\-DAF donors have declined by 6%. - **DAF donors are “hiding” in donor files: **At least **26% **of current DAF donors were already supporting that cause when they made their first DAF gift. - **DAF donors are incredibly loyal**: DAF donor retention rates average **15 points higher **than non\-DAF donors among participants. “We have seen the amount and frequency of donations through DAFs significantly increase, especially in the last five years,” says Karin Kirchoff, Founder and President of K2D Strategies. “For nonprofits, increased DAF usage in their donor base is one of the biggest drivers of overall fundraising success. DAFs make it easier for donors to manage and increase their philanthropy \- ultimately giving twice as much to their favorite causes." "There’s no denying that Donor Advised Funds are transforming the nonprofit landscape, offering a sustainable source of support in today's challenging fundraising environment. At the IRC, we’ve seen firsthand how DAFs empower us to reach those on the frontlines of crisis, conflict and disaster more effectively, thanks to larger and more frequent contributions, so we are delighted to see that it benefits so many throughout the nonprofit ecosystem,” says Carlos Pena, Director of Donor Advised Funds for the International Rescue Committee. “We know that giving is an essential part of everyday personal finance. When you use DAF as a dedicated giving account, you give so much more,” says Salomon Serfati, Co\-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Chariot. “The DAF Fundraising Report brings home how DAFs can inspire a change in donor behavior. DAFs inspire more purposeful giving where donating is seen as less of an expense and more of an investment in a meaningful nonprofit.” To obtain a copy of theDAF Fundraising Report, [please visit Chariot’s website](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). **About Chariot** Chariot is the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, allows donors to give with their DAF anywhere they are inspired to give online. This enables donors to use their DAF in more places, more often, and unlocks more DAF gifts with better information for nonprofits. Chariot powers direct DAF payments for many of the largest nonprofits in the country, such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. **About K2D Strategies** K2D Strategies works exclusively with nonprofits making the world a better place with a simple approach: deliver impactful engagement and development strategies and provide extraordinary client services. K2D Strategies offers award\-winning, full\-service, data\-driven, integrated, online and offline direct response program management for nonprofits including the Center for Reproductive Rights, Save the Redwoods League, and Make\-A\-Wish America. **Media Contact:** [press@givechariot.com](mailto:press@givechariot.com) --- ## Chariot’s new partnership with Pledge puts easy DAF giving in front of millions more donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-s-new-partnership-with-pledge-puts-easy-daf-giving-in-front-of-millions-more-donors - Published: 2024-07-25 > DAFpay goes live as a core payment option across all Pledge donation forms, that millions of people use to support thousands of nonprofitsToday, Chariot announced a landmark integration with Pledge, a free fundraising platform of choice for companies, nonprofits and individuals looking to make a bigger impact around the world. Millions of people have used Pledge to donate to thousands of nonprofits–and now they will all have access to DAFpay, Chariot’s 3-click embedded Donor Advised Fund (DAF) p #### DAFpay goes live as a core payment option across all Pledge donation forms, that millions of people use to support thousands of nonprofits Today, Chariot announced a landmark integration with [Pledge](https://www.pledge.to/), a free fundraising platform of choice for companies, nonprofits and individuals looking to make a bigger impact around the world. Millions of people have used Pledge to donate to thousands of nonprofits–and now they will all have access to DAFpay, Chariot’s 3\-click embedded Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) payment option. DAF donors are proven to make 19x larger gifts than non\-DAF donors \(according to [The DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report)\) and have $230 billion already set aside for giving in DAF accounts \(according to [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/)\). Too often, however, these high\-potential donors end up making a smaller credit card gift when they’re inspired to give online–because it’s so much easier. This results in the DAF being underutilized, the cause receiving less money and the donor being frustrated. If they do go off\-platform to use their DAF, it’s nearly impossible to connect the gift back to the specific campaign they were trying to support and they aren’t included in the real\-time fundraising momentum at all. “There are now more than 3 million people using DAFs to improve their philanthropy,” says Salomon Serfati, CEO & Co\-founder of Chariot. “Integrating DAF giving right into the standard online donation flow results in a radically improved experience for donors, more money for nonprofits and more DAF usage overall.” By integrating DAFpay into every donation form, Pledge is making it easier than ever for DAF donors to use their DAF right when they are most inspired to give. DAF gifts can now be made in a few seconds and be included in fundraising totals in real time \- ensuring a more connected and fulfilling donor experience. “By enabling seamless donor\-advised fund contributions to any of Pledge’s nearly two million nonprofits, we’re revolutionizing the way donors can easily and sustainably support their favorite causes,” says James Citron, CEO at Pledge. “This collaboration with DAFpay by Give Chariot breaks down the barriers traditionally associated with DAF contributions, unlocking their potential as a major force in philanthropy with rapid growth. This partnership showcases Pledge’s commitment to making generosity frictionless and empowers nonprofits to significantly boost their fundraising efforts, maximizing the impact of charitable giving.” Existing Pledge users don’t need to do anything new to use DAFpay as it’s automatically enabled anytime you start a fundraiser. Nonprofit organizations that receive gifts through Pledge can claim their Chariot account today to ensure the fastest delivery of their gifts. If you have any questions on claiming your account, visit [this getting started guide](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/9141609-claiming-your-account-with-chariot) or reach out to [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). **About Pledge** Pledge is the world’s most trusted and innovative fundraising partner that has raised over $140,000,000 in impact, making it easy for nonprofits, businesses, and people to make a difference in their communities and around the globe. Pledge powers donations through leading online brands, such as Zoom, Evite, Shopify, Legacy, CNN, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as democratizes fundraising through free landing pages, cryptocurrency, text\-to\-donate, virtual events, and more. Pledge processes donations to 2\+ million verified nonprofits and charitable organizations of all sizes and is a proud member of the UN Global Compact, Pledge 1%, Conscious Capitalism, and PledgeLA. Interested in making a difference? Visit [www.pledge.to](http://www.pledge.to) and make your [\#PledgeToDoGood](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/PledgeToDoGood). **About Chariot** [Chariot](http://www.givechariot.com) is the payments company dedicated to Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving.[DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option, allows donors to give with their DAF anywhere they are inspired to give online. This enables donors to use their DAF in more places, more often, and unlocks more DAF gifts with better information for nonprofits. Chariot powers direct DAF payments for many of the largest nonprofits in the country, such as the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. --- ## CrowdChange and Chariot Supercharge Donations to Nonprofits with DAFpay  - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/crowdchange-and-chariot-supercharge-donations-to-nonprofits-with-dafpay - Published: 2024-07-08 > New online option will make it faster and more convenient to donate via donor-advised funds to 501(c)3 groups, which will increase giving. Thousands of 501(c)3 groups using CrowdChange for digital fundraising can now seamlessly accept donor-advised fund (DAF) donations online through a new partnership with Chariot, which powers DAFpay, the world’s first online DAF payments solution.This new online option enables donors to more conveniently and quickly give to high-impact nonprofits, which will b #### New online option will make it faster and more convenient to donate via donor\-advised funds to 501\(c\)3 groups, which will increase giving. Thousands of 501\(c\)3 groups using CrowdChange for digital fundraising can now seamlessly accept donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) donations online through a new partnership with Chariot, which powers DAFpay, the world’s first online DAF payments solution. This new online option enables donors to more conveniently and quickly give to high\-impact nonprofits, which will boost donations in this fast\-growing area through funds that they have already contributed to their DAFs. Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have grown from 7% of annual charitable contributions in 2017 to 17% in 2022, and represent $230 billion in AUM, making them by far the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy. In 2022, $52 billion was given from DAFs to nonprofits \(According to [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022)\). Until now, DAF donations have been completely disconnected from the high\-inspiration fundraising efforts and giving campaigns for nonprofits. Integrating Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving into the CrowdChange ecosystem creates a new revenue stream for our nonprofit partners, transforming a traditionally manual, labor\-intensive, and mostly offline process "DAFpay offers a seamless online giving experience, enabling donors to effortlessly contribute to the nonprofit of their choice using their Donor Advised Fund,” said [Jared Allen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredallen-crowdchange/), VP of Partner Success & Product Development at CrowdChange. “We are thrilled to launch DAFpay on our platform and eagerly anticipate helping our partners expand their DAF giving portfolios." With DAFpay by Chariot, donors can issue a grant directly from their DAF account to their nonprofit’s fundraising campaign in just three clicks that take under 15 seconds. Nonprofits will immediately know that the gift was made and receive the donors’ contact information to properly steward the donor. All the data typically collected on CrowdChange\-powered donation forms will be readily available for nonprofits right in their admin reporting. The average DAF gift in 2023 was $4,625 \(according to [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report)\), making it 23x larger than the average credit card gift \(according to [the Blackbaud Institute](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\). DAF donors can often be a nonprofit’s most highly valued and consistent supporters. That’s why it’s so critical for nonprofits to provide an optimized digital giving experience for supporters making DAF donations with payment solutions like DAFpay now natively integrated into CrowdChange. “We’re thrilled to be able to work with CrowdChange to empower more nonprofits to capture the opportunity available in the rapidly growing space of donor\-advised fund giving,” said [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/epackin/), Chariot’s Head of Partnerships. “CrowdChange is a leading fundraising platform and we know the impact of unlocking digital DAF giving for their clients will be immense.” Check out [the Help Center article](https://chadmin.crowdchange.help/ct/Donor-Advised-Funds---DAFPay-by-Chariot-Integration.2424471553.html?t=lsmx9P7KHk1WU6-3G11a4w) to learn more about our DAFpay integration, or reach out to your dedicated Partner Success Representative for a 1\-on\-1 consultation. **About CrowdChange** CrowdChange is a leading\-edge digital fundraising and event management platform that enables nonprofit organizations to transform their fundraising efforts by adding a seamless, robust, and easy\-to\-use digital component to their strategy. [www.crowdchange.co](http://www.crowdchange.co) **About Chariot** Chariot is a charitable payments company that is accelerating philanthropy with a financial system custom\-built for the nonprofit ecosystem. Our three\-click DAF payment option, DAFpay, enables seamless DAF giving anywhere you donate online: nonprofit websites, campaign pages & donation forms. We power digital DAF giving for some of the largest nonprofits in the country \- like the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center & Michael J. Fox Foundation. Learn more at [www.givechariot.com](http://www.givechariot.com) --- ## Creating climate crisis readiness with GoFundMe.org this summer  - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/creating-climate-crisis-readiness-with-gofundme-org-this-summer - Published: 2024-07-01 > As extreme weather takes a greater toll on our country, we’re supporting GoFundMe.org’s work to strengthen vulnerable communities as our July Cause of the Month“What happens in the world, happens on GoFundMe, particularly in crisis moments,” shares Amanda Brown Lierman, Executive Director of GoFundMe.org.“With an ever-increasing number of people asking for and providing help on GoFundMe.com, there’s so much opportunity for GoFundMe.org to take a more strategic approach to our impact.”Historicall ##### As extreme weather takes a greater toll on our country, we’re supporting [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)’s work to strengthen vulnerable communities as our July Cause of the Month [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) “What happens in the world, happens on GoFundMe, particularly in crisis moments,” shares [Amanda Brown Lierman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakarynnebrown/), Executive Director of [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org). “With an ever\-increasing number of people asking for and providing help on [GoFundMe.com](http://GoFundMe.com), there’s so much opportunity for [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) to take a more strategic approach to our impact.” Historically, the nonprofit’s role was primarily to turn tax\-deductible donations into micro\-grants for vetted & qualified people in need using GoFundMe in times of crisis. Now Amanda and her team are ushering in a new era where [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) is proactively addressing the most common driver of disaster fundraising \- the climate crisis. In May, they launched the [Weather Resilience Fund](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) to better prepare the most vulnerable communities in California for climate\-related disasters, in partnership with Comite Civico del Valle and Central California Environmental Justice Network \(see the [full press release here](https://www.gofundme.com/c/newsroom/gofundme-org-announces-local-partnerships-to-help-central-and-imperial-valley-families-prepare-for-extreme-weather-events)\). This campaign will equip these “on\-the\-ground” partners with funding to provide low\-income households in the central valley with air purifiers, water\-filtration, ductless mini\-split air conditioners \- all supplies that reduce the financial and health burdens from extreme heat that have been upending these communities. [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) “Every summer, these natural disasters get worse. And while the fundraising that happens in the days following a specific crisis is still critical, we want to couple that with more proactive and holistic measures to reduce human suffering" In this new chapter, [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) is working to bring the crowdsourcing ethos, which has made their disaster response so effective, to campaigns for preparedness and resilience. Is it possible to activate the same kind of social mechanism and feeling of shared community to important work that can be done in advance of these “unexpected” events as they become more predictable \- and extreme? GoFundMe certainly believes it’s possible \- and demonstrated their conviction by making a $1.5 million investment into the Weather Resilience Fund at its launch. [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) The two\-pronged approach of better preparation and faster response also provides an incredible new opportunity for Donor Advised Fund holders to have an impact. In May, GoFundMe also [announced a new partnership](https://www.givechariot.com/post/gofundme-launches-dafpay-across-all-charity-fundraising-pages) with Chariot to implement DAFpay on all verified charity fundraising pages. This includes individuals and organizations leveraging the crowdfunding platform to raise money for their favorite 501\(c\)3 nonprofits, and campaigns directly managed by [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)\- like The Weather Resilience Fund and their crisis response efforts. [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) Historically DAF users were completely left out of the momentum and excitement of these crowdfunding efforts since there was no way to “pay” with their DAF online. Before DAFpay, the only option was for DAF holders to go offline through their DAF platform and there was no way to participate in real time. “It is an exciting time for DAF donors to further diversify their philanthropic efforts,” adds Amanda. “Thanks to [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)’s partnership with Chariot, they can now easily move funds to vetted individuals, families and communities in need through [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)\- before and after a crisis.” After the Maui wildfires in 2023, [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) was able to verify personal GoFundMe pages created to directly help those impacted and disbursed the first grants within 36 hours. DAF donors at the time were desperately seeking ways to deploy the funds in their accounts \- which can only be donated to 501\(c\)3 nonprofits \- but a gift to [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org) to support this work had to be made through a DAF portal that wouldn’t arrive for weeks. This made it impossible for their dollars to be included in the real\-time response when they were most desperately needed. This kind of innovation in crisis response will play a critical role in moving more of the $230 billion in Donor Advised Funds to people and communities in need, while improving the donor and nonprofit experience with sending and receiving Donor Advised Fund gifts. [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) — Chariot’s Cause of the Month is an initiative where we select a nonprofit organization close to our hearts to support with funds from our company's Donor\-Advised Fund. We also spend the month encouraging our networks to support the Cause of the Month with us, especially for people who have a DAF. Chariot’s DAF payment option, DAFpay, makes it possible to support great organizations like [GoFundMe.org](http://GoFundMe.org)’s Weather Resilience Fund directly in their campaign pages in under 20 seconds. [Donate to the Weather Resilience Fund with your DAF](https://www.gofundme.com/f/weather-resilience) --- ## How an historic LGBT organization is evolving their mission - and their fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-an-historic-lgbt-organization-is-evolving-their-mission-and-their-fundraising - Published: 2024-06-04 > The Center is the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in NYC, an innovator in digital DAF fundraising and Chariot’s Cause of The Month for Pride “Everyone needs to know exactly what we do and just how critical it is for the health and safety of the entire LGBT Community,” shares Dr. Carla Smith, the new CEO of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City - more commonly referred to as just “The Center.”From its founding in the height of the AIDS crisis in 1983, to the f #### The Center is the heart of the LGBTQ\+ community in NYC, an innovator in digital DAF fundraising and Chariot’s Cause of The Month for Pride [Support The Center with your Donor Advised Fund](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) “Everyone needs to know exactly what we do and just how critical it is for the health and safety of the entire LGBT Community,” shares [Dr. Carla Smith](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-carla-smith-ed-d-42233540/), the new CEO of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City \- more commonly referred to as just “The Center.” From its founding in the height of the AIDS crisis in 1983, to the fight for marriage equality throughout the 2000s, to the immense challenges faced by queer people during the COVID pandemic, The Center has been continuously evolving to meet the unique and diverse needs of the vibrant LGBT community of New York City. One of the biggest evolutions of The Center has been to more explicitly & effectively meet the significant needs of people of color \(POC\) & trans / gender non\-conforming \(TGNC\) individuals. This is a particular focus for Dr. Smith, who joined the organization in February as the first Black CEO of The Center and previously did her Ed.D thesis on improving access to emergency domestic violence shelters for trans people surviving intimate partner violence. "With mounting attacks on LGBT folks around the country, I want everyone in our community to know there’s a place for them here \- and for everyone to know how their financial support of The Center translates into life\-saving work" “With mounting attacks on LGBT folks around the country, I want everyone in our community to know there’s a place for them here \- and for everyone to know how their financial support of The Center translates into life\-saving work,” adds Dr. Smith during a lunch meeting in the West Village \- the neighborhood that’s home to The Center’s iconic building on West 13th street, filled with history, priceless queer art and a helping hand to anyone that needs it. I’ve been a supporter of The Center ever since my first time participating in [Cycle for the Cause](https://cycleforthecause.org/) in 2016, and a board member since 2019. Biking in the epic Northeast AIDS Ride with my dad, in honor of my late Uncle Marlin, changed everything about my life. The tragic experience of losing her twin brother at such a young age, and experiencing all the hate & discrimination that he received in the process had a profound impact on my Mom. It understandably made my coming out process, 20 years later, a lot more difficult for the family. Joining the ride helped us all honor Marlin’s memory while experiencing the joy of community and acceptance. It created a positive outlet for all the emotions we’d all been holding onto for decades and gave us a way to engage everyone in our lives in the important work of breaking down HIV stigma. [Support The Center with your Donor Advised Fund](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) Dr. Smith and I shared a teary\-eyed moment reflecting on my personal connection to The Center’s work \- and how it’s just one story out of a million like it that each queer person and their families have in New York City. I agree with her that it is critical for more people to be aware ofthe ground\-breaking queer\-specific mental health services we offer, the only youth substance use counseling programs we run, the only LGBT\-specific Iftar service during Ramadan, etc. But I also want everyone to appreciate that The Center is more than an amazing physical building and a powerful collection of life\-saving services & life\-affirming events. It’s home. It’s home to anyone that needs it. And I think that everyone in the broader LGBT community has needed that kind of home at some point in their lives. I’m so grateful that Dr. Smith \- or Dr. Carla as I’ve come to prefer calling her\! \- brings lived and deeply\-researched experience with the community members that are feeling that need most right now \- our POC and TGNC siblings. [Support The Center with your Donor Advised Fund](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) Dr. Carla has hit the ground running \- and biking \- taking on speaking engagements throughout Pride month and training for her first Cycle for the Cause ride in September. This event brings together hundreds of riders for 3 days and 275 miles from Boston to NYC to bring an End to AIDS and the stigma of HIV. It’s also a huge fundraising event for The Center, generating over $2.2 million last year. Thanks to the [new partnership between Chariot & DonorDrive](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donordrive-and-chariot-announce-new-partnership-for-integrated-daf-payments), The Center will also be benefiting from digital [DAF giving for the first time in this year’s fundraising](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/)\! In the DonorDrive fundraising platform that powers Cycle for the Cause, donors can now give through DAFpay on every rider’s campaign page. “We’ve seen growing DAF support for The Center in recent years, but there’s never been as much DAF giving to Cycle specifically" “We’ve seen growing DAF support for The Center in recent years, but there’s never been as much DAF giving to Cycle specifically,” shares [Renee Colombo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-colombo-03656747/), The Center’s Chief Development Officer. “We’re really excited to see how DAFpay can bring in more revenue and help us better engage a critical segment of donors in the peer\-to\-peer setting.” Dr. Carla is an incredibly energizing force that we all need \- especially at an organization that is truly The Center of the LGBT community in NYC. On behalf of the Chariot team, I’m excited to support her ride with a DAFpay donation from the company \- and encourage everyone else reading this to [give it a try themselves](https://support.gaycenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.participant&participantID=3839)\! [Support The Center with your Donor Advised Fund](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) --- ## GoFundMe Launches DAFpay Across All Charity Fundraising Pages - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/gofundme-launches-dafpay-across-all-charity-fundraising-pages - Published: 2024-05-28 > The new integration enables easy, real-time Donor Advised Fund giving for crisis response and time-sensitive campaigns for over 1 million eligible charities on GoFundMeThe more than 3 million people with Donor Advised Funds in the United States can now easily use them to support eligible nonprofit fundraisers on the industry-leading fundraising platform, GoFundMe.The integration of DAFpay as a payment option across all GoFundMe fundraising pages for qualified charities marks an important step fo #### The new integration enables easy, real\-time Donor Advised Fund giving for crisis response and time\-sensitive campaigns for over 1 million eligible charities on GoFundMe The more than 3 million people with Donor Advised Funds in the United States can now easily use them to support eligible nonprofit fundraisers on the industry\-leading fundraising platform, GoFundMe. The integration of DAFpay as a payment option across all GoFundMe fundraising pages for qualified charities marks an important step forward in the usability and utility of DAFs. Historically, if a DAF holder was inspired to support a crowdfunding campaign, there was no way to use their dedicated charitable savings account \(a.k.a. Donor Advised Fund\). Not only did it take many extra steps to go use their DAF, the gift wouldn’t arrive until several weeks later \- completely missing the moment. With DAFpay enabled, DAF holders can use their DAF in 3 clicks and be fully included in the campaign in real\-time. It’s a significantly more engaged and seamless experience, resulting in more giving and larger donations \- the average DAFpay gift processed is over $1,300. Now DAF donors don’t need to miss out on the moment and charities don’t need to miss out on those exciting gifts from high\-potential donors. If your organization has received a DAFpay gift through GoFundMe, all you need to do is [set up your Chariot account](https://login.givechariot.com/u/signup?state=hKFo2SAtVEVTT19OQUYwbTVsd3FKOXA0Q2Nhb0poekV5QW83TaFur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIHFLUkNnYTY2aTJRMXNMVWp6TngyQU1rT2psaFItajV5o2NpZNkgamRlSlE1YVR6RUhSZE5uTzFDbFh3RjJUZzlQREd0OEs) to claim it\! Learn more about [how Donor Advised Funds work](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf) and [what kind of donors use DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). For more details on how DAFpay works on GoFundMe pages, check out [this overview](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/24174014869915-How-to-donate-with-your-Donor-Advised-Fund-DAF) and see the [full press release](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240528182147/en/GoFundMe-Launches-DAFpay-as-a-Payment-Method-in-Partnership-with-Chariot) below: GoFundMe Launches DAFpay as a Payment Method in Partnership with Chariot *May 28, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time* SAN DIEGO\-\-\(BUSINESS WIRE\)\-\-GoFundMe, the trusted leader in online fundraising, today announced the addition of DAFpay as a payment method, enabling direct, easy, and secure payments to qualified GoFundMe fundraisers directly from donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\). As a result of the partnership between GoFundMe and Chariot, donors now have the option to support over 1 million U.S. charities on GoFundMe and make a direct impact with their DAF dollars. "By unlocking donor\-advised funds, which traditionally have been less accessible for immediate and direct charitable giving, we are innovating to give people another easy way to support causes they care about," said Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe. "Through DAFpay, donors gain the flexibility to make a meaningful impact quickly and securely, within the trusted GoFundMe fundraising experience they know and love.” “DAFs are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy and a tremendous opportunity in the field of online fundraising,” said Salo Serfati, CEO of Chariot. “Bringing easy DAF giving to GoFundMe will significantly increase DAF usage, which benefits donors, nonprofits and DAFs themselves.” For more information about how to use DAFpay on GoFundMe, please visit [here](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/24174014869915-How-to-donate-with-your-Donor-Advised-Fund-DAF). **About GoFundMe** GoFundMe is a community\-powered fundraising platform dedicated to helping people help each other. Founded in 2010, GoFundMe combines storytelling and fundraising to make it easy for people to ask for help, connect with supporters, and reach their goals. GoFundMe gives people a way to make a meaningful difference for the causes and communities that are most important, urgent, and relevant to them and society. **About Chariot** Chariot is a charitable payments company that is accelerating philanthropy with a financial system custom\-built for the nonprofit ecosystem. Our 3\-click DAF payment option, DAFpay, enables seamless DAF giving anywhere you donate online: nonprofit websites, campaign pages & donation forms. We power digital DAF giving for some of the largest nonprofits in the country \- like American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center & Michael J. Fox Foundation. Contacts Jalen Drummond [press@gofundme.com](mailto:press@gofundme.com) Mitch Stein [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) --- ## Marching for healthy moms and babies this May - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/marching-for-healthy-moms-and-babies-this-may - Published: 2024-05-12 > In support of all the moms who mean so much to us here at Chariot, we’re excited to spotlight the work of March of Dimes as our May Cause of the Month. Karyn DeMartini is one of the millions of moms that have March of Dimes to thank for a lower risk delivery and a healthy baby. “When I went in for my 37-week appointment with my first child 15 years ago, my nurse immediately questioned me about when I was going to schedule my delivery. But I knew from March of Dimes’ work that it’s much safer to #### In support of all the moms who mean so much to us here at Chariot, we’re excited to spotlight the work of March of Dimes as our May Cause of the Month. [Support March for Babies with your DAF](https://marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Personal?personId=132869&participantId=9165720) [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/) is one of the millions of moms that have March of Dimes to thank for a lower risk delivery and a healthy baby. “When I went in for my 37\-week appointment with my first child 15 years ago, my nurse immediately questioned me about when I was going to schedule my delivery. But I knew from March of Dimes’ work that it’s much safer to get to at least 39 weeks before the baby is born,” shares Karyn. “By the time I was back at my 37\-week appointment for my second child 19 months later, I had the same nurse. But this time, she told me the goal was to get to at least 39 weeks before labor started, a stark but wonderful contrast from my prior appointment with her. Within two years, March of Dimes' research, education, and advocacy were already changing standards of care for moms and their babies.” In the US, 1 in 10 babies is born too soon—a significant contributor to the maternal and infant health crisis in our country. While March of Dimes began in 1938 as a grassroots campaign to eradicate polio, the organization has evolved over the years to harness that community support to improve mom and baby health. Karyn, now the VP of Major, Principal, and Planned Giving at March of Dimes, has worked for the organization for over 23 years. When she graduated from her MBA program at Santa Clara University right in the middle of Silicon Valley's dot\-com boom, she was weighing a more traditional business career or sticking with nonprofit work. “I felt so strongly about dedicating my time to the health of women and children, when the opportunity came to lead the Bay Area chapter of March of Dimes, I went for it and never looked back.” [Support March for Babies with your DAF](https://marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Personal?personId=132869&participantId=9165720) Over the years, Karyn has worked as a local Executive Director, the head of the California chapter, and a regional major gifts officer before moving into her current leadership role. Through all those experiences, she’s gained a profound appreciation for how every mom and child in this country benefits from March of Dimes’ work, and how important it is to offer supporters the easiest and most flexible ways to donate. “We were the first charity ever to take a grassroots funding approach. We proved to people that their spare change could add up to a profound improvement in our society—an improvement made possible by meeting people where they were,” says Karyn. “Today we do that through our March for Babies campaign that empowers thousands of volunteers to raise funds from their own communities and walk together for healthy moms, babies, and families.” This year, the organization also started an exciting new chapter in its long history of making giving increasingly accessible by incorporating [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) into its main website and peer\-to\-peer donation forms—allowing any of the over three million people with a Donor Advised Fund to easily give right on the March of Dimes website in three clicks. “We're all just amazed at how DAFpay converts more donors to use their DAFs and make significantly larger donations—both in our March for Babies forms and on our main website. One after another we’re seeing a former $100 credit card donor, now making a $2,000 DAF gift. Another one going from $100 historical giving to a $3,500 DAF gift\!” exclaims Karyn, who’s so passionate about better engaging DAF donors that she also sits on [Chariot’s Nonprofit Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council). “It’s just a fact that donors are increasingly electing to use DAFs—why would we not make that as easy as possible to use a DAF to support us?” And the ramp up of DAF support is well\-timed this year, as the organization pursues their latest public awareness campaign: Low Dose, Big Benefits™. One in 25 pregnant people experience preeclampsia, a serious condition during pregnancy that can cause high blood pressure. It can lead to serious problems including preterm birth, heart disease, and other complications. For those at risk of preeclampsia, taking low dose aspirin can provide big benefits, giving babies and moms the healthy starts they deserve.​ March of Dimes is encouraging pregnant people to take the simple step of asking a healthcare professional about taking low dose aspirin early in pregnancy, which can make all the difference.​ Chariot’s team is honored to support March of Dimes—and more specifically, Karyn’s own fundraising campaign for March of Babies—this month for Mothers’ Day. Our two new first\-time parents on the team, [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/epackin/) and [Matt Magaldi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-magaldi-11b47a8b/), are especially grateful for their healthy babies this Mother’s Day—thanks to the tireless work of March of Dimes for decades. [Support March for Babies with your DAF](https://marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Personal?personId=132869&participantId=9165720)— Chariot’s Cause of the Month is an initiative where a member of our team gets to select a nonprofit organization close to their hearts to support with funds from our company's Donor\-Advised Fund. We also spend the month encouraging our networks to support the Cause of the Month with us, especially if they have a DAF. Chariot’s DAF payment option makes it possible to support great organizations like March for Babies directly in their campaign pages in under 20 seconds. *We're also exciting to spotlight the healthy Moms and Babies of Chariot\!* --- ## Highlights from the Public Hearings on Proposed DAF Regulations - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/highlights-from-the-public-hearings-on-proposed-daf-regulations - Published: 2024-05-07 > 34 Community Foundation leaders and other industry representatives shared why new proposed regulations would be “detrimental” to the industry. Disclaimer: This is not a legal review or opinion, simply a recap of stories, explanations and concerns offered in public testimony to a panel of IRS representatives. Anyone who may be impacted by the proposed regulation should consult their own legal counsel and review the full proposal before making any decisions or changes to their operations.On Monday #### 34 Community Foundation leaders and other industry representatives shared why new proposed regulations would be “detrimental” to the industry. *Disclaimer: This is not a legal review or opinion, simply a recap of stories, explanations and concerns offered in public testimony to a panel of IRS representatives. Anyone who may be impacted by the proposed regulation should consult their own legal counsel and review the full proposal before making any decisions or changes to their operations.* On Monday May 6th, the Internal Revenue Service convened [a public hearing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/29/2024-04262/taxes-on-taxable-distributions-from-donor-advised-funds-under-section-4966-hearing) to allow testimony from stakeholders in the Donor Advised Fund ecosystem to share their feedback on proposed rule changes to “Taxes on Taxable Distributions from Donor Advised Funds Under Section 4966.” There were 34 speakers in person, another 8 who spoke via phone the next day and many other organizations that submitted comments to the proposal, but did not choose to speak. The sentiment was not subtle. Everyone speaking \- from community foundation presidents, to attorneys, to industry representatives \- seemed to agree that these proposed regulations, as currently drafted, would upend the Donor Advised Fund industry in the US. The most common phrase of the day was “chilling effect,” as everyone warned about the negative unintended consequences these changes would have on philanthropy and operating nonprofits. ### Why now? While DAFs were officially created by the New York Community Trust in 1931 \(when Francis & William Barstow wanted to leave their funds with the community foundation, but also make grants during their lifetime\), the more widespread adoption of the vehicle we’re familiar with today came after the passing of the Pension Protection Act in 2006. Since then, DAFs have proliferated \- thanks in large part to the ability for individuals or families to use their personal investment advisor to manage funds in a DAF account, even if it’s held by a sponsor like a Community Foundation, which was made possible by the PPA. While it’s not clear exactly why this proposal came from the IRS at the end of 2023, it appears to be an effort to clarify the definitions of donor advisor, prohibited benefits and permitted distributions that came from the PPA 17 years prior. But in those 17 years, the industry has grown to include over [1,151 DAF sponsors holding $230 billion in assets, distributing over $52 billion](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022) per year with over 3 million account holders. DAF sponsors have developed their own robust frameworks for managing these accounts to comply with the latest regulations provided in 2006 and the proposed changes were clearly untenable to everyone involved in this industry. ### Key issues raised 1. The authority of, and the need for, the IRS to make these changes at all 2. Defining an Investment Advisor as a Donor Advisor \(who can’t receive payment for investment management service\) 3. Reduced DAF usage 4. Existing structures that already address concerns 5. Incentivizing private foundations 6. Expanding the scope of what is a DAF \(to include field of interest funds, collaborative funds, fiscal sponsorships, etc.\) 7. New restrictions on permitted expenses & distributions \(Overly restrictive and impractical to manage\) 8. The retroactive application of these rules \(generating backward looking tax penalties\) **1\) The authority of, and the need for, the IRS to make these changes at all** Before getting into the specific problems flagged with the proposed regulations, the first order challenge many people made was whether the IRS could, or should, issue regulations at all. The key arguments made on this front were: 1. The IRS does not have the authority to unilaterally expand these definitions created in legislation from Congress, according to Kevin Carroll from SIFMA 2. The issues that the IRS appears to be trying to solve with these regulations are purely speculative and hypothetical. “There is no study or analysis backing up” these changes or issues raised in the regulation and a federal agency should not create rules “based on anecdote” according to Emanuel Kallina from Kallina & Associates, LLC. 3. All of the potential issues raised have existing mechanisms in place to prevent and address them. Speakers invited IRS representatives to review those mechanisms and point out any shortcomings, but the proposal completely ignores that “existing statutes already address these concerns entirely” according to David Shevlin from the American Bar Association. The existing statutes are described in more detail below. **2\) Defining an Investment Advisor as a Donor Advisor** This was clearly the most problematic issue raised by nearly every single person that testified. The proposal expands the definition of a Donor Advisor to include personal investment advisors who are advising on the investments within a DAF account. If deemed a Donor Advisor, investment advisors would not be able to earn any management fees \- and therefore would not engage in that service. Here are the core downstream impacts: ***Reduced DAF Usage*** - Investment advisors recommending DAFs to their clients is a primary driver of increased philanthropic engagement and if they can’t earn a reasonable market rate on their work to manage DAF accounts, it could stifle the most promising and fastest growing vehicle for philanthropy. According to Eileen Heisman from National Philanthropic Trust, the largest independent DAF provider, 80% of their DAF account holders are referred by their personal investment advisor. - Most individuals have a close and trusted relationship with their financial advisor and if they can’t continue to work with them for their DAF, they’ll be unlikely to hold their DAF account at a community Foundation. Roxane Jerde from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County shared that their single largest DAF account holder told her explicitly that they would not hold their $30 million DAF with the foundation unless they could continue working with their financial advisory. - Community foundations in particular do not have the scale or capability to offer robust investment options on their own. Engaging a broad range of approved financial advisors helps keep them competitive with other DAF offerings, keep assets local and help fund all the activities at the foundations. Frank Fernandez from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta warned that this restriction would limit donor choice and threaten usage. ***Existing structure addresses concerns*** - Because DAF sponsors are the legal owners of assets, they “thoroughly vet each investment advisor requested by DAF account holders” and hold them all to their investment policy, according to Andrea Saenz from the Chicago Community Trust. DAF sponsors regularly fire certain investment advisors who are not keeping up with benchmarks or are found to be in violation of investment policy. - The DAF sponsor also retains all grant\-making authority and signs off on every single grant request made, not investment advisors. - “Federal statutory limitations on investment advisors should already handle what the Treasury is trying to address here. They already require a duty of care, a duty of loyalty and a duty of fiduciary responsibility that prevent harm and conflicts of interest,” According to Kevin Carroll from SIFMA. - There is no evidence to support the concern that Investment Advisors discourage grant making to keep funds in the account. Several DAF sponsors shared specific data on how outside managed accounts are in\-line with or even outperforming their overall payout ratio. The Chicago Community Foundation, which has 2/3 of its DAF accounts managed by outside Investment Advisors, has seen a 69% payout rate for DAF accounts held by individuals with their own Investment Advisor. ***Incentivizing Private Foundations*** - This restriction is likely to drive more donors to utilize private foundations for philanthropy, which would result in: - - Greater cost and admin burden for each donor, reducing total philanthropy. Richard Mills from the American Bar Association pointed out that “Private foundations are expensive and complex, while DAFs make philanthropy more democratic.” - Less real\-time oversight, increasing the risks the IRS appears to be trying to address. DAF sponsors are enforcing IRS restrictions on tax\-exempt grantmaking for each distribution in real time. With private foundations, the IRS has to review their activity 1 by 1 retroactively when reviewing their tax filings. - Drastically lower payout rates to nonprofits. Rachel Schnoll from the Jewish Communal Fund pointed out that “JCF’s payout rate in 2023 was 32% and the industry overall has had payout rates above 20% for 15\+ years. While private foundations hold $1.1 trillion in assets, their payout rate last year was only 11.6%” **3\) Expanding the scope of what is a DAF** The new regulations would cause many other types of funds managed by Community Foundations to be designated as DAFs, restricting the way those vehicles are funded and managed. That includes fiscal sponsorship programs, field of interest funds, giving collaboratives and giving circles. If deemed a DAF, these programs would: - Not be able to receive IRA distributions - Not be able to make direct cash payments to non 501\(c\)3 entities, like fiscally sponsored initiatives or families affected by crises. Amy Freitag from the New York Community Trust shared how their funds are currently directing funds toward the 180,000 migrants that have come to the NY area in the past 2 years which would be disallowed under the regulation. - Not be able to engage donors in the grant making process, a core tenant of collaborative giving that deeply engages donors in philanthropy. **4\) New restrictions on permitted expenses & distributions** The regulations provide much stricter guidance on what is a permissible expense incurred by a DAF sponsor, which only includes investment management and grant making costs. DAFs regularly receive contributions in the form of illiquid or complex assets \- real estate, art or stakes in private businesses \- that require expensive professional services to properly appraise and liquidate. It’s a significant benefit of DAFs that they can handle these complex processes centrally and many organizations can benefit from that gift in the form of cash DAF distributions. Anna Maria Chavez from the Arizona Community Foundation highlighted the benefit to “smaller charities in our communities that are able to receive the benefit of non\-cash & complex asset donations.” These new definitions also present new restrictions on DAF distributions that sponsors felt were both unclear and untenable to practically manage. It would require DAF sponsors to monitor the specific end use of each dollar at a 501\(c\)3, and Alexander Reid from TEGE Exempt Organizations Council stated that DAFs should instead “simply be held to the same restrictions as private foundations when it comes to permitted distributions.” Dr. Mark Lail from Church of the Nazarene Foundation highlighted how DAFs already proactive mitigate potential abuses in grant requests, regularly denying DAF accounts recommendations when they are impermissible under existing regulations. "We would much rather have unhappy donors over unhappy IRS officials” **5\) The retroactive application of these rules** The timing of these rules being effective retroactively if adopted was clearly the most practically difficult element of the entire proposal. Everyone highlighted how operationally burdensome it would be to implement and comply with a new set of regulations as disruptive as these. It would take years to adjust current procedures and the new rules would generate a tidal wave of excise taxes from historical and near term violations until sponsors can come into compliance. No matter the final decision, everyone stressed the importance of a reasonable multi\-year timeline for application. **Requests & Next Steps** All of those testifying requested that the Treasury either work with stakeholders to redraft new regulations or withdraw this current proposal entirely and start again from scratch. Some warned that the current proposal would assuredly be litigated, according to Alexander Reid from TEGE Exempt Organizations Council, causing even further delay and confusion for everyone. The members of the panel were clearly engaged and attentive. They were regularly nodding along to people’s points and taking extensive notes on the testimonies. Their body language would suggest that they’re genuinely interested in engaging and incorporating feedback, but they did not give any verbal reaction to any testimony \- other than a few chuckles at some moments of levity. The only thing that’s certain, is that this is going to be a drawn out process. It doesn’t sound like any DAF sponsors or investment advisors are going to make any changes to their operations until there is more clarity from the IRS. That means DAFs are likely to continue expanding and nonprofit fundraisers should be increasingly proactive in their engagement with DAF donors. While we are waiting on further clarity, you can sign up for updates on the [first\-ever nonprofit DAF benchmark study](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-first-ever-nonprofit-daf-benchmark-study-is-almost-here) that’s underway and review your own [DAF strategy](https://www.givechariot.com/post/build-deeper-donor-relationships-with-an-active-daf-strategy) to keep up with the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy. If you’d be interested in an educational presentation or moderated discussion on DAFs for nonprofit fundraisers, please reach out: [mitch@givechariot.com](mailto:mitch@givechariot.com) --- ## Resources to Maximize DAFpay in Peer-to-Peer Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/resources-to-maximize-dafpay-in-peer-to-peer-fundraising - Published: 2024-05-02 > In order to get the most out of DAFpay in your Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, it’s critical to educate your fundraisers on Donor Advised Funds and the DAFpay payment option.One of the most powerful use cases for DAFpay, Chariot’s 3-click DAF payment option that can be embedded in any donation form, is in peer-to-peer fundraising events. These fundraising efforts tap into each of your supporter’s extended networks, drawing in a significant number of potential first-time donors. Without DAFpay, those d #### In order to get the most out of DAFpay in your Peer\-to\-Peer Fundraising, it’s critical to educate your fundraisers on Donor Advised Funds and the DAFpay payment option. One of the most powerful use cases for [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot’s 3\-click DAF payment option that can be embedded in any donation form, is in peer\-to\-peer fundraising events. These fundraising efforts tap into each of your supporter’s extended networks, drawing in a significant number of potential first\-time donors. Without DAFpay, those donors are most likely to donate with a credit card, even if they have a DAF, because it’s so much easier. Using their DAF would require them to leave your form and take several extra minutes to complete a gift. With DAFpay embedded, anyone with a Donor Advised Fund can use it to donate in less than 20 seconds without ever leaving your page. This results in: 1. Faster and smoother donor experience, increasing conversion 2. Greater DAF usage, which results in much larger gifts \(the average DAF gift is [nearly $5k](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report), 23x the average credit card gift online\) 3. Know a new supporter has a DAF, and getting their name & email immediately, so you can properly steward that[high potential donor](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) DAFpay is [natively integrated](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations) with several leading peer\-to\-peer fundraising platforms like [DonorDrive](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donordrive-and-chariot-announce-new-partnership-for-integrated-daf-payments), Givebutter, CauseMatch and others. If you use a fundraising platform that we’re not yet integrated with, be sure to request an integration from them\! Having the DAFpay option available is the critical first step, but it’s also important to make sure your event participants and fundraisers know what DAFs are, why they are important and how to fundraise from them. Pan\-Mass Challenge, the largest athletic fundraiser in the country, is the industry leader in DAF fundraising at events and [does an excellent job with fundraiser education](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-pan-mass-challenge-a-billion-dollar-milestone-chariot-s-march-cause-of-the-month). Here are 2 templates you can leverage to educate your fundraisers like Pan\-Mass Challenge: 1. An email announcing DAFpay to your event participants 2. An FAQ page on DAFs & DAFpay you can host in your blog or resource section #### 1.[Email](http://1.Email) to Peer to Peer Fundraisers about DAFpay Subject: A NEW way to give \- DAFPay\! Dear \[name\], We are excited to announce DAFpay, a new way to give\! Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\), also known as Charitable Giving Accounts, are the fastest growing way to give and have $230 billion waiting to be donated. Now your donors can support you from their DAF \(hosted at Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and over 1,000 others\) directly on your fundraising page in just three clicks using DAFpay\! Here’s how your donor can donate using DAFpay: 1. Click on the DAFpay button 2. Select their DAF provider 3. Log in with their existing DAF credentials to complete their donation Why should your donors use the DAFpay button? \- They can complete their gift in a few seconds, 10x faster than their DAF portal. \- Their gift will be included in your fundraising total immediately. \- Donations through the DAFpay button are identified by rider ID and donor, increasing the speed and accuracy of records and notifications. Questions? Go to our FAQ page\! #### 2. Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) and DAFpay FAQs for Peer to Peer Fundraisers **What is a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\)?** A DAF \(donor\-advised fund\) is a tax\-incentivized charitable giving accounts. Donors contribute cash or financial assets, invest those funds get, and can only use these funds to donate to charities. DAFs are the fastest growing way to give. There are $230 billion in DAFs ready to be donated. **What is DAFpay?** DAFpay allows donors to support participants with donations from their Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\) right from their fundraising page in just 3 clicks. **How can my donor support me using DAFpay?** Once your donor is on your fundraising page, they make their Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) donation with 3 clicks: 1. Click on the DAFpay button 2. Select their DAF provider 3. Log in with their existing DAF credentials to complete their donation **How will I know that my donor made a DAF donation using DAFpay?** When your donor donates using the DAFpay button and their DAF provider is compatible with DAFpay, you will see their donation on your dashboard as pending. Most of the largest DAF providers, including Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable and many others, are compatible with DAFpay. If your donor has their account with a DAF provider that is not yet compatible with DAFpay, they can still use the DAFpay button, but the process will be finalized on their DAF Provider’s website. We will not know if this donation is completed until payment is received from the DAF provider, but it will be easier to reconcile because they used DAFpay. These donations will appear on your dashboard when the payment is received. **How long does it take for a DAFpay donation to be posted to my fundraising total?** The donation will post to your fundraising total as soon as the donor completes their transaction on DAFpay. when the payment is received from the DAF provider. **What if my donor makes their DAF donation on their DAF provider’s website instead of through DAFpay on my fundraising page?** If your donor initiates their DAF donation from their DAF provider website, ask them to search for the organization by tax ID and include your name with the grant request, usually in the designation field. The organization will not know about this donation until payment is received from the DAF provider. At that point, you will see the donation and it will be added to your fundraising total. --- ## The First-Ever Nonprofit DAF Benchmark Study is almost here!  - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-first-ever-nonprofit-daf-benchmark-study-is-almost-here - Published: 2024-04-22 > We are excited to announce the final participants and the groundbreaking data that will be a part of this landmark piece of research - the first-ever cross-organizational analysis on Donor Advised Fund giving from a nonprofit perspective.In January, we announced that applications were open for the first-ever nonprofit Donor Advised Fund (DAF) benchmark study. Over the past 3 months, K2D Strategies and Chariot have been reviewing applications and data from dozens of leading nonprofits around the #### We are excited to announce the final participants and the groundbreaking data that will be a part of this landmark piece of research \- the first\-ever cross\-organizational analysis on Donor Advised Fund giving from a nonprofit perspective. In January, [we announced](https://www.givechariot.com/post/apply-today-for-the-first-ever-nonprofit-daf-benchmark-study) that applications were open for the first\-ever nonprofit Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) benchmark study. Over the past 3 months, [K2D Strategies](https://k2dstrategies.com/) and Chariot have been reviewing applications and data from dozens of leading nonprofits around the country. We have officially closed the submission window and initiated our analysis on a truly remarkable 10 year data set that includes: - 119 million transactions - 27 million donors - 324 thousand DAF gifts - 89 thousand DAF donors - 21 organizations From this data, we will have insights into key DAF donor attributes and behaviors, and how those things have evolved from the nonprofit perspective while DAFs have exploded in popularity over the past decade \(explore all the latest [DAF industry data](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022)\). Key areas of the analysis will include: - **Donor Behavior**: Compare the giving patterns of DAF donors to traditional donors across metrics like retention rate, average gift size, second\-gift timing, donation frequency, and seasonality. - **Conversion Paths**: Learn how many DAF donors start with your organization through other channels and how their giving evolves once they use a DAF. - **DAF Trends**: Gain insights into overall DAF giving growth and per\-donor trends. While the analysis is still very much underway, some of our high level findings that we will have clear quantitative from initial reviews are: - Once a donor starts giving from their DAF, they become a significantly more valuable supporter to your organization. - DAF giving has become more common for donors across channels and giving levels \- DAF donor’s aren’t just making major gifts. - The growth in DAF revenue, number of DAF gifts and DAF donors in the past 5 years is astounding. In addition to the historical data analysis at the core of this study, we have also learned a tremendous amount from the qualitative feedback of participants: - The industry desperately needs data standards for DAF giving. Many organizations of all sizes were unable to participate because they had not been tracking DAFs properly, or at all. - Leading DAF fundraisers have been increasingly prioritizing DAFs in their communications, marketing assets and websites. - Lack of quality information on DAF donors like name, email, etc. is a significant hurdle to practicing quality stewardship with high\-potential donors. We will be hard at work on the analysis and report preparation, expecting an official release in June, 2024. If you’d like to be the first to know about updates related to the Nonprofit DAF Benchmark study, you can [**sign up here**](https://forms.wix.com/f/7186828526996161089) for our official announcements. If you’d like to discuss the report’s findings in an educational conference presentation, webinar or podcast episode, please reach out to [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) with all requests. Thank you to all of the participating organizations for your work preparing and sharing your historical data for this monumental and collaborative effort. Together, we are giving the nonprofit sector critical insights on the impact of donor advised funds on their fundraising efforts. **Participating organizations include:** - [Alzheimer's Association](https://www.alz.org/) - [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html#:~:text=Create%20a%20philanthropic%20legacy%20and,easily%20support%20our%20lifesaving%20mission.) - [American Civil Liberties Union](https://www.aclu.org/) - [Best Friends Animal Society](https://bestfriends.org/) - [Center for Reproductive Rights](https://reproductiverights.org/) - [Central Park Conservancy](https://www.centralparknyc.org/donor-advised-funds) - [Defenders of Wildlife](https://defenders.org/) - [Food & Friends](https://foodandfriends.org/) - [Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research](https://pancreatic.org/how-you-can-help/donor-advised-funds/) - [International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/) - [Lustgarten Foundation](https://lustgarten.org/) - [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) - [PETA Foundation](https://support.peta.org/page/61121/donate/1?en_txn7=other::more-ways-daf-tile) - [Save the Redwoods League](https://www.savetheredwoods.org/) - [Seeds of Peace](https://www.seedsofpeace.org/) - [Sempervirens Fund](https://sempervirens.org/support/donor-advised-funds/) - [Share Our Strength \| No Kid Hungry](https://www.nokidhungry.org/) - [Susan G Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/other-ways/) - [The Humane Society of the United States](https://www.humanesociety.org/) - [Trust for Public Land](https://www.tpl.org/) - [Youth INC](https://www.youthinc-usa.org/) --- ## Why Nonprofit Fundraisers Should Get Their Own Donor Advised Fund (DAF) - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-nonprofit-fundraisers-should-get-their-own-donor-advised-fund-daf - Published: 2024-04-18 > It’s easier than you might think to set up your own DAF to better understand what a rapidly growing segment of your donors use for their giving. Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing segment of Philanthropy, with over 3 million people holding over $230 billion in donor advised funds. In 2022, DAFs distributed $52 billion - a figure that has grown over 20% per year on average for the past 5 years (See all the latest DAF industry stats here).As DAFs have grown exponentially over the past few #### It’s easier than you might think to set up your own DAF to better understand what a rapidly growing segment of your donors use for their giving. Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing segment of Philanthropy, with over 3 million people holding over $230 billion in donor advised funds. In 2022, DAFs distributed $52 billion \- a figure that has grown over 20% per year on average for the past 5 years \(See all the latest DAF industry stats [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022)\). As DAFs have grown exponentially over the past few years, it has left most nonprofit fundraisers with a lot of unanswered questions about them. [How exactly do DAFs work](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf)? [Why are so many people using DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf)? Why do they create so many internal headaches for nonprofits? While there are ample articles on the Chariot blog that help answer some of these questions, nothing compares to actually experiencing a DAF firsthand \- and it’s easier than you might think for a nonprofit fundraiser to set up and use a Donor Advised fund for their own charitable giving. **The Benefits of fundraisers using their own DAF** Because DAFs have historically been utilized primarily by ultra high net worth philanthropists, it might not have occurred to nonprofit fundraisers that a good way to learn about them is to use one themselves. But it is the best way to improve your DAF fundraising strategy \- here’s why: 1.**Deepened Understanding**: By establishing and managing a DAF, a fundraiser can gain firsthand insight into its mechanics and functionalities. This hands\-on experience fosters a deeper understanding of how DAFs operate and how they can effectively support charitable giving goals. 2.**Feeling the pain points**: Using your own DAF as a charitable savings account will also show you the pros and cons of using a DAF for giving. You will feel the frustration of not being able to use money you specifically set aside for giving on nonprofit donation forms \(unless they have [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) enabled\!\) 3.**Seeing where nonprofits frustrate DAF donors**: The biggest issue with donating from a DAF is how rarely you get properly thanked in a timely manner. When you donate through your DAF portal, the organization won’t find out about the gift for weeks or months, and typically have little\-to\-no contact information. This delayed and manual process puts a lot of extra work on a nonprofit to try and steward DAF donors \- so often they simply don’t. **DAFs are more accessible than ever before** The most common barrier to setting up and using a Donor Advised Fund historically has been that most DAF sponsors had high minimum contribution and minimum balance requirements. That meant that if you didn’t have 10s of thousands of dollars to contribute to philanthropy, it wasn’t an option for you. Over the past few years, many providers have entered the market and others have evolved their offerings to be incredible accessible for a broader audience of nonprofit supporters. By introducing things like easy online account set up, mobile apps and no minimum accounts, providers have opened the door to millions of new DAF users in the past few years. **DAF options with no minimum requirements** Below we have highlighted 7 options for DAF accounts with no minimums, but there are over 1,000 DAF providers out there. If you’d like to explore and compare even more options, check out [donoradivsedfunds.com](http://donoradivsedfunds.com) for easy feature and cost comparisons. 1.**Fidelity and Schwab**: The two largest DAF providers, [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/) and [Schwab Charitable](https://www.schwabcharitable.org/), offer DAFs with no minimum account balances and a minimum gift size of $50. While the setup process may involve manual paperwork, these platforms provide accessibility and flexibility for donors \- especially if you already manage your personal finances with these companies. 2.**Daffy**: With easy onboarding and a mobile app interface, [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/) appeals to donors seeking simplicity and convenience. There are minimal monthly fees for contributions exceeding $100, its low entry barrier makes it an attractive option for those starting their philanthropic journey. Their minimum donation size is $18. 3.**Charityvest**: [Charityvest](https://www.charityvest.org/) offers a user\-friendly platform with a minimum gift size of $20. While accounts are initially free, they do have small administrative fees once you’re investing those dollars. 4.**Greater Horizons**: While most community foundation DAFs have high minimums, [Greater Horizons](https://www.greaterhorizons.org/), part of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, actually has no minimum balances and no minimum gift size\! They do have slightly higher admin fees for invested dollars \(60\-90bps\). 5.**National Christian Foundation**: Many people like using a DAF aligned with their core values or beliefs \- [National Christian Foundation](https://www.ncfgiving.com/) is a popular one that has no minimum balance & $100 min gift size. They do have higher administrative fees \(1%\+\). 6.**Orthodox Jewish Community Fund**: Another religiously affiliated DAF with no minimums is [OJC fund](https://ojcfund.org/), and they even issue a card connected to your account to make giving even easier. They do charge fees on grants made, which is just a different model from most DAFs to be aware of. 7.**EarthShare**: Another cause\-specific, no minimum DAF is [EarthShare](https://www.earthshare.org/), which is focused on climate causes. They have an annual fee of $25 and take 2% of assets to fund the organization \(they are also a nonprofit\). **Conclusion** As Donor Advised Funds become an increasingly common tool for donors, it’s the perfect time for anyone working in the nonprofit sector to start using a DAF themselves\! By immersing yourself in the experience and mindset of your supporters choosing to give this way, you’ll be able to better serve this critical audience and orient your organization’s strategy to bring even more DAF donors to your cause. --- ## AFP Icon Conference Recap - is 2024 the year of DAFs? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/afp-icon-conference-recap-is-2024-the-year-of-dafs - Published: 2024-04-11 > The Association of Fundraising Professionals ICON conference is the largest nonprofit gathering in the world and this year there were 3 letters that seemed to be everywhere D, A & F.Chariot sponsored AFP Icon for the second year in a row, with our Head of Strategy, Mitch Stein, and our Head of Partnerships, Elon Packin, in attendance. This year included lots of discussion on donor psychology, DEI, AI and - of course - Donor Advised Funds.In addition to a full 75 minute session on DAFs hosted by #### The Association of Fundraising Professionals ICON conference is the largest nonprofit gathering in the world and this year there were 3 letters that seemed to be everywhere D, A & F. Chariot sponsored AFP Icon for the second year in a row, with our Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), and our Head of Partnerships, [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/epackin/), in attendance. This year included lots of discussion on donor psychology, DEI, AI and \- of course \- Donor Advised Funds. In addition to a full 75 minute session on DAFs hosted by [Dan Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119/) from Brigham Young University and [Jeremy Wells](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-wells-ma-cfre/) from The Saint Paul & Minnesota Community Foundation, reviewing the latest [groundbreaking research from the DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds), fundraisers were hearing and asking about DAFs at sessions across the busy 3\-day schedule in Toronto. Here are our top 5 takeaways from hundreds of conversations in Toronto on the state of nonprofit fundraising & DAFs: ##### 1. The vast majority of nonprofit fundraisers don’t know that there’s an easy way for donors to use their DAF directly in their donation forms with [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay). They are asking questions about how to find more DAF donors or reduce the headaches related to DAFs, and often receiving very unsatisfying answers like “just put in more work reaching out to donors.” Our hope is that by next year’s conference in Seattle, most people will know that there’s an actionable, helpful answer to those questions \- DAFpay\! See it in action [here](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video). ##### 2. Fundraisers have a lot of feelings to share about DAFs\! We started every conversation at our booth asking people “are you familiar with Donor Advised Funds?” and we received many eye rolls, heavy sighs and audible “UGHs” in return. Whenever people are holding onto that much frustration and emotion, you first have to provide space to let it out. We encourage everyone to share their grievances with DAFs \- and then let’s talk about solutions. The biggest issues we heard were: - A macro frustration with how much money is sitting in DAFs \- why is there $230 billion parked in Donor Advised Fund accounts that already generated a tax write off for the donor, but is not yet supporting critical, urgent missions like ours? - There is rarely any useful identifying information about a DAF donor received by an organization when they get a gift. Even DAF gifts that don’t come fully anonymous often only come with a fund name or mailing address that still leaves fundraisers devoting countless hours digging up answers to “who made this gift”? It results in poor stewardship and frustration from donors as well. - Many fundraisers, particularly at arts and culture institutions like museums or theaters, are vexed by how often uninformed donors want to misuse their DAF \(for event tickets, tables, etc.\) and pressure fundraisers to break the rules. ##### 3. People are still brimming with questions about what Donor Advised Funds are and how they work. In the session dedicated to DAFs, every seat was filled, every spot on the floor, in the aisles and along the back of the room was taken, and people were lined up out the door craning their necks to see the presentation\! If you still need a DAFs 101, check out [our primer](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf). ##### 4. The value of fully integrated DAF gifts for different types of fundraising roles are becoming much clearer. Major Gift Officers, Peer to Peer Fundraisers, and Individual Giving Marketers can all take advantage. **Major Gift Officers:** Major gift officers are seeing a rapidly growing percentage of their portfolio choosing to give from their Donor Advised Fund. However, since those gifts have historically been made through the donor’s DAF platform, the MGO has no idea when or if the gift is submitted, and is often waiting weeks or months for confirmation from their finance department that a gift was received. In the interim they’ll often have awkward and frustrating follow ups with those major gift donors. DAFpay enables 3\-click conversion for those donors that want to give with their DAF, psychological nudges to increase DAF giving, and an immediate stewardship loop and no unwanted touchpoints trying to “find” a DAF gift. See this use case of DAFpay in action on DAF\-specific pages from [The Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds) and [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/other-ways/). **Peer to Peer & Event Fundraisers:** P2P and event fundraising are often the most effective way to expand a nonprofit’s audience by tapping current supporters to bring their personal networks to the organization. Since it might be the first time many people make a gift to your nonprofit, they’re likely to make a smaller gift than their real capacity \- and do it in the easiest way possible, which historically has been a credit card. But now with DAFpay, these supporters can easily use their DAF in their first interaction with your organization \- likely making a significantly larger gift and providing a signal that they are a high potential donor that should be stewarded appropriately. Learn more about [maximizing DAF giving in the peer\-to\-peer setting](https://www.givechariot.com/post/peer-to-peer-forum-2024-the-top-5-highlights-from-the-chariot-team) and see DAFpay in action with [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://profile.pmc.org/Michele-Sommer) and [March for Babies](https://marchforbabies.org/Fundraising/Personal?personId=132869&participantId=9165720#donation=steps&teamid=&teameventid=&personid=132869&participantid=9165720). **Individual & Digital Fundraisers:** For most donors that fall into the general annual giving or individual giving list, they are making smaller dollar gifts on your donation form with their credit card, paypal or venmo. By providing them an easy DAFpay option on your main donate form at checkout, you give your current supporters the easiest way to identify themselves as DAF donors \- without needing to ask\! Every nonprofit wants to know how they can “find more DAF donors,” and the best answer is that you probably already have many in your donor file \- just give them an easy way to use their DAF with DAFpay. There’s a high likelihood that those first\-time DAF donors are strong prospects for your major gifts team to start cultivating. Learn more about [who a DAF donor is](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) and see the DAFpay checkout option on a main donate form with [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://secure2.convio.net/mskcc/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20027a?df_id=19195&19195.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&s_channel=2024-MSKCCNavigation&utm_source=MSKCC&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=2024&utm_content=NAV_DON_FN_PDN&ts=1712848610591&source_id=7026061193536425&NONCE_TOKEN=66CA6C90DA1750F47D952FF89C4BEC10) and [Central Park Conservancy](https://secure.centralparknyc.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9045&mfc_pref=T&9045.donation=form1&s_src=dfyxxw&s_subsrc=web_utilnav&_gl=1*1r03bii*_ga*MTA5ODg0NDk5LjE3MTA4ODQzMzg.*_ga_2CXWMNPYQS*MTcxMjg0ODYyOS40LjAuMTcxMjg0ODYyOS4wLjAuMA). ##### 5. There’s so much potential for further collaboration between vendors to better serve nonprofit DAF needs Everyone is trying to get up to speed on DAFs quickly, including all of the software and service providers to nonprofits. There were dozens of these companies sponsoring or attending AFP this year and the potential to collectively drive more giving from DAFs faster couldn’t be clearer. We already partner with many of the companies there \- like Blackbaud \(who included Chariot in their [2024 Social Good Startup Program](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-selected-for-blackbaud-s-2024-social-good-startup-program)\), DonorDrive, and Gravyty \- and are working with many more to bring integrations live in 2024 \(See all of our integration partners [here](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations)\). The more ubiquitous DAFpay can be in every donation experience, the more that DAF donors will begin to use their Donor Advised Fund like the charitable wallet it’s meant to be. We don’t want to hear about any more DAF donors who “forgot about their DAF” or “didn’t know they could support your organization.” DAF giving needs to be visible and easy to do everywhere that a donor can give online \- and that dream is getting closer to reality every day. --- ## 1% - and $1 Billion - for the Planet: Chariot’s April Cause of the Month - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/1-and-1-billion-for-the-planet-chariot-s-april-cause-of-the-month - Published: 2024-04-02 > Matt Magaldi, Chariot’s Head of Engineering, chose a cause important to him and our whole planet as we gear up for Earth Day this monthThe climate crisis is an increasingly existential threat to our world & society, yet only 3% of total philanthropy goes toward the environment. For CT Ransdell, Individual & Corporate Giving Officer at 1% for the Planet, he’s always been focused on this need and large gap in philanthropy. “Even while working at other nonprofits, I’ve always spent my volunteer tim #### Matt Magaldi, Chariot’s Head of Engineering, chose a cause important to him and our whole planet as we gear up for Earth Day this month [Donate with your DAF here](https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/donate) The climate crisis is an increasingly existential threat to our world & society, yet only 3% of total philanthropy goes toward the environment. For [CT Ransdell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctransdell/), Individual & Corporate Giving Officer at [1% for the Planet](https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/), he’s always been focused on this need and large gap in philanthropy. “Even while working at other nonprofits, I’ve always spent my volunteer time outside of work on land conservancy projects, watershed protection and climate advocacy,” shares CT. “So when I had the opportunity to join 1% for the Planet 5 years ago as the Individual & Corporate Gift Officer, it was a real dream come true.” 1% for the Planet is a unique organization that is accelerating environmental philanthropy by bringing two worlds together: Businesses and environmental organizations. In their network of over 5,200 member companies, everyone makes a commitment of contributing 1% of their revenue to environmental partner organizations. 1% for the Planet certifies these commitments, advises on philanthropic strategy and raises awareness for how these partnerships contribute to environmental impact. “We’ve certified $600 million in giving since our founding in 2002, but over $100 million of that happened just last year,” adds CT. “Our current focus is reaching one billion dollars in lifetime giving by our 25th anniversary in 2027.This vision is not just a numerical goal; it represents the incredible possibilities we can unlock for our planet and future generations.” This fast\-growing mission is particularly inspiring for [Matt Magaldi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-magaldi-11b47a8b/), Chariot’s Head of Engineering, who moved outside of New York City in 2019 in large part to live more closely with nature. “New York state is such a beautiful place, I love getting to spend more time outdoors here,” says Matt. “It’s also a constant reminder to me about how precious our natural resources are and how much more action we need to take to protect them.” Individuals like Matt that support 1% for the Planet can contribute to their Planet Impact Fund, which invests in environmentally supportive companies \(like renewables and clean tech\) and grants out 10% of its assets annually to the most impactful nonprofits addressing the climate crisis. For CT, a large part of that individual giving strategy involves harnessing the huge potential of [Donor Advised Funds](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf). “DAFs are a great vehicle that give donors more choice and flexibility, and for nonprofit fundraisers it’s also a great signal that they have the capacity to make a more meaningful gift.” [Donate with your DAF here](https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/donate) While the organization has been getting some DAF gifts in recent years, the ability to raise those gifts through [Chariot’s 3\-click DAF Payment option](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video), DAFpay, is a tremendous new unlock. Not only do they get immediate details on a donor’s name & email to properly steward these high capacity donors, they also “uncover” those [DAF supporters](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) from within their existing donor file. “At year end, we had an existing donor that had always given a smaller gift with a credit card make a $7,000 DAF gift through DAFpay. Not only was it a much larger donation this time, but now we can more deeply engage that donor going forward \- all because there was an easy, digital option to use your DAF right in our donation form.” “Our mission at Chariot is all about moving the $230 billion in DAFs to nonprofits faster,” adds Matt, “and it doesn’t get much more urgent than the viability of our planet for future generations.” As we head into earth day on April 22nd, Chariot is excited to elevate the critical climate\-focused nonprofits that have enabled easy DAF giving, like 1% for the Planet, and encourage everyone with a DAF to support them. [Donate with your DAF here](https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/donate)— Chariot’s Cause of the Month is an initiative where a member of our team gets to select a nonprofit organization close to their hearts to support with funds from our company's Donor\-Advised Fund. We also spend the month encouraging our networks to support the Cause of the Month with us, especially if they have a DAF. Chariot’s DAF payment option makes it possible to support great organizations like the 1% for the Planet directly in their own donation form in under 10 seconds. --- ## Who uses a DAF?  - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/who-uses-a-daf - Published: 2024-03-21 > This article answers key questions on DAF donor behavior, demographics and trends based on the latest industry research.As of the end of 2022, there were 1,948,545 Donor Advised Fund accounts in the United States, which has more than quadrupled over the past 5 years (According to the National Philanthropic Trust 2023 Report). There is also an average of 1.6 people using each DAF account at Fidelity (since many couples and families will share a single account), meaning that over 3 million America #### This article answers key questions on DAF donor behavior, demographics and trends based on the latest industry research. As of the end of 2022, there were 1,948,545 Donor Advised Fund accounts in the United States, which has more than quadrupled over the past 5 years \(According to [the National Philanthropic Trust 2023 Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022)\). There is also an average of 1.6 people using each DAF account at Fidelity \(since many couples and families will share a single account\), meaning that over 3 million Americans are using a DAF for their philanthropy. But who exactly is a DAF donor? While DAF donors certainly are not all created equal, there are some interesting demographic details to keep in mind. The “typical” DAF donor persona is also evolving rapidly as DAFs become even more popular and accessible. This article covers: - General characteristics of a DAF donors - Common DAF strategies - DAF donor statistics - DAF donor demographics & behavior If you’re interested in learning more about what a Donor Advised Fund is and how it works, check out this [DAF 101](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf). ## General characteristics of a donor using a DAF **1. They are engaged and intentional with their philanthropy** The fact that someone set up a specific financial instrument to manage their philanthropy indicates that they intend to give significantly to charity. After all, the only way money leaves a DAF account is as a grant to charity. **2. They give a meaningful amount to charity each year** A core reason that people use DAFs is because of their tax advantages, but those advantages only exist if they are actually itemizing charitable contributions because they donated more than the standard deduction, which was over $13k for an individual and $27k for a couple filing jointly in 2023. This means many DAF users are intending to donate 10s of thousands of dollars at a minimum. **3. They donate with less hesitation** Having a DAF account is a lot like creating a charitable giving gift card for yourself. The money is already set aside and can only be used for that one purpose, so the psychological barrier to “giving money away” is much lower than a typical gift. A typical donation outside of a DAF involves 2 main decisions that end up slowing down or reducing conversion. One part is the budgeting decision, how much of a monthly or yearly budget someone wants to give away instead of other things they could spend their money on. The second part is deciding if they want to support a specific organization’s work \- an allocation decision. A DAF donor already made the budgeting decision, so any gift out of their DAF is just an allocation decision, which is so much easier. #### Common DAF strategies It’s helpful to understand the different motivations and strategies someone has when leveraging a DAF for their philanthropy. Most DAF donors fall into one of three buckets \(with terminology coined by DAF researchers [Dan Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAGaadQBMuTG3ge-j__MNWMC9JmhYypcuxo&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BC1QBw648QUqTN5OO72IIzA%3D%3D) and [Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-2a294b3?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAACsa9oBz3v6l_SS5ygkZY_qjYWsa32jNy4&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BqbHAco68QYWrIus6L038iw%3D%3D) as part of the [Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/)\): **1. Tubs**\- These donors utilize a DAF account as an efficient and intentional way to manage their philanthropy. They habitually put cash and/or assets into a DAF each year and tend to fully spend the balance every 1\-2 years. **2. Tanks**\- These donors leverage DAFs for discrete, one\-time wealth events where they put a large sum into the account and plan to grant out funds annually over a 2\-10 year period. **3. Towers**\- These donors think of their DAF accounts as long\-term vehicles for their family’s social impact, and structure their contributions, investments and grant strategy with a 10\+ year time horizon. ## DAF Donor Statistics In 2022, The average DAF account size was $177,466. The figure decreased 4% year\-over\-year and is down over 40% from the peak in 2016 of $298,809 when there were only 289,478 DAF accounts \(All data in this section is sourced from [the National Philanthropic Trust 2023 Report](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/)\). These figures also vary greatly between the different kinds of DAF sponsors they choose to use: **1. National Charities** This group has the largest share of DAF balances \($163 billion\), accounts \(1.77 million\) and grants made \($35 billion\) and are mostly affiliated with a financial institution that offers DAFs as a part of their product suite. These providers cater to a wider range of DAF holders and have played the biggest role in democratizing access to DAFs by making them more accessible \- both from a pricing and technology perspective. The average DAF account at these institutions is $86,194. **2. Community Foundations** This group accounts for $54 billion in DAF assets and $12 billion in grants. Community foundations typically cater mostly to larger donors, with an average account size of $547,658. **3. Single\-Issue Charities** This group accounted for $22 billion in DAF assets and $6 billion in grants. There are 77,780 accounts at Single\-Issue Charities with an average account size of $281,046. ## DAF donor demographics and behavior While we don’t yet have full DAF account holder demographics across the whole market or by different DAF sponsor categories, we do have 2 very useful sources of information that shed light on DAF donors and their giving behavior that is summarized below. The largest DAF sponsor, [Fidelity Charitable, discloses the most in\-depth donor data](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report) of any DAF and the DAF Research Collaborative put out a [groundbreaking cross\-DAF historical analysis](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds) of account level activity in early 2024. **1. DAF donors give way more, way more often** The average gift size for Fidelity was $4,625 in 2022, which is 23x larger than the average online credit card gift of $204 \(According to [Blackbaud Institute Charitable Giving Report](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\) DAF donors at Fidelity made an average of 11.8 grants per account, 6x larger than the average American donor \(according to [Double the Donation Nonprofit Fundraising Statistics](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/#:~:text=The%20average%20donor%20in%20the,of%20their%20country%20of%20residence)\) **2. DAF donors are consistent & reliable** 78% of DAF grants go to an organization DAF account holder previously supported at Fidelity, either as a scheduled recurring gift \(31%\) or as a regrant \(47%\). 88% of DAF account holders made at least one gift in 2023. **3. DAF donors want to build relationships with organizations** Only 4% of grants were made anonymously at Fidelity, 81% included donor name & address and 15% included the name of the account. This is consistent with other industry\-wide estimates on anonymous DAF giving of 4.3%, according to [the American Enterprise Institute](https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/anonymous-giving-through-donor-advised-funds/#:~:text=A%20review%20of%20grant%20data,4.3%20percent%20of%20all%20grants). **4. DAF donors trust organizations to maximize their impact** 63% of grants were made unrestricted at Fidelity, designating the funds as “where needed most” instead of a specific program or use. **5. DAF donors are digitally literate** 97% of DAF donors on Fidelity manage their DAF accounts and grant recommendations digitally. **6. DAF donors contribute more in assets than cash** Only 37% of DAF contributions were made in cash at Fidelity. 54% was contributed with publicly traded securities and 9% was contributed with non\-publicly traded assets. **7. DAFs are becoming increasingly democratized** While the average DAF account size across all National Charity DAF Sponsors \(which includes Fidelity\) was $86,194 in 2022, Fidelity’s median account size was $19,442. [The DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) also found in their analysis of over 50,000 DAF accounts at 111 DAF sponsors that 49% of accounts had less than $50,000 in assets at the end of 2021. In the same report, they also discovered that 1 in 4 accounts were opened after 2020, pointing to the rapid recent rise and adoption of DAFs for philanthropy. DAFs have clearly become popular with a much broader group of donors that are still giving significantly, but not just the ultra high net worth anymore. --- ## So… What is a DAF? Donor Advised Funds 101 for Fundraisers - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/so-what-is-a-daf - Published: 2024-03-13 > This DAF 101 breaks down the key details on what a DAF is, how a DAF works and where DAFs come from.This article covers: • DAF definitions • How big are DAFs? • How do DAFs work? • What are the different kinds of DAFs? • What is the history of DAFs?DAF DefinitionsThe IRS defines a Donor Advised Fund as: “a separately identified fund or account that is maintained and operated by a section 501(c)(3) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Each account is composed of contributions #### This DAF 101 breaks down the key details on what a DAF is, how a DAF works and where DAFs come from. This article covers: - DAF definitions - How big are DAFs? - How do DAFs work? - What are the different kinds of DAFs? - What is the history of DAFs? #### DAF Definitions The [IRS defines a Donor Advised Fund](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/donor-advised-funds) as: “a separately identified fund or account that is maintained and operated by a section 501\(c\)\(3\) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Each account is composed of contributions made by individual donors. Once the donor makes the contribution, the organization has legal control over it. However, the donor, or the donor's representative, retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution of funds and the investment of assets in the account.” More simply put, a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) offers **tax\-advantaged savings accounts **for charitable giving \- similar to a 401k for retirement funds or an HSA for healthcare expenses. Donors make tax deductible contributions to their DAF account, they can invest the money once in the account and then make grants over time. The fund is operated by the sponsoring organization and individuals hold separate accounts that make up the fund. At Chariot, when we are referring to a sponsoring organization, we’ll use the term “DAF sponsor” and when we’re referring to an individual donor’s account at a DAF, we’ll use the term “DAF account”. Colloquially, people will often use the term DAF to interchangeably refer to an aggregate fund, a sponsor \(e.g. calling Fidelity Charitable a DAF instead of a DAF sponsor\) or an individual’s account \(e.g. a donor saying “I made a gift from my DAF” instead of their DAF account\). Those uses are widely understood and accepted, but we use more specific terminology for clarity. #### How big are DAFs? The most important numbers to know about DAFs: - **$229 Billion**: There was over $229 billion in DAF assets at the end of 2022. - **$52 Billion**: During 2022, there was over $85 billion contributed into DAFs and $52 billion granted out to nonprofit organizations. - **$117,466**: The average DAF account balance was $117,466 at the end of 2022. - **3 Million People**: There were nearly 2 million individual accounts at the end of 2022. On average, each account is accessed by 1.6 people \(many couples or families have shared accounts\), meaning over 3 million people are using DAFs for their philanthropy. - **1,151**: There were 1,151 DAF sponsors managing Donor Advised Funds as of year end 2022 Note: Data sourced from the [National Philanthropic Trust 2023 Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022) and [Fidelity Charitable 2024 Report](https://www.givechariot.com/blog). #### How do DAFs work? Individuals go through a few steps to set up a new DAF account, the requirements for which vary greatly depending on the DAF. These can include a minimum initial balance, certain set up or initiation fees and other steps typical of opening a new bank account. A donor can expect a variety of fees related to their DAF, which vary widely depending on the DAF sponsor, including: 1. A management fee charged as a percentage of assets held in an account 2. Additional investment management fees on any investment products 3. Fees to sell or liquidate assets in the account 4. Some also charge small fees on distributions Once set up, individuals can fund their DAF account in a variety of ways. 1. Simple one time cash contributions, made via credit card, debit card, ACH or wire transfer 2. Automatic cash deposits made periodically from any of these sources, or even a direct contribution from a paycheck 3. Public securities contributions, made by transferring stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies and other publicly traded assets 4. Non\-public or illiquid assets, like shares of private companies, real estate or even art. Once funded, DAF account holders are free to invest the money in their account as they wish. DAF sponsors have typically make it easy to choose from a variety of investment options that align with the individual’s goals, investment horizon and risk tolerance. DAF account holders can recommend grants at any time. They search organizations by name or EIN and can make grant requests online. Each request has to technically be “approved” by the DAF sponsor, but typically that approval process involves: 1. Confirming there is sufficient funds in the account 2. Checking that the recipient nonprofit is a 501\(c\)\(3\) organization 3. Checking that the recipient nonprofit is in good standing with the IRS Once approved, the funds are sent to the recipient organization. If the DAF sponsor has ACH details for an organization, they will sometimes be able to transfer funds electronically. However, the vast majority of organizations will receive gifts via checks in the mail. DAF account holders do have the option to make their grant requests anonymously, in which case the gift would arrive only with the name of the DAF sponsor \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\). However, less than 4% of DAF grants are made fully anonymously, according to the [DAF Research Collaborate 2024 Report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds). Otherwise, gifts typically arrive with the name of the DAF account \(which can be an individual’s full name or often a separate name given to the account like “The Smith Family Fund”\) and a mailing address of the account holder. The expected timeline for gift approval and delivery varies greatly between DAF sponsors, but can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Issues can arise if a DAF sponsor has incorrect information on file, like the organization’s name or mailing address. Curious how people decide if a DAF is right for them? Check out [this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me). #### What are the different kinds of DAFs? There are 1,151 Donor Advised Funds in the United States with sponsors that fall into 3 key categories: 1. 73 are National Charities These are organizations like Fidelity Charitable or Vanguard Charitable which are 501\(c\)\(3\) nonprofits, typically affiliated with financial institutions and serve as an extension of their wealth management solutions for clients. These sponsors manage the largest DAFs and are popular choices because they are integrated into a broader personal finance offering, making for easy transfer of assets and centralized management of accounts. This also includes newer entities that were started primarily to provide DAF accounts for individuals and have invested in mobile\-first, user\-friendly platforms like Daffy and Charityvest. 1. 725 are Community Foundations These are organizations like Chicago Community Trust or Silicon Valley Community Foundation which provide DAF accounts in addition to their own grant making activities in their communities. These are popular choices for people who are focused on a specific geography for their philanthropy, like the financial benefit of their DAF assets to still go to the local community and prefer the hands\-on engagement they typically offer. 1. 353 are Single\-Issue Charities This includes organizations like the Jewish Communal Fund or the National Christian Foundation, which sponsor a DAF either for one specific charity or as an umbrella over a general cause area. These are popular for people who want to concentrate their DAF giving or align their DAF accounts with a mission that’s important to them. Want to reach more DAF donors? Learn [how to build deeper relationships with this critical segment of supporters](https://www.givechariot.com/post/build-deeper-donor-relationships-with-an-active-daf-strategy). #### What is the history of DAFs? The first Donor Advised Fund was set up by the New York Community Trust in 1931 and community foundations around the country followed suit in subsequent decades. Several tax reforms in the 60s, 70s and 80s paved the way for wider adoption of the DAF model and in 1991, Fidelity established The Gift Fund as a public charity. This opened the door for many other financial institutions to establish their own DAF sponsoring entities, which increased advisors’ awareness of DAFs as a beneficial tool for their clients and boosted investment in technology platforms that manage the offerings. In 2007, [The National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/) began aggregating data from DAFs around the country and produced the first industry\-wide report on DAF statistics which is now published annually. Over the past 10 years, DAF assets have grown 5x, Contributions & Distributions have both grown 6x and the number of accounts have grown 9.5x. If you’re interested in getting more DAF dollars and donors, [book a demo](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-request-form) of Chariot’s DAF fundraising tools for nonprofits today. --- ## The Pan-Mass Challenge & A Billion Dollar Milestone: Chariot’s March Cause of the Month  - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-pan-mass-challenge-a-billion-dollar-milestone-chariot-s-march-cause-of-the-month - Published: 2024-03-04 > Salo Serfati, Chariot’s CEO, chose a very special partner this month who has played a pivotal role in the growth of DAF fundraising and the development of Chariot itselfMichele Sommer first became familiar with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 30 years ago when her future mother-in-law was participating in an experimental trial for bone marrow transplants. She first learned about the Pan-Mass Challenge (“the PMC”), a bike-a-thon across the state of Massachusetts in support of Dana-Farber, when t #### Salo Serfati, Chariot’s CEO, chose a very special partner this month who has played a pivotal role in the growth of DAF fundraising and the development of Chariot itself [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-sommer-366a17a/) first became familiar with the Dana\-Farber Cancer Institute 30 years ago when her future mother\-in\-law was participating in an experimental trial for bone marrow transplants. She first learned about [the Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://www.pmc.org/) \(“the PMC”\), a bike\-a\-thon across the state of Massachusetts in support of Dana\-Farber, when the best man in her wedding first rode in 1996. Her husband joined the event in 1997 and by 1999, they got Michele on board and she’s never looked back. [Donate to PMC with your Donor Advised Fund](https://www.pmc.org/) After over a decade of riding and fundraising for the PMC, Michele officially joined the organization’s professional staff in 2012 and was named its Chief Financial Officer in 2016. “I’m so blessed to be part of something that is so mission\-driven and relentlessly efficient,” shares Michele about her role. “100% pass through of every dollar raised by our riders to Dana\-Farber is our holy grail.” That laser focus on efficiency has been a huge contributor to the PMC’s success over the years. The event pioneered the entire category of athletic fundraising when it was founded in 1980 and now raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country. In 2023 alone, the PMC raised $72 million \- with only 13 full\-time staff members and a veritable army of thousands of volunteers. And Michele has her sights set on an even more inspiring milestone for the PMC in 2024 \- crossing the $1 billion mark for total funds raised since 1980. As the single biggest source of philanthropic funding for Dana\-Farber, sustaining and expanding the reach of PMC is Michele’s core focus \- and it’s why she was such an early innovator and advocate for [Donor Advised Fund technology](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-does-chariot-compare-to-other-daf-solutions-for-nonprofits). “Right after I joined the organization in 2012, we joined a small group of organizations partnering with Fidelity to build and use the first DAF widget,” recalls Michele. [Donate to PMC with your Donor Advised Fund](https://www.pmc.org/) “It was incredibly successful at driving more DAF giving from Fidelity and increasing awareness of DAFs among our riders and donors, but we always wished something would work for any DAF.” In 2023 alone, the PMC received over 7,000 DAF grants worth over $6 million from Fidelity Charitable DAF donors \- making it the [12th most popular charity](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report) overall at the largest DAF in the country. This is especially impressive given the PMC is much smaller in terms of overall revenue and staff than the rest of the top 20 organizations on the list. When Chariot’s founders approached Michele about their idea for a universal DAFpay option, she was skeptical, remembering “I thought, if the big players couldn’t figure this out, how can you? I’m so glad they proved my initial instincts wrong and I couldn’t be prouder of what the team has accomplished.” [Salo Serfati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/salomon-serfati-8ba836112/), Chariot’s Co\-Founder and CEO, chose the PMC for this month’s Cause of the Month because, “Michele and her team have been an incredible source of inspiration to us. They understand the increasingly critical role that DAFs are playing in Philanthropy and are leading the nation in DAF fundraising.” What’s the PMC’s secret to [their DAF success](https://www.pmc.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds)? They intentionally [train their riders](https://view.publitas.com/pan-mass-challenge/pmc-fundraising-guide-2024/page/5) to ask for DAF gifts and make it as easy as possible to make them. Each year, Michele dedicates several minutes of fundraising training for the nearly 1,000 new riders to explain [what DAFs are](https://www.givechariot.com/post/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me), why people use them and how to solicit DAF gifts from their friends and family. “If you make it easy to give with your DAF and it’s in front of people, it’s going to increase giving,” shares Michele, who also joined [Chariot’s Nonprofit Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-welcomes-9-inaugural-members-to-our-nonprofit-advisory-council) as a founding member this year. “People also want immediate gratification and that’s also why Chariot’s tech is so important. People’s DAF donations can now be included in fundraising totals in real time and DAF donors can be properly thanked right away.” Salo shares Michele’s belief in the continued explosive rise of DAFs in philanthropy and importance of nonprofits properly harnessing this changing tide of philanthropy. “Michele saw and invested in the potential of DAF fundraising before just about anyone else in the industry, and the returns for the PMC have been incredible. We’re honored to support their efforts this month, especially after all the support they’ve provided to Chariot over the years.” [Donate to PMC with your Donor Advised Fund](https://www.pmc.org/) — Chariot’s Cause of the Month is an initiative where a member of our team gets to select a nonprofit organization close to their hearts to support with funds from our company's Donor\-Advised Fund. We also spend the month encouraging our networks to support the Cause of the Month with us, especially if they have a DAF. Chariot’s DAF payment option makes it possible to support great organizations like the Pan\-Mass Challenge directly in their own donation form in under 10 seconds. --- ## Peer to Peer Forum 2024: The Top 5 Highlights From The Chariot Team - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/peer-to-peer-forum-2024-the-top-5-highlights-from-the-chariot-team - Published: 2024-02-27 > Chariot’s team attended their first Peer to Peer Forum this year and walked away with tremendous insights that every Chariot customer can implement to improve peer-to-peer fundraisingThe P2P Professional Forum Conference has been the leading annual nonprofit gathering for peer-to-peer fundraisers since 2007. The 2024 conference brought together 645 nonprofit leaders from across the US and Canada in Philadelphia for 35 eye-opening sessions.Aaron Kahane, Chariot’s Co-Founder & COO, and Elon Packin #### Chariot’s team attended their first Peer to Peer Forum this year and walked away with tremendous insights that every Chariot customer can implement to improve peer\-to\-peer fundraising [The P2P Professional Forum Conference](https://www.peertopeerforum.com/) has been the leading annual nonprofit gathering for peer\-to\-peer fundraisers since 2007. The 2024 conference brought together 645 nonprofit leaders from across the US and Canada in Philadelphia for 35 eye\-opening sessions. [Aaron Kahane](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-kahane-98a86013b/), Chariot’s Co\-Founder & COO, and [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/epackin/), Chariot’s Head of Partnerships, had the chance to attend for the first time this year and came away with a host of new strategies and insights for successful peer\-to\-peer fundraising to share with Chariot’s nonprofit customers. There was [over $1.1 billion raised by the top 30 P2P fundraising events in 2023](https://www.peertopeerforum.com/us-top-thirty-peer-to-peer-fundraising-programs/), a 3.2% increase vs. 2022. In an environment with low\-single\-digit growth, P2P organizations of every size are focused on how to sustainably increase fundraising. Here’s what is working best: ##### 1. Participant\-to\-Participant connection is the real unlock of P2P True community in P2P events come from and between participants. So often organizations emphasize the connection between participants and the organization in their strategy and communications, but overlook the importance of centering everything on what drives connection among and between participants. Not only does it drive accountability and healthy competitive fundraising pressure, but it also creates personal connections that keep participants coming back and overall participation growing year after year. ##### 2. DAFs present a rare “new” growth channel for P2P Donor Advised Funds are not only [the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022), Chariot’s [DAFpay™️ technology](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) now enables DAF giving directly in P2P campaigns for the first time ever. DAF donors regularly give with their credit card instead of their DAF for one\-off donations \- like when friends or family are fundraising for a P2P campaign \- because it’s always been so much easier than going through the hassle of submitting a grant request on their DAF portal. Even when DAF gifts are submitted for P2P campaigns, they arrive weeks later, and are typically difficult to sort out who they are from and which participant they are meant to support. Enabling DAFpay™️ in a P2P campaign lets nonprofits: - Get larger gifts \(DAF donations are [23x as large as an online credit gift](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report), on average\) - Identify high\-potential DAF donors that otherwise would’ve gone under the radar with a smaller credit gift and steward them appropriately \(See how [Michael J. Fox Foundation achieved unparalleled response to their DAFpay stewardship](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study)\) - Include DAF gifts in specific participants' campaign totals in real time, providing a critical boost to fundraising momentum The best part is that DAFpay™️ is already natively integrated with several leading P2P providers like [DonorDrive](https://www.givechariot.com/post/donordrive-and-chariot-announce-new-partnership-for-integrated-daf-payments), running a [pilot with Classy](https://www.classy.org/blog/donor-advised-funds/), and can be [easily integrated with Blackbaud products](https://www.doinggoodagency.com/portfolio-item/central-park-conservancy-chariot-daf-integration-6102/). Elon shared: “It was clear from many conversations with leading fundraisers that bringing this high potential pool of donors more easily into the conversation during Peer to Peer events would be a big unlock for organizations.” ##### 3. Lean into what makes your brand truly unique In the struggle to sustain and grow P2P events, it’s critical for organizations to lean into what makes their brand unique instead of shying away from it. Organizers should spend less time concerned with what might dissuade some participants and instead focus on unique things that will draw in your most ideal participants. There are now so many P2P events around the country, the best way to authentically stand out and draw in the right participants and supporters is to clearly establish your brand and reinforce it with your actions. [Brittany Veneris](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-veneris/) from Movemeber gave an incredible presentation on how their organization embraces some of the less mainstream elements of men’s health to develop a thriving digital community. They continue to embrace some of the “awkwardness” that can come with discussions about prostate or testicular cancer, which achieves several important things: - It reinforces their brand of boldly raising subjects that don’t get enough attention - It achieves their mission of spreading awareness with engaging, viral content - It draws their advocates closer together and closer to the cause #### 4. Internal consistency is the secret to external success in P2P Many of the strategies discussed at the conference require big changes to effectively implement, especially at larger legacy events. [Leah Weatherl](https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-bartlett-2a256811/) from [National MS Society](https://www.nationalmssociety.org/) \(NMSS\) led an excellent session that both highlighted A\) the value to their organization of implementing a “consultative sales” strategy for their fundraising and B\) how they effectively implemented such a sweeping strategic change. A few of the biggest contributors to their success were: - Obsessing over the consistency of language and terminology used throughout an organization - Aligning the broader organization under a singular fundraising goal - Ensuring that all leaders are “bought in” on the changes so that they’re being reinforced within each team and division - Provide regular and repeated training over time for all levels of staff and in every department to This consistency of information, attitude and time spent were all critical to move the entire organization forward with their “consultative sales” model to boost fundraising. #### 5.In with the new, but not out with all the old There was a tremendous amount of discussion about the best way to implement new technology like AI, remote / virtual work tools, etc. Everyone was asking how do you make the most of all the advantages these new tools present, like mass personalization with AI, but not lose the benefits of the “old ways” of doing things, like in\-person interaction and human touch. While there’s obviously no definitive answer to these important questions, a few good suggestions that came out of those discussions included: - Take time to understand the things you do and don’t like with current tools or processes you’re using. That way, once you try something new, you can be intentional about retaining some of the good with your old way. - Make sure to listen to all relevant stakeholders to get valuable insights. Oftentimes people will ask their direct team, but reaching further by asking for feedback cross\-functionally and also surveying participants and volunteers is a great way to learn what really works and what doesn't. - Prioritize the “old school” tactics where they have the highest potential impact. Things like effective 1x1 training P2P captains and participants can pay huge dividends as they step up their fundraising and propagate those best practices to others. --- ## Top 9 Takeaways for Nonprofits from the 2024 National Study on Donor Advised Funds - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-9-takeaways-for-nonprofits-from-the-2024-national-study-on-donor-advised-funds - Published: 2024-02-23 > The DAF Research Collaborative just released its debut report, the most extensive independent study on DAFs to date, and we’ve recapped the most important revelations for nonprofit fundraisers.The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (DAFRC) released a groundbreaking study on DAF account-level activity across 111 different DAF sponsors in February 2024. The scope of this study is amazing, including: • 9 years of activity (2014 - 2022)  • 50,000+ DAF accounts  • 600,000+ inbound DAF contribu #### The DAF Research Collaborative just released its debut report, the most extensive independent study on DAFs to date, and we’ve recapped the most important revelations for nonprofit fundraisers. The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative \(DAFRC\) released a groundbreaking study on DAF account\-level activity across 111 different DAF sponsors in February 2024. The scope of this study is amazing, including: - 9 years of activity \(2014 \- 2022\) - 50,000\+ DAF accounts - 600,000\+ inbound DAF contributions - 2.25\+ million outbound grants This analysis was led by a [team of leading academic researchers](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/collaborators), including [Dr. Daniel Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119/) from Brigham Young University, Dr. [Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-2a294b3/) from Depaul University, [Brittany Kienker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanykienker/) with the Council of Michigan Foundations and [Jeff Williams](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdwms/) with the Johnson Center for Philanthropy. The research is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted in partnership with GivingTuesday and the 111 participating DAFs, including community foundations, national programs and religiously\-affiliated organizations across the country. According to the [DAFRC’s website](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-dafs), “One of the initiative's main goals is to gather and analyze account\-level DAF information that is not available from publicly accessible data sources, such as the IRS Form 990. The account\-level data allows for a more nuanced and accurate understanding of DAFs, as well as comparisons across different types and sizes of DAFs and DAF sponsors.” This robust and highly\-detailed analysis has 70\+ pages of data on DAF account details \(size, age, type, etc.\), donor demographics, contributions, grants, payout rate and more. We’ve highlighted 9 of the most relevant takeaways for nonprofit fundraisers specifically, and brand new insights that haven’t been previously revealed by other research. **1. DAFs are quickly being democratized \| 49% of accounts <$50k in assets** DAFs historically had a reputation of being a philanthropic tool reserved for the ultra wealthy, but this research shows how much that has changed. By the end of 2021, 49% of all DAF accounts had less than $50,000 in assets. As DAFs become an increasingly common tool for philanthropy across the spectrum of donors, it’s important for nonprofit fundraisers to make sure their full fundraising department \(from major gifts to annual giving\) is well versed in how DAFs work and [how to best communicate with DAF donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me). **2. The rapid rise of DAFs \| 1 in 4 DAFs opened after 2020** [Prior industry research from the National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022) has shown how the total number of DAF accounts increased by 126% between 2018 and 2022 to nearly 2 million and this study adds an interesting dimension to this trend. Of the 50,000\+ accounts included, 1 in 4 were opened after 2020, and 81% were opened after 2010. If the DAF market follows the growth trajectory it’s currently on, analysts predict [there could be a trillion dollars in DAFs by 2029](https://rsmus.com/insights/industries/nonprofit/donor-advised-funds-a-critical-vehicle-for-fundraising.html) \- 4x where we are today. It’s a critical time for nonprofit organizations to be proactively engaging with DAF donors and [developing a strategy for DAF fundraising](https://www.givechariot.com/post/build-deeper-donor-relationships-with-an-active-daf-strategy). **3. DAF bequests are a huge, largely untapped opportunity \| 36% not willed to family** 92% of accounts in the study had a succession plan in place, and of those, 69% were to another person or family. That means that 36% of DAF accounts either don’t have a successor named or have named a nonprofit beneficiary \(the DAF sponsor itself or another charity\). These accounts present an incredible opportunity for more planned giving conversations with to either add your organization to a DAF donor’s list of beneficiaries, or make sure they have a beneficiary named in the first place. **4. DAF giving is much more consistent throughout the year \| Only 15% in December** The distribution of DAF giving is fairly steady throughout most of the year, with 6\-9% of the total happening each month in January through November. The most active month for DAF grants is December at 15% of the total dollar volume, much lower than the 26% of overall nonprofit revenue that comes in December, according to the [M\+R 2023 Benchmarks report](https://mrbenchmarks.com/#fundraising). This trend is even more pronounced for large DAF grants, as grants over $50k are distributed more evenly throughout the year. This is not to be confused with DAF contributions which are highly concentrated at year end as DAF donors are finalizing their tax planning for the year, with 36% of contribution dollars moving in December. The important takeaway for nonprofit fundraisers is to not limit your communications around DAF giving to year end giving season, but to make sure you are engaging your donors on DAFs year\-round \- because they are using their DAF year\-round\! **5. DAF accounts are typically managed by more than 1 person \| ⅔ managed by couples or families** Over ⅔ \(67.5%\) of accounts in the study were managed by more than one person, as the majority of accounts are jointly held by couples or families. It’s important for nonprofit fundraisers to steward DAF donors as they would a couple or family and not as a single individual. That means learning about how different members of the family engage in philanthropy, what their goals are as individuals or a family, etc. It’s a great opportunity to build a deeper relationship across generations and build deeper connectivity for your organization. **6. The vast majority of grants include donor details \| <4% of grants made anonymously** DAFs often carry a reputation of generating a large number of anonymous gifts that frustrate nonprofit fundraisers. While they do offer that benefit to DAF account holders, the vast majority do not make their grants anonymously \- only 3.7% of DAF grants in the study were made anonymously, to be exact. When looking at this statistic on a dollar volume basis, it increases to 8.7%, but the researchers noted that this difference is largely attributable to a small number of 8 figure anonymous gifts that are major outliers. The complaint around anonymous gifts from nonprofit donors is often conflated with a complaint about too little identifying information related to donors. Some DAF gifts only provide a “fund name” \(e.g. the Smith Fund\) which doesn’t give enough information to identify the actual donor, and most gifts only include a mailing address for contact information. Chariot’s DAFpay solution provides a solution to capture DAF donor name and email immediately when they initiate a DAF gift through DAFpay, enabling ideal real time stewardship. Learn how the [Michael J. Fox foundation is taking advantage](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) of this innovation in DAF fundraising. **7. Most DAFs are quickly moving assets to charity \| 54% of DAFs granted out \>50% in 3 years** DAFs are often criticized because they do not include a mandatory distribution minimum or deadline. However, in practice, the majority of DAFs are distributing funds quickly. The study showed that 54% of the accounts included in the study disbursed over half of their original contributions within 3 years. After 8 years, 58% had distributed 100% of their original contributions. DAFs are often compared with foundations as a vehicle for philanthropy, but it’s important for fundraisers to note that most DAF account holders end up deploying all of their capital within a few years. Reminding DAF donors of the critical near term opportunity your organization is working on and time sensitivity of your cause area can help activate more of their DAF capital. **8. First insights into median DAF payout rates \| 9% median annual payout rate** This study provides the first\-ever insight into median payout rates across accounts at various DAF sponsors. At first glance, it’s surprising that the overall median is so much lower than the industry average \(which has been above 20% every year since NPT started tracking in 2007\). A few reasons to point to: - When you remove inactive accounts, this figure increases to 15% - The overall average in this data set is 18%, indicating that this sample size likely has lower figures overall on payouts because there was not good representation in the study from low\-to\-no minimum national DAFs which tend to have higher payout rates \([Fidelity](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report), [Schwab](https://www.schwabcharitable.org/press-release/calendar-year-2023-results) and [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2023) have all recently reported much higher figures\) **9. Significant number of inactive DAF accounts \| 22% of accounts were inactive in the past 3 years** 22% of accounts were inactive \(did not make a grant\) in the past 3 years, but those were typically smaller and newer accounts. 45% of inactive accounts were opened since 2020 and 72% of inactive accounts being under $100k in size \(compared with 62% of active accounts\). This is certainly a big contributor to the 9% median payout rate mentioned in takeaway number 8, and an opportunity for improvement that everyone in the industry is focused on. Nonprofits want more DAF dollars being disbursed faster, DAF sponsors want their clients to be deeply and regularly engaged and technology providers like Chariot want people’s DAFs to be as usable as possible wherever they give. [Drew Schneider](https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-schneider-130b77190/), Chariot’s Co\-Founder and Chief Product Officer, has interviewed hundreds of DAF donors and shares “it’s pretty shocking how many people forget about their DAF or how much money is in it because they historically haven’t been able to use it in all the places they are most likely to give \- a nonprofit’s website, campaign page, etc.” If [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) were a ubiquitous payment option on every nonprofit donation form, how much lower could this inactive account figure be? Be sure to review the [full study from DAFRC](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-dafs)f or many more fascinating insights, and be sure to [get a demo](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-request-form) for DAFpay if you’re interested in making it as easy as possible for DAF donors to support your organization. --- ## The 15 top takeaways from Fidelity Charitable’s 2024 DAF report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report - Published: 2024-02-14 > This in-depth breakdown analyzes the key 2023 statistics just released by Fidelity Charitable, the largest DAF in the worldFidelity Charitable, the largest Donor Advised Fund in the world, has just released their full year financial highlights for 2023, which is a treasure trove of insights on the DAF market and latest trends. In addition to being the largest DAF provider by assets, grants and number of accounts, Fidelity Charitable also provides the most disclosure on DAF account activity among #### This in\-depth breakdown analyzes the key 2023 statistics just released by Fidelity Charitable, the largest DAF in the world Fidelity Charitable, the largest Donor Advised Fund in the world, has just released [their full year financial highlights for 2023](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2024-giving-report.html?immid=Soc_L1520&sf271729684=1), which is a treasure trove of insights on the DAF market and latest trends. In addition to being the largest DAF provider by assets, grants and number of accounts, Fidelity Charitable also provides the most disclosure on DAF account activity among the major DAFs. We’ve taken the extra steps of examining year\-over\-year changes in key statistics and highlighting first\-time disclosures \- here’s what you need to know: **1. Total distribution volume hit a new record, although year over year growth decelerated** A record $11.8 billion was granted to nonprofit organizations in 2023 through 2.3 million grants. This is a 5% increase from 2022, which is a slower rate of growth than last year’s 9%. This is somewhat surprising in a year when the S&P 500 was up 24% \- typically a strong indicator of DAF usage & activity. Perhaps part of the reason that this stock market performance didn’t translate directly to distribution totals is because so much of the market rally took place just in the fourth quarter \(There was an 11.7% increase in Q4\). For comparison, the overall DAF market distributions grew 9% in 2022 year\-over\-year \(according to [the National Philanthropic Trust 2023 DAF Report](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/)\) when the S&P 500 was down \(20\)%. Overall distributions grew 35% in 2021 when the S&P 500 was up 28.7%. Other early signs of DAF activity in 2023 that have been released include a 31% increase in distributions from [Schwab Charitable](https://www.schwabcharitable.org/press-release/calendar-year-2023-results) and a 179% increase from newcomer [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2023). The [full industry statistics](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022) won’t be reported until the fall of 2024, so we’ll learn then which of these providers were most indicative of the overall market vs. an outlier. **2. **[**Total**](http://2.Total)** accounts and number of donors hit record highs** Fidelity Charitable had 197,834 Donor Advised Fund accounts in 2023 utilized by 322,139 donors. These figures were up 7% and 6%, respectively, similar to the growth rates seen in 2022. These figures are also a helpful indicator of the total number of people using DAFs across the industry \- if Fidelity has 1.6 donors per account, on average, that means there could be as many as 3.25 million donors using the 2 million DAF accounts across all 1,151 DAF providers \(according to the National Philanthropic Trust 2023 DAF Report\). **3. 54% of contributions were made with publicly traded securities in 2023, up from 45% in 2022** This is the biggest year\-over\-year change in the entire report with the percentage of contributions into DAF accounts made with publicly traded securities rising 9 percentage points. One of the primary benefits of DAFs is the tax advantages of contributing appreciated assets \- avoiding capital gains and taking the full value as a write\-off. So in a year where equities were up over 20%, we would expect people to be taking advantage of this dynamic. It’s also a primary benefit of DAFs like Fidelity Charitable that they can easily liquidate non\-cash assets so grants are all made in the form of cash to nonprofits, a much more streamlined process than receiving appreciated non\-cash assets directly. **4. A record 198,672 unique nonprofits were supported in 2023** The number of unique nonprofits supported with DAF grants from Fidelity Charitable grew by over 5% year\-over\-year, reaching a record high of nearly 200,000 in a single year. **5. Nearly 80% of DAF grants were recurring or regrants in 2023** DAF donors are known for being consistent and reliable sources of funding for the organizations they support. 78% of grants made in 2023 went to organizations the donors had supported in the past through their DAF, 47% from regrants and 31% from scheduled, recurring gifts. This is up from 77% in 2022. **6. Median account size increased by over 9% to $21,267 after years of steady decreases** There has been a long\-term trend in the DAF market of average and median account size decreasing overtime as the number of DAF accounts has expanded sharply and the demographic of account holders grows to include more every\-day philanthropists. This trend was clearly outweighed at Fidelity Charitable this year by the strong market performance. **7. $22.2 billion additional dollars has been generated for charity through DAF investment growth** One of the key benefits of keeping money intended for future donations in a tax\-advantaged account like a DAF: since DAFs are invested in the market, your giving capacity increases with the market and 100% can go to nonprofits since that growth is tax\-free. Fidelity Charitable’s investment growth has generated an additional $22.2 billion dollars for charity since inception. **8. The distribution of account size shifted with increases in medium and large accounts** The percentage of accounts with less than $25,000 fell from 56% in 2022 to 53% in 2023. Accounts with between $25,000 and $250,000 made up 37% \(vs. 35% in 2022\) and accounts greater than $250,000 made up 10% \(vs. 9% in 2022\). The strong performance in the stock market, especially late in the year, clearly translated to larger accounts across the board. **9. Average grant size decreased slightly to $4,625** The average grant size of $4,625 in 2023 was down 4% year over year, after several years of steady growth. This is still 23x as large as the average online credit card donation of $204, according to the [Blackbaud Institute Charitable Giving Report](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021). **10. Average number of grants per account stayed at 11.8** DAF donors are known for being more engaged in philanthropy and much more frequent donors. Fidelity Charitable accounts make an average of 11.8 grants per year, which is 6x the average rate of donation by donors in the overall population of 2x per year, according to [Double the Donation](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/#:~:text=The%20average%20donor%20in%20the,of%20their%20country%20of%20residence). **11. Only 4% of grants are made anonymously** A common concern about Donor Advised Funds is that they can be used for anonymous giving. However, the vast majority of grants are not made anonymously at Fidelity Charitable and that is consistent with other industry\-wide estimates of 4.3%, according to [the American Enterprise Institute](https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/anonymous-giving-through-donor-advised-funds/#:~:text=A%20review%20of%20grant%20data,4.3%20percent%20of%20all%20grants). **12. 88% of accounts were active in 2023** DAF donors are proven to be actively engaged in philanthropy and 88% of accounts are actively used each year at Fidelity. This number is consistent with 2022 figures. **13. 41% of contributions to Fidelity Charitable DAFs are granted out to nonprofits within 1 year, an acceleration from 2022** The lack of a mandated annual payout rate from DAFs is the leading criticism of the vehicle \(like the 5% payout requirement for Foundations\). But in practice, DAFs are used to more quickly move money to charity with 41% of dollars contributed to Fidelity Charitable DAFs granted out to a nonprofit within 1 year \- this is up from 39% in 2022. By year 5, that figure rises to 76% and 89% by year 10. **14. 3 Chariot Advisory Council members on top 20 supported orgs list** Each year Fidelity discloses the 20 nonprofit organizations that received the most DAF grant volume and this year, 3 of [Chariot’s Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-welcomes-9-inaugural-members-to-our-nonprofit-advisory-council) members' organizations made the top 20\! [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://donate.pmc.org/DP0001) \(Where [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-sommer-366a17a/) serves as the CFO\), [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html?_gl=1*wmlcj8*_gcl_au*Mjk2MTExNjE5LjE3MDc0NDE5MDk.&_ga=2.148764467.547893044.1707441909-1512524014.1707441909) \(where [Jay Jump](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-jump/) serves as the SVP of Digital Product\) and [International Rescue Committee](https://www.every.org/irc?donateTo=irc#/donate/daf) \(where [Carlos Pena](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlospena333/) serves as the Director of Donor Advised Funds\). **15. **[**Fidelity**](http://15.Fidelity)** Charitable provided disclosure around corporate utilization of DAFs & DAFs as an employee benefit for the first time** Fidelity Charitable now manages 511 corporate Donor Advised Funds which granted $256 million in 2023. The average grant size was $10,932 across 23,401 grants and each corporate DAF made 65 total grants on average over the course of 2023. They also mentioned employee DAFs and DAF contributions as an employee benefit for the first time: “In addition to using a Giving Account to facilitate corporate donations, some companies are now offering donor\-advised funds to their employees as a benefit to support their individual giving.” Corporate & Employee Benefit DAFs are likely to be a tremendous driver of DAF account growth in the coming years as they go more mainstream like this. Do you want to make it easier for the 300,000 Fidelity DAF donors to support your organization? [Check out how DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) enables 3\-click DAF giving from DAFs like Fidelity, directly on your organization’s own website or donation form. --- ## Chariot Welcomes 9 Inaugural Members to our Nonprofit Advisory Council - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-welcomes-9-inaugural-members-to-our-nonprofit-advisory-council - Published: 2024-02-09 > Top nonprofit executives in fundraising, finance, data and technology for leading organizations across the country join this critical group to more deeply partner in advancing Chariot’s mission.This week, Chariot officially launched our Nonprofit Advisory Council with a group of outstanding leaders from a variety of nonprofit organizations across the country that are all passionate about our mission - to move more money from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) to nonprofits faster. Karyn DeMartini, the V #### Top nonprofit executives in fundraising, finance, data and technology for leading organizations across the country join this critical group to more deeply partner in advancing Chariot’s mission. This week, Chariot officially launched our [Nonprofit Advisory Council](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council) with a group of outstanding leaders from a variety of nonprofit organizations across the country that are all passionate about our mission \- to move more money from Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\) to nonprofits faster. Karyn DeMartini, the VP of Major, Principal and Planned Giving at [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) joined the council because “Chariot is providing a donor\-friendly, donor\-centric tool which will automate internal processes and improve accuracy. It's a win for donors, a win for staff, and a win for our mission\!” Our 9 inaugural council members bring a combined 145 years of industry experience to help guide and advise Chariot’s work building innovative solutions to nonprofits’ biggest challenges. [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-sommer-366a17a/), the CFO of [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://donate.pmc.org/DP0001) and councilmember shares that “I am a huge fan of Chariot because they have made it easy for donors to make DAF grants directly from a non\-profit website." "They have removed the challenges that impeded putting DAF dollars to work. Unlocking the $230 billion in DAFs will have a huge impact on the philanthropic landscape. Bravo\!” The council will be engaged in our strategic planning, product development and nonprofit engagement efforts as we continuously improve our DAF fundraising products and expand our reach to help every nonprofit. In addition to shaping Chariot’s development to meet their most pressing needs, members are also excited to become part of such an esteemed working group that values innovation, transparency and exchange of ideas. [Jay Jump](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-jump/), the Senior Vice President of Digital Product at [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html?_gl=1*wmlcj8*_gcl_au*Mjk2MTExNjE5LjE3MDc0NDE5MDk.&_ga=2.148764467.547893044.1707441909-1512524014.1707441909), says “it’s so incredible to be in a space with a group of my peers where everyone has a helping and sharing attitude." "We’re all clearly working toward a common goal of activating more DAF dollars and excited to help Chariot and each other.” We look forward to collaborating with the council in our periodic full group sessions, on educational articles for nonprofit leaders and presentations at upcoming industry conferences. Our biggest near=term initiative that our council is helping to drive is the [First\-Ever Nonprofit DAF Benchmark Study](https://www.givechariot.com/post/apply-today-for-the-first-ever-nonprofit-daf-benchmark-study). [Carlos Pena](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlospena333/), the Director of Donor Advised Funds for the International Rescue Committee is excited about the study because “this is sure to revolutionize how non\-profit organizations effectively analyze donor data through the lens of DAF giving." "I am most excited about delving into my organization’s data to uncover individual giving trends and conversion rates via our omnichannel approach. My hope for this study is to clearly identify areas of opportunity that will inform subsequent strategies to continue tapping into the $230B ocean of DAF funding already committed for donation.” We look forward to spotlighting more of our council members’ outstanding work and contributions to the nonprofit sector at large in the coming months. Stay tuned for all that’s to come\! Our council members include: [Art Weinkofsky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/artweinkofsky/) Director of Development Information Systems [Central Park Conservancy](https://secure.centralparknyc.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9045&mfc_pref=T&9045.donation=form1&s_src=dfyxxw&s_subsrc=web_utilnav&_gl=1*1ycjtud*_ga*ODk5MzUzODI2LjE3MDY2MzQwNTM.*_ga_2CXWMNPYQS*MTcwNzQ0MTUyNi4zLjAuMTcwNzQ0MTUyOC4wLjAuMA) [Brandy Reppy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/breppy/) Director of Development Digital Technology [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://secure2.convio.net/mskcc/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20027a?df_id=19195&19195.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&s_channel=2024-MSKCCNavigation&utm_source=MSKCC&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=2024&utm_content=NAV_DON_FN_PDN&ts=1707441575117&source_id=7026061193536425&NONCE_TOKEN=A76024BA34D33AB02D9D23B44B2BD4EF) [Carlos Pena](https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlospena333/) Director of Donor Advised Funds [International Rescue Committee](https://www.every.org/irc?donateTo=irc#/donate/daf) [Glen Peck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpeck/) Technology & Business Intelligence [Lustgarten Foundation](https://www.every.org/lustgarten?search_meta=%7B%22query%22%3A%22lustgarten%22%7D&donateTo=lustgarten#/donate/daf) [Jay Jump](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-jump/) Senior Vice President of Digital Product [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html?_gl=1*wmlcj8*_gcl_au*Mjk2MTExNjE5LjE3MDc0NDE5MDk.&_ga=2.148764467.547893044.1707441909-1512524014.1707441909) [Karyn Demartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/) VP of Major, Principal & Planned Giving [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-sommer-366a17a/) Chief Financial Officer [Pan\-Mass Challenge](https://donate.pmc.org/DP0001) [Shirley Nagar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleynagar/) Director of Planned Giving [Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds) [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishellis/) Director of Planned Giving & Major Gifts [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/other-ways/) --- ## DonorDrive and Chariot Announce New Partnership for Integrated DAF Payments - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/donordrive-and-chariot-announce-new-partnership-for-integrated-daf-payments - Published: 2024-01-23 > DAFpay™ will now be an embedded payment option for all DonorDrive customers and donation forms. DonorDrive, an EngageSmart (NYSE: ESMT) solution and creator of an advanced enterprise digital fundraising solution, announced a collaboration with Chariot, the creator of Donor Advised Fund (DAF) payments solution DAFpay™️, which will allow DonorDrive clients to accept DAF payments online through their existing DonorDrive donation forms. The new feature is expected to be available in the DonorDrive p #### DAFpay™ will now be an embedded payment option for all DonorDrive customers and donation forms. [DonorDrive](https://www.donordrive.com), an EngageSmart [\(NYSE: ESMT\)](https://investors.engagesmart.com/overview/default.aspx?utm_source=placement&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=twitchcon_release&utm_content=pressrelease&utm_term=) solution and creator of an advanced enterprise digital fundraising solution, announced a collaboration with [Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/), the creator of Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) payments solution DAFpay™️, which will allow DonorDrive clients to accept DAF payments online through their existing DonorDrive donation forms. The new feature is expected to be available in the DonorDrive platform at the end of January 2024. Individual giving experienced a [6.4% year\-over\-year decline in 2022](https://givingusa.org/). In contrast, [Donor Advised Fund giving grew 9.1%](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/). This coupled with the fact that [the average DAF gift is $4,798](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-top-5-fundraiser-takeaways-from-fidelity-s-2023-daf-giving-report) makes Donor Advised Funds a key focus for fundraising teams. In 2022, donors [gave $52 billion from DAFs](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) yet $229 billion is still held in these charitable savings accounts waiting to be donated to qualified 501\(c\)\(3\) organizations. As nonprofit organizations face an increasing amount of pressure to raise funds, accepting DAF gifts directly in their online giving forms offers enterprise nonprofits an opportunity to reach a wider demographic of highly generous donors and make giving as convenient as possible for them. Many DonorDrive clients already accept DAF gifts, but processing these donations is tedious and time\-consuming for both internal staff and donors. With DAFpay™️ by Chariot, donors can grant directly from their DAF account to a nonprofit’s DonorDrive fundraising campaign or event. The benefiting organization will receive immediate access to details including the gift amount, donation status, and the donor’s contact information in the DonorDrive platform. With all of this information saved in one place, nonprofits will have a simpler way to engage donors and help drive donor retention. The organization will also receive all these DAF gifts electronically, saving meaningful staff time while reducing the risk of lost or stolen checks. DAFpay™️ will be an available payment option for all DonorDrive donation experiences, including DonorDrive’s [newly released Embedded Donation Forms](https://www.donordrive.com/resources/press-release-november-2023-product-release/). In addition to DAFpay™️, DonorDrive offers a variety of donor payment options: all major credit cards, multi\-currency, ACH, and digital wallet options PayPal, Apple Pay, and Venmo. “Across the philanthropy industry, nonprofits are searching for expanded and creative ways to increase funds raised as individual giving declines significantly,” said Kasey Cuppoletti, Senior Vice President, Product at DonorDrive. “At DonorDrive, we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to help our clients combat those trends and acquire more donors. Through our collaboration with Chariot, Donor Advised Funds provide a great opportunity for our clients to increase revenue, reduce friction in the donation process, and improve efficiency for their internal teams.” “Having a Donor Advised Fund payment option superpowers fundraising efforts and creates a more streamlined experience for donors," said Aaron Kahane, Co\-Founder and COO of Chariot.["](http://Chariot.By)By partnering with DonorDrive, we’re making it easy for donors to contribute directly to the organization of their choice, especially as part of high impact peer\-to\-peer campaigns. "We estimate more than 3 million donors have access to Donor Advised Funds. DAFpay™️ by Chariot simplifies the DAF donor giving experience, increasing conversion rates and donation frequency, and helping nonprofits steward their donors by enhancing the ability to thank and connect with donors immediately after a donation is made.” **About DonorDrive:** DonorDrive, an EngageSmart solution, is an advanced digital fundraising platform for nonprofits that turns everyday people into powerful fundraisers. Drive more revenue for your cause with the most immersive, connected, and well\-designed fundraising experience ever made. For more than 20 years, DonorDrive has helped hundreds of nonprofits like Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Covenant House, Doctors Without Borders, Muscular Dystrophy Association, World Vision and hundreds more to raise billions of dollars. To learn more about DonorDrive, visit [www.donordrive.com](http://www.donordrive.com)[.](https://www.donordrive.com/) **About EngageSmart**: EngageSmart is a leading provider of vertically tailored customer engagement software and integrated payments solutions. At EngageSmart, our mission is to simplify customer and client engagement to allow our customers to focus resources on initiatives that improve their businesses and better serve their communities. EngageSmart offers single instance, multi\-tenant, true Software\-as\-a\-Service \(“SaaS”\) vertical solutions, including SimplePractice, InvoiceCloud, and DonorDrive, that are designed to simplify our customers’ engagement with their clients by driving digital adoption and self\-service. As of September 30, 2023, EngageSmart serves 116,200 customers in the SMB Solutions segment and 3,400 customers in the Enterprise Solutions segment across several core verticals: Health & Wellness, Government, Utilities, Financial Services, and Giving. For more information, visit [www.engagesmart.com](http://www.engagesmart.com) and follow us on LinkedIn. **About Chariot**: Chariot is the only Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) fundraising solution for nonprofits. DAFs are the fastest growing funding source in philanthropy and hold $230 billion that’s waiting to be donated. The problem is that DAFs are impossible to use in the places donors are most inspired to give \(donation forms, peer\-to\-peer campaigns & live events\) and create a processing nightmare for nonprofits to manage. Chariot unlocks more DAF gifts faster by integrating 3\-click DAF giving into any digital donation experience with DAFpay™️. Chariot also enables real\-time capture of DAF donor name & email for effective stewardship and fully electronic processing for seamless payouts. You can [try a demo here](http://app.givechariot.com/demo) and learn more at [www.givechariot.com](http://www.givechariot.com). **Media**: Nicole Bestard Quarter Horse PR [donordrive@qh\-pr.com](mailto:donordrive@qh-pr.com) **Investor Relations:** Josh Schmidt EngageSmart, Inc. [IR@engagesmart.com](mailto:IR@engagesmart.com) **Chariot Contact:** [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) Head of Strategy [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) **Forward\-Looking Statements** Certain statements in this release are “forward\-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this news release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward\-looking statements, and are generally identified by words such as “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “future,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “aim,” and other similar expressions. These forward\-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding anticipated financial performance and financial position, including our financial outlook for the first quarter and full year 2023 and thereafter, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward\-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward\-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward\-looking statements for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the following: our inability to sustain our rapid growth; failure to manage our infrastructure to support our future growth; our risk management efforts not being effective to prevent fraudulent activities; inability to attract new customers or convert trial customers into paying customers; inability to introduce new features or services successfully or to enhance our solutions; declines in customer renewals or failure to convince customers to broaden their use of solutions; inability to achieve or sustain profitability; failure to adapt and respond effectively to rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and regulations and changing business needs, requirements or preferences; real or perceived errors, failures or bugs in our solutions; intense competition; lack of success in establishing, growing or maintaining strategic partnerships; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; future acquisitions and investments diverting management’s attention and difficulties associated with integrating such acquired businesses; general economic conditions \(including inflation and rising interest rates\), both domestically and internationally, as well as economic conditions affecting industries in which our customers operate; the war in Ukraine; concentration of revenue in our InvoiceCloud and SimplePractice solutions; COVID\-19 pandemic and its impact on our employees, customers, partners, clients and other key stakeholders; legal and regulatory risks; and technology and intellectual property\-related risks, among others. Other important risk factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements and that could affect the Company’s operating results and financial condition are discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10\-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10\-Q, as updated by our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission \(“SEC”\). Such statements are based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such forward\-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document except as required by law. **Disclosure** We disclose information to the public concerning EngageSmart, EngageSmart’s products and services, and other items through a variety of disclosure channels in order to achieve broad, non\-exclusionary distribution of information to the public. Some of the information distributed through these disclosure channels may be considered material information. Investors and others are encouraged to review the information we make public in the locations below.\* This list may be updated from time to time. \*For information concerning EngageSmart and its products and services, please visit: [www.engagesmart.com](http://www.engagesmart.com) \*For information provided to the investment community, including news releases, events and presentations, and SEC filings, please visit: [investors.engagesmart.com/overview/default.aspx](http://investors.engagesmart.com/overview/default.aspx) \*For information provided to the media, including news releases, please visit: [investors.engagesmart.com/news/default.aspx](http://investors.engagesmart.com/news/default.aspx) \*For additional information, please follow EngageSmart’s social media accounts: [www.twitter.com/engagesmartinc](http://www.twitter.com/engagesmartinc), [www.facebook.com/EngageSmartInc](http://www.facebook.com/EngageSmartInc), and [www.linkedin.com/company/engagesmart](http://www.linkedin.com/company/engagesmart) --- ## Apply Today for the First-Ever Nonprofit DAF Benchmark Study - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/apply-today-for-the-first-ever-nonprofit-daf-benchmark-study - Published: 2024-01-17 > Join us for the first-ever research study to benchmark nonprofit experience with Donor Advised Fund donors and gifts.We’re excited to announce that Chariot is partnering with K2D Strategies to conduct the first-ever Donor Advised Fund benchmark study for nonprofit organizations in 2024! Benchmark studies have always given nonprofits great insight into how their efforts compare to other nonprofits organizations of their size and within their industry. Given the dramatic increase in DAF giving and #### Join us for the first\-ever research study to benchmark nonprofit experience with Donor Advised Fund donors and gifts. We’re excited to announce that Chariot is partnering with K2D Strategies to conduct the first\-ever Donor Advised Fund benchmark study for nonprofit organizations in 2024\! [Join the study](https://daf.k2dstrategies.com/join/) Benchmark studies have always given nonprofits great insight into how their efforts compare to other nonprofits organizations of their size and within their industry. Given [the dramatic increase in DAF giving and DAF accounts](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022), the time is right for a DAF benchmark study. Chariot and K2D Strategies are pleased to invite nonprofit organizations with historical data on DAF giving to participate in the first\-of\-its\-kind Donor Advised Fund individual giving benchmark study. “This study is an absolute dream in terms of analysis both from an organizational as well as broader non\-profit perspective” **Carlos Pena** *Director of Donor Advised Funds* *International Rescue Committee* This comprehensive study will compare DAF gifts vs. traditional gifts. We’ll shed light on: - **Your organization’s DAF advantage:** - - See how your DAF fundraising stacks up against peers of similar size, type, and DAF strategy. - **How DAF fundraising outcomes vary based on factors like:** - - Donor Behavior: Compare the giving patterns of DAF donors to traditional donors across metrics like retention rate, average gift size, second\-gift timing, donation frequency, and seasonality. - Conversion Paths: Learn how many DAF donors start with your organization through other channels and how their giving evolves once they use a DAF. - DAF Trends: Gain insights into overall DAF giving growth and per\-donor trends, helping you tailor your strategies. The study’s findings will be shared with study participants and key findings will be presented at conferences and in industry publications. Any organization with at least $1 million in annual individual giving can participate\! Selected organizations will be asked to complete an easy questionnaire about DAF strategy, management, and DAF presentation online and in the mail, and share 5\-10 years of anonymized donor gift data \(no PII will be accepted\) through a secure transaction file. [Join the study](https://daf.k2dstrategies.com/join/) **We Know DAFs** Chariot’s [pioneering DAFpay solution](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video) is used by over 5,000 organizations \(like Michael J. Fox Foundation, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, Pan\-Mass Challenge\) and allows donors to give with their DAF directly on a nonprofit’s website or donation forms. [K2D Strategies](https://k2dstrategies.com/) has years of experience navigating the DAF landscape, the [DAF Secret Shopper Study in 2021](https://k2dstrategies.com/2022/11/mission-possible-daf-secret-shopper-edition/) that revealed a gap in targeted DAF fundraising by nonprofits. Those results drew replies from dozens of nonprofits who want to know how their DAF donor giving compares to their peers. **Timeline** **Today:**[Join the Study](https://daf.k2dstrategies.com/join/) **Mid\-February:**Data submissions due **Q2:**Study results released **Questions?** If have you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns you’d like to share, please get in touch with: [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) *Head of Strategy, Chariot* [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) *President, K2D Strategy* --- ## Chariot Selected for Blackbaud’s 2024 Social Good Startup Program - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-selected-for-blackbaud-s-2024-social-good-startup-program - Published: 2024-01-16 > Blackbaud, a global leader in social impact technology, chose Chariot for it’s January 2024 startup accelerator cohort, bringing the innovative DAFpay™️ technology to an even wider audienceBlackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), leading provider of software for powering social impact, today announced the newest cohort of participants in its Social Good Startup Program. The program is a tech accelerator designed to support early-stage software companies focused on solving problems that matter to the social imp ##### Blackbaud, a global leader in social impact technology, chose Chariot for it’s January 2024 startup accelerator cohort, bringing the innovative DAFpay™️ technology to an even wider audience [Blackbaud](http://www.blackbaud.com/) \(NASDAQ: BLKB\), leading provider of software for powering social impact, today announced the newest cohort of participants in its [Social Good Startup Program](https://www.blackbaud.com/social-good-startup-program). The program is a tech accelerator designed to support early\-stage software companies focused on solving problems that matter to the social impact community. [Chariot](http://www.givechariot.com), the leading provider of Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) fundraising solutions to nonprofits, is joining the program with 7 other social impact startups included in this cohort. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to work more closely with all the products and organizations in the Blackbaud ecosystem,” shared Salo Serfati, Chariot Co\-Founder & CEO. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to work more closely with all the products and organizations in the Blackbaud ecosystem." Program participants receive curated access to Blackbaud resources, marketing opportunities and non\-dilutive grant funding, and Blackbaud works with startup founders to design a unique plan for each company that addresses their goals for growth. “Our Social Good Startup Program is a one\-of\-a\-kind initiative that lets startups demonstrate their innovation as they integrate with Blackbaud products, thereby creating additional value for our customers,” said Sudip Datta, Blackbaud’s chief product officer. “Our Social Good Startup Program is a one\-of\-a\-kind initiative that lets startups demonstrate their innovation as they integrate with Blackbaud products, thereby creating additional value for our customers" Participating companies are also invited to participate in the annual Blackbaud Social Good Startup Showcase, where they can pitch their ideas to Blackbaud leaders for a chance to create networking opportunities and win prizes. This year’s showcase will take place at bbcon, Blackbaud’s annual tech conference happening in Seattle, September 24\-26. “It’s exciting to have this deep collaboration with all the most relevant experts at Blackbaud,” Aaron Kahane, Chariot’s Co\-Founder & COO. “We’ve built incredible solutions to nonprofit’s biggest pain points with Donor Advised Funds and we can’t wait to put the technology to work for as many nonprofits as possible.” Chariot’s groundbreaking DAF solution for nonprofits, DAFpay™️, allows donors to make DAF gifts in just 3\-clicks wherever they’re inspired to give. DAFpay™️ integrates seamlessly with any nonprofit website, campaign page or donation form, and many organizations are already using the product in conjunction with Blackbaud tools like Luminate Online, Raiser’s Edge, etc. See how organizations, like Central Park Conservancy, are [integrating DAFpay™️ into their Luminate online forms](https://www.doinggoodagency.com/portfolio-item/central-park-conservancy-chariot-daf-integration/) with the help of Chariot’s partner consultants Chariot is joined in the January 2024 cohort by: - [BellesBoard](https://bellesboard.com/), a board management solution - [Charterboards](https://charterboards.com/), a school administration solution - [Grapevine](https://clcqb04.na1.hs-sales-engage.com/Ctc/T9+23284/cLCQB04/Jks2-6qcW69sMD-6lZ3ldW7mYh_31d6qlMW8HWYB46P41ztW7xbvxF6_ZPTzW3yHMkv932LNNW8hldxS3TF1tmW1V1tp28yC-s4W6n5f2T8F0zl5W5-Fr1j230vH6W64jlMY8NjjQZW15-cTT7vHBJYW1dwlj91fdFd_W6QRt-D4Vpc7FN86Z_h0KBWX6W8JZ9vP3-72_QW2tH2Sd3wd3B7W7Dyltx8sWh3XN8Qt7w6fl9D7VQx8M23BgKxPW7PWSYh2VRF6LW7C14qn1-v4Nvf1ZMMKd04), a giving circle platform - [OpenGrants](https://www.opengrants.io/), a grant seeking platform - [School Journey](https://schooljourney.ai/), a mobile app for education management - [Storyraise](https://storyraise.com/#/home), a digital report & campaign fundraising platform - [SureImpact](https://www.sureimpact.com/), an impact management solution “We also really appreciate Blackbaud’s emphasis on the inclusion of underrepresented founders,” says Salo, a native of Venezuela. More than 55% of the startup founders who have participated in the program are from backgrounds typically underrepresented in tech. **About Chariot**: Chariot is a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) fundraising solution designed for nonprofits. its three\-click DAF payment option integrates with donation forms to unlock more of the $229 billion sitting in 3 million donors’ DAF accounts. Chariot enables real\-time data capture to thank DAF donors immediately and digital processing to deliver DAF gifts directly to nonprofit bank accounts instead of sending checks in the mail. **About Blackbaud**: Blackbaud \(NASDAQ: BLKB\) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. --- ## Answering Fundraisers’ Burning Questions on Donor Advised Funds - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/answering-fundraisers-burning-questions-on-donor-advised-funds - Published: 2023-12-05 ##### We joined AFP’s New York City chapter last week to help answer nonprofit fundraisers’ biggest questions around DAFs. Here’s what we shared. [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAA__aQ8B3IVbH52D_mfg9iM13CuvKDTRiBQ?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_company_admin%3BQH1IAZfeTCaOgv9X3JI0qg%3D%3D), Chariot’s Head of Partnerships, was invited to join [Robert Wahlers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAGc16kBi-oiLDn1u_uwNWI0Y8gp492oGr8?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_company_admin%3BQH1IAZfeTCaOgv9X3JI0qg%3D%3D) \(President of [Peak Philanthropic](https://www.peakphilanthropic.com/)\) and [Monique Fournillier](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABe1uO0BzbwF_wEvCmofvicnIsailZ6qEnM?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_company_admin%3BQH1IAZfeTCaOgv9X3JI0qg%3D%3D) \(Grant Manager for [Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County](https://habitatnycwc.org/)\) to discuss all things Donor Advised Funds with a packed house of nonprofit leaders from the greater NYC area. Elon and Robert were asked to provide their expertise to shed some light on top questions from a very curious audience. The 5 topics they spent the most time discussing are below: #### 1. How exactly do we ask for DAF gifts? Many nonprofit fundraisers are uncomfortable asking for donors if they have a Donor Advised Fund or prefer to use a DAF to give because they are worried they don’t know enough about how DAFs work. It’s critical that fundraising teams are getting adequate education so they have plenty of confidence to raise the topic of DAFs with any donor. Here is [one great resource](https://www.givechariot.com/post/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me) to learn how individuals decide to open and use a DAF for their philanthropy. You can also subscribe to [Chariot’s monthly newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter) where we share all of our latest educational resources. After you’ve gotten up to speed, the best thing to do is just start raising the topic of DAFs wherever you can. It’s proven that nonprofits receive 2.2x more DAF gifts when they ask for them, so there’s no reason to be afraid. Over 3 million people are using this vehicle to donate $52 billion a year so don’t wait to start talking about it with people\! **Easy ways to bring up DAFs include:** - In any 1x1 conversation where a donor is discussing the different ways to give, be sure Donor Advised Funds are a core part of your list  - In convenings of donors, like a board meeting, take the time to bring up DAFs as an agenda item to remind people when and how they can use them to support your org.  - In a planned giving conversation, if you know a donor has a DAF, remind them that they have to proactively name a beneficiary\! Most DAFs default setting is that funds in a DAF are bequeathed to the DAF provider unless the account holder adds a beneficiary like a family member or your organization\! #### 2. If we’ve never had a DAF strategy, where do I start? It’s most important to just get started \- so start small. The easiest first step you can take is to add something on your website about using your donor advised fund for donations. **Here are a few steps your organization can start taking today:** - In any part of your website talking about donating, remind people they can use their Donor Advised Fund and share your EIN so it’s easy to look up.   - If you have a Ways to Give Page, make sure there’s a dedicated section for DAFs.  - It’s even better to have a whole page dedicated to Donor Advised Funds sharing the benefits of DAFs and how to support your organization.  - All of these options are made more effective if you have a clear Call To Action \- ideally a seamless way for an inspired donor to donate with their DAF right on your website without any redirects. [Learn more](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-does-chariot-compare-to-other-daf-solutions-for-nonprofits) about all the benefits of fully embedded DAF giving on your website. #### 3. What can we do to make sure we’re set up correctly to receive gifts from different DAFs? Every fundraiser has a story about a DAF gift going missing. Sometimes a check was sent in the mail but never showed up, or other times the gift was stuck under review at a DAF provider leaving the org in the dark. The most common reason for this is that there are errors or inconsistencies in an organization’s name or address at some of the 1,150\+ DAFs in the country. The average DAF gift is nearly $5,000 \- you don’t want to be missing any of them\! It’s worthwhile to double check with the main DAFs that you know your donors use to ensure that information is correct. If you’d like assistance running this check, Chariot is able to screen all of the major DAFs to discover and correct any of these errors with our My DAF Status solution. Even some of the largest organizations in the country have been shocked to find out where there were mistakes that could have been costing them serious money. Please [reach out](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) if you’d like to run My DAF Status for your organization\! #### 4. Are DAFs really that common? Isn’t it just the mega rich who use them? DAFs have evolved significantly from their origins decades ago. While they historically were used by the ultra wealthy, there are now over 3 million people using DAFs\! So yes, DAF accounts are still large with an overall average account size of $117,466 \(According to the [latest Nonprofit Trust DAF report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022)\), but the median is $19,442 at [Fidelity](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf), the largest provider in the country. There is a really long tail in the distribution of account users that are still making significant contributions, but likely fall below most organizations’ definitions of Major or Principal gifts. This is why it’s important that the entire fundraising team is informed on DAFs and incorporating DAF fundraising into their work, not just major gifts. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of DAFs, check out [this interview with leading philanthropic advisor, Dan Greenspon](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-best-daf-advice-for-donors-and-nonprofits-from-a-leading-philanthropic-advisor). #### 5. How can we connect with more DAFs and DAF donors? There are two important intermediaries that have access to a large concentration of DAF donors: Financial Advisors and DAF Providers themselves. - **Financial advisors**: Someone that is setting up a donor advised fund is typically doing so as an intentional part of their personal financial planning. That means that their financial advisors are highly likely to be a part of the conversation around their philanthropy and love being able to make suggestions of high impact organizations that align to their client’s interest. Building relationships with financial advisors in your community is a great way to unlock more direct access to their clients that are most aligned to your mission. - **DAF Providers**: Most DAFs also like to add value for their donors by helping them connect with high impact organizations. Community foundations in particular like to provide extra services to their DAF holders where they help connect them to organizations that will best align to their impact goals. By sharing your impact story with those program managers, you’re making their job easier\! They can now share an interesting opportunity with their DAF account holders that you’ve made extra easy to communicate. --- ## Giving Season Giveaway from Chariot! - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/giving-season-giveaway-from-chariot - Published: 2023-11-30 > Every DAF grant received through Chariot enters you to win a ticket to the 2024 DAF Giving Summit!26% of Nonprofit revenue is raised in December (according to the M&R 2022 Benchmark report), so it’s clearly the most important month of the year for fundraising. In support of all the hard work nonprofits are putting in this giving season, we’re offering a special promotion: For every DAF grant our customers receive with Chariot through the end of the year, they’ll be entered into our Giving Season ##### Every DAF grant received through Chariot enters you to win a ticket to the 2024 DAF Giving Summit\! 26% of Nonprofit revenue is raised in December \(according to the [M&R 2022 Benchmark report](https://mrbenchmarks.com/#fundraising)\), so it’s clearly the most important month of the year for fundraising. In support of all the hard work nonprofits are putting in this giving season, we’re offering a special promotion: For every DAF grant our customers receive with Chariot through the end of the year, they’ll be entered into our Giving Season Raffle for free Admission & Travel to next year’s DAF Giving Summit\! The[DAF Giving Summit](https://dafgivingsummit.com/) on October 16\-18, 2024 is the premier professional event for educating, innovating and connecting around all things DAFs. It’s an incredible opportunity for nonprofit fundraisers to build relationships across the Donor Advised Fund ecosystem and hone their own DAF fundraising capabilities. Our team had the chance to attend the 2023 DAF Giving Summit and came away with some amazing insights that they shared in a [recent blog post](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2023-daf-giving-summit). Their overarching takeaway was that “The DAF Giving summit was absolutely buzzing with excitement around impact, innovation and education. There are incredibly talented people leading the DAF charge on all fronts and everyone there could feel the sensation of being at the forefront of a wave that’s starting to really pick up speed.” We encourage every fundraiser to consider attending if they’re able to and are excited to share the opportunity with the winner of this month’s giveaway\! There’s no entry required, all you need to do is promote your Donor Advised Fund capabilities and encourage DAF gifts wherever you’re soliciting donations this month. The more DAF gifts you receive through Chariot, the greater your chances of winning. Good luck to everyone this giving season and let the Chariot team know if you need any help making the most of it\! Full details of the promotion are below: - Each completed DAF gift through Chariot’s DAF payment solutions generates an entry in our raffle - Organizations with Chariot’s DIY, Essentials, Professional or Enterprise plan all qualify for the giveaway - A winner will be chosen at random on January 2, 2024 - The prize includes one paid ticket to the DAF Giving Summit in Nashville on October 16\-18 and travel expenses up to $2,000 --- ## Is a Donor Advised Fund right for me? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me - Published: 2023-11-26 > DAFs are a powerful tool for more engaged & impactful philanthropy. Learn how they work, who they are for and where to get started if you want to open a DAF account.Please note: Chariot is not a financial advisor, and any individual’s financial decision should be made in consultation with their financial advisors, accountants and/or legal counsel. The following information is meant to serve as general background information on how Donor Advised Funds function, but every person’s financial situat ##### DAFs are a powerful tool for more engaged & impactful philanthropy. Learn how they work, who they are for and where to get started if you want to open a DAF account. *Please note: Chariot is not a financial advisor, and any individual’s financial decision should be made in consultation with their financial advisors, accountants and/or legal counsel. The following information is meant to serve as general background information on how Donor Advised Funds function, but every person’s financial situation is different and should be assessed individually.* A **Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) **is a tax\-advantaged savings account for charitable giving \- similar to a 401k for retirement funds or an HSA for healthcare expenses. You can contribute to your DAF account any time, invest the balance to keep it growing, and grant out money to nonprofits over time. ## The key benefits to DAFs are: #### Tax Advantages When you contribute to your DAF, you generate a tax write\-off for the full contribution amount upfront, then you can make grants to individual nonprofits over time. This is even more powerful if you contribute appreciated assets to your DAF, allowing you to forgo any associated capital gains tax on those assets. Any investments you make with the balance in your account will also grow tax free. #### Hitting Goals DAFs help people be more intentional with their philanthropy. It’s easy to set goals, make automatic contributions and track your progress for both your contributions into your account and your grants out of your account. “I committed to donating 10% of my income to charity every year and DAFs are what made it possible." Follow Chariot's CEO, Salomon Serfati, on LinkedIn [here.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/salomon-serfati-8ba836112) #### Staying Organized DAFs provide a central place to manage all your charitable giving and more easily execute on any philanthropic strategy. This makes it incredibly easy to incorporate your giving into your annual tax filings and assess the impact of your aggregate giving over time. "With my donor advised fund, I've found a sweet spot in giving. It's like having a savvy sidekick for my charity work \- simple to manage, yet super effective. It cuts through the chaos, letting me focus on what really matters: making a real impact." #### Maintaining Flexibility DAF account holders have discretion on where and when they grant out the money from their account. In general, the only restriction is that grants must be made to 501\(c\)3 nonprofit organizations in good standing with the IRS. There is also no time restriction on when grants need to be made out of your account, so you can plan for your long term strategy. Much like a 401k or HSA, DAF balances can also be invested, so your account can grow and increase your future giving capacity. "DAFs are incredibly easy and flexible tool. You can really use them for anything." Hear lead philanthropic advisor, Dan Greenspon’s, best advice on DAFs [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-best-daf-advice-for-donors-and-nonprofits-from-a-leading-philanthropic-advisor). #### Reducing Administrative Burden For many people, DAFs serve as a much simpler alternative to a private foundation. Setting up and running a private foundation involves significant upfront cost and ongoing work to administer. This includes audits, annual filings, board meetings, etc. \- all of which are fully handled by the DAF provider you choose. The DAF provider also diligences the organizations you select for your grants to ensure they qualify for tax\-deductible gifts. #### Increasing Accessibility There’s been a proliferation of DAF providers \(over 1,100 now in the US\) which has resulted in much lower barriers for people to set up and use DAFs. Lower minimum account sizes, mobile first platforms and reduced fees means that truly anyone can use a DAF today to be more intentional, organized and tax\-smart with their giving. #### Growing Popularity If you’re interested in starting a DAF you’re in good company\! DAFs are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy, with $50 Billion granted to nonprofits from DAFs last year, a 40% annual increase. There are over 2 million people using DAFs, which currently hold over $229 billion in total assets. ### The top considerations when opening a DAF are: #### Reviewing the fees & terms of your DAF provider closely Every DAF provider has slightly different fees and terms. There’s a variety of contribution or grant minimums, administrative or investment fees, and permitted investment options. Review these in detail when selecting a DAF provider to make sure it is the right fit for you and your philanthropic goals. #### Understanding that funds in a DAF have to be used for tax\-deductible charitable donations Once you have contributed to a DAF, there is no way to take money out of the account for anything other than grants to 501\(c\)3 charities in good standing with the IRS. DAF holders are not permitted to receive any benefit from the grants made from their DAF, meaning they can’t be used for things like event tickets or auction items since that type of donation is not tax deductible. #### Picking the right DAF provider\- there’s a DAF for anyone DAF providers generally fall into 4 categories. 1. **DAF\-specific platforms** 2. 1. These providers were created primarily for DAFs and have invested in mobile\-first, user friendly platforms. [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/) and [Charityvest](https://www.charityvest.org/) are both partners of Chariot that we can recommend. 3. **Community Foundations** 4. 1. Hundreds of community foundations around the country manage DAFs. Many people like this option to keep their funds “local” and appreciate the engagement with their community. 5. **Financial Institutions** 6. 1. The largest DAFs are managed by major financial institutions like Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc. People choose these options to keep their DAF bundled with the rest of their personal finances. 7. **Cause\-Specific DAFs** 8. 1. There are also many organizations that manage DAFs either for one specific charity or as an umbrella over a general cause area. These options are good for people who want to concentrate their DAF giving or align their DAF accounts with a mission that’s important to them. The [Jewish Communal Fund](https://jcfny.org/) \(JCF\) is one of the largest in the country that Chariot also partners with. If you want to do a deeper exploration of potential DAFs on the market, we can also recommend the website [donoradvisedfunds.com](https://www.donoradvisedfunds.com/) for more research. #### DAFs are becoming more even more widely usable thanks to Chariot Historically, DAF gifts could only be made from your account at your DAF provider. That meant that you couldn’t use them on a nonprofit’s website, on a campaign page for a family member’s bike ride, etc. Once you submitted grants from your account, the nonprofit wouldn’t know until a check arrived in the mail weeks later and usually had a real processing nightmare each time. Chariot built the first DAF payment option that lets you use your DAF in 3 clicks within any donation form or fundraising platform. That means in all those instances you might have just given with a credit card because it was easier, you can use the money you’ve already set aside for giving \- and it’s even faster than a credit card\! You can try it out yourself here in [our interactive demo](https://app.givechariot.com/demo) or watch [this quick video demo](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video) to see Chariot in action. Be sure to encourage any nonprofits you support to also check out Chariot so they can maximize their DAF fundraising. They can [sign up for your own demo here](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-request-form). --- ## Breaking Down the Donor Advised Fund Market In 2022 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/breaking-down-the-donor-advised-fund-market-in-2022 - Published: 2023-11-15 > We’ve analyzed all the data from National Philanthropic Trust’s 2023 annual report on Donor Advised Funds - here’s what you need to knowThe greatly anticipated National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) annual report for 2023 was released on Tuesday November 14, shedding light on the state of the DAF market in calendar year 2022. Since 2007, NPT has been the leading source of data and insights on Donor Advised Funds. This year’s report includes data from all 1,151 active DAFs in the United States. We’ve ##### We’ve analyzed all the data from National Philanthropic Trust’s 2023 annual report on Donor Advised Funds \- here’s what you need to know The greatly anticipated [National Philanthropic Trust \(NPT\) annual report for 2023](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) was released on Tuesday November 14, shedding light on the state of the DAF market in calendar year 2022. Since 2007, NPT has been the leading source of data and insights on Donor Advised Funds. This year’s report includes data from all 1,151 active DAFs in the United States. We’ve reviewed and analyzed the report and here’s what we’ve found. ### Top Takeaways - DAF grants, contributions and number of accounts all hit new record highs - The year\-over\-year growth rates did decelerate across aggregate indicators after multiple years of 20\+ % growth. This appears to be a normalization after breakneck growth during the pandemic - Poor stock market performance in 2022 clearly contributed to the deceleration, but did not deter continued growth in grants & contributions - Despite market pressure, payout rates remained above 20% \- which is why even though Private foundations hold 5x as many assets, they only granted 2x as much as DAFs\! ### DAF Grants & Contributions DAF Grants, the amount of money that left DAF accounts and were donated to nonprofit organizations, reached a new record high of $52 billion in 2022, 9% higher than 2021. This figure has increased every year since 2009 and has more than doubled in the past 5 years. Contributions into DAF accounts also reached a record annual high of $86 billion in 2022, 9% higher than 2021. The fact that DAF grants and contributions are still growing more than any other type of giving in 2022 with serious downturns in major stock market indices, points to the resilience and stability of DAFs in supporting the nonprofit sector. This adds to [deeper research done by The University of Pennsylvania and The University of Memphis](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-donor-advised-funds-matter-more-than-ever-during-a-recession) which shows that even in more serious recessions, like in the Great Recession of 2008\-2009, DAF giving increased while all other forms of giving decreased in the same time period. ### DAF Assets The total amount of assets in DAFs at the end of 2022 was $229 billion, a very slight decrease from the record high in 2021 of $234 billion. Given most DAF balances are invested in the public markets, the value is highly correlated to market performance. The size of contributions clearly offset the decline in market value to maintain a very similar total asset value year over year. These figures can be volatile year to year because of this market exposure, so it’s important to also look at the longer term trends \- the total assets in DAFs have grown 85% over the past 5 years as more people appreciate their benefits and more providers offer accessible solutions. ### DAF Payout Rates The average DAF payout rate in 2022 was 22.5%, which is down from 28.7% in 2021. The DAF payout rate has been above 20% in every year since 2007 when NPT began tracking DAF data, but fluctuates year to year between 20 & 28.7% \(2021 was the highest rate on record\). It’s most interesting to compare DAF payout rates with private foundations which hold 5x as many assets as DAFs \($1.6 trillion vs. $229 billion in 2022\), but only pay out 2x as much as DAFs each year \($100 billion vs. $52 billion in 2022\). ### DAF Accounts There are now 1.95 million DAF accounts in the U.S. \- a 3% increase vs. the upwardly revised 2021 figure. There are an average of 1.6 people using each DAF account \(spouses or families often share a single account\), which means over 3 million people are using DAFs now\! The average DAF account size is now $117,466, down 4% from 2021. The declining average account size is consistent with the trend we’ve seen over many years of average account size declining as a broader cross section of the population takes advantage of the benefits of DAFs beyond just ultra high net worth individuals. ### Comparing DAF Providers There are now 1,151 DAF providers in the U.S. that fit into 3 main categories: **73 National Charities \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\)** - This group has the largest share of DAF balances \($163 billion\), accounts \(1.77 million\) and grants made \($35 billion\) and are mostly affiliated with a financial institution that offers DAFs as a part of their product suite. - These providers cater to a wider range of DAF holders and have played the biggest role in democratizing access to DAFs by making them more accessible \- both from a pricing and technology perspective. The average DAF account at these institutions is $86,194. **725 Community Foundations \(e.g. Silicon Valley Community Foundation\)** - This group accounts for $54 billion in DAF assets and $12 billion in grants. Grants were up considerably \(27% vs. 2021\), but contributions were down 19%, which contributed to the 10% decrease in assets vs. 2021. - Community foundations typically cater mostly to larger donors, with an average account size of $547,658, but this has also been moving steadily downward in recent years as DAFs have become more popular \(\-14% vs. 2021\). **353 Single\-Issue Charities \(e.g. Jewish Communal Fund \(JCF\) \)** - This group accounts for $22 billion in DAF assets and saw greatly increased activity in both grants and contributions: Grants were $6 billion, up 19%, and contributions were $10 billion \(\+33%\) - There are 77,780 accounts at Single\-Issue Charities with an average account size of $281,046 and the highest payout rate of the 3 categories at 26.1%. ### Conclusion What does all this data mean for donors, nonprofits and technology providers? Donor Advised Funds have always been an easy and effective tool for people to engage with their philanthropy in a more intentional and tax\-advantaged way. What is new is that there has been a proliferation of DAF providers that meet an incredibly wide range of needs and interest areas for all kinds of donors. That includes more DAFs specific to certain communities or cause areas, technology improvements that make DAFs more accessible and offerings that make it more affordable. Especially in comparison to the costs & burdens of setting up a private foundation, DAFs have become a [no\-brainer for the vast majority of philanthropists](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-best-daf-advice-for-donors-and-nonprofits-from-a-leading-philanthropic-advisor). This has resulted in more major donors doing more of their charitable giving through DAFs, while more “mid\-market” givers are also able to take advantage of DAFs. The continuation of these two trends has kept total DAF assets at near record highs while funds in and out of DAFs keep hitting new records every year. DAF giving has reached such a large scale, with such consistent growth year after year, that nonprofits and their technology providers simply can not afford to ignore this channel any more. It can’t wait. Historically fundraising platforms have not had any way to include DAF giving and nonprofits just passively received checks in the mail from DAFs ad hoc. This generates the following key problems: 1. Limited number of places a DAF donor can give 2. Sending DAF donors through a long process to make gifts in their DAF platform \- which does not obsessively optimize for maximum donation size 3. Zero transparency for a nonprofit on when DAF gifts are made, who made them and where they are in process. This is exactly why Chariot was built in the first place \- because nonprofits need a solution for DAF fundraising that’s in their hands and solely focused on their needs. By incorporating 3\-click DAF giving into any giving experience, nonprofits will convert larger DAF gifts, discover more DAF donors, better steward those donors and streamline internal processing to avoid risks of lost gifts. [Sign up for a demo](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-request-form) of Chariot today \- because it can’t wait. --- ## How does DAFpay compare to other DAF solutions for nonprofits? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/how-does-chariot-compare-to-other-daf-solutions-for-nonprofits - Published: 2023-11-08 > DAFpay by Chariot exists because nonprofits are in critical need of a modern, integrated solution to raise more money from Donor Advised Funds - which has never existed before. DAFs are huge and growing fast, but because they are difficult to use in standard fundraising flows, too much money stays in DAFs instead of in the hands of nonprofits.There’s $234 Billion sitting in DAFs today, growing >30% per year and the 2 million people using DAFs make significantly larger gifts (24x larger than aver DAFpay by Chariot exists because nonprofits are in critical need of a modern, integrated solution to raise more money from Donor Advised Funds \- which has never existed before. DAFs are huge and growing fast, but because they are difficult to use in standard fundraising flows, too much money stays in DAFs instead of in the hands of nonprofits. There’s $234 Billion sitting in DAFs today, growing \>30% per year and the 2 million people using DAFs make significantly larger gifts \(24x larger than average credit card gifs\) more often. Nonprofit teams spend countless hours managing mystery DAF checks in the mail, chasing donors to confirm gift details, and trying to find out which of their donors have DAFs. DAFs are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy, but historically there has been no solution to effectively solicit, maximize, manage & steward DAF donors and their gifts. That’s why DAFpay by Chariot is so badly needed. *\*Some nonprofits do list separate links to a few specific common DAFs, but this is incredibly rare and manual.* The most basic \(and important\!\) way to start getting more DAF gifts is to ask for them. That’s why any solution that puts DAF giving front of mind for a donor is a helpful step forward for any nonprofit. ## Design ##### 1. No Redirects When a donor is redirected to another 3rd party system, it has several negative consequences for an organization: - Any redirects reduce conversion - Your organization loses control over user experience, messaging, etc. - Your organization has no way to track & test performance - Your organization can’t optimize the process to increase gift size - When taken to their DAF portal, they’re reminded about other organizations they could support instead of just thinking about your organization ##### 2. Smart Forms to Boost Donations - DAF donors come in all shapes and sizes. Having one form with one suggested gift size severely limits potential. - Chariot displays a donor’s total DAF balance to remind them how much money they’ve set aside and then makes a suggested donation size based on that balance & our own algorithm powered by our proprietary DAF donation data. - After that, Chariot nudges donors to “boost” their gift size before submitting \- an option over 20% of donors utilize\! ##### 3. Donation Form Integrations - The best way to organically “find” new DAF donors is to give them an easy way to use their DAF when they would normally use a credit card for a smaller gift. The only way to interrupt their normal decision is to include a DAF option at the same location. - This is impossible to do without a tool that can be easily integrated directly into any donation form or fundraising platform like Chariot\! ## Donor Experience ##### 4. Number of Clicks - Each additional required action for a user results in a precipitous decrease in conversion. - Getting someone to decide to donate is hard enough, it’s critical to limit the number of hurdles in their way to finishing that action so you don’t lose them. It’s even more critical with DAFs when the average donation at stake is nearly 5 thousand dollars\! ##### 5. Time to Donate - Overall time spent is also a hurdle that hinders a donor from getting over the finish line with their gift. - With Chariot, DAF donors are so delighted by the unbelievably easy experience, that they are also in a better mood and more likely to give more because of it\! ##### 6. Number of Supported DAFs - There are 1,100 providers of Donor\-Advised funds \- a large and incredibly fragmented market. Chariot’s solution includes every known DAF in the country so you can cater to any potential DAF donor. ## Internal Operations ##### 7. Capture Donor Information - This is the most common pain point with DAFs for nonprofit fundraisers \- checks arrive in the mail without clear identifying details on the donor. Their first and last names are often not included. Sometimes mailing addresses are included, but emails almost never are. - Chariot captures name & email from donors, and communicates that \+ the gift size immediately when the grant is initiated \- not weeks later when the checks arrive. - This allows fundraisers to thank high\-value DAF donors right away. ##### 8. Tracking DAF Grants - When checks are sporadically arriving in the mail, it requires manual entry into some kind of tracker. - All your DAF gifts through Chariot are tracked in one system, making it easy to track and reconcile, saving your team hours of time. --- ## Engaging Networks Launches Chariot Integration, Adding Donor Advised Funds As A Payment Method - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/engaging-networks-launches-chariot-integration-adding-donor-advised-funds-as-a-payment-method - Published: 2023-11-02 > Any Nonprofit using Engaging Networks is now able to easily tap into billions of dollars donated through DAFsWASHINGTON D.C. - Engaging Networks, a globally-trusted online fundraising and campaigning platform, has launched a new partnership with Chariot to offer an integrated & streamlined Donor Advised Fund payment method for their clients.Donor Advised Funds are charitable giving accounts that allow donors to set aside funds for charitable purposes and receive immediate tax benefits. Over 2 Mi ##### Any Nonprofit using Engaging Networks is now able to easily tap into billions of dollars donated through DAFs WASHINGTON D.C. \- [Engaging Networks](https://www.engagingnetworks.net/), a globally\-trusted online fundraising and campaigning platform, has launched a new partnership with [Chariot](https://www.givechariot.com/) to offer an integrated & streamlined Donor Advised Fund payment method for their clients. Donor Advised Funds are charitable giving accounts that allow donors to set aside funds for charitable purposes and receive immediate tax benefits. Over 2 Million Americans now have access to Donor Advised Fund accounts with over $234 Billion available that has to go to a 501c3 nonprofit. The funds in these accounts grow tax free to fuel ongoing charitable giving, but donating money out of a DAF can be a lengthy and complicated process for donors. Fortunately, thanks to this innovative partnership between Engaging Networks and Chariot, Engaging Networks clients can now accept Donor Advised Fund gifts directly on their donation form in just 4 clicks\! Not only is the donor experience greatly improved leading to better conversion, but nonprofits also get instant data for immediate donor stewardship. Engaging Network clients can now identify Donor Advised Fund donors from their very first donation which is a meaningful value add considering the average Donor Advised Fund gift in 2022 was $4,798, making it 24x larger than the average credit card gift. With this enhancement, Engaging Networks is expanding its range of payment options, empowering organizations and their supporters with greater flexibility when it comes to supporting charitable initiatives. Currently available only to the US market, with plans of expansion. Engaging Networks customers can learn all about this new integration and how to get started in [this section of the Engaging Networks Knowledge Hub](https://knowledge.engagingnetworks.net/datareports/engaging-networks-donor-advised-fund-daf-integrati). **About Engaging Networks: **Engaging Networks is an innovative digital engagement technology platform with the ability to fully adapt to a nonprofit’s fundraising and advocacy needs. Engaging Networks proudly works with a variety of important organizations such as The Humane Society of the United States, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Human Rights Campaign, PETA and Amnesty International. To learn more, visit [engagingnetworks.net](https://www.engagingnetworks.net/). **About Chariot**: Chariot is the only company that lets donors checkout on a donation form with their DAF bank account while providing nonprofits immediate transaction data. Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy with $234 Billion, growing \+40% year\-over\-year. DAF dollars have to go to a 501c3, but historically all gifts have been processed offline \($46 Billion in 2021\). Chariot improves giving from every DAF\-based charitable giving account and is directly integrated with fundraising platforms serving over 20,000 nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits can set up Chariot on their website in minutes to immediately start accepting DAF gifts and improve their DAF donor stewardship. --- ## Top 10 Takeaways from the 2023 DAF Giving Summit - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2023-daf-giving-summit - Published: 2023-10-11 > Chariot joined key stakeholders across the Donor-Advised Fund industry - researchers, fund managers, nonprofit beneficiaries and technology providers - to chart a path for DAFs in the next year.This month, Salo Serfati, Chariot Co-Founder & CEO, and Elon Packin, Chariot’s Head of Partnerships, joined hundreds of other philanthropy leaders in Clearwater, Florida for 3 days of educational sessions, collaboration and planning around the Donor-Advised Fund industry. Here are their top 10 takeaways:T #### Chariot joined key stakeholders across the Donor\-Advised Fund industry \- researchers, fund managers, nonprofit beneficiaries and technology providers \- to chart a path for DAFs in the next year. This month, [Salo Serfati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/salomon-serfati-8ba836112/), Chariot Co\-Founder & CEO, and [Elon Packin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/epackin/), Chariot’s Head of Partnerships, joined hundreds of other philanthropy leaders in Clearwater, Florida for 3 days of educational sessions, collaboration and planning around the Donor\-Advised Fund industry. Here are their top 10 takeaways: ##### Takeaway [\#1](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/1) ##### Nonprofits need to continue leading the dialogue around the DAF industry It was clear to everyone at the summit that nonprofits were the heart of the event and represent the change agents that everyone involved with DAFs wants to better support. Nonprofit leaders played a pivotal role in most panels & discussions at the event and it’s critical that we continue centering their perspective and input as we all work to make DAFs an increasingly effective vehicle for philanthropy. At the end of the day, every DAF provider’s mission is to empower nonprofits, chiefly by facilitating deeper connection between DAF donors and the causes they care about most. ##### Takeaway [\#2](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/2) ##### The Great Wealth Transfer means DAF users will keep moving younger One of the most powerful sessions from the summit was [Wealth transfer and the next generation: Thoughts from leading programs](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daf-giving-summit_dafgivingsummit-philanthropy-wealthtransfer-ugcPost-7115370792766332929-rfuL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop). DAFs are working hard to prepare for a rapidly shifting demographic of users as unprecedented amounts of wealth pass from Baby Boomers to Gen X and millennial generations. These new DAF holders will be used to donating online and DAFs need to prepare to better support things like campaigns, social media fundraising, peer\-to\-peer events, etc. ##### Takeaway [\#3](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/3) ##### DAF donors are not all created equal, but there are 3 typical personas nonprofits should think about The session on DAF Data and Trends with [Dan Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAGaadQBMuTG3ge-j__MNWMC9JmhYypcuxo&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BC1QBw648QUqTN5OO72IIzA%3D%3D) and [Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-2a294b3?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAACsa9oBz3v6l_SS5ygkZY_qjYWsa32jNy4&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BqbHAco68QYWrIus6L038iw%3D%3D) from the DAF Research Collaborative showcased how the vast majority of DAF donors fit into one of 3 categories: Tub, Tank or Tower. “Tubs” tend to utilize a DAF account as an efficient and intentional way to manage their philanthropy. They habitually put assets into a DAF each year and tend to fully spend the balance every 1\-2 years. “Tanks” leverage DAFs for discrete, one\-time wealth events where they put a large sum into the account and plan to grant out funds annually over a 2\-10 year period. “Towers” think of their DAF accounts as long\-term vehicles for their family’s social impact, and structure their contributions, investments and grant strategy with a 10\+ year time horizon. ##### Takeaway [\#4](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/4) ##### Not all DAFs are created equal either There are important nuances between commercial DAFs, managed by financial institutions, and community DAFs managed by community foundations. Historically, when donors were deciding where to open their DAF account, the biggest trade offs were comparing the ease of use and technological advancement of commercial DAFs with the personal touch and local impact of a community DAF. It was clear at the summit that both categories of DAFs are learning from each other to better meet donor needs \- with new technologies improving the community DAF user experience and commercial DAFs focusing on how to more directly connect donors with their impact. ##### Takeaway [\#5](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/5) ##### In an alphabet soup of philanthropic vehicles, DAFs are the best option for someone’s giving strategy There are a lot of complicated giving vehicles out there like QCDs, CGAs, etc. The simplicity of DAFs makes them the ideal candidate to be the foundational instrument of anyone’s giving strategy. With their DAF as their base, a philanthropist can seamlessly manage all the elements of their philanthropy. Private foundations historically held this central role for philanthropists, but [more and more are transitioning to DAFs instead](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daf-giving-summit_dafgivingsummit-activity-7115362533628067840-hhjh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop). There’s a clear imperative for the industry to keep investing in the technology that makes all the experiences of using a DAF easier, from contributing to disbursing. ##### Takeaway [\#6](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/6) ##### DAFs reduce burden on nonprofits of accepting noncash assets Apart from DAFs simplifying the experience for a donor managing their philanthropy, they also make things much simpler for a nonprofit. It is usually costly and/or time consuming for a nonprofit to receive, process and document non\-cash donations in the form of real estate, art, stock, crypto, etc. When people donate those assets to their DAF, however, the fund can easily manage and liquidate those investments so that nonprofits only ever receive cash donations on the other side. The easier it becomes to move stock, art, crypto, etc to a DAF, the more people can increase their “giving power” and continue to move more money to philanthropy. ##### Takeaway [\#7](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/7) ##### DAFs have an obligation to help move more funds to nonprofits There was universal agreement at the summit that DAFs want to, and need to, hold themselves to high standards to address criticism that the vehicle can withhold funds from nonprofits. The clearest role they have is to design donor experiences that make them more active with their accounts. They also will be active participants, with nonprofits and other industry representatives, in any additional DAF legislation to make sure it’s achieving the ultimate shared goal of this industry: moving more money into high\-impact nonprofits. ##### Takeaway [\#8](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/8) ##### Workplace giving is an exciting new frontier to democratize DAFs [Morgan Stanley just announced](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231002794675/en/Morgan-Stanley-at-Work-Launche[%E2%80%A6]Further-Enhance-Comprehensive-Suite-of-Workplace-Offerings) that they’re leveraging new technology to power an employee DAF matching program across their company and partnering organizations. This type of technology for employer matching DAF contributions will not only let more people engage strategically with their philanthropy, it ultimately means more money flowing to charity more easily\! ##### Takeaway [\#9](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/9) ##### The DAF opportunity for nonprofits is in the Trillions, not Billions Most nonprofits still don’t appreciate how huge this market will be for them in the near future. There’s an expected $84 Trillion that will be transferred to younger generations as part of the Great Wealth Transfer. $72 Trillion is earmarked for inheritance and [$12 Trillion is pledged to charity](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7115463604534919168/) \- and a large portion of that charitable giving is likely to move through Donor\-Advised Funds. ##### Takeaway [\#10](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/10) ##### There’s tremendous energy around this rapidly growing & evolving part of philanthropy The DAF Giving summit was absolutely buzzing with excitement around impact, innovation and education. There are incredibly talented people leading the DAF charge on all fronts and everyone there could feel the sensation of being at the forefront of a wave that’s starting to really pick up speed. The summit also provided for some real quality time with nonprofit leaders, who are the reason everyone is working so hard to improve and expand the DAF market. Salo’s favorite moment was getting to jump into a Pickle Ball game with the Save the Children team and Elon’s biggest highlight was having lunch with the American Cancer Society’s SVP of Digital Products. --- ## Introducing Chariot Components - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/introducing-chariot-components - Published: 2023-10-04 > This week, Chariot unveiled its biggest product release yet, introducing a suite of technical components that nonprofits can easily deploy across fundraising channels to get more DAF donors and dollars.Chariot is much more than just a DAF payment option, but what are all the different ways a nonprofit can now leverage Chariot? We sat down with Drew Schneider, Chariot Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, to talk through the significance of Chariot Components and the most impactful upgrades to a no ##### This week, Chariot unveiled its biggest product release yet, introducing a suite of technical components that nonprofits can easily deploy across fundraising channels to get more DAF donors and dollars. Chariot is much more than just a DAF payment option, but what are all the different ways a nonprofit can now leverage Chariot? We sat down with [Drew Schneider](https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-schneider-130b77190/), Chariot Co\-Founder & Chief Product Officer, to talk through the significance of Chariot Components and the most impactful upgrades to a nonprofit’s and a donor’s experience with DAF giving. **Q: Can you remind us where Chariot’s product started and how the latest release of Chariot Components complements or adds to the original product?** **Drew**: At its core, Chariot is a payment option for a donor to be able to give from their Donor\-Advised Fund outside of their DAF\-platform. Practically speaking, that means using their DAF at checkout whenever they donate online \- not having to go back into their DAF portal, find the organization, etc. Our first step was to build that payment option that could integrate with any and all DAF providers to create a seamless DAF giving experience at the moment of inspiration. Chariot Components is all about the ways our payment option can be best deployed in every digital giving situation. **Q: What are the digital giving situations that you’re addressing with Chariot Components?** **Drew:**Let’s start by walking through the 3 elements of Chariot Components that any Chariot customer will see on their user dashboard. **1. Express Checkout** *Check out Chariot’s Express Checkout in action on *[*Ruth Bancroft Garden*](https://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/give/) Express Checkout is a small DAF Payment button that can be embedded into any part of your website with a few lines of HTML code. When a donor clicks on the Express Checkout button, it launches Chariot’s modal \(without any redirect to a new page or tab\) and the donor will have a seamless 3\-click DAF donation experience directly on your website. The Express Checkout button is most effective on a donation form next to other payment options \(PayPal, ApplePay, etc.\) to make it clear to donors that they can use their DAF just like they would a credit card. **2. Tile** The Chariot Tile is our newest product launch, replacing our original “i\-frame”, which nonprofits used as an independent DAF giving experience in places like their “Ways to Give” page. The Tile offers prepopulated context on DAF giving & how Chariot works within the widget that sits seamlessly in your website. You can also easily customize design elements of the Tile to adhere to your organization’s branding guidelines. Since DAF giving on a nonprofit’s website is a new experience to many donors today, the Tile’s standardized explanation of DAF giving through Chariot & optimized user interface results in: - Nonprofit staff spending less time hand\-holding DAF donors to ensure they use Chariot on the organization’s website - Donors spending less time to make their DAF gifts, resulting in higher conversion It’s also important to note that the Tile is typically deployed in conjunction with an Express Checkout button on the core donation form, putting easy DAF giving in front of any and all potential DAF donors. **3. Weblink & QR Code** Whether in a newsletter or at a live event, being able to link a donor to your dedicated Chariot DAF giving form is a huge asset in securing more DAF donations. For any Chariot customer, we can generate a Chariot\-hosted webpage exclusively for DAF donations to your organization than can be linked to with a unique URL \(best for email newsletters, social media, etc.\) or a unique QR code \(best for a table handout at a gala, or an insert in a direct mail appeal, etc.\). **Q: Why did you decide to focus on your most recent product enhancements first in what I’m sure is a very full backlog of potential new features?** **Drew**: Specifically with the Tile, which is the most substantial change as part of the components roll out, it was actually pretty obvious for us to prioritize. As customers began using Chariot, we saw that the organizations that placed our components in the right way, with the right explanation on their website, saw outsized success. We wanted to make sure the appropriate context, explanation and optimized UI was fully baked into the product so that all of our customers were automatically set up for success and didn’t need to put in any extra effort. Time and bandwidth is a scarce resource on most of the teams running nonprofit organizations\! **Q: As the product lead, how are you gathering the insights needed to make these prioritization calls?** **Drew:**I’m just constantly talking to users \- not only nonprofit staff that are implementing Chariot and tracking their DAF donations, but also dozens of DAF holders from across the country. On both sides, I get insights from people that have already used Chariot or have never heard of it. This combination allows us to fix more obvious blockers that users are facing today and see several steps ahead to what the most compelling opportunities will be in the future. **Q: What have been some of the most surprising things you’ve heard from DAF donors in those conversations?** **Drew**: I honestly love DAF donor conversations. It’s a group of donors that seems to be pretty shrouded in mystery to a lot of nonprofit fundraisers and the reality is they’re just highly intentional philanthropists that have the same goals as the nonprofits they’re donating too. They just want the process of getting their donation to the nonprofit to be as easy as possible \- and when it isn’t, they end up making a smaller donation with their credit card because of barriers to using their DAF \(big and small barriers \- they all matter when evaluating user experience and conversion\!\) Not only does this result in smaller donations, it also leaves the nonprofit in the dark about that donor having a DAF. Then they can’t properly steward them as the high potential donor they really are. Some interesting examples of this that I’ve seen in action: - Donors complaining about the extra communications requires to find or confirm checks going form their DAF to a nonprofit - Minimum donation size at a DAF \(Some as high as $500\) preventing more frequent usage - Folks typically start a DAF for the tax benefits, but as they start using them begin to appreciate more and more as a great avenue for intentional philanthropy **Q: What are some of your biggest priorities for future product roll outs?** **Drew:**This is what gets me excited to get out of bed every morning\! There’s so many great things coming down the pike for Chariot that move even further beyond DAF grant initiation which we specialize in today. We want to revolutionize the DAF giving process with an end\-to\-end solution that moves billions more to nonprofits from DAFs. We are working on ways to improve DAF fundraising processes at every level for nonprofits. That includes things like electronic grant disbursement \(no more checks please\!\), invoices for DAF planned gifts, recurring DAF gifts, succession planning for DAF accounts, automatically cleaning up incorrect addresses and contact information at DAF platforms, the list goes on. We also think there are a ton of opportunities to more deeply engage with DAF donors to improve their experience to ultimately disburse more funds, to more nonprofits, more often. We’ll have our hands full in the near term, but the team is incredibly excited and hopefully we’ll have another major product update to discuss on the blog here soon. --- ## Pop Quiz! Think You Know DAFs? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/think-you-know-dafs - Published: 2023-09-26 > Nonprofit fundraisers are hearing more and more about DAFs these days, but most people in the industry have a few questions about how they really work.Take this 15 question quiz to test your knowledge and learn some of the key facts and stats to help you get more comfortable discussing DAFs with your team, board and donors. And you’ll get to see how you stack up with your peers afterward! ##### Nonprofit fundraisers are hearing more and more about DAFs these days, but most people in the industry have a few questions about how they really work. **Take this 15 question quiz to test your knowledge and learn some of the key facts and stats to help you get more comfortable discussing DAFs with your team, board and donors. And you’ll get to see how you stack up with your peers afterward\!** --- ## The best DAF advice for donors and nonprofits from a leading Philanthropic Advisor - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-best-daf-advice-for-donors-and-nonprofits-from-a-leading-philanthropic-advisor - Published: 2023-09-11 > Dan Greenspon has been deeply embedded in the DAF market for 15+ years and walks through his best philanthropic advice he’s giving to donors & nonprofits todayIn this article you’ll learn: • What donors are hearing from their financial advisors about DAFs • Common misunderstandings about DAFs by donors and nonprofits • Where DAF donors face challenges and what nonprofits can do to address them When Dan Greenspon hit the desk for his first job at Vanguard Charitable in 2007, the acronym DAF was #### Dan Greenspon has been deeply embedded in the DAF market for 15\+ years and walks through his best philanthropic advice he’s giving to donors & nonprofits today In this article you’ll learn: - What donors are hearing from their financial advisors about DAFs - Common misunderstandings about DAFs by donors and nonprofits - Where DAF donors face challenges and what nonprofits can do to address them When [Dan Greenspon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-greenspon/) hit the desk for his first job at Vanguard Charitable in 2007, the acronym DAF was largely unknown outside of a small group of financial advisors to ultra high net worth individuals. But Dan saw right away that Donor\-Advised Funds weren’t just mitigating taxes for his super wealthy clients \- they were actually changing people’s giving behavior and moving significantly more money to nonprofits faster than the alternatives. “From the beginning, DAFs were a tool to democratize philanthropy,” recalls Dan. “After 15 years in the industry, it’s amazing to see technology and attitudes toward the instrument catching up to that original intention.” Dan, who now runs a Philanthropic Advisory firm named [PhilanthroTech](https://philanthro.tech/), has been a philanthropic financial consultant, nonprofit development director and technology leader. Throughout his career, DAFs remained the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy and Dan never lost sight of their potential. Now that DAFs seem to be a discussion topic in every nonprofit gathering or publication, Dan has accumulated a wealth of insight to advise all the key players in this market. He was kind enough to catch up with the Chariot team and share his top advice for Donors and Nonprofits. ## What donors are hearing from their financial advisors about DAFs #### Financial Advisors are encouraging the mass\-adoption of DAFs Dan always reiterates to clients, “DAFs are incredibly easy and flexible tool. You can really use them for anything.” There’s 3 things he focuses on most. **1. “Bunching” is the best way to navigate recent tax code changes** Recent tax code changes have doubled the standard deduction, resulting in the number of people itemizing deductions going from 40% of filers down to 5%. This has a huge impact on philanthropy because many people’s annual charitable giving no longer adds up to more than the standard deduction, meaning there’s no tax benefit incurred from their philanthropy. That’s why the practice of “bunching” charitable giving with a Donor\-Advised Fund is so powerful \- making a large one\-time contribution to your DAF that is worth itemizing, and granting out money in the following years. This is especially effective if there’s a year that someone has a larger taxable event \(e.g. an appreciated asset sale\). **2. Just get started** It’s easy to put off the initial set up and contribution, which is why Dan focuses on just how easy it is to set up and use a DAF to help clients get over that hurdle. He also finds that comparing a DAF to a charitable savings account tends to resonate with his clients and get them comfortable with the upfront commitment. \[New to Donor\-Advised Funds? Learn all the basics from this [DAF 101 overview](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafs-101-what-are-they-why-do-they-matter-who-uses-them)\] **3. Get more intentional with your philanthropy** Traditionally, when someone is making a donation, they are actually making 2 decisions at once \- how much of their money they want to contribute to philanthropy and what organizations to support. The first is much more of a financial planning and tax related decision, whereas the second is impact related. Too often people are making these as a combined, rushed decision at year end. Our tax code ends up driving these urgent decisions when we should be much more thoughtful about deploying philanthropic capital. That’s one of the best features of a DAF \- it decouples these to decisions so that people can be more intentional, thoughtful and engaged with their philanthropy throughout the year. This is also positive for the nonprofits they are supporting because it leads to larger gifts, stronger relationships and more consistent support over time. ## Weighing a Private Foundation vs. a Donor\-Advised Fund “Honestly today, you can do just about everything with a DAF that people have historically done with a private foundation. There are limited exceptions where that is not the case.” Setting up a private foundation requires a new, separate legal entity. It involves creating a 501\(c\)3 registered organization, maintaining its own board, producing a 990, getting audits done and it usually costs around $15,000 to set up. The rule of thumb used to be that if you were interested in contributing over $1 million, it made sense to explore a private foundation. Now, with all the advances in the DAF market, Dan wouldn’t recommend anyone thinking about a private foundation with less than $5 million. Aside from extra costs and admin, the other big difference is that private foundations can incur qualified expenses like salaries. They also have legally required board meetings which institutes a clear structure of engagement, which some families appreciate. Most of the time, those benefits are outweighed by the fact that DAFs typically have no costs, they’re more flexible, digitally native and easier to use. ## Common misunderstandings about DAFs by donors and nonprofits #### Top misunderstandings among potential DAF Donors “The truth is that DAFs still feel like a new tool to many donors. 1.3 million DAF accounts sounds like a big number, but I believe we’re still very much at the beginning of that adoption curve relative to where this market is going.” Dan walked us through some of the most common areas of donor concern and hesitation with DAF adoption: **1. “I don’t want someone else involved with my donation decisions”** Here’s where people most often don’t understand the function of a DAF host. The account holder retains full discretion on when they grant money out, how much to give and to whom. Most DAF sponsors are agnostic and will not deny a grant based on mission, purpose, etc. Their review is typically providing a helpful compliance function for donors, ensuring grants go to 501\(c\)3 charities in good standing with the IRS. The account holder also has complete control on how the money or assets in a DAF account are invested. There are only restrictions on where money goes out of the account \(only to 501\(c\)3 charities\) and what can be received in return for those transactions \(nothing\! DAF grants can’t be made in exchange for gala tickets, auction items, etc.\) **2. "DAFs don’t have anything to do with Planned Giving”** A common mistake made by donors \(and many nonprofit fundraisers working with them\!\), is to not include Donor\-Advised Funds in their planned giving discussions. Many donors neglect to include a bequest recommendation for their DAF should they pass away before the full balance is spent. Since most people are not setting up DAFs to exist in perpetuity, it’s a great opportunity for the donor to proactively name one or a few choice organizations to benefit in case anything should happen to them. **3. “Aren’t DAFs only for the ultra wealthy and older people?”** Historically, yes, DAF account holders tended to be in the ultra high net worth bracket and were older. But the explosion in mobile\-first DAF providers with much more accessible models and fully digital experiences has upended that stereotype.Most DAF providers have low to no minimums to get started and have invested heavily in the user experience of setting up and managing Donor\-Advised Funds online. ## Addressing Donor Advised Fund criticism “I do want to make sure tools like DAF are in fact a successful tool for philanthropy and are having a positive impact, so it’s important to have active discussion and debate. However, the vast majority of “naysayers” I’ve come across just aren’t familiar with the actual data related to DAF usage, which organizations like the National Philanthropic Trust have spent years researching.” **1. “DAF holders are withholding money from nonprofits”** 20% of DAF balances tend to be granted away every year and these dollars are moving faster in and out of DAFs to charities than ever before. Alternative vehicles can take decades or lifetimes to distribute their funds \(like Remainder Trusts\) or limit annual payouts to 5% per year \(like private foundations\). Because of how low cost and accessible DAFs are, they are also incredibly efficient and maximize how much grant dollars are ultimately paid out to nonprofits vs. admin or overhead expenses like a foundation. DAF support of nonprofits is also incredibly resilient. During the Great Recession of 2008\-2009, DAF giving actually increased when all other giving went down. It’s the kind of stable support nonprofits desperately need. \[[Read here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-donor-advised-funds-matter-more-than-ever-during-a-recession) about the research done on the resilience and dependability of DAF support for nonprofits\] **2. “DAF gifts are too anonymous, making them untrustworthy”** Only 4.3% of DAF grants are made anonymously \(according to [a study by the American Enterprise Institute](https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/anonymous-giving-through-donor-advised-funds/#:~:text=A%20review%20of%20grant%20data,4.3%20percent%20of%20all%20grants.) of grant data from the 5 largest DAF sponsors\). It’s actually quite rare that DAF grants are made intentionally anonymous, it’s more common that the complaint is tied to the limited information that comes with a DAF check in the mail \- **not the donor’s intention**. The good news is Chariot finally provides a solution to this challenge by collecting DAF grantor’s name and email right when grants are made so the nonprofit can seamlessly steward and track those critical donors. \[For more interesting data on DAFs, check out these [top 5 takeaways from Fidelity Charitable’s annual report](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-top-5-fundraiser-takeaways-from-fidelity-s-2023-daf-giving-report)\] ## Where DAF donors face challenges and what nonprofits can do to address them #### The biggest challenges still facing DAF donors “DAFs are far superior to other philanthropic options for most folks, but there still are common areas for improvement I’ll typically hear from clients." Those are typically process related and due to the lack of connectivity between DAF providers and individual nonprofits. Donors and nonprofits alike wish that grant transfers were more immediate \(checks or wires can often take days or weeks to arrive\) and that information about the donor was shared more seamlessly. More often than not, DAF grants are received without enough identifying information to be sure who the donor is and how to best thank them \- and they almost never arrive with an email address. This often results in back and forth between an organization and their biggest supporters trying to confirm or track down gifts \- which is not how any nonprofit wants to use up their precious interactions with major donors\! DAF donors also get frustrated that they can’t use their DAF as a payment option. Dan recalled, “So many DAF donors I know will receive a solicitation and go to make a donation, but have no way to use the DAF money they’ve already set aside for this exact purpose. They’d have to navigate back to their DAF portal and go through those steps, but instead they just use a credit card for a much smaller amount and the nonprofit doesn’t even know that the person has a DAF\!” ## Which nonprofits are benefiting most from DAFs “It’s a really exciting time for nonprofits. People across the sector are finally waking up to the enormous amount being granted from DAFs and there’s so much an organization can do to take advantage" Some of Dan’s top recommendations to nonprofits are: **1. Educate, educate, educate** Get yourself, your team and your leadership all better informed about DAFs and the DAF market, as DAFs now make up 15% of total philanthropy and are the fastest growing segment. **2. Better tracking DAF gifts** No matter what fundraising tools or CRM platform your organization leverages, make a concerted effort to track your donors with DAFs so you can recognize and thank each donor, not the DAF itself. **3. Include DAFs in more of your Comms** Get in the habit of including language & directions related to DAFs in all kinds of communications across your organization. It’s not something that’s limited to a planned giving department \- you could be interacting with a DAF holder in absolutely every fundraising stream so it should not be a siloed initiative. **4. Make it easy** It’s the little things that so often get in the way of easy DAF gifts \- make sure your EIN is prominent wherever a donor is checking out your organization because that’s , feature DAFs on your ways to give page, etc. **5. Leverage better tools** Dan, who also serves as an advisor to Chariot, also was quick to point out that “Chariot is one of the most significant advancements in the DAF donor experience that I’ve ever seen. While all the DAF providers have made improvements to their own platforms, Chariot is the first company to create a seamless, integrated DAF giving experience on the nonprofit’s own giving forms that also improves internal DAF processes inside the organization. It’s a massive step change for the industry.” Dan encourages everyone he speaks with to check out [Chariot’s demo video](https://app.givechariot.com/demo) to see for themselves how powerful this tech really is\! --- ## Build Deeper Donor Relationships with an Active DAF Strategy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/build-deeper-donor-relationships-with-an-active-daf-strategy - Published: 2023-08-31 > 9 takeaways for your DAF fundraising & marketing strategy from the 2023 Nonprofit Marketing SummitTrish Ellis, National Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, joined Chariot’s Mitch Stein at the annual Nonprofit Marketing Summit on August 23, 2023 for a conversation on nonprofit DAF strategy. There were over 25,000 registrants for this landmark annual virtual event for the nonprofit sector and interest in DAF fundraising remains high, with several sessions in #### 9 takeaways for your DAF fundraising & marketing strategy from the 2023 Nonprofit Marketing Summit [Trish Ellis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishellis/), National Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving for the [Susan G. Komen Foundation](https://www.komen.org/), joined Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) at the annual [Nonprofit Marketing Summit](https://www.nonprofitmarketingsummit.org/) on August 23, 2023 for a conversation on nonprofit DAF strategy. There were over 25,000 registrants for this landmark annual virtual event for the nonprofit sector and interest in DAF fundraising remains high, with several sessions included in the 3 day schedule incorporating the topic. There were so many great audience questions & discussions during Trish & Mitch’s session titled “Marketing Donor Advised Fund Giving to Increase Year End Fundraising,” they decided to coauthor the article below to share the key takeaways more broadly. Thank you to [Community Boost](https://www.communityboost.org/) for putting this incredible event together and for anyone interested in all the great content you can still sign up and access it [here](https://www.nonprofitmarketingsummit.org/). Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing vehicle in Philanthropy, with over $234 Billion ready to be donated to nonprofits. However, the vast majority of organizations are not making the most of this massive opportunity, and missing out on relationships with the most valuable donors out there. Historically, organizations have only played a passive role in DAF fundraising. Sometimes large checks showed up from DAFs in the mail with little to no contact information or identifying details \- and that was all there was to be done. But boy have times have changed \- a lot\! That’s why we wanted to take the opportunity at this conference to point out the many ways nonprofits can now get actively engaged in a DAF strategy and tap into this massive, but largely misunderstood fundraising opportunity. Here’s our 9 top takeaways from the discussion: **1. DAF familiarity is low & it’s time to get smart** We started our session off with a poll \- rank your comfort & familiarity with Donor Advised Funds from 1\-5. The vast majority of attendees put themselves at a 1\-2 \- totally or fairly unfamiliar with DAFs, even though they now make up 15% of total giving each year. The most important thing every fundraiser can do is learn more about Donor Advised Funds. That doesn’t stop with frontline fundraisers, it’s also important that broader teams, executives & boards understand the strategic importance and buy into the prioritization. **2. Discussing DAFs leads to deeper, more open conversations with donors and builds stronger relationships** When someone in the audience asked about if we should be discussing DAFs with donors, Trish shared “I actually just spoke with a donor this week and when I asked whether they utilized a DAF, it led to a much deeper discussion about their philanthropic planning and giving decisions. We had our most open & vulnerable conversation yet and it’s clear that my comfort with the topic allowed us to take that step and deepen our relationship.” As a fundraiser and an organization, being able to discuss DAFs is a real competitive advantage with your highest\-value donors. **3. Make sure the ease of giving with DAFs is all over your communications** The easiest step you can take to level up your DAF fundraising is to just make sure you’re asking for DAF gifts\! You get 2x as many DAF gifts when you ask for it and DAF gifts are 24x as large as credit card gifts \- including language in your communications about Donor Advised Funds is relatively low effort for huge potential payoff. **4. There is brand new tech solutions that greatly improve the DAF giving experience** Most people are not aware that DAF giving can be incorporated into donation forms and fundraising platforms, just like a credit card. That’s what Chariot built that is so innovative \- allowing for 3\-click & 15 second DAF donations right at the moment of inspiration in your fundraising process. You can check out a demo of Chariot [here](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video) and the list of all the fundraising platforms we are integrated with [here](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations). **5. DAF donors are your highest potential donors, so track & steward them accordingly** A donor having a DAF is your best indicator that they’ll be a high value donor. People with DAFs are savvy and intentional donors that make much larger gifts, support more charities per year with more gifts per charity and are twice as likely to give again next year. It’s critical to have a tracking system set up in your CRM to tag donors you know have a DAF, but the real difference will come in bringing it up in more conversations and letting DAF donors identify themselves by incorporating a DAF payment option in your donation forms \(try one yourself here\!\) Chariot’s solution also ensures when a DAF gift is made, you know immediately and have the person’s name and email to thank right away instead of waiting weeks for a check or wire to show up with just a mailing address. **6. The number of DAF donors already supporting your org is likely growing 30% per year\!** The most common question that came up in this session and with nonprofits in general is “How do I find more DAF donors?” Finding DAF donors is first and foremost about knowing the people already supporting your org better. The number of DAF accounts is growing 30% per year \- that means 300,000 new accounts in 2022. Every year there are donors supporting your organization that have a DAF and you’ll only find that out by following takeaways 3\-5 above\! **7. Don’t bring scarcity mindset into DAF strategy, please** Some people shy away from encouraging donors to start or use a DAF, because they are typically used to support multiple organizations and not fully dedicated to your org. The reality is that when people start DAFs, it massively increases the amount that they are giving to charity. Being part of that conversation means you’re more likely to get a larger slice of that greatly increased pie. **8. Q4 is critical \- over half of DAF contributions happen in Q4** Most folks are making decisions around their DAF contributions around year end because they are doing so in coordination with their annual tax planning. In fact, 55% of DAF contributions happen in Q4 \- so DAFs are top of mind for donors and a great opportunity to mention them in materials and conversations. **9. Know the limits** While Donor\-Advised Funds are a tremendous opportunity, they do come with important limits and restrictions that every fundraiser should be familiar with. Two of the most important things to keep in mind are: 1. DAFs can not be used for any purchases from a nonprofit organization. Gala tickets, auction items, etc. are off limits because DAF grants can not be deemed as creating any benefit for the donor. 2. Fundraisers should not be playing the role of financial advisor or legal counsel when it comes to philanthropic planning. It’s important to be familiar with key topics that donors are thinking through, but when it comes to giving financial or legal advice \- leave that to the licensed professionals and keep yourself out of trouble\! If you’d like to download our presentation from the conference, you can do so here and please reach out with any questions on DAFs or Chariot’s DAF payment option for fundraising: [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) Presentation.pdf Download PDF • 9.12MB **About Trish** [Trish Ellis, C.F.R.E](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishellis/) is a combat veteran and lifelong volunteer who has dedicated 20\+ years to serving the nonprofit sector. As the National Director, Major Gifts and Planned Giving at Susan G. Komen, she has created a mid\-level program, a national stewardship program, and grown both major and planned giving. She is passionate about leveraging technology to create efficient processes, high\-performing teams, and streamlined donor experiences. **About Mitch** [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) is a nonprofit technologist, entrepreneur and advisor to companies building innovation solutions to nonprofits’ greatest challenges. His first start up, Pond, was a marketplace connecting thousands of nonprofits with the best tools & services for their needs. He now works on all things growth & strategy for Chariot as they work to integrate easy DAF giving into every donation opportunity. --- ## The Top 5 Fundraiser Takeaways from Fidelity's 2023 DAF Giving Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-top-5-fundraiser-takeaways-from-fidelity-s-2023-daf-giving-report - Published: 2023-08-21 > We've analyzed Fidelity's annual DAF donor report and here’s what you need to know Read on to discover: • How DAF donors operate • The top DAF grant areas and trends • How to attract more DAF grants DAFs (Donor-Advised Funds) are not quite a secret, but have been underutilized historically and are now growing rapidly. Fidelity Charitable is the largest DAF operator in the world and their annual report is a treasure trove of data and insights on the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy (DAFs We've analyzed Fidelity's annual DAF donor report and here’s what you need to know Read on to discover: - How DAF donors operate - The top DAF grant areas and trends - How to attract more DAF grants DAFs \(Donor\-Advised Funds\) are not quite a secret, but have been underutilized historically and are now growing rapidly. Fidelity Charitable is the largest DAF operator in the world and [their annual report](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) is a treasure trove of data and insights on the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy \(DAFs\) and the behavior of the incredibly high\-value donors that utilize DAFs in their philanthropy. Here are the 5 top takeaways: **1. DAF Donors Are Active & Intentional** DAF donors are increasingly active and intentional with their gifts. In 2022, Fidelity facilitated $11.2 billion across 2.2 million DAF grants–a 60% increase over the last two years and a 400% increase over the past decade. These donors are now averaging 12 separate grants per year, and each grant is almost $5,000 in size, on average. Donors with DAFs give significantly more often and make much larger gifts than the general public which is why they need to be a strategic focus for all nonprofit fundraisers. The right tools for DAF fundraising are a critical part of that strategy and Chariot makes it easier than ever to bring in more DAF dollars and donors to your organization. *Source: National Philanthropic Trust* **2. DAF donors support every type of cause, but have clear favorites** DAF fundraising is relevant for any and all 501\(c\)3 nonprofits as DAF donors spread their support across every type of cause. That being said, there are clear issue areas that DAF donors are most likely to support with grants from their Donor\-Advised Funds: Religion, Human Services & Education make up nearly 60% of DAF giving. Organizations in these segments have even more reason to be optimizing their DAF giving experience given how primed donors already are to support their causes from their DAFs. *Source: Fidelity Charitable* **3. DAF Donors are supporting many new organizations every year** *Source: Fidelity Charitable* If you don’t feel like you’re getting enough DAF support today, it’s never too late. DAF donors are contributing nearly ¼ of their giving to brand new organizations each year. That means that not only are they active & engaged in supporting nonprofits they know already, they are also on the lookout for promising new organizations to contribute to. In order to attract & convert these high value donors, it’s best to make it extremely obvious that you can easily accept DAF donations on your website. Implementing Chariot’s DAF payment option in your donation form puts DAF giving front of mind for any donor & enables 3\-click DAF gifts in 15 seconds. That’s even easier than a credit card \- and DAF gifts are 24x as large as an online credit card gift\! For more resources: [Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips](https://www.givechariot.com/post/find-an-engage-daf-donors-with-these-practical-tips) **4. DAF Donors are a reliable & consistent source of ongoing support** Once you’ve attracted a DAF donor, chances are they’ll stick with you. Over 75% of DAF giving is to organizations that the donor has previously supported. 31% of DAF giving is actually scheduled as a recurring grant, which provides a predictable and stable source of support for the beneficiary organizations. Because of the tax benefits of contributing to a donor\-advised fund, many DAF holders are contributing large amounts up front and granting funds out over time, which adds to their reliability year in and year out. 46% of DAF giving isn’t pre\-scheduled, but is a “re\-grant” to an organization they’ve previously supported. One of the key features of any DAF giving platform is that they make it easy to see and select the organizations you’ve supported before. That creates a much easier user experience than looking up new organizations and clearly contributes to the large percentage of giving in the form of re\-grants. That’s also why Chariot also ensures that once a donor gives seamlessly with their DAF directly on your website, your organization will still be listed in their own DAF portal to greatly increase the chances of regranting. The volume of grants that are either scheduled to be recurring or a re\-grant to an organization they’ve previously supported demonstrates how DAF donors tend to be loyal supporters that want to make long term investments in nonprofits they care about. That’s why a significant base of DAF donors should be a top goal of every fundraiser. **5. Seize the moment** Still in need of more ideas on how to attract DAF donors? Fidelity discloses the top recipients of their grants by volume every year and the top grantees definitely reflect trends and current events. Last year’s stats reflect the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Many humanitarian organizations–like UNICEF, Save the Children Foundation, and International Rescue Committee–dominate the top 10 list. These kinds of current events or crises that drive more attention to your cause or organization are unpredictable and it is critical to make DAF giving as easy as possible at the point of inspiration \(on your website, in your giving form, etc.\) to maximize conversion & gift size. Community Rowing Inc. is a great example of how leveraging Chariot at the point of inspiration \(within a Giving Day campaign\) allowed them to increase DAF gifts by 20%. Optimizing DAF giving is a critical part of a modern fundraising strategy and Chariot is the only solution on the market that makes DAF giving seamless for donors and your team. \[You can learn all about the keys to CRI’s success in [this case study](https://www.givechariot.com/post/dafs-giving-days-how-cri-incorporated-dafs-into-their-largest-giving-day-ever-1)\] **Summary: Putting these takeaways into action** Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have become way more popular in recent years. For donors, using a DAF: - Makes the giving process easier & more intentional - Generates immediate and more layers of tax benefits - Streamlines the recurring gift process DAF giving is rapidly evolving and expanding, and fundraisers should make sure their nonprofit is not missing out on this massive opportunity. Take advantage of these trends by: - Adding DAF options to your organization’s donation forms \(check out this [live demo of Chariot in action](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24I-Kw6xF1Y&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.givechariot.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.givechariot.com&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt) or try using Chariot yourself in [this interactive demo](https://app.givechariot.com/demo)\) - Making sure any materials reaching donors highlight DAF giving as an optimal way to support - Educating executive teams & fundraising staff on donor\-advised funds - Bringing DAF giving into donor conversations. Chariot regularly shares educational materials on all things donor advised funds, so be sure to [follow Chariot on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot) and sign up for our newsletter to get DAF resources directly in your inbox every two weeks. And if you want to go deeper on any of the data referenced in this article, check out the sources below: - [https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf\-report/](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) - [https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc\-public/docs/insights/2023\-giving\-report.pdf](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) - [https://blog.candid.org/post/the\-abcs\-of\-dafs\-what\-is\-a\-donor\-advised\-fund/](https://blog.candid.org/post/the-abcs-of-dafs-what-is-a-donor-advised-fund/) - [https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/blog/engage\-with\-donors\-who\-give\-through\-dafs](https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/blog/engage-with-donors-who-give-through-dafs) --- ## DAFs Q&A with Scott Harrison - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-q-a-with-scott-harrison - Published: 2023-06-16 > Scott Harrison, Charity: Water founder and Chariot advisor, joins Chariot’s CEO & Co-Founder Salo Serfati to discuss the importance of DAFs [Scott Harrison](https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottharrison1/) \- [charity: water](https://www.charitywater.org/) founder and Chariot advisor \- recently joined Chariot’s CEO & Co\-Founder [Salo Serfati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/salomon-serfati-8ba836112/) to discuss the importance of DAFs to nonprofit fundraising and his belief in Chariot’s ability to accelerate DAF giving. **Key highlights include: ** **1. The importance of DAFs to charity: water’s overall fundraising strategy \- especially during times of economic uncertainty:** “Our gift officers are definitely having intentional conversations with donors around DAFs” **2. Scott’s top advice to fundraisers is to get familiar with DAFs and start talking to donors about them:** “There’s data that shows organizations who are having these conversations are going to receive more than 2x more DAF dollars than the ones who don’t.” **3. Scott’s personal alignment with Chariot’s mission:** “It’s a staggering amount of wealth that is sitting latent that is not saving lives that is not ending the urgent needs of people suffering around the world.” The full transcript of the Q&A is below: **Salo**: For anyone that is unaware, what is the story with charity: water? How did you get started and what does the future hold? **Scott**: I started charity: water 17 years ago with a very simple vision \- bring clean and safe drinking water to every human being alive on the planet. Unfortunately, still today, there are 771 million people who will drink dirty unsafe contaminated water. That’s about 1/10 people on the planet and we believe that number should be zero \- that everyone should have access to life’s most basic need. In the past 17 years we’ve raised over $750 million thanks to the generosity of millions of people around the world. We are funded primarily by those individuals. We receive no government grants and have very little foundation funding. We’ve been able to help 16.8 million people get access to clean water \- that’s only 1/47th of the people in need so we’re focused on scaling the movement of charity: water and growing the organization from about $100 million per year to have a much greater impact. **Salo**: charity: water has always been a pioneer in creativity of what it takes to fundraise and solve a global problem like access to clean water. Now that you’ve raised $750 million, how are you thinking about the next steps in your fundraising and taking it to the next level? **Scott**: We’ve really taken a little bit of a barbell approach that’s organically developed. We have almost 65,000 donors across 149 countries that are a part of our monthly giving community called The Spring \- people give about $30 per month on average \(it costs about $40 a month to give someone access to clean drinking water\). That is a big part of our growth and annual donations now. At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve seen a substantial increase in million dollar plus commitments, even eight figure gifts, as high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals want to engage in this problem, they want to engage with a highly effective and transparent organization. Now with ¾ of a billion dollars of experience and projects that are 15 years old that we can prove are sustainable and working, that’s really opened up that category for us. We’re doing both of these things \- we want to grow the 5s, 10s and 20s and we want to grow these million dollar gifts. **Salo**: So how do Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\) play into that strategy for you? I am a part of the Spring, I donate every month to charity: water, and I have a DAF. So what I have to do is go to my donor advised fund portal and submit a $40 donation every month. But on the other end of the spectrum, people with donor advised funds already have a lot of money set aside for charity so they can solve that other side of the fundraising effort that you’re mentioning. **Scott**: DAFs are a growing part of our fundraising strategy. Especially during a down or uncertain economy, especially during a down or uncertain economy. This money has already been allocated for philanthropy and the donor has already received their tax benefits so the money given from a DAF isn’t competing with a donor’s monthly budget for costs or rent or food. So our gift officers are definitely having intentional conversations with donors around DAFs and maybe with some more tumultuous times ahead they’ll play a larger part in our donor comms. Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen the number of donors giving through DAFs drastically increase. It’s primarily from donors who give gifts over $5k. I’d say about ⅓ of those 5k\+ gifts come from DAFs now which is a substantial increase from 10 years ago. **Salo**: There’s this really interesting trend happening in the DAF industry where 10 years ago they were primarily used by ultra high net worth individuals as an alternative to foundations. Now they have become super democratized. Anyone can open a DAF account today. So you’re seeing a lot more of those $5k donations today. The average is $4,798, but the median is $500 so you see people using these accounts to make gifts of all sizes. And as you know, once you recognize who that donor is and engage with them more meaningfully that could lead to that $1 million donation you were mentioning. **Salo**: At chariot our goal is to make it as easy as possible to pay with a donor advised fund instead of a credit card. Essentially what we are is a new payment option on nonprofit websites that allows donors to check out or complete their transaction with their Donor Advised Fund. A neat side effect is the charity gets all the donation data upfront \- they know I made a $40 donation to charity: water so you can thank that donor right away. So there’s a closed feedback loop. We’re really privilege Scott to have you as an advisor of Chariot, so I’d love to better understand what got you excited about Chariot and how you saw it solving some of the pain points across the donor advised fund industry. **Scott**: The mission of making it easier for people to use their donor advised funds online. It’s often been pretty clunky. It’s not as simple as going on a website and using apple pay where you can check out on charity: water with your credit card in 10 seconds or less. Sometimes you’ve got to call or you’ve got to write or you’ve got to submit a request. I love eliminating the friction. I think it will allow more money to flow from DAFs to charities. The biggest challenge for us when it comes to DAF fundraising is that many of these gifts come with such limited information or even no information at all. So we often have trouble identifying which donor recommended the DAF gift and because charity: water prides ourselves on our reporting process, on showing donors exactly where their money is going, when we don’t receive that information it pains us because we’re not able to deliver on that high quality transparent, exceptional reporting experience. I know that’s one of the things that Chariot is working on as well which we’re really excited about. **Salo**: I used to be part of The Spring with my credit card and I would get a monthly email explaining to me all the help I was providing around the world in getting people access to clean water. Once I switched over that transaction away from my credit card to my DAF, I no longer get those monthly emails because they don’t know I’m part of the spring because there’s no longer that inter\-connectivity. Chariot is working with charity: water to make donor advised funds a native payment option so that anyone with a DAF can now be a part of that process just like everyone else which is great. **Salo**: Looking toward the future, what do you see in a world where donor advised can more easily be paid with online? What does that world look like to you? **Scott**: I think it would be great if it was as seamless as how we’re used to using our credits now. They’re saved in our phones, they’re saved in our chrome browser, saved in apple pay or google wallet. Venmo is pretty easy \- someone just sent a request and I tapped a button this morning and the person got paid pretty easily. So I’d love to see a much more seamless integration with donor advised funds and I know that’s what Chariot has really focused on. I’d like to see more money moving from Donor Advised Funds into the great causes in the world. It’s a staggering amount of wealth that is sitting latent that is not saving lives that is not ending the urgent needs of people suffering around the world. People dying of bad water, people who need access to healthcare, who are hungry, even in local communities certainly in the global community. In that Chariot is able to encourage more generosity and more seamless flowing of the money that’s a great benefit to the world. **Salo**: Today, in 2023, there's $234 billion sitting in donor advised funds, that's up from over $160 billion just last year so that’s growing at over 30% year over year. We speak to DAF donors all the time. They want to make this money move. They just need to connect with the organizations that they believe make a great impact toward the world. There’s just that disconnect between that DAF donor and the nonprofit. That’s Chariot’s mission, to connect the nonprofit with the donor together, so they can find organizations that they’re passionate about and actually get that money that they have set aside for charity and actually get it to the causes that are making an impact in the world. DAF donors are eager to make that change, we just have to improve those connections. **Salo**: Scott do you have any advice that you would give to other nonprofit organizations with regard to DAF fundraising? **Scott**: Donors are finding great utility in DAFs so it’s something that you need to get familiar with and the first step is just talking about DAFs with your donors. There’s data that shows organizations who are having these conversations are going to receive more than 2x more DAF dollars than the ones who don’t. It’s important to have your gift officers talking to people, talking about their philanthropy, asking them how they prefer to give, what are the charitable vehicles that they like to utilize. If they’re using DAFs, ask what they love about their DAFs. How we can better identify those DAF gifts so we can thank them and steward their experiences. I think it's just a conversation that a lot of people are not having. At charity: water we believe when you show people where their money went you have a much greater opportunity of stewarding that relationship and growing the engagement of that donor. **Salo**: And there’s no better way to ask your donor about their DAF than just having it as a native payment option. You can direct them to your donate page, they’ll see credit card, PayPal and now DAF and that’s the easiest way to know whether they have a DAF and then to engage further with that donor. **Salo**: And Scott, I read your book [Thirst](https://www.charitywater.org/thirst) \- for everyone watching this video I highly recommend it. It tells the story of how charity: water scaled from 0 to the large global movement it is today. You also talked about naming the organization so that one day your model could be expanded to other areas of need. How has that broader vision evolved? **Scott**: To be honest, I was 30 and ambitious when I started. I didn’t really know anything about charity or institutional philanthropy. I thought I could copy Richard Branson at Virgin to launch a series of initiatives to solve every global problem. I don’t think I realized how difficult it would be to get people to care about the suffering of people living in very different parts of the world. Only about 4% of American philanthropy goes overseas and 96% stays here. I don’t think I understood how challenging it would really be. But the deeper we got into the water issue and the more proficiency we developed as we scaled our work across 29 nations. I think we realized that water impacted so many of these other things we wanted to take on next. Half of the sickness in so many of these countries is caused by unsafe water and a lack of sanitation. More than one in three schools around the world don’t have clean water so it seriously impacts education, women & girls, local economic development \- so many of these basic needs can’t be met without clean water. We recognized the importance of focusing on this most basic need in life and we’ve stayed focused. **Salo**: I remember in the early days, you started the organization in New York City, and a way that you fundraised in the early days was setting up dirty water and clean water at fundraising events. **Scott**: And we’re getting back to our roots\! We’re working to set up a retail presence where we show people dirty water and clean water and have a similar effect, but hopefully more interesting now. **Salo**: Thank you so much for your time Scott. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you wanted to share? **Scott**: I’ll just add one more thing, one of the key benefits of knowing that people are giving through DAF or having that be their first interaction with us through Chariot is that we can identify them as a potential major donor and hopefully grow their giving. Thanks for having me Salo \- I’m really excited to be working with Chariot. --- ## Marketing Chariot To Your Donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/marketing-chariot-to-your-donors - Published: 2023-06-08 > Chariot overviewFree outreach email templateIndustry statisticsBranding Assets & GuidelinesRelated Posts: • DAF Fundraising Strategies That Your Nonprofit Needs To Know • Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips • The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised FundsChariot Overview 🐎Short Bio - Chariot allows donors to donate with their Donor Advised Fund in just three clicks, without every leaving a nonprofit's website.Social Media - LinkedInFree DAF donor outreach email template 📨 Subjec [Chariot overview](#viewer-1pvf2) [Free outreach email template](#viewer-4r5qh) [Industry statistics](#viewer-8dfau) [Branding Assets & Guidelines](#viewer-bangc) Related Posts: - [DAF Fundraising Strategies That Your Nonprofit Needs To Know](https://www.givechariot.com/post/5-daf-fundraising-strategies-your-nonprofit-needs-to-know) - [Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips](https://www.givechariot.com/post/find-an-engage-daf-donors-with-these-practical-tips) - [The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised Funds](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf) ## Chariot Overview 🐎 **Short Bio \-**Chariot allows donors to donate with their Donor Advised Fund in just three clicks, without every leaving a nonprofit's website. **Social Media \- **[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot) ## Free DAF donor outreach email template 📨 **Subject line: **Donate with your Donor Advised Fund in just three clicks\! Dear **\[DONOR NAME\]**, You are an essential part of our community here at ***\[NONPROFIT NAME\]***, and I’m writing to let you know about a new opportunity for our supporters to contribute to our mission more easily through [donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\)](https://www.nptrust.org/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund/). Without supporters like you, we could never**\[NONPROFIT MISSION\]**. In the past, you’ve shown interest in **\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM\]**, and your gifts have helped us **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, and **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**. Right now, we are raising funds for**\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM DETAILS & EXPECTED IMPACT\]**, and we are so excited to share that **donating through your DAF is now just as easy as paying with a credit card or Venmo** *Have an existing donor\-advised fund?*Please consider making a contribution from your DAF directly on our website **\[LINK TO DONATION PAGE\].** *Interested in learning more about DAFs?*Check out [Chariot's Guide to DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf) to see what it’s all about and how it can benefit you and support our organization. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. Thank you for your ongoing support. Sincerely,‍ **\[NAME\], \[TITLE\]\[EMAIL\]\[PHONE\]** ## Industry Statistics 📈 Check out the [2022 DAF Giving Report](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_bieBhDSARIsADU4zLeIhPsysklqoa5alOUR8nTrjaz0YHqq1nsXO0rEeB39PdAkHFfYaTUaArOlEALw_wcB) by the National Philanthropic Trust - $234B in DAF assets, growing at 40% YoY - 1.3 million DAF accounts, growing at 37% YoY - The average DAF donation is over $4K ## Branding Assets & Guidelines 💫 **Logos \-**Use the Chariot logo for marketing releases, targeted donor outreach, social media promotion, partners pages, and other instances in which you are referring to DAF donations. Chariot Logos.zip Download ZIP • 248KB **Marketing Materials \- **Use these marketing assets to promote DAF donations and your organization's use of Chariot. Attach to your emails, newsletters, or add to your social media posts. Social Media Graphics.zip Download ZIP • 7.24MB ## Adding Chariot to your website If your organization is using a Chariot Link or iframe, check out these examples below highlighting the optimal placement of your DAF donation experience. **Add a hyper\-linked button directly on your donation form** --- ## DAFs 101: What Are They, Why Do They Matter & Who Uses Them? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-101-what-are-they-why-do-they-matter-who-uses-them - Published: 2023-06-08 > Get to know the basics of donor advised funds with our DAFs 101. This is a sneak peek of our Maximizing Donor-Advised Fund Giving Toolkit. ### What Is a DAF? A donor advised fund \(DAF\) is a specialized financial account used for charitable giving. It allows individuals to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction and then make grants to 501\(c\)\(3\) organizations over time. The money in a DAF can also grow tax free and be donated at any time in the future \- there are no time limits or distribution requirements for DAFs today. Anyone can set up a DAF \- either through companies that provide banking services \(Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc.\), newer startups dedicated to DAFs \(Daffy, Charityvest, Groundswell, etc.\) or often through local community foundations. There is currently $234 Billion sitting in DAF accounts ready to be donated \- because they have to be. ### Why Do DAFs Matter? **DAFs are massive, especially compared with other alternative forms of giving.** - Annual DAF giving is now nearly [**$46 Billion.**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) - DAF giving is now [**7x larger**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) than the Stock giving market. - DAF giving is now [**652x larger**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) than the Crypto giving market. **DAFs are the fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy.** - DAF giving is growing [**28%**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) in both 2020 and 2021. - The number of DAF accounts has nearly [**tripled**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) over the last four years. **DAF gifts are MUCH larger than other forms of giving.** - The average donation from a DAF is nearly [**$5k**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf)**.** **DAFs are a reliable source of funding during economic uncertainty.** - The money in DAF accounts has already been set aside for charity and can’t be withdrawn for other purposes, so people’s propensity to donate from a DAF is **not as affected by financial pressure.** ### Who Uses DAFs? **Not just the ultra\-wealthy.** - While the average DAF balance is [**$183K**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf)[,](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf)[**56%**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) of accounts are more [**less than $25K**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf)**. ***\(*[*read more common DAF myths busted here*](https://www.givechariot.com/post/demystifying-dafs-busting-5-common-myths-and-misconceptions)*.**\)* **Not only much older people.** - The average age when someone opens a DAF is[**55**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf), but the fastest\-growing group is [**younger than 40**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2016-giving-report.pdf)**. ***\(*[*read more common DAF myths busted here*](https://www.givechariot.com/post/demystifying-dafs-busting-5-common-myths-and-misconceptions)*.**\)* **More active and engaged donors.** - People with DAFs are [**63%**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) more likely to donate. - People with DAFs contribute [**more than 11**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) grants per year, on average. - People with DAFs have [**24x larger**](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021) average donation size. **Expecting easy, digital process.** - **40%**of DAF donors at leading digital fundraising charity first donated with a credit card on their website.*\(According to private data shared from a global leader in online fundraising with Chariot.\)* - It's nearly universal that DAF donors also donate with credit card.*\(According to internal analysis of DAF holder feedback.\)* - [**96%**](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf) of DAF holders initiate their grants digitally. ### What's The Issue With DAFs? **Without Chariot, DAF giving is far below its potential, high\-value donors can have a poor experience & staff can be overburdened.** **Without Chariot, DAF giving is disconnected from broader fundraising efforts.** - DAF giving can’t happen at the point of inspiration \- a link from a friend, an instagram ad or an event. **Without Chariot, DAF gifts, which are **[**24x as large**](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)**, are less likely from new donors.** - The most common reason to donate to a new org for a donation is because someone you know asks you. - However, there’s no way for a new donor to deploy DAF dollars through peer\-to\-peer platforms, in donation forms or at events where friends ask. **Without Chariot, it’s difficult to know who has a DAF & steward them accordingly.** - New DAF donors typically give with a credit card first \- leaving organizations in the dark as to who in their donor file has a DAF. - DAF gifts often arrive without clear identifying details and never with email contact information. - Even if a mailing address is included, thank you's are weeks delayed. - No one wants their highest potential donors to have a poor donor experience. **Without Chariot, DAF giving is a cumbersome process, which limits conversion.** - The typical DAF giving process without Chariot takes 15 steps, over 3 minutes and multiple redirects to complete.*\(According to internal analysis of existing DAF donation processes.\)* **Without Chariot, managing DAF gifts requires considerable staff effort.** - It can take weeks for checks to arrive at organizations, often without identifying details that create significant gift processing burden. - Fundraisers often have to follow up with major donors to make sure DAF grants are completed. **Without Chariot, efforts to engage donors will be structurally hampered.** - The most effective way to increase DAF donations is to educate donors about DAFs and how to use them. - But it's significantly less effective when explaining the DAF process is complex and so much time & effort is required to actually complete DAF gifts. **Without Chariot, an organization could be left behind.** - People follow the paths of least resistance and DAF donors will make more DAF donations where it’s easiest. ### How Do You Find DAF Donors? **Finding DAF donors is really all about making it easier for DAF donors to find you.** **1. Make it easier for donors to give with their DAF.** - Otherwise they'll most likely give a much smaller gift with their credit card, or worse, not give. **2. Increase awareness that you're able to accept DAF gifts.** - Market your capabilities to your donors and make the information prominent on your website & in communications. **3. Ask your donors about their DAFs.** - Don't be afraid to ask your donors in a survey or directly in 1x1 conversations if they have a DAF set up. **4. Include DAF giving options wherever you acquire new donors.** - In your donation forms, in your peer\-to\-peer fundraising pages and at live events \- DAF giving needs to be everywhere. **5. Most importantly... get started with **[**Chariot**](https://www.givechariot.com/getting-started-request)**.** Want the full toolkit on Maximizing Donor\-Advised Fund Giving? We created a step\-by\-step guide for you to make the most of Chariot for your DAF Fundraising. This toolkit is inclusive of: **Getting Started with Chariot** - We dive into setting up Chariot for maximum impact including best placement of the Chariot button on your website and other key tips. **Aligning Your Team** - We help you ensure every part of your organization is on board with your DAF strategy from example meeting agendas with your staff and executives to exercises for your board. **Spreading the Word** - We prepare you to effectively communicate your new digital DAF donation capabilities externally with talking points for 1x1 conversations, email templates, and social media post template downloads. **Letting Chariot Help** - We can support your team whether you need design help on your website, trouble shooting, or marketing assistance. **Rev Up Your DAF Engine** - We have some creative ways to accelerate your DAF giving that we can't wait to share with you. **Keep Moving Forward** - We make sure you are set on a clear path forward with a checklist, calendar, goal sheet, and key takeaways. ## Submit this form to receive the full toolkit: --- ## Demystifying DAFs: Busting 5 Common Myths and Misconceptions - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/demystifying-dafs-busting-5-common-myths-and-misconceptions - Published: 2023-06-06 > You might think you know Donor-advised Funds, but let’s make sure we’ve got the facts straight. You might think you know DAFs, but let’s make sure we’ve got the facts straight. Donor\-advised funds have gained significant popularity in philanthropy, offering a flexible and strategic approach to charitable giving. However, misconceptions and myths surrounding DAFs persist, preventing potential donors and nonprofit fundraisers from fully understanding their benefits and potential impact. Read along as we break down five common myths about DAFs, shedding light on the truth. **Myth 1: DAFs are only for the ultra wealthy.** Contrary to popular belief, DAFs are not exclusive to the super wealthy. In fact, [the average size of a donor\-advised fund account in 2021 was $182,842 with the median size being $19,442](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf). These numbers have been decreasing in recent years and the significantly lower median indicates that half of DAF accounts out there are actually smaller than $20k and the overall average is skewed by some extremely large outliers. **Myth 2: DAF Donors don’t donate digitally** In the digital age, online transactions have become increasingly prevalent, and philanthropy is no exception. At one leading multi\-national nonprofit, they found that**40% of their DAF donors first gave to the organization with a credit card before making a gift from their DAF.**That’s supported by Chariot’s own internal research canvassing 100\+ DAF donors who all confirmed that they have donated with a credit card online before because it was easier than going through their DAF. These donors are likely to be digitally savvy and expect seamless digital experiences \- in fact, [96% of DAF holders continue to initiate their grants digitally](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf). **Myth 3: DAF Donors are all very, very old** While the perception persists that DAF donors are primarily older individuals, statistics tell a different story. Donors under the age of 40 represent the fastest\-growing age group for DAFs. Between 2015 and 2019, there was a remarkable 93% increase in the number of accounts opened by this age group, accompanied by a 95% increase in contribution, showing the rising engagement of younger generations. **Myth 4: DAFs aren’t that popular or common** On the contrary, DAFs are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity and growth within the philanthropic landscape, [growing 28% per year in both 2020 and 2021](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB), making them the [fastest growing vehicle in philanthropy](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/philanthropy/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund.html?immid=PCD&account=GOOGLE&campaign=Fidelity+CGF+-+Brand&adgroup=Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MWVBhCQARIsAIjbwoPtuNoeLdGnyXIOUHieR_23kE9l2tjH_mT_O-RXGiDb2T8owgyweFgaAumNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). In fact, the number of DAF accounts, [nearly 1.3 million](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB), has [nearly tripled](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) in the last four years. DAFs are massive, especially compared to other alternative forms of giving. DAF giving is now 7x larger than the stock giving market and 652x larger than the crypto giving market. **Myth 5: DAF Givers intentionally keep money in their accounts, away from nonprofits.** A common criticism of DAFs is that they retain funds and hinder the immediate flow of financial support to nonprofits. Although DAF donors are being blamed for the money that remains stagnant each year, one primary reason is actually the difficulty of making a donation with your DAF. Billions of DAF dollars are trapped behind archaic login portals, emails, or even phone calls. It can take as many as 20 steps to submit a DAF donation, and even then you aren’t able to use those funds for all types of charitable causes \(namely peer\-to\-peer campaigns\). Nonprofit leaders and fundraisers need to have a strong understanding of [DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf-1) given their increasing importance to philanthropy and their organizations need to be set up to make the most of this promising source of support. Chariot offers a 3\-click DAF payment option that seamlessly integrates with any donation form or fundraising platform. Make sure this important and growing base of donors can support you from their DAF as easily as possible and see how Chariot is making this easier than ever through this [interactive demo](https://www.givechariot.com/demo). --- ## Why Donor-Advised Funds Matter More Than Ever During a Recession - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-donor-advised-funds-matter-more-than-ever-during-a-recession - Published: 2023-06-02 > Unlike other sources of donations that may waver during economic downturns, DAFs provide a reliable stream of support for charitable causes. Navigating through economic uncertainty is a challenge every group and business encounters from time to time. Unfortunately, it is often the nonprofit sector that carries an even greater burden when donors limit their spending in a downturn or in anticipation of a possible downturn. However, even in uncertain times like this, there is an incredibly reliable funding source for nonprofits that many are not tapping into: Donor Advised Funds. DAFs are the fastest growing vehicle for philanthropy and have proven to be one of the most resilient & consistent sources of support, with their contributions remaining steadfast even in the face of financial adversity. **Unlike other sources of donations that may waver during economic downturns, DAFs provide a reliable stream of support for charitable causes.** The inherent financial stability of DAFs lies in the fact that the funds they hold have already been set aside explicitly for charitable purposes and cannot be withdrawn for other uses. Therefore, people’s inclination to donate from a DAF is not nearly as affected by financial pressure. Even if donors are reducing their excess spending from their credit card or bank account, their DAF giving comes from a separate budget and, often, a separate place in their mind given the money has already been “given away” from a personal financial perspective. They are just specifying the beneficiary when they actually make a specific donation. And there’s an outrageous amount set aside in this manner already \- $234 billion that’s already contributed and has to be donated to 501\(c\)3 nonprofits. This stability makes DAFs shine particularly during recessions when supporting charities becomes increasingly challenging. The economic resiliency of DAF giving is not just a logical theory, it has been proven out in historical analysis. There was an overall decrease in charitable giving by individuals and private foundations during the Great Recession in 2008, but grants from DAFs actually increased that year \- according to a landmark study done on Donor Advised Funds by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Memphis in 2019 *\(*[*https://www.sp2.upenn.edu/wp\-content/uploads/2019/02/Heist\-Vance\-McMullen\_Understanding\-Donor\-Advised\-Funds\_working\-paper\-002.pdf*](https://www.sp2.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heist-Vance-McMullen_Understanding-Donor-Advised-Funds_working-paper-002.pdf)*\)* Professors [Daniel Heist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-heist-3840119/) and [Danielle Vance\-McMullen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-vance-mcmullen-2a294b3/) note in their summary that “we find that, in general, DAF grantmaking is relatively resilient to recessions. We also find that payout rates increased during times of recession.” This benefit of DAFs means that it’s incredibly important to make it clear that your organization can easily accept and process DAF gifts \- and there’s no easier way to do so than including the 3\-click Chariot Payment option on your donation forms, fundraising platforms, newsletters and anywhere else you solicit and accept donations. [*See how one organization boosted DAF gifts by 180% by making their Chariot DAF payment option visible as many places as possible for donors*](https://www.givechariot.com/post/chariot-customer-spotlight-colel-chabad) This helps you discover which donors have DAFs that otherwise may have given with a credit card and greatly improve the experience & follow through for donors you already know have a DAF. Plus, you can properly steward both of these groups of high value donors by immediately receiving their name and email when a gift is made to thank them right away vs. waiting days or weeks for checks to arrive and often without proper contact details. But, the nonprofit that’s truly investing in DAF fundraising will also proactively engage donors to encourage them to create their own donor advised funds on a regular basis so more and more donors are primed to be steadfast supporters through every period of economic uncertainty that is inevitably going to continue happening in the future. Learn more about the basics of donor advised funds [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf-1) and see chariot in action with our interactive live demo [here](https://www.givechariot.com/demo). --- ## Announcing Chariot’s new integration With Custom Donations - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-chariot-s-new-integration-with-custom-donations - Published: 2023-05-30 > Nonprofit organizations using Custom Donations for seamless online donations now automatically have 3-click DAF donations enabled The hundreds of nonprofit organizations using Custom Donations for seamless online donations will now automatically have 3\-click DAF donations enabled. We’re excited to announce that Chariot’s 3\-click DAF donation solution is now enabled on donation forms for Custom Donations customers. There are 450\+ nonprofits and universities using Custom Donations for customizable, embeddable, mobile\-friendly donation forms integrated with their website. As of today, every form will also automatically have Chariot’s Donor Advised Fund donation button included as a payment option so donors can seamlessly make DAF gifts directly on their website. Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing vehicle in Philanthropy \(According to [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/philanthropy/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund.html?immid=PCD&account=GOOGLE&campaign=Fidelity+CGF+-+Brand&adgroup=Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MWVBhCQARIsAIjbwoPtuNoeLdGnyXIOUHieR_23kE9l2tjH_mT_O-RXGiDb2T8owgyweFgaAumNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)\), but without Chariot, DAF donations are completely disconnected from other nonprofit fundraising efforts and giving experiences. The Chariot DAF donation feature allows a donor to make a donation from their DAF with 3 clicks in 10 seconds, directly on your nonprofit’s website or integrated into another giving form, like Custom Donations. You also immediately know their gift size and receive their contact information to properly steward the donor. Without Chariot, a donor has to navigate away from your website or fundraising platform to use their DAF, in a process that takes 15 clicks over 3 minutes and leaves your organization in the dark until the wire or check shows up days or weeks later. DAF gifts are much larger than the average online cash donation of $204 \(according to the [Blackbaud Institute](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\) \- The average DAF gift in 2022 was 24x that at $4,798\! That’s why it’s so critical for nonprofits to provide an optimized digital giving experience for the 2M\+ people in the US with DAF accounts. The best way to get more DAF donors and donations is to promote DAF giving as an option and make the process as easy as possible. That’s why Custom Donations is partnering with Chariot to set every customer up for successful DAF fundraising, automatically advertising DAFs as a payment option and creating a seamless, integrated experience for DAF donors and staff alike. If you’re interested in further customized DAF strategies for your organization, feel free to reach out to the Chariot team at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) **About Custom Donations** Custom Donations provides customizable, embeddable, mobile\-friendly donation forms that integrate with any nonprofit’s website. Custom Donations works with all types of nonprofits, including some of the largest organizations in Higher Education, to enable online donations easily, securely, and with modern payments methods like digital wallets and cryptocurrency. Custom Donations offers a flexible way to securely accept online donations with innovative and streamlined donation flows that can be personalized for every donor. You can reach out to [info@customdonations.com](mailto:info@customdonations.com) to learn more. **About Chariot** There’s $234B sitting in Donor Advised Funds and your organization deserves more of it. Chariot enables 3\-click DAF donations directly on your website so you can acquire & retain more DAF donors while saving hours of staff time. ~40% of DAF donors give with a credit card on your website first \- with Chariot you’ll get more of them to give from their DAF so you know who they are, get larger gifts, and better steward those relationships. Chariot improves giving from every DAF provider and is directly integrated with fundraising platforms serving over 20,000 nonprofit organizations. You can set up Chariot on your website in minutes, then start accepting DAF gifts and thanking those donors immediately. --- ## Chariot Customer Spotlight: Colel Chabad - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/chariot-customer-spotlight-colel-chabad - Published: 2023-05-25 > Hear from Efraim Duchman, Development leader at Colel Chabad, on how Chariot has revolutionized their DAF fundraising. Hear from Efraim Duchman, Development leader at Colel Chabad, on how Chariot has revolutionized their DAF fundraising. [Colel Chabad](https://colelchabad.org/) is an incredibly impactful nonprofit organization, dedicated to fighting hunger & poverty in Israel, [deploying $85M towards this mission in 2021](https://colelchabad.org/shareholders/). For them, Chariot has revolutionized their donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) fundraising. With the seamless integration of Chariot's DAF donation tool directly on their website, Colel Chabad has experienced an impressive transformation in their fundraising efforts, resulting in increased donor engagement, improved donor experience and increased efficiency with some of their highest value donors. Let's take a closer look at the impact of Chariot through the words of [Efraim Duchman](https://www.linkedin.com/company/colel-chabad/), Development Leader at Colel Chabad, speaking to an audience of 170\+ nonprofits during an educational webinar hosted by FundraiseUp. **Better DAF Donor Data** "Once we had \[Chariot\] set up, our DAF donations were coming in in a much easier way, and we were getting much better data," shares Efraim. Chariot provided valuable donor information, including email addresses and phone numbers, which were previously unavailable when receiving traditional checks. This enhanced data empowers Colel Chabad to deepen their relationships with high\-value DAF donors and create more personalized experiences. **Improved DAF Donor Experience** The positive response from donors has been overwhelming. "Donors loved it. We got great feedback…. When you make things as donor friendly as possible… donors will respect the organization” The newfound ease and convenience of using Chariot's DAF donation tool has resonated with supporters, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction. This exciting development has created an easier pathway for donors to use their DAF instead of a credit card on their website \- which is the best way to “find” more DAF donors, leads to much larger gifts \(DAF gifts are 24x as large as credit card gifts on average\), and allows them to steward those donors appropriately. **Increased DAF Donations** The success stories from Colel Chabad's recent campaigns showcase the tangible impact of using Chariot. "One was our Purim campaign, which was a great success.” **By creating a unique link specifically for the Purim campaign, Colel Chabad efficiently targeted DAF donations, resulting in a remarkable 180% growth in DAF fundraising.** Additionally, they sent targeted emails to existing donors, both those with DAFs and those without. The response was remarkable, with an increase in DAF donations from previously untapped sources. One of the most striking discoveries for Colel Chabad is the incredible potential of DAF donors. As Efraim emphasizes, "The DAF donors have super high potential, 30 to 40 times larger than other gifts." **Integrate DAF Giving with Events** Chariot has also revolutionized Colel Chabad's peer\-to\-peer and matching campaigns. For the first time, donors can participate in these events with donations from their DAF. Prior to using Chariot, donors who wanted to contribute to these campaigns only had the option to donate offline to the organization through their own DAF portal, completely separated from any one event or campaign. These large gifts couldn’t be displayed in the campaign total or qualify for matching gifts in real time, limiting the momentum that makes these types of fundraising events so effective. “With our matching campaigns… sometimes you’ll have a donor \[who\] is going to match any donation in the next three days up to a certain amount and you have to get those donations within those three days. With Chariot, you get the data, you get the notification, and the dashboard is really easy to work with. You’ll see exactly how many donations came in that day and you’ll be able to apply it towards your match.” Before Chariot, you have to go through the negative impact, especially with matching donations, of when the donation is coming, if it is coming, and how it is coming. **Appealing to Younger Generations of Donors** The integration with Chariot has also opened doors to a younger donor demographic. Colel Chabad's recent Purim campaign attracted a significant number of younger donors with DAFs, contributing to sustained growth and engagement. By staying innovative and utilizing technology, they have positioned themself as an organization that resonates with the next generation of philanthropists. Efraim recognizes “using the latest technology is super important.” By embracing innovative solutions like Chariot's DAF integration tool, Colel Chabad stays at the forefront of nonprofit fundraising, continuously improving donor experiences and optimizing their operations. **Easier Donor Communications about DAFs** It's crucial not to overlook the potential impact of DAFs, even among donors who have not utilized a DAF in the past. By informing all donors, not just those who have previously donated from a DAF , about the new partnership and simplified donation process, Colel Chabad ensures that no opportunity is missed. By advocating for all donors to leverage efficient means of supporting them like DAFs, they have showcased their commitment to staying current and maximizing their impact. The integration with Chariot has also facilitated better communication with donors, allowing Colel Chabad to provide timely and personalized follow\-ups. "With the Chariot integration, we were able to receive an email and properly thank the donor, which was very helpful.” The ability to promptly acknowledge donations and engage in meaningful conversations further strengthens the relationship between their organization and its supporters. **Optimizing Digital Giving** Looking ahead, Colel Chabad is taking proactive steps to maximize the potential of DAF donations. They are revamping their donation page and website to more prominently feature Chariot's DAF donation button \-Making it clear and easily accessible for donors to contribute through their DAFs with just three clicks. Colel Chabad's journey with Chariot's DAF tool is a testament to the power of technology in amplifying the impact of nonprofit organizations. By harnessing the tool's capabilities, their organization has experienced increased donor engagement, higher fundraising results, and streamlined operations. ***About Colel Chabad:*** Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously operating Tzedakah organization in Israel. It was established in 1788 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. Colel Chabad is a 501\(c\)3 tax exempt organization. Colel Chabad's sole purpose has always been to help the most destitute residents of Israel in a manner that preserves and enhances their dignity. For over 200 years Colel Chabad has remained faithful to its mission to help any Jew regardless of age, gender, marital status, ethnic background, location, or degree of observance. ***About Chariot:*** There’s $234B sitting in Donor Advised Funds and your organization deserves more of it. Chariot enables 3\-click DAF donations directly on your website so you can acquire & retain more DAF donors while saving hours of staff time. ~40% of DAF donors give with a credit card on your website first \- with Chariot you’ll get more of them to give from their DAF so you know who they are, get larger gifts, and better steward those relationships. Chariot improves giving from every DAF provider and is directly integrated with fundraising platforms serving over 20,000 nonprofit organizations. You can set up Chariot on your website in minutes, then start accepting DAF gifts and thanking those donors immediately. Learn more at [www.givechariot.com](https://www.givechariot.com). --- ## The 234 Billion Dollar Question - What Will Actually Get DAF Dollars to Nonprofits Faster? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-234-billion-dollar-question-what-will-actually-get-daf-dollars-to-nonprofits-faster - Published: 2023-05-24 > A product that improves DAF donor experience and behavior is the most actionable, near term solution - Chariot is charging at it. A product that improves DAF donor experience and behavior is the most actionable, near term solution \- Chariot is charging at the opportunity. There are $234 billion that have been donated to charity, according to the IRS, but no nonprofit has received those funds. You might be asking “What now?\! How is that possible??” The answer lies in the fastest growing financial vehicle in philanthropy: Donor Advised Funds or DAFs. This instrument allows any individual to “donate” cash or securities to a charitable fund, get associated tax write offs up front \(including capital gains\), let it grow tax free and then donate from that fund to charity whenever they like over time \- there is 0 payout requirement. The only requirement is that funds can only go to 501\(c\)3 nonprofits if and when they are used. It is fairly obvious why this is attractive to anyone that is philanthropically inclined, especially the wealthy. You can optimize taxes in any given year and maintain the utmost flexibility with your charitable support in the future. The requirements for opening a DAF have also become incredibly accessible \- with new mobile\-first apps, low minimums and fees, and many employers offering DAF accounts as an employee benefit. This all explains why the total number of DAF accounts has nearly tripled in the last four years to more than 1.3 million. What it doesn’t explain is why so much of the money donated is not actually being deployed for nonprofit work. In 2021, there was $159 Billion still sitting in DAFs that needed to be donated to charity \- that rose by over 47% by the end of 2022. Donors are benefitting right away while nonprofits, tackling mounting crises across the country in an incredibly challenging fundraising environment, have to wait. There is a powerful movement of activists pushing for more regulation of DAFs such as payout requirements called [The Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving](https://acceleratecharitablegiving.org/). I say yes, policy changes should be assessed and tested, but it can’t be the only answer. We can and need to make a meaningful impact on this problem with technology that improves DAF donor experience and behavior, thereby moving billions more to nonprofits & communities in need. My name is [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), I’m a social entrepreneur that recently spent 3 years working to connect thousands of nonprofits with better tools and services through a marketplace startup I founded called Pond. I’ve researched hundreds of tech products and had thousands of conversations about what is or isn’t working for nonprofits. It became clear to me that the most impactful way I could help bridge the gap in the nonprofit market is to dedicate my time to founders and products going after specific, discrete problems in the social impact space that great tech and smart business models could effectively tackle. I’m partnering with Chariot because I believe deeply in the team and the tremendous opportunity to incorporate DAFs into every fundraising channel. A major reason money sits in DAFs longer than it should is because DAF giving exists in isolation from all other nonprofit fundraising activities. What is the primary reason donors give to charity? It’s because they are asked. And yet that moment of inspiration \- a friend running a marathon, an in person event, a mailer \- have historically \(before Chariot\) had no way to incorporate DAF gifts as an integrated means of support. A donor with a DAF \- who is likely a high\-value donor that gives more money, more often, to more organizations \- can’t use the funds they’ve set aside for giving. They have to go into their DAF portal later, completely separate from the nonprofit’s platforms and the gift makes it to the organization days or weeks later, often without identifying details. This introduces an outrageous amount of friction in the user experience that limits or prevents donation volume, significantly delays proper stewardship and adds operational burden to overworked nonprofit staff. Imagine if you were going to buy a pair of shoes online from Nike, but instead of clicking to pay with your debit card where your money was, you had to go log into your bank account, search for Nike and the specific type of shoe you wanted, wait days or weeks to hear back from Nike… it sounds absolutely ludicrous compared to the ease of online shopping these days, but that’s exactly what a DAF donor’s experience is \- without even getting new shoes at the end of the process\! Chariot took a simple \(but far from easy\!\) step \- integrate with all the providers of DAFs, bundle them into one button that can be embedded into any giving form. That means DAF donations made in 3 clicks and 15 seconds without ever leaving a nonprofit’s website vs. the 15 steps and 3 minutes it takes without Chariot. It means any donor with a DAF will use it instead of a credit card, make a larger gift \(DAF gifts are 24x as large on average\) and be better stewarded to give more in the future. The team put in an incredible amount of work so far to: 1. Develop an inspiring user experience for donors 2. Incorporate over 70% of the DAF provider market 3. Structure their external API for any fundraising platform to integrate in a matter of hours And, Chariot is just getting started. We’re only scratching the surface on the multibillion dollar impact this technology can have on social impact and I couldn’t be more excited to support their strategy & growth. Fundraising platforms, nonprofits and community foundations \- pay attention to how quickly this space is evolving, get excited about the ease and impact of this technology and please reach out if you want to discuss\! --- ## What is a DAF? - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/what-is-a-daf-1 - Published: 2023-05-15 > A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a specialized financial account designed for charitable giving. Imagine having a personal giving account that empowers you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and strategically distribute grants to 501\(c\)\(3\) organizations over time. That's precisely what a Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) is \- a specialized financial account designed for charitable giving. Donor Advised Funds have witnessed an exponential rise in popularity, with over [2 million Americans](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) utilizing this philanthropic vehicle. In recent years, DAFs have experienced unparalleled growth, emerging as the fastest\-growing giving vehicle in philanthropy. The numbers speak for themselves: [DAF giving has surged by 28% in both 2020 and 2021](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB), and the [number of DAF accounts has nearly tripled over the past four years](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB). With an [annual DAF giving of nearly $46 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB), it is evident that DAFs are revolutionizing the way donors engage with charitable causes and benefiting both donors and nonprofits alike. Benefits of Donor Advised Funds for Donors: **Investment\-Like Growth:** - A key advantage of DAFs is their ability to provide tax\-free growth. DAFs allow individuals to view their philanthropy as investments, as the money set aside can grow over time, maximizing the impact of their giving. **Flexibility and Control:** - DAFs offer complete flexibility, allowing donations to be made at any point in the future without any time constraints or distribution requirements. **Accessibility for All:** - Setting up a DAF has never been easier. Donors can establish a DAF through established financial service companies like Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, or newer providers dedicated to DAFs such as Daffy, Charityvest, Groundswell. Local community foundations also play a significant role in providing DAF services. With providers offering free accounts and even user\-friendly apps, DAFs have become accessible to every consumer with internet access, democratizing philanthropy. Benefits of Donor Advised Funds for Nonprofit Organizations: **Increased Giving:** - DAFs have proven to be a catalyst for increased giving. [The average DAF donation stands at $4,798](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2023-giving-report.pdf), significantly surpassing the average cash donation online, which is [$204](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021). When giving from DAFs, individuals tend to be more generous, as the funds have already been allocated away. **Enhanced Donor Engagement:** - DAFs can serve as a tool to deepen donor engagement. Donors who contribute through DAFs often develop a stronger connection with the organizations they support. They become more involved, exploring opportunities for volunteering and providing additional support beyond monetary donations, fostering a sense of community and involvement. **Recurring Donations:** - DAF donors are more likely to become recurring donors. The structure of DAFs encourages ongoing contributions, ensuring a reliable and consistent source of support for nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, Donations through DAFs offer a higher level of reliability compared to credit cards, as credit cards often expire and individuals may forget to update their information on file with the nonprofit. **Resilience in Challenging Times:** - DAFs offer stability and resilience during economic downfalls. As the funds in DAF accounts are already set aside for charity and can’t be withdrawn for other purposes, donors are more inclined to from their DAFs even during tough economic times. This reliability provides a lifeline for nonprofits during periods of financial strain. Want to learn more about how nonprofits are engaging more with DAF donors? Check out [this interview](https://www.givechariot.com/post/demystifying-dafs-nonprofits-billion-dollar-secret-on-the-successful-nonprofits-podcast) with Chariot founders, Salo & Aaron, on Demystifying DAFs. With a staggering [$234 billion held in DAF accounts](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3k7PTtS-A5uIqtZ9K84KIaUiTMbukfbdodsorYZG-TWjjB6rZ_xmsaAviXEALw_wcB) ready to be donated, Donor Advised Funds have emerged as a transformative force in philanthropy. As DAFs continue to reshape the philanthropic landscape, it is clear that they have become a powerful tool in driving positive change and fostering a culture of generosity. At Chariot, our mission is to ensure that this sum of $234 billion finds its way into the hands of deserving nonprofit organizations. With Chariot, we simplify the process, allowing donors to contribute from their DAF accounts directly on nonprofits' websites with just three clicks. Our service makes giving easier for everyone involved. By leveraging the potential of DAFs, you will not only attract more donors to give from their DAFs, but also unlock larger gifts and cultivate stronger relationships with those who support your cause. Join us to maximize the impact of your nonprofit's mission together. --- ## Demystifying DAFs: Nonprofits' Billion-Dollar Secret on the Successful Nonprofits Podcast - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/demystifying-dafs-nonprofits-billion-dollar-secret-on-the-successful-nonprofits-podcast - Published: 2023-05-11 > Chariot’s co-founders, Salo Serfati and Aaron Kahane share strategies to identify and connect with valuable DAF Donors. Chariot was recently featured on the Successful Nonprofits Podcast, where its co\-founders, Aaron Kahane and Salo Serfati, shed light on the immense potential of Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\). Their discussion revealed strategies to identify and connect with valuable DAF donors, uncovering a wealth of opportunities for nonprofits across the United States. **Episode summary:** The number of DAF accounts has nearly tripled in the last four years with over 1.3 million donor\-advised fund accounts in America today. This number highlights the significance and untapped potential of this method of philanthropy. One key revelation shared by Salo was the importance of integrating a DAF option into existing donation forms. By doing so, nonprofits can effectively identify donors who have DAFs. What nonprofits are seeing is their donors who have consistently been donating with a credit card, all of the sudden start to donate with their donor advised fund once that option is presented. Salo emphasized, "You may be surprised \- many more people than you think have these Donor Advised Fund accounts." Salo and Aaron also delved into the behavioral differences between giving through DAFs and credit cards. When individuals contribute from their DAFs, they tend to be more generous than when using credit cards. Because the money in a DAF is already allocated for charitable purposes, they are recession proof. As Aaron stated, "People already set that money aside, so they tend to pay more out of a DAF during a tough economic time than they do out of their credit card or other checking account." People view their DAF contributions as investments. With funds already allocated, individuals perceive their philanthropy as an opportunity to effect meaningful change without incurring additional expenses. "I have money set aside, it doesn't hurt me to give any more. It's like tokens I can use to make effective change," Salo remarked. During the podcast, the accessibility of DAFs was addressed. Many DAF providers now offer accounts for free, with no minimums, accompanied by mobile apps and online web applications, making them accessible to anyone with internet access. This widespread availability further bolsters the potential for greater philanthropic engagement. Chariot's co\-founders expressed their commitment to their mission of channeling the substantial funds sitting in DAFs towards nonprofit organizations. Aaron emphasized, "We recognize that there is so much money sitting in these DAFs that aren't going to nonprofits, and that's really the mission of Chariot… get all that money from the $234 billion sitting in DAFs to nonprofits." The impact of Chariot's efforts has already become evident, with the platform attracting hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a couple of months. Chariot's dedication to supporting nonprofits and providing value remains a driving force behind their work. As Salo put it, "we work really hard. We care a lot about the nonprofits that we support \- it's the reason we started this in the first place. So, our goal is just to keep helping and keep providing value." [Click here to listen to the full episode.](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL25vbnByb2ZpdHMubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M/episode/NzEzMzhhYzItZGFhOS00YzNkLWFjMzEtYjhlODY2ZGJkOGRm?sa=X&ved=0CAIQuIEEahcKEwioz_PMkO3-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQRQ) --- ## Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/find-an-engage-daf-donors-with-these-practical-tips - Published: 2023-01-23 > Read the full article here.Source: Kristine Ensor, GivebutterRelated Posts: • Marketing Chariot To Your Donors • DAF Fundraising Strategies That Your Nonprofit Need To Know • The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised FundsPractical tips for engaging DAF donors The growth of donor-advised funds means that more change makers are looking for ways to use their money and other investments to give back. The following ideas can help nonprofits find more DAF donors and grow lasting relationships for sustai Read the full article [here.](https://givebutter.com/blog/daf-donors) *Source: Kristine Ensor, Givebutter* Related Posts: - [Marketing Chariot To Your Donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/marketing-chariot-to-your-donors) - [DAF Fundraising Strategies That Your Nonprofit Need To Know](https://www.givechariot.com/post/5-daf-fundraising-strategies-your-nonprofit-needs-to-know) - [The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised Funds](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf) ## Practical tips for engaging DAF donors The growth of donor\-advised funds means that more change makers are looking for ways to use their money and other investments to give back. The following ideas can help nonprofits find more DAF donors and grow lasting relationships for sustainable giving. **Tip **[**\#1**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/1)**: Make it easy for DAF donors to give 🌟** When you make it a no\-brainer for DAF donors to find and contribute to your organization, you’ll reap the benefits. - Make sure your DAF\-receiving capabilities, as well as your tax\-exempt status, appears on all donor\-facing materials like your website, donation pages, and social media profiles. **Tip **[**\#2**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/2)**: Reach out to DAF donors in a variety of ways 👋** Donors won’t know that you can accept DAF donations unless you tell them directly. Think about all the ways that you already proactively communicate with your supporters—both current and prospective donors—and decide if and how you’ll share about DAFs through each channel. Start by educating your staff and board members about donor\-advised funds, so they can take part in your DAF outreach strategy, too. - **Email:**Create a brief explainer for donors on how your nonprofit now accepts DAF grants*\(Pssst\! We've created an email template you can use below*\!\).**‍** - **Social media:**Consider posting about DAFs leading up to your next fundraising campaign or major event.**‍** - **In\-person:**At events or in one\-on\-one conversations with your supporters, make sure to bring up DAFs, and offer educational resources like flyers, brochures, and even seminars with experts.**‍** - **Direct outreach:**It doesn’t hurt to reach out to donors as they hit major birthdays \(40s, 50s, and 60s\) with information about the benefits of DAFs and planned giving. **Tip**[**\#3**](https://www.givechariot.com/blog/hashtags/3)**: Solicit DAF donors for immediate needs ⚡** Because DAF funds are immediately available, many DAF donors give to charity when donations are urgently needed. Fidelity Charitable, for example, saw [$128 million](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/daf-giving-strong-economy/) from its DAF funds go directly toward charities responding to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis in 2022. - Regardless of your mission, reaching out to DAF donors when your organization urgently needs funding is a good way to show DAF donors that they can have a huge impact with their contributions. Read the full article [here.](https://givebutter.com/blog/daf-donors) ## Free DAF donor outreach email template **Subject line:**Donate with your Donor Advised Fund in just three clicks\! Dear**\[DONOR NAME\]**, You are an essential part of our community here at ***\[NONPROFIT NAME\]***, and I’m writing to let you know about a new opportunity for our supporters to contribute to our mission more easily through [donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\)](https://www.nptrust.org/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund/). Without supporters like you, we could never **\[NONPROFIT MISSION\]**. In the past, you’ve shown interest in **\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM\]**, and your gifts have helped us **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, and **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**. Right now, we are raising funds for **\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM DETAILS & EXPECTED IMPACT\]**, and we are so excited to share that **donating through your DAF is now just as easy as paying with a credit card or Venmo** *Have an existing donor\-advised fund?*Please consider making a contribution from your DAF directly on our website **\[LINK TO DONATION PAGE\].** *Interested in learning more about DAFs?*Check out[Chariot's Guide to DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf)to see what it’s all about and how it can benefit you and support our organization. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. Thank you for your ongoing support. Sincerely, ‍ **\[NAME\], \[TITLE\]\[EMAIL\]\[PHONE\]** --- ## The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised Funds - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/what-is-a-daf - Published: 2023-01-19 > Source: Anna Bean, GivebutterDiscover everything you need to know about donor-advised funds, including how they work, what benefits they bring for organizations, and a brand new way to accept DAF donations.Once believed to be a vehicle for charitable giving only for the wealthy, donor-advised funds (DAFs) are rapidly growing in popularity. According to National Philanthropic Trust, DAF giving has increased 400% over the last decade, with most of this growth happening in the past couple of years. *Source: Anna Bean, Givebutter* Discover everything you need to know about donor\-advised funds, including how they work, what benefits they bring for organizations, and a brand new way to accept DAF donations. Once believed to be a vehicle for charitable giving *only *for the wealthy, donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) are rapidly growing in popularity. According to National Philanthropic Trust, DAF giving has increased 400% over the last decade, with most of this growth happening in the past couple of years. DAF grants totaled $45.74B in 2021—up 28.2% from the year before—and there are now close to 1.3 million individual DAF accounts in existence. Even though DAFs have been around for decades, new tools are enabling organizations and donors to tap into this investment\-based method of giving like never before. In this guide, we’ll cover key things your nonprofit should know regarding DAFs, including: [What is a donor\-advised fund?](#viewer-853gq) [How do donor\-advised funds work?](#viewer-j67h) [Benefits of DAFs for nonprofits](#viewer-93pn1) [Where does Chariot fit in?](#viewer-73gj2) ## What is a donor\-advised fund? A donor\-advised fund is essentially a tax\-incentivized investment account for charitable giving. Donors contribute funds to the account, those funds get invested, and money generated from the account is, in turn, given to designated nonprofit recipients. The finance world is often full of hard\-to\-understand jargon, so let’s break it down a bit further. According to the [IRS definition](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/donor-advised-funds), a DAF is “a separately identified fund or account…maintained and operated by a section 501\(c\)\(3\) organization…called a **sponsoring organization**.” These tax\-exempt, nonprofit “sponsors” tend to be large institutions with a national reach: hospitals, community foundations, or the charitable arms of for\-profit financial corporations like Schwab. **Donors **are the individuals, families, or groups \(a workplace giving program, for example\) that create DAF accounts, make **tax\-deductible contributions**, and advise the sponsoring organization on how money is invested and given out via **grants **\(donations\) to charitable organizations from there. Each DAF sponsor has its own requirements and stipulations, which will suit different donors based on their wealth, geography, and values. Some of the most popular DAF providers include Fidelity Charitable, National Philanthropic Trust, Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. ## Donor\-advised fund vs. private foundation While both DAFs and private foundations are engines for philanthropic giving and tax deductions, there are some key differences between the two. You can think of private foundations as large institutions and DAFs as individual accounts. Both entities issue grants to fund important causes, but between letters of inquiry, applications, and meetings, foundations require nonprofits to jump through more hoops to even apply for funding. If and when they do receive a foundation grant, nonprofits can face cumbersome reporting requirements and other obligations \(including fees\). Even then, grants aren’t guaranteed to be reissued year after year. There’s a much less formal process \(and red tape\) involved with DAF grants, which are more accessible to both donors and nonprofits. Anyone in a position to donate money to an organization can create a DAF and arrange for grants to be made to a nonprofit of their choosing—at no obligation to the organization. Likewise, for major donors considering ways to give, starting a private foundation is a much bigger project than planned giving through a DAF \(we’ll cover more pros and cons of DAFs later on\!\). ## How do donor\-advised funds work? So, how can a nonprofit like yours become the recipient of a DAF grant? Here’s how it all comes together, along with some key rules to know about: ### Step 1: Contribute 🪙 Donors decide how frequently they want to contribute their cash, stocks, real estate, or cryptocurrency to their DAF. Because the sponsoring organization is technically a charity, they can write large donations off as a tax deduction immediately. Certain sponsors require a high minimum contribution \(Stanford University’s minimum is $1M\), and the National Philanthropic Trust reports the average DAF account to be around $182.8K. But times are changing\! *New workplace giving DAFs and sponsoring organizations with low or no contribution minimums have *[*attracted new donors at a large scale*](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/)*.* Many DAFs are now accessible to donors at every level. Plus, there are more and more resources available to help demystify the process and give donors the information and tools they need to create their own. ### Step 2: Invest 🏦 As with other kinds of investments—like a 401K—DAF donors can choose what level of volatility they are comfortable with and what kind of portfolio they prefer for their investments \(stocks, bonds, etc.\) over time. A key difference between a DAF and other investment accounts is that contributions are irrevocable\(i.e., they can’t get them back\). The sponsoring organization legally controls the funds from there, but donors can weigh in on where the funds go. ### Step 3: Give 🎉 Donors have input on when and what kinds of nonprofits will receive grants from their investments—and how much to give. At some sponsoring organizations, like a large university or certain community foundations, the idea is generally that a substantial amount of the grants will go to programs and groups affiliated with the sponsor. But at a financial institution like Fidelity, donors can have more flexibility. This is where donor outreach and education is *crucial*. Letting your donors know that you can receive DAF donations will make it more likely that they not only consider creating a DAF account \(if they haven’t already\) but that they recommend your organization as a recipient for a donation. ## Benefits of DAFs for nonprofits - **Growth potential**🌱 Investing DAF funds can increase their value, potentially enabling donors to give a higher amount to a charity than they would have been able to otherwise. - **Tax benefits 💰**Donor\-advised fund tax benefits are one of the top benefits for contributors—especially for high\-dollar donors. Nonprofits may enjoy higher average donation amounts and attract more major donors through a DAF fundraising strategy. - **Administrative support**📊 Sponsor organizations manage all the investing and granting for donors, which can facilitate more consistent planned giving, as well as legacy giving into the future. ## Where does Chariot fit in? ### A revolutionary way for nonprofits to accept DAF donations Nonprofits can now empower donors to give through their donor\-advised fund on any nonprofit's website in just a few clicks. With Chariot, donors will be able to contribute directly to nonprofit organizations from popular DAF providers. We’re making it easier than ever for DAF donors to quickly and seamlessly recommend nonprofits for a donation, enabling them to make a greater and more immediate impact on the causes they believe in. Not only will nonprofits be able to attract and engage a new set of donors, but they’ll also enjoy access to more donor information in their Chariot dashboard than other DAF donation methods provide. [‍Sign up for your free account](http://app.givechariot.com/signup) and start accepting DAF donations today\! 💪 --- ## 5 DAF fundraising strategies your nonprofit needs to know - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/5-daf-fundraising-strategies-your-nonprofit-needs-to-know - Published: 2023-01-05 > Read the full article here.Source: Kristine Ensor, GivebutterRelated Posts: • Marketing Chariot To Your Donors • Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips • The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised Funds1. Make DAF giving easy ✨Donors won’t know they can contribute to your cause using their DAF unless you inform them! There are several steps you can take to ensure finding your organization and giving with DAFs is as seamless as possible: • Make it easy to find 👀 Include a DAF donation Read the full article [here.](https://givebutter.com/blog/daf-fundraising-strategy) *Source: Kristine Ensor, Givebutter* Related Posts: - [Marketing Chariot To Your Donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/marketing-chariot-to-your-donors) - [Find and engage DAF donors with these practical tips](https://www.givechariot.com/post/find-an-engage-daf-donors-with-these-practical-tips) - [The Nonprofit's Guide to Donor Advised Funds](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf) ### 1. Make DAF giving easy ✨ Donors won’t know they can contribute to your cause using their DAF unless you inform them\! There are several steps you can take to ensure finding your organization and giving with DAFs is as seamless as possible: - **Make it easy to find 👀**Include a DAF donation option on all of your fundraising forms, pages, and newsletters. - **Educate supporters 🧠**Add a section to your website or donation page that educates readers on DAFs, grant opportunities, and planned giving programs. - **Communicate with your team 👋**Educate your staff on what DAFs are and how to communicate your grant needs effectively. - **Craft a communication plan**📣 Create a plan for engaging with DAF donors for your staff, board members, and volunteers to follow. - **Send targeted messaging**💌 Target DAF donors with specific appeals via direct mail, email, and social media. ### 2. Know your donors 💡 You can’t have a DAF fundraising strategy without the right donors. Educating your supporters on donor\-advised funds and how they can make a difference with them is vital—and so is connecting with DAF donors before *and *after they give. Find, educate, and strengthen relationships with DAF donors with in\-person seminars about DAFs and how they can make a difference for your organization. And never underestimate the power of asking directly in one\-on\-one conversations, “Do you know about donor\-advised funds?” As you learn which donors have a DAF and which are interested, don’t forget to keep track of this information in your Chariot dashboard. **More resources: **[Practical Tips for Finding & Engaging Donors](https://www.givechariot.com/post/find-an-engage-daf-donors-with-these-practical-tips) ### 3. Understand sponsoring organizations 🤝 Donors often use community foundations or the charitable arm of companies like Fidelity to house, invest, and ultimately grant DAF funds. DAF sponsors like these have grant\-making abilities and are often the ones to find nonprofit recipients that fit donors’ interests. Donors trust sponsors, so it’s in your interest to earn the trust of sponsors, too\! Through proactive outreach and networking with sponsoring organizations, nonprofits can learn more about DAF opportunities and build relationships with sponsors that can benefit them well into the future. ### 4. Incorporate DAFs into your planned giving programs 🎁 While DAF donors can’t give from an IRA, that shouldn’t stop you from educating planned giving prospects on DAFs— *and *educating DAF donors on planned giving. Many planned giving donors have access to complex assets and would be willing to donate those to your nonprofit, but unfortunately, some donors shy away from the complicated system that exists with these gifts. Plus, many nonprofits are not prepared to accept them. DAFs make it easier for nonprofits and donors to include complex assets in legacy gifts. ### 5. Take a different approach with donors and DAF sponsors 💌 Since donors receive immediate tax breaks when they contribute funds to their DAFs through sponsoring organizations, they don’t need a tax receipt or official acknowledgment in the same way that a donor giving through a credit card does. That said, don’t skip this critical step of acknowledging their gift\! ## Free DAF donor outreach email template **Subject line:**Donate with your Donor Advised Fund in just three clicks\! Dear**\[DONOR NAME\]**, You are an essential part of our community here at ***\[NONPROFIT NAME\]***, and I’m writing to let you know about a new opportunity for our supporters to contribute to our mission more easily through [donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\)](https://www.nptrust.org/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund/). Without supporters like you, we could never **\[NONPROFIT MISSION\]**. In the past, you’ve shown interest in **\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM\]**, and your gifts have helped us **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**, and **\[PROGRAM SUCCESS\]**. Right now, we are raising funds for **\[NONPROFIT PROGRAM DETAILS & EXPECTED IMPACT\]**, and we are so excited to share that **donating through your DAF is now just as easy as paying with a credit card or Venmo** *Have an existing donor\-advised fund?*Please consider making a contribution from your DAF directly on our website **\[LINK TO DONATION PAGE\].** *Interested in learning more about DAFs?*Check out[Chariot's Guide to DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/what-is-a-daf)to see what it’s all about and how it can benefit you and support our organization. Please reach out if you have any questions at all Thank you for your ongoing support. Sincerely, ‍**\[NAME\], \[TITLE\]\[EMAIL\]\[PHONE\]** --- ## Announcing Chariot’s New Integration with The Giving Block - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-chariots-new-integration-with-the-giving-block - Published: 2023-01-01 **The 2,000\+ nonprofits using The Giving Block to facilitate cryptocurrency or stock donations can now also seamlessly collect DAF donations, powered by Chariot. ** We’re excited to announce that Chariot’s integration with The Giving Block is now live\! The 2,000\+ nonprofits using The Giving Block to facilitate cryptocurrency or stock donations can now also seamlessly collect DAF donations through the same platform. With this new feature, powered by Chariot, The Giving Block offers an all\-in\-one solution for asset fundraising of all types. DAF donations through Chariot are now automatically live for all Giving Block customers \- no activation is required. Donor Advised Funds are the fastest growing vehicle in Philanthropy \(According to [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/philanthropy/what-is-a-donor-advised-fund.html?immid=PCD&account=GOOGLE&campaign=Fidelity+CGF+-+Brand&adgroup=Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MWVBhCQARIsAIjbwoPtuNoeLdGnyXIOUHieR_23kE9l2tjH_mT_O-RXGiDb2T8owgyweFgaAumNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)\), but without Chariot, DAF donations are completely disconnected from other nonprofit fundraising efforts and giving experiences. The Chariot DAF donation feature allows a donor to make a donation from their DAF with 3 clicks in 15 seconds, directly on your nonprofit’s website or integrated into another giving form, like The Giving Block. You also immediately know their gift size and receive their contact information to properly steward the donor. Without Chariot, a donor has to navigate away from your website or fundraising platform to use their DAF, in a process that takes 15 clicks over 3 minutes and leaves your organization in the dark until the wire or check shows up days or weeks later. Asset donations, like cryptocurrencies, stocks or DAF gifts, are much larger than the average online cash donation of $204 \(according to the [Blackbaud Institute](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\). The average DAF gift in 2022 was 24x that at $4,798\! That’s why it’s so critical for nonprofits to provide an optimized digital giving experience for supporters making asset donations with solutions like Chariot and The Giving Block. Learn more about Chariot’s capabilities with The Giving Block in [their announcement](https://thegivingblock.com/resources/daf-donations-now-enabled-by-the-giving-block-via-chariot/) and if you’re interested in further customized DAF strategies for your organization, feel free to reach out to the Chariot team at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) **About The Giving Block** The Giving Block, a Shift4 company, is the platform helping nonprofits fundraise more effectively from modern philanthropists. Pioneers of the “Crypto Philanthropy” movement, The Giving Block developed the leading solutions for cryptocurrency donations, taking crypto and NFT donations mainstream in the nonprofit sector. The Giving Block’s team then developed a stock giving experience built to empower even more donors to give non\-cash assets. When combined, The Giving Block’s product suite empowers more donors than ever to give assets to their favorite causes. Today, thousands of nonprofits are using The Giving Block to fundraise from modern philanthropists. Learn more about The Giving Block [here](https://thegivingblock.com/). **About Chariot ** There’s $234B sitting in Donor Advised Funds and your organization deserves more of it. Chariot enables 3\-click DAF donations directly on your website so you can acquire & retain more DAF donors while saving hours of staff time. ~40% of DAF donors give with a credit card on your website first \- with Chariot you’ll get more of them to give from their DAF so you know who they are, get larger gifts, and better steward those relationships. Chariot improves giving from every DAF provider and is directly integrated with fundraising platforms serving over 20,000 nonprofit organizations \(Givebutter, The Giving Block, FreeWill, etc.\). You can set up Chariot on your website in minutes, then start accepting DAF gifts and thanking those donors immediately. --- ## Our story - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/insights/our-story - Published: 2021-06-11 ##### Our journey to philanthropic payments began with a spreadsheet Chariot started with a personal goal to contribute 10% of our income to Charity annually. A small group of friends who all shared this goal were seeking something better than a spreadsheet to track our giving & hold ourselves accountable. Managing a spreadsheet was tedious, error\-prone and time consuming. How could we better organize our giving and spread the practice of goal\-driven philanthropy to more people? In the summer of 2021, we put an idea out there on Facebook about a “new” structure \- a separate financial account for your charitable dollars. As we encouraged more people to adopt this structure, we saw some amazing behavior changes: 1. Participants saw giving as more of an investment than an expense. When asked to make a donation, they thought about allocating their charity budget instead of evaluating a one\-time cost to donate. 2. They focused more on the opportunity for impact and alignment with an organization’s mission instead of the cost. 3. They started proactively asking “where should I give?” instead of only giving when asked.  And the key was our initial goal was being realized \- people were more generous \- making larger gifts to more organizations more often. ## “Discovering” Donor Advised Funds As we spread the good word about charitable savings accounts, we quickly learned about [Donor Advised Funds](https://www.givechariot.com/post/is-a-donor-advised-fund-right-for-me) or DAFs. DAFs were exactly what we were looking for \- but in many ways, even better\! They are financial accounts for charitable giving, but they also have tax advantages and your balance can be invested to grow over time. We’re not ones to reinvent the wheel, and so we encouraged our group of 10% givers to close their debit accounts and open up DAFs instead. They could easily set up [no\-minimum DAF accounts](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-nonprofit-fundraisers-should-get-their-own-donor-advised-fund-daf) with financial firms like Fidelity and Schwab, or tech companies like Charityvest, Daffy and Groundswell. But just as soon as we made the switch, we started getting the same feedback over and over: “DAFs are a great idea, but in practice we can’t actually use them anywhere\!” In all the instances where people were most inspired to give \- a school’s giving day, a friend’s marathon fundraiser or a cousin’s GoFundMe campaign \- there was no way to pay with their DAF online. We couldn’t believe it \- their DAF was the one account specifically set up for charitable giving and they couldn’t use it on any donation form\! As we investigated further, we also learned about the frustrations that nonprofits have with DAFs. They are actively looking to raise more from DAF accounts and get more information on their DAF donors sooner. While the $326 billion DAF market has been expanding exponentially, \+20% on average per year over the past 5 years, we knew that it could be even larger and more impactful if DAFs were able to be used everywhere people donate. ## Chariot was born as a simple solution We soon aligned on a mission to accelerate philanthropy with a modern payment network purpose\-built for the nonprofit sector. We knew that an embedded DAF payment option could solve both the donor and nonprofit pain points, while helping to increase adoption of DAFs. We were accepted into Y\-Combinator and fine\-tuned the easy DAF payment solution that would be a total game changer for nonprofits, donors and DAF providers. We quickly began to appreciate just how profound the implications of this solution could be: 1. DAFs could be used across the internet, allowing DAF donors and nonprofits to more closely connect.  2. DAF donors could use their DAFs more frequently, making DAFs their primary charitable wallet.  3. More donors would learn about DAFs, increasing their usage and adoption around the world, promoting the same behavior changes we saw when we proposed our first new charitable wallet structure with our friends \- namely that people gave more to charity, more intentionally. ## Hitting Major Milestones By early 2023, we were able to take our first product, DAFpay live with our first nonprofit partners and fundraising platforms. Over the course of the next year, we proved: 1. DAF donors were not only willing to use this new method of giving, they loved being able to give at the exact moment and location of inspiration.  2. An easy, embedded DAF giving option improves fundraising outcomes and donor engagement for nonprofits \- see just a few examples in our [latest case studies](https://www.givechariot.com/case-studies).  But as DAFpay grew, we uncovered something deeper: getting more DAF dollars initiated online is only half the battle. The deeper, more persistent problem is what happens after a gift is initiated, how charitable dollars are actually [sent](https://www.givechariot.com/post/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits), received, identified, and reconciled across a fragmented ecosystem of grantmakers \(DAFs, foundations, corporate giving platforms, QCDs, crowdfunding platforms\) to the 1.4 million nonprofits. That insight is what led us to expand Chariot beyond a single payment option into two purpose\-built product lines rooted in the same network: [Chariot for Grantmakers](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) Chariot for Grantmakers helps DAFs, foundations, and other grantmaking institutions send payments more efficiently and securely by giving them a modern solution for routing funds to nonprofits: - Grantmakers can use Chariot to find verified nonprofit payment details to send digital payments and checks in one place. - This reduces operational burden, timing delays, and fraud exposure — while improving the recipient nonprofit’s experience by making grant details easier to identify and reconcile. Chariot for Nonprofits helps organizations raise more from DAFs and save time processing gifts that come outside of their donation form: process charitable donations with less operational burden: - Include [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay) on donation forms so donors can give from their DAF in seconds at the moment of inspiration.  - Receive charitable payments and data from grantmakers in a more unified way \- getting fast funds with less manual reconciliation across dozens of portals and paper check\-based workflows.   **The goal: **fewer checks, fewer portals, fewer manual steps \- and more funds arriving faster with clearer information. By end of 2025, we had achieved even more substantial milestones: - **Recognized for innovation:** Fast Company named Chariot one of its Most Innovative Companies, and TIME named DAFpay one of the Best Inventions of 2025. - **Proven at scale:** We work with tens of thousands of nonprofits, moving hundreds of millions of dollars, including many of the largest and best\-known organizations in the country. - **Built with nonprofits at the center:** Several of these partners joined our [Nonprofit Advisory Council](http://givechariot.com/nonprofit-advisory-council), helping ensure the nonprofit experience stayed central as we expanded Chariot’s products and solutions. These have been exciting advancements for our team & community to achieve, but it is only the beginning. ## The future with Chariot We have 2 main goals we are relentlessly focused on: 1. Making giving with a DAF easier than giving with a credit card, anywhere a donor is inspired to give.  2. Building a unified charitable payments network \- so grantmakers can send funds seamlessly and nonprofits can receive them effortlessly, with the right data. There are 70 million 401k accounts in the US, but less than 1 million DAF accounts. This is despite the fact that [7 in every 10 Americans donate to charity](https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/43435-half-americans-donate-money-charity-past-year-poll). We envision a future where Americans’ primary charitable wallet is their Donor Advised Fund, but that will require DAFs to be usable in any location where a donor can donate. Getting closer to these goals would not be possible without the incredible collaboration of thousands of stakeholders in our ecosystem. Luckily, we share a common mission with donors, nonprofits, fundraising platforms and DAFs \- we all want to increase high impact philanthropy. We know Chariot can play a leading role in building the financial infrastructure that will make this future possible. We are also proud to have joined forces with a powerful list of leading investors \- including Maveron, Spark Capital, SV Angel & Y\-Combinator \- who are as excited by our mission to accelerate philanthropy as we are. We couldn’t do any of this without the collaboration of our tens of thousands of nonprofit partners doing the hard work on the ground that inspires us every day. We know our world needs philanthropy now more than ever, and Chariot is working hard to drive new records of giving and impact. --- # Customer Stories ## How American Friends of Magen David Adom Reclaimed 16 to 30 Hours a Month and Prepared for Emergency - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-american-friends-of-magen-david-adom-reclaimed-16-to-30-hours-a-month-and-prepared-for-emergency - Published: 2026-07-16 > When emergency giving surged in 2023, American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) was suddenly managing hundreds of thousands of gifts manually, across multiple regional designations, without increased headcount. Sandra Liberty, Director of Data Strategy and Transformation, shares how Chariot Gift Processing helped transform her team’s operations so they can maintain their focus on stewardship and notifying leadership before the funds even land. [American Friends of Magen David Adom \(AFMDA\)](https://afmda.org/) is the American fundraising arm of Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical, disaster relief, and blood services organization. Often described as the Red Cross meets 911 dispatch, MDA deploys ambulances, manages blood logistics, and coordinates emergency response across the country. AFMDA's US\-based team raises the funds that power everything from vehicles and blood services to paramedic equipment, and emergency response infrastructure. Donors can direct their support to any of these initiatives, which means every gift carries not just a dollar amount, but a designation that has to be tracked, coded, and reported accurately to the right regional program. ## **The Problem** Before 2023, AFMDA managed gift processing manually, a workable approach when volume was steady. When emergency donations surged, that changed overnight. The team nearly doubled in size, gift volume jumped into the hundreds of thousands in a single year, and the manual processes that were viable before were now completely underwater. Files arrived from different sources in different formats. A single "name" field might contain a title, first name, last name, and middle name all together, requiring manual parsing before any coding or matching could begin. Donor addresses were often missing entirely. With no system to flag which files had already been processed, duplication risk was constant. "There was no indication at all that a file had already been processed," Sandra said. "So there was a high risk for duplication — from financial to actual data." The regional complexity compounded everything. AFMDA's donors can direct gifts to specific initiatives across multiple regions. Getting the right code to the right regional fundraiser required deep institutional knowledge that had to be retrained into every new admin who touched the data. At peak volume, Sandra's team was months behind. AFMDA tried to solve it internally. They hired a programmer to standardize file formats, build donor matching lookup tables, and create validation logic to track which files had been processed. Sandra reflected, "I'm now a development software house, not a not\-for\-profit organization." The bigger concern was that the entire operation was dependent on a single person. If that person left, the infrastructure went with them. ## **The Solution** When Sandra learned what Chariot had built, a gift processing platform that receives gift files from any source, normalizes them into a consistent format, applies coding rules automatically, and exports CRM\-ready data, her reaction was immediate. > "You guys came to solve a huge problem." *Photo: Sandra \(third person from the left\) with the Chariot team in NYC.* AFMDA worked with Chariot's team to configure the platform around their specific complexity: regional assignments, fund designations across multiple initiative types, and rules for handling incomplete donor records. Sandra described the onboarding as a genuine collaboration. > "Our absolute favorite is, 'Just tell us about it.' The Chariot team really truly listened, understood, and provided the correct setup for all our intricacies." The initial skepticism from the team — "Show me; I need to see it to believe it" — dissolved quickly. Once the first files came through with coding already applied, the questions stopped being about whether it would work and started being about what else it could do. For Raiser's Edge users, the final step of getting data back into the CRM is often the most painful part of the workflow. For Sandra's team today? "A push of a button." ### **How Chariot Gift Processing works for AFMDA:** - **Automatic reconciliation** — Deposits arrive with donor data already reconciled, eliminating portal\-hopping and manual aggregation - **AI gift coding** — Chariot automatically applies regional assignments, fund designations, and initiative codes based on AFMDA's rules; staff review exceptions rather than code every gift by hand - **CRM\-ready exports** — Configured for Raiser's Edge, exports are correctly formatted without manual reformatting - **Supports donor stewardship** — With accurate and timely gift data available, the stewardship team now knows exactly who their donors are and can steward them appropriately - **Real\-time gift notifications** — Sandra receives email alerts when gifts arrive, giving her visibility into incoming funds before they're even deposited ## **The Results** Before Chariot, Sandra's team was processing gifts weeks, sometimes months, behind. Today, they close the month on a fast turnaround with no backlog. The visibility shift alone has changed how the team operates. Finance was previously the sole keeper of the payment portal. Now Sandra gets notified the moment a significant gift arrives. > "Development seeing their gift right there as soon as it comes in — that visibility is key. Now I get notified, and as soon as I see a major gift coming in even before we receive the funds, I can already start research, pre-warn stewardship, and send a notification to my CEO. We didn't have that before at all." The time savings are equally significant. On a typical mid\-month period — outside of an emergency spike — **Sandra estimates the team has gone from 16 to 30 hours of processing work \(on a normal month\) down to a couple of hours.** Across 713 donations and $1.7M in gift volume processed through Chariot in the first 4 months, those hours compound fast. The freed capacity has gone toward work that had been perpetually deferred: building policies and procedures, revamping operational manuals, and cleaning the database. "We were always behind because of our volume," Sandra said. "Now there's no worry." And when another emergency hits, AFMDA's gift processing infrastructure is built to flex with it. *Photo: AFMDA Instagram.* ## **Advice to the Field** Sandra's recommendation to peers considering a gift processing platform: start small and let the results speak. "You have the choice of how many organizations you can turn on. If you just want to test with one to see what it's like, you can test it very easily, and quickly see the impact." She's equally direct about the limits of building in\-house. It's easy to rationalize a homegrown tool. You know your own rules, your own CRM, your own edge cases, but the hidden cost is dependency and maintenance. "Reinventing the wheel just puts you so far back," she said. "Why not partner up with somebody that has already done all that grunt work for you and can walk you through step by step what you should expect?" There's also the knowledge compounding effect that comes from a shared platform. "You have the knowledge and expertise as other organizations come in and start using it. That knowledge transfer is very valuable, because we only know what we know." --- Ready to streamline your team's gift processing?[ Talk to our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact?utmsource=afmda-casestudy). --- ## TIFIN Give Moves 80%+ of Grant Volume Electronically with Chariot Disbursements - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/tifin-give-moves-80-of-grant-volume-electronically-with-chariot-disbursements - Published: 2026-06-12 TIFIN Give is a technology\-first philanthropy platform that helps advisors at wealth enterprises, broker\-dealers, and asset managers harness donor\-advised funds to drive growth and deepen client relationships. With strategic partnerships including SEI and SS&C ALPS Advisors, TIFIN Give provides a white\-labeled, open\-API experience featuring multi\-generational giving, community campaigns, and flexible investment policies — positioning philanthropy as a growth lever within the advisor's existing tech stack. When CEO Paul Lussow looked at the company's grant disbursement operations, he saw an area ripe for the same infrastructure modernization that had transformed other corners of financial services. The goal: get grant dollars to nonprofits as close to instantaneously as possible. ## The Problem TIFIN Give had previously relied on [Bill.com](http://Bill.com) for grant disbursements — a strong accounts payable product, but one that wasn't built for charitable giving. Charities had to sign up for a bill payment account. The experience felt like receiving an invoice, not a grant from a donor connecting with a cause. And operationally, the platform couldn't keep pace with TIFIN Give's volume and speed requirements. Voided checks, IRS compliance verification, and KYC requirements made [the last mile](https://tifin.com/resources/bridging-the-final-mile-in-philanthropy/19605/) a persistent burden. Every nonprofit needed to be validated as a legitimate 501\(c\)\(3\). With tens of thousands of transactions, even a small exception rate created significant manual overhead. And each DAF sponsor solves these problems independently — duplicating effort, introducing risk, and missing the benefits of a shared network. The deeper issue is that grant payments are structurally different from vendor payments. When you pay a contractor, you are fulfilling an invoice from them. For grants, you're sending money to nonprofits based on banking information they submitted to you, often with no advance notice to the nonprofit. That asymmetry creates risk exposure — from fraud risk to stale banking details — that standard accounts payable tools aren't designed to catch. TIFIN Give's benchmark was T\+4 from grant recommendation to nonprofit receiving funds. Good — but not fast enough for Give’s goal of near\-instantaneous delivery. ## The Solution TIFIN Give partnered with Chariot Disbursements to modernize its grant payment infrastructure. Rather than continuing to invest in a repurposed payment system, the team made a strategic call: focus internal resources on the proprietary features that differentiate the platform — the advisor experience, family giving workflows, investment flexibility — and hand the last mile to a purpose\-built specialist. Paul draws an analogy to Wall Street's CRM evolution. Many firms built homegrown systems that became Frankensteins over time. The differentiator was never the CRM — it was the client experience on top of it. The same logic applies to grant payments. Key capabilities through Chariot Disbursements: - **Electronic payments** — fast, secure transfers to verified nonprofits, with real\-time status tracking on every grant - **Identity and authority verification** — Goes beyond standard KYC to confirm not just that a person is real, but that they are an authorized officer of the nonprofit receiving the funds — closing the gap that makes grant payments uniquely vulnerable to fraud - **Ongoing nonprofit monitoring** — Chariot continuously verifies grantee banking and nonprofit status, not just at onboarding — so stale details don't become costly exceptions - **Network effect** — When any provider on the network verifies a nonprofit, every other provider benefits. Nonprofits verify once instead of managing separate accounts per grantmaker - **Exception handling** — for grantees who don't claim their Chariot accounts, Chariot facilitates check delivery, manages returns, and resolves exceptions without TIFIN Give’s staff involvement - **White\-glove onboarding support** — dedicated support for both TIFIN Give and their grantees, with rapid response to payment questions and on\-demand technical support - **Audit trail and reporting** — Full payment history with documentation for compliance ## The Results Within months of going live, over 80% of TIFIN Give's grant payment dollar volume moved to instant electronic payments through Chariot. For nonprofits already in the Chariot network, payments arrive near\-instantaneously — a dramatic improvement over the previous T\+4 benchmark. That speed is now something TIFIN Give's wealth enterprise partners can point to when talking with advisors and donors, turning a back\-office improvement into a visible, client\-facing differentiator. > "Just seeing these almost instantaneous payments feels very gratifying. Being able to communicate that to donors and seeing the adoption — it's been great to watch the money getting there faster." The network effect has been one of the most meaningful advantages. With Chariot, nonprofit verification happens once. When any provider on the network onboards a nonprofit, every other provider's donors benefit immediately. For TIFIN Give, that means fewer exceptions, faster payments, and no more asking nonprofits to set up separate accounts for each grantmaker relationship. As Paul puts it, the network compounds over time. The more DAF sponsors that join, the more nonprofits are verified, and the closer the entire ecosystem gets to instant, frictionless grant delivery. With Chariot handling identity verification, authority validation, and ongoing banking monitoring, TIFIN Give's team can focus on what drives their business — building a better platform for advisors and donors — rather than managing the compliance and security complexity of grant delivery. ## Advice to the Field Paul's message to other DAF sponsors is direct: stop thinking of payment infrastructure as a competitive differentiator. It's not — just like homegrown CRMs weren't. The real differentiation is in the experience you build for advisors and donors. Outsourcing the last mile to a purpose\-built partner lets you move faster on the things that actually matter. He also encourages the sector to embrace a more commercial mindset. DAF sponsors may be nonprofits, but they operate in a commercial ecosystem. Their donors have consumer\-grade expectations shaped by every other tech experience in their lives. If the giving experience feels stale next to Venmo or a modern banking app, that's a problem — and the longer you wait to modernize, the more painful the transition becomes. ## Looking Ahead Paul sees the DAF market growing significantly over the next decade, driven by the generational wealth transfer and younger donors' deeper commitment to philanthropy. What excites him most are the use cases that become possible when foundational infrastructure is in place. Impact investing through recallable grants, community giving campaigns, international grantmaking — none of these scale easily when every provider is independently solving payments and verification. Shared payment rails like Chariot Disbursements are what unlocks these bigger opportunities. --- Interested in how Chariot Disbursements could modernize your grant payment process? [Reach out to our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact). --- ## Fred Hutch Adds 357 New DAF Donors with DAFpay - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/fred-hutch-dafpay-testimonial - Published: 2026-04-29 > Before DAFpay, Fred Hutch's team spent hours chasing down DAF gifts for their Obliteride P2P campaign participants. Now those gift recommendations show up instantly in their Chariot account, saving 11 full-time weeks of work. Fred Hutch Cancer Center is one of the world's leading cancer research institutions, based in Seattle, Washington. Their development operations team processes around 200,000 transactions and manages 24,000 tax acknowledgments annually. DAF giving, in particular, has been growing quickly at Fred Hutch for years. With that growth came a processing challenge that Nohe's team felt most acutely during [Obliteride](https://www.fredhutch.org/en/events/obliteride.html), Fred Hutch's flagship peer\-to\-peer \(P2P\) cycling and 5K walk/run event. Nohe Ka has worked with Fred Hutch for nearly twenty years and has been leading their Gift Services and Data Management team for the past eight years. When tracking and reconciling Obliteride's DAF gifts became unsustainable, she knew the team needed a better way. ## **The Problem** Obliteride, like many P2P campaigns, runs on momentum. Participants set fundraising goals, watch their pages fill up, and use that progress to motivate more donations. But DAF gifts — routed through Fidelity Charitable, DAFgiving360, or over 1,000 other sponsoring organizations — can take weeks or months to arrive. That gap created a persistent customer service nightmare. "Someone’s mom sent a DAF gift, and we're looking for this gift." That kind of call was a regular occurrence. Fundraisers would contact the Obliteride team, the Obliteride team would contact Gift Services, and Nohe's team would spend hours tracing gifts that sometimes arrived — and sometimes didn't. Meanwhile, participants' fundraising pages sat frozen, not reflecting donations their donors had already made. Donors were frustrated. Participants were frustrated. And Nohe's team was caught in the middle, endlessly hunting for gift confirmations to support their participants. ## **The Solution** Fred Hutch implemented DAFpay on the Obliteride donation forms in 2024. For donors, it's a seamless experience: with a few clicks, they can recommend their gifts directly from the donation page. For Nohe's team, it meant gift data arrived immediately with full donor details attached — no more hunting down anonymous gifts or contact emails. The improvement in the participant experience was immediate. By providing real\-time updates to participant pages through DAFpay, Fred Hutch eliminated a **14\-day waiting period** where donors and participants previously flooded their inboxes with inquiries. With DAFpay, once a donor completes their gift, it’s registered on their participant's fundraising page right away, even before Fred Hutch actually receives the funds. Participants can now fundraise with their DAF donor momentum. Donors feel acknowledged. And the Obliteride team can stop fielding calls about tracking gifts. ### **Here’s what DAFpay provided:** - **Embedded DAF payment option** — Donors give from their DAF provider directly on the Obliteride donation form. - **Donor gift details** — Fred Hutch’s team is instantly notified of the gift and can track its receipt and thank donors faster. No more anonymous gifts. - **Fundraiser momentum & visibility** — Obliteride participants can display their DAF gifts on their participant fundraising pages in real\-time, even before the gift is received. ## **The Results** After implementing DAFpay on the Obliteride 2024\-2026 donation forms, Fred Hutch experienced: By implementing DAFpay on their donation forms, Fred Hutch removed the friction for DAF donors to give with their DAFs. Of the 446 unique DAFpay donors, According to the[ DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report), when donors switch their giving method to DAFs, annual support increases ~10x on average \(2x median\). ### **A Monumental Change for the Gift Services Team** > "It's a lifesaver for our team. What it's allowed us to do is spend more time on other process improvements — rather than looking around for a DAF that somebody sent." Freed from the manual burden of tracking down DAF gifts and fielding participant and donor inquiries, Nohe's team can now handle the increased volume of DAF gifts without spending any additional time reconciling gifts. Nohe’s team can now dedicate their time towards better analytics, process improvements, and frontline fundraiser education. ## **Advice to the Field** Although DAFpay was implemented with process improvements in mind, the results showed immediate success for fundraisers. Nohe's biggest piece of advice for peer nonprofits? Bring the whole team in from the start, especially if you’re running P2P events. > "I would approach it with a more holistic team at the table," she said. "Annual Giving, Donor Marketing, Gift Services — not just the back-end operations team. We approached it at the grassroots level, and we still saw great results. But if we'd had everyone at the table from the beginning, I think we could have done even better." ## **Looking Ahead** Now entering their third year with DAFpay, Fred Hutch is ready for another phase of growth. For the first time, their Donor Marketing team is at the table as part of a cross\-functional working group with Planned Giving, Acquisition, and Direct Response to develop a coordinated strategy for[ DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) in October. When asked how she’d feel if she no longer had DAFpay, Nohe shared that she’d be upset, **“This is a tool that we have to have, absolutely.”** This year, Obliteride Day is August 8th. If you’d like to donate to Fred Hutch, you can use DAFpay to give on their online donation form[ here](https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/Donation2?df_id=10306&mfc_pref=T&10306.donation=form1&experience=apr26&s_src=apr26&s_subsrc=aegeo26042&utm_campaign=apr26&fh_element=nonhpdonatebutton&creator=da&team=philanthropy). --- **Want to save your team gift processing time and make DAF giving easier for your donors?** [Reach out to our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) to learn more about the gift processing plan that might be right for you. --- ## How DJCF Modernized Grant Payments & Freed Its Team from the Back Office - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-djcf-modernized-grant-payments--freed-its-team-from-the-back-office - Published: 2026-04-20 > The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation has been a cornerstone of philanthropic life in North Texas for more than 50 years. With over $450 million in assets under management, DJCF distributes approximately $41 million annually — 100% of it donor-directed, spanning roughly 5,000 grants per year to nonprofits across the region. A staff of ten manages all of it. The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation has been a cornerstone of philanthropic life in North Texas for more than 50 years. With over $450 million in assets under management, DJCF distributes approximately $41 million annually — 100% of it donor\-directed, spanning roughly 5,000 grants per year to nonprofits across the region. A staff of ten manages all of it. Megan Hyman came to DJCF after 15 years in JP Morgan’s private wealth division, working closely with multigenerational families on legacy and philanthropic planning. That background gave her an especially sharp eye for payment risk. When she arrived and examined how DJCF was processing grants, she described the experience as arriving to find herself in an Oregon Trail situation — loading all her belongings onto a covered wagon in a world that had moved on. ## The Problem Three of the foundation’s ten staff members were tied up in a multi\-day disbursement cycle each period: - Grant requests came in by phone and fax, or hand\-delivered on paper to the office - Each grantee’s 501\(c\)\(3\) status had to be manually vetted - Checks were printed on a machine rented specifically for that purpose, bundled with letters, and physically driven to the post office. One employee spent roughly 25% of their time tracking down nonprofits whose checks had gone uncashed — organizations that had moved, changed banking setups, or simply never notified DJCF. Checks sometimes sat uncleared for 60 to 90 days, forcing the foundation to hold more cash on hand than it otherwise would have. During COVID, payment staff were classified as essential workers and brought into the office for the essential work of processing grant payments. Moving to electronic payments seemed like the obvious fix, but introduced its own risks. Most grants management platforms make it easy for community foundations to store grantee banking details directly in their system. The appeal is clear: faster payments, fewer checks, no post office runs. But Megan, with 15 years of AML and KYC experience at JP Morgan, saw the exposure immediately. A grants management platform is not a regulated financial institution. If it gets hacked, a question of when and not if, every nonprofit’s banking details are exposed. Storing that data in a non\-bank platform was a risk DJCF wasn’t willing to take. For community foundations, there’s a deep instinct to own every step of this process. It feels like stewardship — like you owe it to your fund holders to be personally accountable for every grant that goes out the door. But what that looked like in practice at DJCF was staff tied up managing payment exceptions instead of fund holder relationships. Every uncashed check, every returned envelope, every confused call from a grantee landed back on the same team responsible for helping donors think through estate plans and legacy gifts. And those donors — the fund holders DJCF was working so hard to serve — were experiencing slower grants, more administrative friction, and less proactive outreach than they deserved. With a board mandate to modernize and fund holders demanding better, the pressure to find a real solution was clear. ## The Solution DJCF arrived at Chariot after trying the obvious alternatives. When Megan joined in 2022, the foundation was at 0% electronic payments — every grant went out as a check. A bank\-sponsored invoice payment vendor pushed that to roughly 35% electronic payments, but stalled there. The system was built for paying vendors, not sending grants: there was no way to attach the grant letter to the payment, so money would arrive in a nonprofit’s account days before any explanation of what it was for. Grantees called DJCF confused. Exceptions multiplied. The team that had hoped to get off the treadmill found themselves on a faster one. With [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements), DJCF consolidated two separate workflows — checks and electronic — into one. And the security question was central to why. ### **How Chariot works for DJCF:** - **One unified workflow** — Whether a grantee receives funds electronically or by check, DJCF manages a single process. If a nonprofit hasn’t enrolled with Chariot, Chariot still sends the check and automatically generates the grant letter — no separate workflow to manage. - **Bank\-grade identity and authority verification** — [Chariot goes well beyond routing number checks.](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-grants-that-go-nowhere-good) They verify that the individual submitting banking details is a legitimate, authorized officer of the organization — confirmed against IRS data — then create and actively monitor a dedicated deposit account for that grantee. Verified accounts are shared across Chariot’s network, so DJCF benefits when another grantmaker has already verified a nonprofit they’re paying for the first time. Additionally, DJCF doesn’t need to store any sensitive financial details themselves. - **Exception handling** — Chariot conducts automatic follow\-ups on failed payments, address issues, and re\-issues — customer support loads taken entirely off DJCF’s plate. - **Ongoing nonprofit support** — Chariot supports grantees through claiming their accounts and beyond. Because money and grant details arrive together, nonprofits always know what they received and why — dramatically reducing confused inbound calls to DJCF. - **Seamless fund holder experience** \- Fund holders didn’t need to do anything differently. That’s intentional: **nothing changes for the fund holder, except that their grants move faster and more securely.** The impact showed up in places Megan hadn’t entirely anticipated. ### **Fund Holder Experience** For fund holders, payment speed had become something they could feel. > “People get really excited that it’s going to feel just like they personally delivered that check to their grantee organization,” Megan says, “because within a matter of hours after we approve it, the grantee organization gets an alert they have received those funds.” That difference showed up in a recent donor conversation: when a prospective fund holder asked whether nonprofits would get their money the same day rather than waiting two weeks, Megan could say yes. What started as an infrastructure decision had become a front\-line differentiator. ### **Operational Resilience** When a severe Texas winter storm brought the state to a halt, DJCF’s operations continued uninterrupted — every staff member worked from home, no grants delayed. A direct contrast to COVID, when payment staff were required in the office. The speed shows up in mission\-critical moments, too. When catastrophic flooding hit central Texas over Fourth of July weekend, DJCF was able to move funds through its network of partner community foundations within hours. > “We were able to transfer funds to the right places within a matter of hours.” Getting resources to the people best positioned to deploy them, as fast as possible, is now part of how DJCF fulfills its mission. ### **From 3 Days / Week to a Few Hours** A grant cycle that had consumed three days each week was whittled down to a few hours. > “Those same people are now even more critical and even more central to the relationships that we have with our fund holders,” Megan says, “because they’re able to devote that time previously spent to pushing paper to now really elevating the stewardship we provide.” DJCF’s staff began making proactive calls — noticing when a fund holder hadn’t granted in months, flagging undeployed stock donations, reaching out just to say thank you. One seven\-figure fund holder told Megan that someone had called to check in. “That hasn’t happened in 20 years of me having a fund here,” the donor said. ### **Unique Offering Advantage** Today, DJCF uses Chariot as a selling point when fund holders are weighing a community foundation against a national DAF sponsor. The pitch is simple: white\-glove service and local relationships, backed by the same payment infrastructure as the largest financial institutions. ## Advice to the Field ### **On Security** Megan estimates she’s fielding one to two calls per week from leaders at other DAF programs asking about Chariot. Her message is consistent, and it starts with risk. > “A lot of people do not appreciate or understand the level of risk they’re taking when they retain ACH information for third-party organizations,” she says. “Once I walk them through what a breach actually means — not just for you, but for every nonprofit you pay and every other organization that also pays that nonprofit — people get it fast.” For foundation leaders who came up through banking or finance, the exposure is immediately legible. For those who haven’t, the conversation is often a wake\-up call. It’s not hypothetical: check and ACH fraud has been roughly [doubling every two years](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/the-grants-that-go-nowhere-good), and major DAF sponsors are beginning to require electronic payment enrollment — meaning foundations that haven’t helped their grantees get there risk those nonprofits losing funding from the largest sources in the space. ### **On Better Stewardship** Think carefully about what your staff could actually do if they weren’t managing payment exceptions. > “We had people dedicated to following up on uncashed checks, reissuing payments, chasing down address issues. That’s not nothing — that’s full-time capacity. When you free that up, you can show up to your donors and your grantees in a completely different way." At DJCF, that freed capacity went toward proactive fund holder outreach — including calls that hadn't happened in 20 years. ### **On Competitive Advantage** Her third point is for leaders worried about internal buy\-in: get your board aligned on modernization as a competitive mandate, not just an operational one. DJCF's board had approved a strategic plan with an explicit mandate to modernize. With five other community foundations operating prominently in the Dallas\-Fort Worth market, the board was clear: DJCF needed to be a pioneer, not a follower. > “Even though we are very mom and pop and local and white glove in our approach, we’re also at the forefront of innovation.” Interested in how Chariot Disbursements could modernize your grant payment process? [Talk to our team](https://www.givechariot.com/contact). --- ## How No Kid Hungry Turned Gift Processing Into a Strategic Superpower - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-no-kid-hungry-turned-gift-processing-into-a-strategic-superpower - Published: 2026-03-30 Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign is one of the most recognized hunger\-relief efforts in the country, connecting kids in need with nutritious food through thousands of partner programs. Behind that mission is a development operation managing a growing and complex portfolio of giving channels — DAF gifts, workplace giving, peer\-to\-peer platforms, and more. At roughly $90 million in annual revenue, with 270 staff members and approximately 2,000 online gifts processed every day, the organization runs at a scale where operational inefficiency has real costs. Emily Palmer sits at a special cross\-section of that organization. As Associate Director of Fundraising Data Management, she works cross\-functionally with gift processing operations, fundraising, data analytics, and finance teams. With a team of just five people, she is responsible for the data flows, reporting infrastructure, and donor experience improvements that power No Kid Hungry's revenue operations. ## **The Problem** For years, No Kid Hungry was managing DAF and workplace giving gifts through a highly manual process. Three staff members were hand\-keying every DAF gift into their CRM — a process that generated duplicate records, collapsed individual donor identities into anonymous buckets, and made it nearly impossible to report accurately on DAF giving volume or trends. The problem wasn't just accuracy, but donor invisibility. A fund named "Turtle Memorial Fund" would arrive, get lumped into the anonymous pile, and disappear from the donor file entirely — making it impossible to acknowledge the gift or thank the donor, let alone track that relationship over time. On the workplace giving side, processing Benevity data would have required an estimated 10 hours per month of manual work. That wasn't feasible, so No Kid Hungry simply couldn't capture individual donor\-level data from workplace giving at all. Gifts from Benevity arrived as a single lump sum each month — $100,000 from thousands of donors, logged as one line item, with no path to stewardship. The team also managed a sprawling list of over 200 platform logins across third\-party giving channels. Staff turnover — including three controllers and two revenue operations directors in a two\-year period — meant credentials were constantly at risk of being lost or abandoned. In the past, one dormant platform account was still tied to a former volunteer's credentials — not an active concern, but a loose end No Kid Hungry was glad to have the opportunity to address. The operational ceiling was clear. Emily's team had reached a point where they were seriously considering a policy to stop accepting gifts from any platform they didn't already work with. > "We were actually considering a policy: if it's not one of the platforms we already work with, we just won't take the money. Which is insane for a nonprofit to say. But it was getting to the point where we just didn't have the capacity." ## **The Solution** Emily saw Chariot's solution to the problem — a unified portal that receives, reconciles, and automatically codes gifts from DAF providers and workplace giving platforms like Benevity, then exports CRM\-ready files. Her reaction was immediate: *I want this.* To get started, No Kid Hungry simply described their gift processing rules to [Chariot's AI agent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khEvAw6of-o) in plain language — how to categorize different gift types, handle DAF soft credits, and assign fund designations. Chariot then manages the gift coding automatically. What stood out to Emily wasn't just the technology; it was how Chariot's team approached the work. "They sat down with us and said, how do you think about this? How do you code your gifts? And then after we implemented, they came back and said, this is coding 75% of your gifts right now — what do we need to do to get the next 25%?" That kind of active partnership, she noted, is rare. Today, No Kid Hungry processes DAF and Benevity workplace giving data on a twice\-monthly pull. Emily handles it herself, and it takes only 30 minutes per session. And as the organization continues to grow — adding new platforms and new giving sources — that workload doesn't scale proportionally. "If we add 50 more platforms or 50 more donations, that's not an increase in workload," Emily said. "We're ready for continued revenue growth in a way we weren't before." **If you’re interested in learning more about Chariot Gift Processing, **[**get in touch with our team**](https://www.givechariot.com/contact)**.** ### **How Chariot Gift Processing works for No Kid Hungry:** - **Automatic reconciliation** — Gifts from Fidelity, Benevity, and other platforms arrive with donor data and deposit data already reconciled, eliminating portal\-hopping and manual aggregation - **AI gift coding** — Chariot automatically applies campaign codes, fund designations, and appeal IDs; staff review exceptions rather than code every gift by hand - **CRM\-ready exports** — Configured to No Kid Hungry's Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT spec, exports arrive correctly formatted every time - **Transformed donor stewardship** — With payments and donor data unified, gift acknowledgments go out sooner and DAF donor records, including from workplace giving, are now tracked individually - **Reduced platform sprawl** — Fewer logins to manage means lower security risk and smoother staff transitions To learn more about how Emily and other innovative nonprofit leaders are using Chariot to auto\-code their gifts, check out our[ AI & Gift Processing webinar recording.](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/webinars/ai-gift-processing-how-nonprofits-are-automating-gift-coding) ## **The Results** The most immediate win was time. > A process that once involved three staff members handling ongoing manual entry now takes one person 30 minutes, twice a month. Emily estimates 15 hours saved per month on core gift processing work, including the time it would take for recoding manually\-coded gifts. The Benevity workplace giving workflow — estimated at 10 hours per month if done manually — was eliminated entirely. But the downstream effects have been more significant than the time savings alone. As DAF volume at No Kid Hungry has grown from roughly 10% to 20% of total contributions, the team hasn't needed to add staff to keep pace. The capacity freed by Chariot has gone toward building out automations, deepening analytics work, and developing new functionality — higher\-leverage work that wouldn't have been accessible before. Perhaps most importantly, gift processing has stopped being a ticket queue and started being a value\-add function. Emily shares: > "The amount of instructions and training that you have to give someone to read a gift and know where it should be coded is a lot. And you don't get it right all the time because you're human. If you can take care of that on the front end, that's really going to change the game for a lot of operations teams." Where individual giving, corporate partnerships, and major gifts teams once came to Emily's team with requests — recode this gift, fix this record, pull this report — those teams are now coming to her with data she surfaced first. - **The corporate team** is using workplace giving data to generate leads for corporate partnership outreach. - **The individual giving team** is using DAF data to build more targeted donor segments. - **The major gifts team** is identifying donors who had been giving through DAFs for years without anyone knowing. "Rather than it becoming a request from them to us," Emily said, "it's becoming: hey, here's how we can help." ## **Advice to the Field** For gift processors who feel buried in manual work, Emily's message is direct: the problem isn't your team's capacity — it's the system you're working in. > "I think so often it feels like operations folks are going into a platform that was designed to fix a fundraiser's needs, and the operations component is kind of an afterthought. What's interesting to me about Chariot is that they do seem to take an operations focus first. That's so infrequent — a platform that takes that step." For teams managing high volumes of DAF and workplace giving gifts without auto\-coding, she points to the hidden cost of training: every new gift processor needs to learn your coding logic from scratch, and human error is inevitable. The requests for re\-coding, the duplicate records, the anonymous donors that should have been known — those costs accumulate quietly. "Rethink what's been a norm just because there was no other way to work around it," she said. "Now there is." Another practical tip for teams getting started: don't self\-limit. "Ask the 'what if' question and try it," Emily says. "The more you push the platform, the more you'll realize how much it can do for you." And for anyone who feels like they don't have the buying power to make it happen, her advice is to build a coalition. "Our fundraisers were excited because donors can give through their DAFs. Our finance team loved the reconciliation. And from an operations perspective, we knew it would be a game changer. You don't have to sell everyone on the same thing — you just have to find what the linchpin is for each team." --- Ready to streamline your team's gift processing? [Get in touch.](/contact) --- ## How Founders Pledge Doubled Its Grantmaking Volume — Without Doubling Its Operational Risk - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-founders-pledge-doubled-its-grantmaking-volume--without-doubling-its-operational-risk - Published: 2026-03-20 > The global DAF sponsor was scaling fast, doubling their grantmaking YoY. Their grant payments infrastructure wasn't. Here's how Chariot Disbursements changed that. Founders Pledge is a global nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs and changemakers maximize the impact of their charitable giving through evidence\-based research, expert advice, a community of peers, and the infrastructure to give effectively. Across entities in the US, UK, and Germany, they administer donor advised funds for their members and run in\-house thematic grantmaking funds — disbursing capital to high\-impact organizations working on climate, global health, and more. In 2025, grant volume surged 99%. For Travers Oliver, Head of Philanthropic Services at Founders Pledge, that growth was exhilarating — and alarming. "We, as an organization, have been really intentional about how we scale," he said. "How do we continue to deliver the same service level to our member base without compromising on risk mitigation or speed?" They needed grant payments infrastructure that could do all three. ## The Problem ### **Tedious, Manual Workflows** Founders Pledge's grantmaking falls into two buckets: straightforward domestic grants that should be fast and automated, and complex international or expenditure responsibility grants that require deeper diligence. The challenge was that their manual payment infrastructure was treating everything like the latter. Every domestic grant triggered a chain — outreach to the grantee, collection of payment details, a verification call, a hand\-off to finance for additional checks. Multiple teams. Multiple touch points. Multiple opportunities for human error. When grant volume doubles, that process doesn’t become twice as painful. It becomes untenable. ### **Payment Risk** And the risk environment was making it worse. "Bad actors are becoming more and more sophisticated, and the solutions are slow to catch up," Travers said. "Everyone I talk to always has the same questions: How are you paying? How are you mitigating risk? And no one really had a great answer." The [risks are real](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/all-checks-no-balance-a-report-on-the-state-of-check-payments-to-nonprofits): checks intercepted in the mail, wires misdirected by impersonators, verification calls compromised by AI bots and deepfakes. Building in\-house defenses against a threat landscape that evolves this fast isn't realistic for most grantmaking teams. > "Unless you have an in-house team specializing 24/7 on how to mitigate these risks," Travers said, "you're going to fall behind." ## The Solution Travers found Chariot through a LinkedIn post, and what started as his cold outreach to the team quickly became a deep partnership. Onboarding was completed **in a matter of weeks**, with Founders Pledge going live in November 2025, fully operational before the giving season peak. [Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) gave Founders Pledge a single, purpose\-built system to handle every payment — replacing the fragmented, manual process: - **Electronic payments** — fast, secure transfers to verified nonprofits, with real\-time status tracking on every grant. - **Nonprofit verification** — IRS good standing validation, OFAC/AML screening, and bank account verification handled automatically, so Founders Pledge never has to collect or store sensitive banking details themselves. - **Exception handling** — for grantees who don't claim their Chariot accounts, Chariot facilitates check delivery, manages returns, and resolves exceptions without staff involvement. - **White\-glove support** — dedicated support for both Founders Pledge and their grantees, with rapid response to payment questions and on\-demand technical support. "From that first day where I sent a message and you immediately responded — there's always someone on the other line. I've been in other spaces where partners are just harder to get in contact with. And there's nothing worse." A key onboarding step: before going live, Founders Pledge sent a launch email guiding their grantees through Chariot's verification process. By the time giving season arrived, grantees were already onboarded. When grants needed to move, it was — as Travers put it — "literally the click of the button experience." > "Between our philanthropy team and finance, there were just so many hands touching every grant — outreach to grantees, collecting details, verification calls, back to finance for checks. And there's always a human error component to that. It really has been a massive game changer." The giving season pain points that previously consumed multiple teams essentially disappeared. Grantees who'd already onboarded into Chariot moved through without re\-verification. No delays. No inbound "what's taking so long?" Just grants moving. > "When we saw it implemented and saw how seamless it was — we could take a deep breath," Travers said. "The first thing people on my team said was: 'What took us so long?" Beyond the team's relief, Chariot unlocked something strategically important: capacity. In the first 4 months of using Chariot, they estimated that they gained back **1 full working day per week.** Freed from the manual overhead of domestic grant processing, Founders Pledge's team can now focus on the high\-complexity work that warrants their focus — international grantmaking, expenditure responsibility grants, deeper member advisory relationships. > "This has given us the ability to free up our time to really do that work and put our effort there," Travers said. "It's been a game changer. It really has." Members have felt the shift too. Faster, seamless grant delivery has become a visible improvement in the Founders Pledge member experience. And perhaps the clearest proof: peer grantmakers — watching Founders Pledge operate through giving season — started reaching out to ask how they were doing it. ## Advice to the Field: Don't Wait for the Pipe to Burst Travers is direct about what he'd tell his peers at other DAF sponsors and grantmaking organizations. "If you have a small pipe and the volume through it keeps doubling — if there's the slightest crack, it's going to burst," he said. "Don't let it get to that point. If you see a crack, fix it. Be an advocate within your organization. Don't wait for your CEO to mandate it." What still excites him most about Chariot isn't just the automation — it's the shared grantee network. When a nonprofit onboards into Chariot, verifying their identity, banking details, and IRS standing, that verification becomes available across every Chariot grantmaker. Grantees don't have to repeat the process for Founders Pledge, then NPT, then every other sponsor they receive grants from. One validation, shared across the field. > "You bring your grantees, I bring mine. We do one check up front, and then we can all leverage that together," he said. "We want grantees focused on their work. There's a reason our members are sending them funds — to deliver impact on the ground. We don't want to add unnecessary administrative burden on top of that." The cost of inaction isn't just operational — it's reputational. "No one wants a reputational risk for something going wrong because someone in my role didn't act when they had the chance," he said. "We are here to deliver funds to charities delivering impact on the ground. In order to do that well, we have to do it with speed — but also with precision. Risk mitigation isn't separate from our mission. It *is* our mission." --- *Interested in how Chariot Disbursements could transform your grant payments operation?* [*Talk to our team.*](/contact) --- ## DAFpay Unlocks Critical DAF Funding on GoFundMe - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/dafpay-unlocks-critical-daf-funding-on-gofundme - Published: 2026-03-18 GoFundMe is a leading crowdfunding platform that allows individuals, nonprofits, and organizations to raise money for personal causes, charitable initiatives, and more. With an easy\-to\-use interface, anyone can create a fundraiser and collect donations directly from supporters worldwide. In 2024, GoFundMe integrated DAFpay across all Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\)\-eligible fundraisers, allowing donors to seamlessly contribute using their DAFs. DAFpay is an express checkout option for DAF donors that enables 3\-click DAF gifts directly in a donation form. # New Digital Revenue Source DAF gifts made up a significant portion of numerous fundraisers on GoFundMe, highlighting their newfound significance in digital fundraising. 1. On a per campaign basis, DAFpay gifts made up an average of 15% of revenue. 2. The top 30 campaigns that received DAF gifts had over 25% of their revenue from DAFpay.  3. DAFpay made up over 5% of the total fundraising volume for campaigns that received a DAF gift.  # Featured fundraiser: Biking for Leukemia Research In July 2024, Mike Enright biked nearly 120 miles to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society \(LLS\). The organization funded the research that led to the development of the drug that saved his son's life from Leukemia. Via his fundraiser on GoFundMe, Enright raised 2x more than his initial goal – $22,500. 47% of these funds came through DAFpay. # Bigger gifts from your largest donors ### DAF donors give significantly more when they can use their DAF instead of a credit card. For GoFundMe, DAFpay has the largest average gift size of any payment method. - The average DAF gift was $700, almost 7x larger than the average non\-DAF gift size of $116.  - For many campaigns, DAF\-gift size outpaced non\-DAF gift size by astronomical amounts – as much as 41x.  - In general, when supporters use their DAF instead of another form of payment, it boosts their giving by 96% on average, according to the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report).  # Featured fundraiser: Memorial for Mayo Clinic When Dr. Nagpaul\-Chaudhry passed away after a 27\-month battle with Stage 4 Sarcoma, her family launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise funds for the Mayo Clinic. The fundraiser raised over $70,000, with $35,917—more than half—coming from DAFpay donations. 9 out of 151 supporters used DAFpay. Their average gift was $3,991 and the median was $2,700. # Instant, connected giving DAFpay delivers an unmatched DAF donor experience, letting the million of people with DAF account use their preferred method of giving in new ways and new places online. 1. DAFpay enabled 3\-click, express checkout DAF giving on any DAF\-eligible nonprofit form.  2. For charity fundraisers on GoFundMe, DAFpay also allows DAF donors to have their gift included in the fundraising total and their name listed in real time. 3. With DAFpay on GoFundMe, DAF donors feel more connection, get more recognition, and have more motivation to support time\-bound or time\-sensitive campaigns. 4. Without DAFpay, supporters with a DAF have to leave the page that inspired them to give, log into their DAF portal, look up the org and take several extra steps to submit the request. The benefitting organization won't know anything about the gift until arrives weeks later and it's typically impossible to attribute it to a specific fundraiser on GoFundMe. # Featured fundraiser: Hurricane Helene Relief This fall, hurricane swept through regions of US, leaving widespread devastation in their wake. Impacted communities turned to GoFundMe as an essential tool to quickly raise funds for recovery. The Affordable Senior Housing Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to proving affordable housing for seniors in underserved North Carolina communities, initiated a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help their community\-members. In just a few weeks, the fundraiser raised over $100,000, with 10% of the total—more than $10,000—coming through DAFpay, ##### With over $326 billion in Donor Advised Funds, DAF giving is going to be an increasingly critical revenue stream for online giving. GoFundMe has been a pioneer in digital DAF giving, bringing digital DAF funding to many critical causes around the country for the first time in 2024. [Click here](/dafpay) to learn more about leveraging DAFpay in GoFundMe fundraisers. *Note: Statistics shown are calculated for campaigns that received at least one DAFpay donation between July 1, 2024 and November 6th, 2024.* --- ## West Point Association of Graduates - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/west-point-association-of-graduates-case-study - Published: 2025-11-20 > After fully implementing DAFpay at checkout across LLS campaigns nationally at the end of January 2025, a flood of DAFpay gifts started coming the next day - and never stopped. The West Point Association of Graduates \(WPAOG\) is the alumni association for the U.S. Military Academy. Every year, WPAOG conducts the West Point Challenge, a focused giving campaign aimed towards increasing alumni participation. This year, WPAOG raised $175,000 more than last year, $105,000 of which is thanks to Gravyty's seamless DAFpay integration\! ### DAFpay's remarkable impact #### 1. Substantial Contributions - Gifts made via DAFpay raised $104,564, accounting for 17% of WPAOG's online fundraising total. #### 2. New DAF Donors - 34% of DAF donors to WPAOG's campaign made their first\-ever DAF donation this year, using DAFpay. #### 3. Larger Gifts - DAFpay gifts averaged 18x larger than non\-DAF gifts, $3.2k vs. $175. In fact, 13% of DAF donors used DAFpay for their largest donation ever.  > "We were surprised at the sheer number of people who used DAFpay for our giving day!" ### Online platform revenue surge This year, WPAOG raised nearly $610K through their West Point Challenge, boosting their 2023 number by $175K, or 29%. Almost 60% of that growth, $105K, came from DAFpay gifts. > "DAFpay is a game-changer for our customers. We've seen firsthand how quickly it unlocks higher campaign totals by making it easier for them to accept DAF gifts." ### A powerful DAFpay integration via gravyty 1. WPAOG uses Gravyty’s powerful giving day campaign forms. Gravyty's innovative integrations, like DAFpay, help their clients perform better.  2. Gravyty’s expertise in fundraising and powering time\-sensitive giving campaigns made them an ideal fit for West Point’s alumni fundraising goals. 3. Gravyty integrates DAFpay as a giving option in order to maximize results from DAF donors. 4. To learn more visit [Gravyty’s website](https://gravyty.com/), and see what they have to say [about DAFs.](https://gravyty.com/blog/donor-advised-funds-for-nonprofits/) Interested in how digital DAF giving could transform your organization’s fundraising? [Reach out to the Chariot Team.](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) --- ## Blood Cancer United - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/lls-case-study - Published: 2025-11-20 > After fully implementing DAFpay at checkout across LLS campaigns nationally at the end of January 2025, a flood of DAFpay gifts started coming the next day - and never stopped. Blood Cancer United \(formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society\) is the largest nonprofit dedicated to creating a world without blood cancers. Since 1949, they've invested more than $1.3 billion in groundbreaking research, pioneering many of today’s most innovative approaches. ### Digital DAF giving happening at scale, overnight After fully implementing DAFpay at checkout across Blood Cancer United campaigns nationally at the end of January 2025, a flood of DAFpay gifts started coming the next day \- and never stopped. ### Digital DAF giving is reshaping overall DAF fundraising Despite DAFpay only being broadly enabled for 5 months of FY25 \(ending 6/30/25\), DAFpay was the driving force of Blood Cancer Unitedoverall DAF fundraising growth. > "DAFpay donors were largely net-new DAF donors” ### DAFpay is used by every donor type DAFpay has proven that donors at all giving levels now use DAFs, and that any size DAF donor likes to give digitally. ### DAFpay is most powerful at checkout Blood Cancer United initially only included DAFpay on a dedicated DAF giving webpage under their “ways to give” section. Once they added DAFpay to the checkout forms across all their campaign pages nationally, the flood gates truly opened: #### 95% of DAFpay gifts were made in checkout on campaign pages. - 5% of DAFpay gifts were made on the Dedicated DAF giving webpage​ - Those gifts did tend to be larger, average of $2,407 - Still, these gifts only made up 9% of total Volumes DAF Donors are inherently digital \- on mobile AND desktop Nearly all DAF donors manage their DAF through an online portal. So it’s natural that they’d adapt to a digital DAF payment option well\! DAFpay use is skewed toward Desktop sessions, but there’s still substantial mobile activity\! ### The Opportunity Blood Cancer United \(formerly The Leukemia Lymphoma Society\) was well positioned to capitalize on the DAF giving opportunity with DAFpay for 3 key reasons: #### 1. Significant peer\-to\-peer and event fundraising Blood Cancer United has 4 peer\-to\-peer fundraising campaigns in the national top 30, and that’s one of the easiest places for a DAF donor to use their credit card to make a smaller gift. DAFpay at checkout catches those folks so they can make a much larger gift, more easily via DAFpay. “DAFs are the bucket I’ve set aside anyway, I don’t want to have $200 bucks come out of my Amex, I only want $50 to come out of my Amex, but I can easily have $200 come from my Fidelity Charitable account.” #### 2. Name & cause confusion among organizations fighting cancer. Many folks think they are supporting Blood Cancer United when they have actually given to a different organization. This is true in general, but especially for DAF donors that have to go look up the organization by name in their portal. DAFpay removes this step and possible confusion by allowing the DAF donor to complete their gift right on the LLS page without any look up. #### 3. No prior holistic DAF strategy Like most organizations, Blood Cancer United didn’t previously have a concerted, proactive strategy around DAFs. “This is really the first time that we're placing a conscious effort on influencing our culture to have DAFs be one of the focal points at the center.” Innovative technology from Chariot, plus a talented team at Blood Cancer United, is an unstoppable combination. “Our team really nailed how we rolled this out, how we communicated to teams and how we influenced the messaging across the organization. It’s an amazing tool, but it has to be married with how you integrate it into your organization’s culture.” ### More Results #### 1. Donor & Participant Experience Donors are now able to support a specific fundraiser’s campaign directly on their fundraising page with a DAF faster than even a credit card gift. This capability also ensures the gift gets credited to the right participant or team and provides contact email so the participant can thank their DAF supporters right away. #### 2. Data quality & gift processing improvements DAFpay captures DAF donor name and email every time, instantly, as opposed to offline DAF gifts that often don’t include full name, never have an email and take weeks to arrive. #### 3. A more valuable wealth indicator Previously, Blood Cancer United relied upon wealth screening of P2P donors alone to find opportunities for the Advancement team, but now they are checking the giving mechanism as a wealth indicator. #### 4. Better relationship building Blood Cancer United prioritized education and training of staff in every part of the organization, which has led to enhanced Interested in how digital DAF giving could transform your organization’s fundraising? [Reach out to the Chariot Team.](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) --- ## Daffy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/daffy - Published: 2025-11-20 > Daffy - an official DAF Partner of DAF Day - saw a 40% increase in weekly new account openings and 4x increase in daily giving as a result of the 2024 DAF Day campaign. The secret to Daffy’s success on DAF Day? An integrated and holistic approach to making the most of DAF’s own holiday\! ## Proactive Communications Daffy began seeding awareness of DAF Day 10 weeks in advance with consistent social content and ramped up email campaigns the week of the event. This helped establish DAF Day in people’s minds \- both so that current account holders could plan their giving for DAF Day, and prospective account holders could have a mental deadline to get their account set up and funded. ## Motivating Initiatives Apart from the inherent excitement of a dedicated day for collective giving, Daffy also set up a special promotional incentive for giving on DAF Day. If you donated on Daffy, you were entered into a sweepstakes to be one of the 10 generous participants to receive a $100 Daffy Gift, a digital charity gift card They also offered an incentive for account holders to invite a friend and both would have $25 added to their Daffy account once the new account was funded. These two initiatives were relatively low\-cost with incredibly successful outcomes for greater giving and growth. ## Collaborative Partnership Daffy worked closely with the Chariot team to align on the messaging and timeline of DAF Day. It allowed Daffy’s Co\-founder & CEO, Adam Nash, to be [featured in press](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhessekiel/2024/06/12/will-2024-be-the-year-of-the-daf/) for the initiative, a DAF Day public webinar, and prominent placement on the DAF Day website. This led to high visibility for the Daffy brand on an initiative that reached 10s of thousands of folks in philanthropy. ## Donor Experience Daffy has also collaborated closely with Chariot to add game\-changing enhancements to the DAF donor & nonprofit experience: ##### Seamless DAFpay connection Daffy built a custom connection to DAFpay so their members can use their Daffy DAF as a payment option on over 60,000 nonprofit donation forms and campaign pages\! ##### DAF\-to\-DAF Transfers Daffy added DAFpay into their own platform as a way to transfer funds from an outside DAF to their Daffy account. 25% of their 2024 contributions came through DAF transfers. ##### Chariot Disbursements\* Daffy partnered with Chariot to develop a state\-of\-the\-art digital grant payment system that could be utilized by any payer in the ecosystem. Faster, easier, safer payments are what donors, nonprofits, and DAFs all want\! ## Transparent Reporting The day after DAF Day, Daffy shared their results so they could be included in the [immediate announcement](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241015121417/en/First-Ever-DAF-Day-Successfully-Kicks-Off-Giving-Season-Participants-See-Everything-From-%243-Million-Increases-to-Their-Biggest-Giving-Day-Ever) of the inaugural DAF Day’s success. They were able to track new account openings in the week before DAF Day, total gifts on DAF Day relative to a prior comparable day, and ultimately reported on their single\-day total volume in [their annual report](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2024) \- almost as much as Giving Tuesday\! - \+40% New Accounts - 4x Daily Gifts - $233K granted on DAF Day \- nearly as much as the $364K granted on Giving Tuesday a few weeks later. > “Our participation in the first-ever DAF Day paid off in every way. The shared moment effectively rallied the Daffy community, grew our reach, and inspired more people to give. We're ready to build on that momentum in 2025.” --- ## Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/be-positive-case-study - Published: 2025-11-20 > When the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation enhanced the visibility of the DAFpay button on their donation forms, they saw huge returns in both the size and frequency of DAF gifts. The Andrew McDonough B\+ Foundation is dedicated to fighting childhood cancer by offering both financial and emotional support to families battling the disease. With a peer\-to\-peer fundraising model at the heart of their efforts, the foundation previously did not list DAF gifts on these websites as a way to donate. Before DAFpay, some donors didn't realize they could use their DAFs for specific campaigns, and there was no seamless process to initiate or track DAF donations. In 2023, The B\+ Foundation addressed this issue head\-on, and integrated DAFpay. The result? A significant increase in DAF giving, the ability to recognize and steward DAF donors, and a more robust fundraising strategy overall. ## DAFpay drives new donors 1. 76% of DAFpay donors were first\-time donors to The B\+ Foundation, demonstrating that DAFpay isn't just a payment method—it's a donor acquisition machine. 2. Bringing in first\-time donors is key to long\-term fundraising growth, and DAFpay is a major pipeline for new supporters with greater giving capacity. 3. DAFpay provides The B\+ Foundation with their donors' names and emails, allowing them to identify and cultivate these donors right away. > We realized we could finally see all this valuable donor info—like their names and emails—that we don't normally get with non-DAFpay donor advised fund gifts. ## DAFpay donors give more #### Higher Average The average DAFpay gift was $529—7x higher than gifts made without DAFpay. #### Consistent Support For B\+, donors that gave with a credit card previously and used DAFpay for the first time in 2024 increased their gift size 3x on average. #### Gifts of All Sizes The median DAFpay gift was $200, demonstrating that while DAF gifts tend to be larger, B\+ donors gave DAF gifts at all levels, ranging from $20 to $2,500. > When people see that they can use the money they've already set aside for charity, they're more motivated to give. ## The B\+ Foundation's keys to success The B\+ Foundation has used DAFpay for nearly two years, but gifts really started to flow when they made a pivotal change: placing DAFpay at the top of their donation form. This strategic placement immediately caught donors' attention, alerting them to the fact that they could easily give with their DAF. As a peer\-to\-peer fundraising organization, The B\+ Foundation relies on supporters to create fundraising pages and rally donations from their networks. In these campaigns, [donors often default to credit cards](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph)—either because using a DAF feels like an extra step, or they simply forget about it. By featuring DAFpay prominently, donors are not only reminded of their DAFs but also see their available account balance, making the decision to give even more compelling. The B\+ Foundation's average DAFpay gift was 7x higher than the average non\-DAFpay gift, thanks to a frictionless donation process and pre\-designated funds. DAF gifts are larger even among the same donors. [The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that once donors give via DAF, their annual contributions to the same nonprofit rise by 96% on average. Looking to fine\-tune you DAF data and see if your organization meets the industry standard? [Join the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report\! ](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report-2024) --- ## Community Rowing, Inc. - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/community-rowing-inc - Published: 2025-11-20 > Community Rowing Inc. incorporated Chariot's Donor Advised Payment option into their online fundraising tool, setting a new record for DAF fundraising! Community Rowing, Inc. \(CRI\) lives up to its name. Through the sport of rowing, it fosters personal growth and confidence for over 5,000 rowers annually, while also intentionally creating opportunities to build community across the Boston area. In 2024, CRI used DAFpay for their Giving Day for the second consecutive year, building on the success they found in 2023, when DAF giving surged by 20% within a week of integrating DAFpay. Their 2024 results blew last year’s out of the water – no pun intended. ### DAFpay revenue is the primary force behind online revenue growth - CRI's online revenue growth increased by 25%, or $18,411.  - CRI's DAFpay revenue increased by the same amount — $18,550.  - DAFpay revenue accounted for 100% of CRI's digital revenue growth and more.  > Before DAFpay, people [would] tell me that they were going to give through a DAF, but they didn’t really know when it was coming. The really cool thing about DAFpay is that it's instantaneous. ### DAFpay was crucial to CRI's Giving Day, fostering larger gifts and providing real\-time data 1. Critical Channel \- DAF contributions made up over 50% of CRI’s total revenue, with DAFpay revenue alone generating half of that DAF total 2. Larger Gifts \- The average DAFpay gift size increased from $1.2K to $3.5K, demonstrating that as DAF donors became more familiar with DAFpay, they contributed significantly larger gifts. 3. Online Contributions \- DAFpay contributed 31% of CRI’s total online revenue, marking a 128% increase from 2023. 4. Instant Data \- DAFpay gifts were reflected on CRI's Givebutter campaign page immediately, allowing DAF donors to see their impact in real\-time and add to the momentum of a time\-sensitive campaign. Learn more about Chariot's integration with Givebutter [here](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/9194749-getting-started-with-givebutter). > When I saw that there was an ability for people to automatically donate support from their DAF in real time for our Giving Day, I just thought: 'wow, that is awesome.' ### CRI's keys to sucess - CRI displayed DAFpay as a core payment option on its donation form, which fostered a seamless experience for donors and made DAF giving as accessible as possible. - CRI's donation forms were powered by Givebutter, which enabled simple incorporation of DAFpay on their forms. Givebutter is one of [dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) partnered with Chariot. - CRI leveraged real\-time DAF data provided by Chariot to account for DAF revenue in their time\-sensitive giving campaign — bypassing the usual delays in receiving DAF revenue information. --- ## Susan G. Komen - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/susan-g-komen - Published: 2025-11-20 > Komen set a new single-day DAF fundraising record on the first-ever national giving day dedicated to Donor Advised Funds. On DAF Day 2024, Susan G. Komen received: - 174 DAF gifts - $267,000 in support - One $88,000 gift Susan G. Komen raised more DAF gifts on DAF Day than on any other day in the organization’s history. Gifts ranged from $20 to multiple 5\-figure donations. The first\-ever DAF Day unleashed a wave of DAF giving on October 10, 2024. That same day the year before? No recorded DAF gifts. Many DAF donors have a significant amount in their accounts, and this Komen supporter decided DAF Day was their moment. The secret to Susan G. Komen’s success? Prioritizing DAFs with an integrated, proactive DAF strategy year round. Trish Davis, Vice President of Major Gifts & Planned Giving, has led an organization\-wide effort to proactively engage with DAF giving—even becoming a DAF thought leader beyond Komen. She is on Chariot’s Nonprofit Advisory Council, joined the inaugural DAF Fundraising Report, presented on DAFs at conferences, and spoke in industry webinars. ### Invested in DAF education Komen has introduced DAF Fundraising to their annual training, bringing in an outside expert to lead a team\-wide workshop each year. For anytime access to DAF information, the organization has added DAF fundraising resources to their shared drive. ### Embraced technology as a DAF giving driver The team at Komen has charted a path to incorporate DAF giving in as many digital fundraising surfaces as possible— they’ve added DAFpay for 3\-click DAF giving on their [Ways to Give](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) page and various [peer\-to\-peer](https://www.the3day.org/site/SPageServer/) fundraising campaigns. ### DAF Day drives DAF giving when you go all\-in All\-in on leadership Komen’s CEO, Paula Schneider, showed up for every DAF Day initiative. She was quoted in the DAF Day press, spoke on a DAF Day webinar, engaged board members to spread the word on social media, and posted about DAF Day on her own social channels. > DAF Day and DAFpay have been instrumental to our DAF strategy and sparked incredible success in the first year. ### All\-in on DAF Day activations Komen launched their DAF Day campaign across channels and teams. They posted about DAF Day on social media, engaged major donors in one\-on\-one discussions, and sent a postcard mailer to their broader donor list. ### All\-in on rapid stewardship On DAF Day 2024, Komen received 18 DAFpay gifts from supporters, with a median gift of $350. One of the biggest benefits of DAFpay is that the Komen team gets a notification with the donor’s email as soon as the gift is made. Trish used this instant insight to send real\-time, personalized thank you video messages to each donor. As for non\-DAFpay gifts made on DAF Day, the Komen team didn’t know about them until they arrived up to several weeks later and they typically only have a mailing address included. In those instances, Trish sent personalized thank you letters in the mail, but the DAFpay experience is the gold standard for donors and Komen\! > Our partnership with Chariot has been a breakthrough for our DAF Strategy. Their innovative technology and creative initiatives are exactly what Komen—and the broader nonprofit sector—needs to capitalize on the immense opportunity DAFs have presented. --- ## March of Dimes - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/march-of-dimes - Published: 2025-11-20 > March of Dimes converts critical new donors & first time DAF users with DAFpay March of Dimes and their Peer\-to\-Peer fundraising campaign, March for Babies, implemented DAFpay this year and saw a significant return in just a few months, both in terms of overall revenue and high\-value donor acquisition. March of Dimes implemented DAFpay on their Ways to Give Page in December 2023 and as a core payment option in their Peer\-to\-Peer Fundraising platform for March for Babies in March 2024. This case study analyzes their results with DAFpay in the 5 months between mid\-December and mid\-May. ### Valuable donor acquisition We partnered with the March of Dimes team to analyze the prior giving of the donors using DAFpay. When we went through each of the top 20 gifts, we discovered some fascinating insights: #### 1. 50% of these donors made their first gift ever to March of Dimes through DAFpay. That might seem high, but Stripe recently shared that 81% of cart abandonment was attributed to someone’s preferred payment option not being available. ​Without DAFpay, people who want to give from their DAF have to go through 15\-20 extra steps to complete a gift \- giving them ample opportunity to drop off and not follow through. ​ ​DAFpay helped March of Dimes convert this valuable donor group right on their own donation page. #### 2. 30% were prior March of Dimes supporters, but gave from a DAF for the first time. Without DAFpay, people with a DAF are also likely to checkout with a credit card since it is so much easier. This prevents the organization from getting a larger DAF gift, knowing the donor has a DAF, and stewarding them properly. DAFpay lets donor use their DAF in the moment of inspiration with a checkout that’s even easier than a credit card. #### 3. When current supporters used their DAF for the first time, their gift size increased 8x on average When a DAF donor can easily use their DAF instead of a credit card, they are significantly more generous. Because they’ve already set the money aside in their DAF, saved on their taxes and grown the account by investing in the market, they have greatly increased their giving capacity. For the donors analyzed, the average 8x increase meant an incremental $900 per donor\! One supporter, Sheetal, made a $5,000 gift in February through DAFpay on the Ways to Give page \- their first time supporting the organization. When a friend asked Sheetal to support their March for Babies campaign in April, she used DAFpay again to make a $750 gift. She shared that her experience with DAFpay was “Excellent\! It couldn’t have been easier\!” ### Important new source of revenue In the first few months, March of Dimes saw:​ - 57 DAF gifts - Average gift size of $633 - Median gift size of $200 - 7 different DAFs utilized Given 80% of these donors were net\-new or first\-time DAF donors making 8x larger gifts, this is an exciting source of brand new revenue. ### Improved performance with express checkout After initially implementing DAFpay only on a Ways to Give page in December, the organization also implemented DAFpay as a core checkout option on their Peer\-to\-Peer forms in March. In just 2 months, the March for Babies campaign saw 6x more gifts than the Ways to Give page saw in 5 months. The placement of DAFpay as a core payment option anywhere that donors are giving online is a critical piece of successful DAF fundraising. --- ## CauseMatch - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/causematch - Published: 2025-11-20 > How DAFpay increased digital revenue by over 10% for top CauseMatch campaigns ### Increased revenue While many organizations that use CauseMatch have received some DAF support in the past, it was never fully integrated into a time\-based campaign, in real time. The ability to embed a single payment option compatible with the majority of the DAF market unlocked a significant new revenue stream: digital DAF revenue. ​ - Top 3 campaigns got \>10% of digital revenue from DAFpay - ​Over $160k raised in an entirely new revenue stream for the platform - The top 5 campaigns raised $10k\+ each ### Better engagement Inspiration and a sense of urgency are absolutely critical to peer\-to\-peer fundraising \- especially since many of the folks a campaign reaches are in participants’ networks and might be new to the organization. By making it seamless to use a DAF in that moment of inspiration, DAFpay boosts participation, improves conversion and increases gift size \- serving as an important catalyst to the overall momentum of the campaign across payment methods. - 82% of eligible active campaigns received DAF gifts - 41% conversion rate \- double typical industry figures - Average DAFpay gift size of $425, median $180 These gift size figures are more than double what CauseMatch customers see through other payment methods. This has an outsized impact on the campaign “thermometers” that show progress towards overall fundraising goals and are proven to motivate participation. ### Finding new DAF donors More than the larger gifts that donors make through DAFpay, they also show the organization that they have a DAF \- the single best indicator of their capacity and propensity to give. DAF donors are likely to be your best prospects to steward as potential major donors that are proven to give more money, more regularly and with higher retention than other types of donors [\(Learn more about DAF donors statistics\).](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) - On average, campaigns secured at least 7 DAF donors - 379 total digital DAF donations from 11 different Donor Advised Funds - The top 5 campaigns saw 20\+ DAF gifts Providing an easy way to give with a DAF when you might have otherwise used a credit card helps identify more DAF donors in your current audience and among first time donors. DAFpay also captures their name and email right when they donate, for easy follow up and stewardship. That new relationship is likely to be 10x more valuable long\-term than this current gift. --- ## DAFpay brings a New Wave of DAF Giving for The Public Theater - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/dafpay-brings-a-new-wave-of-daf-giving-for-the-public-theater - Published: 2025-11-20 > We interviewed Shayla Titley, The Public Theater’s Director of Patron Programs & Services, to hear how she led a DAF strategy overhaul and opened an exciting new revenue channel across the organization with DAFpay. We interviewed Shayla Titley, The Public Theater’s Director of Patron Programs & Services, to hear how she led a DAF strategy overhaul and opened an exciting new revenue channel across the organization with DAFpay. ## Surge in new DAF giving “There were people who had never given to us from a donor\-advised fund before, who then gave a DAF through DAFpay because it was there and available for them” ## New Stewardship Capabilities Are Transformative for DAF Donor Experience “I think the major thing that, for us, we feel the benefit is the stewardship. It's to be able to recognize and see pretty much in real time when someone has made a recommendation from their donor\-advised fund to us, and for us to be able to reach back out to them” ## “Finding” DAF Donors with Mailers “So I said, "Guys, let's mention that they can give through a donor\-advised fund onto this reply device. It's fully tax deductible. There's no harm. And, we did. The results were pretty significant. We received 91 gifts, and 25% of those gifts were donor\-advised fund gifts.” “The other significant part of that is that half of all of the donor\-advised fund gifts that we receive were done through DAFpay. So, we gave folks the option to let us know through mail, but also sent them information to be able to go directly online and to do that, and that is what folks did as well. ## Lost Gifts: Clearing up Legal Name Confusion “We're doing business as The Public Theater. We are legally the New York Shakespeare Festival because that was our foundation. And, the fact that DAFpay is right on our webpage and our donation page means that they can just type in what they need to directly from there, and it works without needing to worry about what our EIN is.” ## DAF Day: Building DAF Understanding for Staff Internally “DAF Day really allowed us to dig in a little bit more specifically to say, ‘No, this is the difference between a donor\-advised fund and these other giving channels that you may have seen, and this is why we are focusing on it here.’ So, that really did jumpstart something, and I think everyone is pretty much clear on the differences now.” ## The Business Case for DAF Strategy, from a true DAF Champion “As fundraisers … we want to make sure that we are meeting our goals and hitting the lines, but we also wanna make sure that we are adequately and exceptionally thanking and stewarding our donors. And, the fact that there would be months that could go by and I didn't know who had given that donor\-advised fund gift, that's just— I know it wasn't our fault— but it still didn't feel right that we have that happening. And so, having DAFpay really does eliminate a lot of that. And, I think the other part of it is just we want to make giving easy, and DAFpay allows someone who has a donor\-advised fund to give easily to us. And, that is a wonderful thing, and that's something I think we all, as fundraisers, aspire to. We want to make our donors' option to give as easy as possible and our ability to thank them as quickly as possible paramount.” --- ## Pan-Mass Challenge - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/pan-mass-challenge - Published: 2025-11-19 > Nearly half of PMC’s fundraising growth in 2024 has come from DAF giving, after their switch to DAFpay in January. Pan\-Mass Challenge \(“PMC”\), the largest athletic fundraiser in the country, has long been a leader in DAF fundraising. In January 2024, they implemented DAFpay as an express checkout donation option on every participant’s fundraising page \- and they’ve seen incredible results: > It's not optional to have [DAFs] front and center on your website [and] in all your materials People want to use their DAFs as their charitable wallet for any size gift online \- and they will when it is easy with tools like DAFpay > "I tested DAFpay with a donation to my son's upcoming 1st PMC ride. It required fewer keystrokes than entering in my credit-card information and was as easy as using PayPal." --- ## Michael J. Fox Foundation - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/michael-j-fox-foundation - Published: 2025-11-19 > The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the national leader in Parkinson’s research, ran a preliminary test of Chariot’s innovative DAFpay™️ technology and saw incredible organic results. The [Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://www.michaeljfox.org/), the national leader in Parkinson’s research, ran a preliminary test of Chariot’s innovative DAFpay™ technology and saw incredible organic results. The Michael J. Fox Foundation \(MJFF\) ran a limited 2\-month test of the DAFpay™ Tile, enabled only on the Foundation’s [Donor Advised Fund page](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds), without any marketing or donor communications about the capability. They saw the following results: - Attracted new DAF Donors: 69% of donors using DAFpay™ were first time donors to the organization. - Record high conversion: 70% of users that clicked on DAFpay converted and completed their gift vs. the 20% industry average for online donation forms. - 9x larger digital gifts: Average gift size of $1,800 compared to the $204 average online credit card gift. - Unparalleled Stewardship: Over 50% of the new DAF donors responded to personal thank you emails sent right after their gifts, made possible by DAFpay™ ### New DAF donors Shirley Nagar, MJFF’s Director of Planned Giving, and her team were incredibly excited about these early results, sharing that “most of these gifts were from first time donors to the foundation so it’s helped identify really promising new supporters \- that’s a big win” Of the 16 donors that organically discovered the DAFpay™ Tile, 11 of them were brand new to the organization. By providing prospective donors with a seamlessly embedded, 3\-click digital DAF giving experience, MJFF made it as easy as possible for those donors to join their fight to end Parkinson's. > Most of these gifts were from first time donors to the foundation so it's helped identify really promising new supporters - that's a big win! ### Record conversion The average online donation form conversion rate is between 8 and 20% depending on the device \(mobile, tablet or desktop\), according to [M\+R’s annual benchmark study](https://mrbenchmarks.com/). With the DAFpay™ Tile natively embedded on their Donor Advised Fund page in their Ways to Give section of their website, MJFF saw over 70% of form visitors converting to a finished DAF gift. ### Larger gifts Of the 16 gifts made during the limited trial, the average gift size was $1,800, which is 9x larger than the [$204 average online credit card gift.](https://institute.blackbaud.com/resources/charitable-giving-report-2021#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021) This is the first time that MJFF has been able to process DAF gifts online and, as expected, it has proven to unlock significantly larger gifts than a donor choosing to use their credit card online because it’s easier. ### Unparalleled DAF donor stewardship Historically, Shirley never knew when a DAF gift was submitted until it arrived from the DAF weeks later and rarely with any useful contact information. DAFpay™️ shares a donor’s name and email with MJFF immediately when the DAF gift is submitted, enabling unprecedented quality of stewardship. “Every time we get a DAF gift I’m now able to reach out and personally thank these new donors as soon as the gift is made, and they’ve been really responsive to that outreach,” said Shirley. She estimates that over half of the new donors she reached out to responded, providing an incredibly strong foundation for an ongoing relationship and increased future support. Giving from a DAF is one of the highest indicators of someone’s capacity and propensity to give. --- ## Brothers & Sisters for Israel - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/brothers-sisters-for-israel - Published: 2025-11-19 > Brothers & Sisters for Israel formed the day after the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel and, thanks to Chariot, was able to tap into real-time, increased DAF funding to meet the most critical needs on the ground. Key Takeaways - ​Tapping DAF giving in a timely manner for crisis response - Leveraging a fiscal sponsor to deploy DAF funds for new, grassroots efforts - Chariot’s technology & design leads to significantly increased DAF gift sizes ### October 8th, 2023 The organization was formed on October 8th to start meeting people’s most urgent needs \- like accounting for the thousands of people killed, missing or displaced \- before the government was even able to act. For this kind of crisis response, speed is everything, but there are typically two main barriers to accessing the vast amount of DAF money quickly for a new grassroots effort: 1. Partnering with a fiscal sponsor to receive tax\-deductive donations 2. Knowing when DAF gifts are made and how much is granted Without a fiscal sponsor, no DAF gifts can be received. Even once that sponsor is in place, an organization responding to a crisis without Chariot doesn’t know anything about a DAF gift until it arrives weeks or months later in the mail, well past the point they can be accounted for in crisis response programs. > “We had several donors telling us they wanted to use their DAF to support our effort, but we weren’t really very familiar with them and didn’t have a way to easily receive them until we started working with Chariot" ### Partnering with Chariot By partnering with Chariot, Brothers & Sisters for Israel:​ - Quickly learned how DAFs were used​ - Easily designated DAF donations for their programs through a fiscal sponsor. - ​Saw DAF gifts in real time to budget for that funding​ Within a few weeks of enabling Chariot, the organization received $74,000 in DAF donations from 21 donors, ranging from $180 to $11,000\+ each\! Including these gifts in their budget real time allowed Shani and her team to quickly deploy more resources in support of the families and communities affected most by the October 7th attacks. ### Focusing on the greatest need "We have been prioritizing whatever the greatest needs are over the past two months and working as fast as possible to assist,” said Shani. “At first, that meant setting up an entire system to account for everyone impacted by the attacks.” “Then we brought resources for the families that were displaced from the communities impacted \- everything from food and medical supplies, to education resources to children removed from their daily schooling, to accommodations for sitting shiva to mourn those killed. We also mobilized our network of thousands of volunteers to go into the fields where farms had to be abandoned to prevent the waste of crops in that region which make up over 75% of Israeli agriculture.” To learn more about the importance of rapid timelines for payouts in crisis response, [this article](https://www.groundswell.io/blog/the-big-donation-distribution-problem-you-dont-know-about) from Team Rubicon & Groundswell founder Jake Wood offers amazing insights. ### Substanially larger gifts In addition to enabling the lightning\-fast response, Chariot’s optimized interface for DAF giving led to substantially larger gifts from supporters. One donor started their donation with a $1,000 gift entered into the donation form, but once they clicked “DAFpay” they were reminded of their total DAF balance and given the chance to boost their gift size. This donor’s balance was $11,273, so they decided to change their gift to the entire balance \- a more than 11x increase. This is the power of a DAF donation tool that is built for nonprofit organizations. The user interface is obsessively optimized for what yields the highest conversion rate of donors and the largest gifts. Donors going through their own DAF platform do not have the same nudges or optimizations because there are different incentives at play. To learn more about the advantages offered by Chariot’s technology for nonprofits, check out [this feature comparison](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-does-chariot-compare-to-other-daf-solutions-for-nonprofits) with the more basic tools on the market. > DAFs are really an unbelievable resource! We are so happy to be able to work with DAF giving in this effort thanks to Chariot. --- ## Giving What We Can - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/giving-what-we-can - Published: 2025-11-19 - Seamless technical implementation for a customized use case of DAFpay™ - Vastly improved donor experience with an average DAF gift of over $18,000 - Streamlined reconciliation for database & finance teams [Giving What We Can](https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/) \(“GWWC”\) is a nonprofit dedicated to “making giving effectively and significantly a cultural norm.” Their technology is a core part of how they advocate for increased philanthropy and make it easy for people to follow through on their philanthropic goals. Through their proprietary platform, they both share research on highly effective charities in different cause areas and process donations to those organizations. Like many organizations across the sector, GWWC has seen growing support in the form of “offline” Donor Advised Fund gifts in recent years. When the team learned about Chariot’s solution to integrate digital DAF gifts into their platform, they were excited about the opportunities that feature could unlock. In the first month, they saw 8 DAF gifts come through DAFpay™, averaging over $18,000 per gift. ### Easy Implementation “The documentation is just fantastic,” shares Sarah Baka, Technical Product Manager for GWWC. “Even getting set up and creating a sandbox environment was super quick and saved a tremendous amount of development time.” Sarah and her team were able to do a “soft launch” of DAFpay™ in late January, 2024, after only a few weeks of development work. ### DAF Fundraising Success Once the integrated DAF payment option was live on their checkout forms, they started seeing several major organic DAF gifts in the first few weeks \- without any promotion of the new feature\! In the first month, they saw 8 DAF gifts come through DAFpay™, averaging over $18,000 per gift. These gifts included: - Donations from first\-time supporters of GWWC - Two gifts worth $50,000\! - One donor that used their DAF multiple times to support different causes on the platform “While it’s still early, we did already hear from one donor who complimented [the DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video)™ and how much of an improvement the integrated process is,” adds Sarah. Before DAFpay™️, donors would have to leave the GWWC website, navigate their own DAF portal \(which typically takes several minutes\) and GWWC wouldn’t have any insight until the gift arrived weeks or months later. [ donation flow](https://www.givechariot.com/demo-video) ### Streamlined Reconciliation Not only does the fully embedded DAF payment significantly improve the donor’s experience while making the gift, it has also led to exciting efficiencies internally for the organization. > “paying with DAFpay™️ is an almost instant verification and that now helps our accounting team keep track of payments much more easily.” When the DAF gift is initiated through the DAFpay™ button on GWWC, the donor’s name, email and key gift details automatically enter their systems to streamline reconciliation. The whole organization has transparency on DAF gift details and status while being processed that they never had before. These efficiencies are critical for an organization focused on high\-impact philanthropy and regularly does their own self evaluation on how much impact is actually achieved for every donated dollar. They want to get as much out of every dollar as possible, and scaling innovative technologies is a big part of how they achieve that goal. Sarah says that the team is “excited to do a full public launch in the coming weeks and can’t wait for all the other innovations underway with Chariot’s products\!” --- ## Penn Hillel - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/penn-hillel - Published: 2025-11-19 > Penn Hillel is a central destination at the University of Pennsylvania. Each year, Hillel reaches 85% of the Jewish students, with a wide variety of opportunities ranging from social justice to culture, and from religious offerings to Israel education. No matter your Jewish background or knowledge, Penn Hillel is there to know every student by name and by story. No matter your Jewish background or knowledge, Penn Hillel is there to know every student by name and by story. Every year the pressure is on in the last 2 months of the year for [Bari Epstein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bari-joy-epstein-18661123/) and her fundraising team at [Penn Hillel](https://pennhillel.org/) to exceed their full year fundraising goals. That’s a big reason they were so excited to implement Chariot and take advantage of the explosion in DAF accounts. ### Fundraising success In just one day of their campaign in November, the team received 9 DAF gifts digitally for over $12,000 through Chariot’s 3\-click DAFpay solution \- making up 14% of their total fundraise. In the following month, they raised another $12,000 from 12 more gifts with Chariot. Across all 21 gifts, the average size was $1,150 \- that’s almost 6x the average credit gift online \(according to the [Blackbaud Institute’s report](https://institute.blackbaud.com/resources/charitable-giving-report-2021#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\) #### Communication channels [Latasha Carrington](https://www.linkedin.com/in/latasha-carrington-b8422963/), Assistant Director of Business Services, who handles all of the organization’s fundraising communications and gift processing, credits the success of their campaign to how they prominently featured the easy DAFpay capabilities. She noted “we put a clear button on every one of our fundraising emails specifying that people could give with a Donor Advised Fund.” In just one day of their campaign in November, the team received 9 DAF gifts digital for over $12,000 through Chariot \- making up 14% of their total fundraise. #### Excited for DAF fundraising The seamless digital experience for donors that Chariot’s solution offers is also a welcome improvement for their team. “Before we used Chariot, we had to follow up with donors or their Donor Advised Fund platform to get information about the gift or make sure it was actually sent,” added Bari. Those are touch points that no one wants to have with their donors, especially those making such large gifts. “Now we’re actually excited to tell all of our donors for the rest of this campaign how easily they can use their DAFs \- and get these gifts faster\!” --- # Toolkits ## DAF Fundraising Report - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report - Published: 2026-05-20 > The third annual edition of the DAF Fundraising Report, the only large-scale and data-driven research conducted on the nonprofit experience with Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). $26.1 billion in giving data, 54 participating organizations, and sector-by-sector benchmarks for the first time. The 2026 DAF Fundraising Report is the most comprehensive yet. Since 2024, the report has grown from 20 organizations to 54, representing $26.1 billion in total giving. The findings have remained consistent: DAF giving is accelerating across all giving levels, and it's driving increased generosity. This edition adds two meaningful firsts: sector\-by\-sector benchmarks, so you can compare your program against organizations most like yours, and more holistic case studies that go beyond the numbers to show the specific data, communications, and technology strategies behind the results. Below, we cover five key takeaways from the report and how you can apply them this year. ## I. DAFs remain the fastest\-growing giving vehicle in philanthropy Median DAF revenue growth from 2021 to 2025 was \+75% among report participants, while median non\-DAF revenue growth over the same period: \+9%. **Why it matters:** DAF giving is no longer a niche channel. It's underpinning fundraising sustainability and growth, and has reached a scale that can’t be ignored. **What you can do:** If you can't easily benchmark your own DAF revenue growth year over year, that's the first gap to close. Prioritize building the data infrastructure to track it — and use the data strategy guidelines in Section 6 of the report as your roadmap. ## II. DAFs increase individual giving Between 2021 and 2025, 50,000 existing donors in the study switched to DAF giving. The average increase was more than 10x their prior giving level. **Why it matters:** The concern that DAF giving cannibalizes direct support is not backed by the data. When existing donors start giving through a DAF, they give more. Nearly half of those who made the switch more than doubled their annual giving. **What you can do:** Your current donors with DAFs are your highest\-upside upgrade opportunity. Reduce friction everywhere they might give. [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot's "Pay with DAF" button, puts a DAF giving option directly on your donation forms; it's available through a [fundraising platform partner](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup#integration-search) or by purchasing a [Chariot plan](https://www.givechariot.com/chariot-pricing). Make sure DAF giving is visible and easy across donation forms, direct mail, major gift proposals, and email. ## III. DAFs are used at all donor levels Two\-thirds of DAF gifts in the study are under $1,000. **Why it matters:** Major gifts make up just 2% of all DAF gifts, yet DAFs account for more than 22% of major gift revenue. The distribution of DAF giving is much broader than most organizations assume, with meaningful volume at every level of the donor pyramid. **What you can do:** Don't confine DAF messaging to your major gifts program. Midlevel and mass\-market communications should reference DAF giving as a standard option. Every segment of your donor base may be holding a DAF. Your job is to make sure they know they can use it for your mission. --- ### **Case Study: How ACLU built a data\-driven case for DAFs in every channel** ACLU's central thesis: when you look at the data, DAF giving behavior justifies prioritizing DAFs in every channel and customizing the experience for DAF donors. ACLU analyzed traffic on its Ways to Give page, found the DAF section with DAFpay was drawing substantially more clicks than anything else, and moved it to the second option listed. They've progressively tested DAF messaging with broader audience definitions, watching response data confirm that the potential DAF donor population includes donors at every giving level: - A DAF "P.S." on direct mail lifted response. - Telemarketing scripts include DAF language. - QR codes drive to DAFpay on every direct mail reply device. > "Launching an education campaign with our internal and external partners has been really helpful in creating shared goals, directing investments, and making DAF giving easy for our donors. Once you start looking at the data, you find high-value DAF giving in audiences and channels you would not have expected." --- ## IV. DAF donors are loyal supporters DAF donor retention is, on average, 13 percentage points higher than that of non\-DAF donors. On top of that, DAF donors made 23x larger gifts than non\-DAF donors, on average, in 2025. **Why it matters:** Retention and gift size compound over time. A donor retained for five years at a higher giving level is the most effective path to more sustainable revenue. **What you can do:** If you don't have a dedicated stewardship flow for DAF donors, build one. The IRC and ACLU case studies in this report detail exactly how leading organizations are engaging this segment year\-round. --- ### **Case Study: How IRC turned DAF strategy into $11M in net\-new support** The International Rescue Committee treats DAF fundraising as an organization\-wide priority — with a dedicated full\-time role and a quarterly cross\-departmental meeting that brings together prospect research, gift processing, data, and every philanthropy segment. DAFpay is rolling out to 100% of IRC's donation entry points. Donor stories from DAF givers are produced and used across mass markets, planned giving, and individual philanthropy alike. A single DAF Day SMS blast produced three new DAF gifts via DAFpay in under 20 minutes — all existing donors upgrading into the mid\-level tier. > "DAFs are not sitting in one team at IRC. The cross-departmental partnership, paired with educating donors across every channel, is what is unlocking the gifts we are seeing." --- ## V. DAF giving is most prominent in certain sectors International Relief organizations showed the highest share of DAF giving relative to total revenue at 23.7%. Health\-related organizations saw the fastest growth, with DAF giving as a share of revenue up 99.4% during the study period. **Why it matters:** DAF giving as a percentage of individual revenue varies between 4% and 24% by sector, so now you can compare with the measures most relevant for you. **What you can do:** Use the sector exhibits in the report to benchmark your DAF program against your closest peers, not just the aggregate. If your sector is underperforming, the gap is an opportunity. If you're outperforming, the strategies behind it are worth systematizing. --- ## Put the research to work on October 8 DAF Day, the only giving day dedicated entirely to donor\-advised fund philanthropy, takes place on **October 8, 2026**. In 2025, more than 4,400 nonprofits and 30 DAF sponsors participated, making it the largest coordinated DAF fundraising event of its kind. Whether you're building your DAF strategy from scratch or running a cross\-functional program like IRC and ACLU, DAF Day gives your organization a dedicated moment, a national movement, and a playbook to campaign around. [Claim your Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to join the DAF Day Giving page, where donors are actively searching for verified organizations to support. Verified nonprofits receive fast, secure electronic grant payments from Chariot's network of partner DAF providers and can access DAFpay via one of Chariot’s 70\+ [fundraising platform partners](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup#integration-search). --- Questions about the research? Reach out to [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). If you’re interested in participating in next year’s report, you can fill out our [interest form here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report-interest-form).*** *** --- ## DAF Provider Directory - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-provider-directory - Published: 2026-01-05 Collecting and organizing DAF data is a rapidly growing challenge for nonprofits. One notable difficulty stems from the absence of a centralized, publicly accessible list of DAF providers. Without standardized information, gift processing teams struggle to know what is a DAF gift and then name those funding sources consistently in their database. This leads to gift processing inefficiency and analytical errors. To help with these challenges, Chariot has created an official list of DAF providers—a comprehensive directory of providers and their official names.​ This resource equips nonprofits with a shared framework to maintain accurate data structures, streamline gift tracking, and save valuable time. Incorporate this list and naming convention in your business rules for gift processing and begin improving your DAF data today\! If you know of a DAF provider that isn't on this list, reach out to us at [contact@givechariot.com](mailto:contact@givechariot.com). *PLEASE NOTE: This DAF Provider Directory is owned by Chariot and is protected by copyright. By downloading this directory, you agree to use it only for your organization's internal gift processing and tracking purposes. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, sell, or create derivative works from this directory without Chariot's written permission. While we strive for accuracy, this directory is provided "as is" and will be updated periodically.* --- # Webinars ## DAF Fundraising for Smaller Nonprofits - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-fundraising-for-smaller-nonprofits - Published: 2026-06-09 > In our fourth session in this year's DAF Day series, Debra Shapira, #HalfMyDAF leader & Brighton Jones wealth advisor, Amy Jacobs, Co-Founder of DAF Day CLT, and Shaista Keating, VP of Development & Global Head of Emerging Corporate Alliances at TechSoup, joined us to discuss the fundamentals of DAFs for smaller nonprofits. As a company that works with DAF payments every single day, one of the most common questions we receive from smaller nonprofits is "How do we get started?" In our fourth session in this year's DAF Day series, Debra Shapira, \#HalfMyDAF leader & Brighton Jones wealth advisor, Amy Jacobs, Co\-Founder of DAF Day CLT, and Shaista Keating, VP of Development & Global Head of Emerging Corporate Alliances at TechSoup, joined us to discuss the fundamentals of DAFs for smaller nonprofits. In this recap of the 1\-hr session, we'll cover: 1. What Is a Donor\-Advised Fund? 2. What Can a DAF DO or NOT DO? 3. Current Data on DAFs 4. How Smaller Nonprofits Can Raise More from DAF Donors 5. Taking Small Steps Towards Big Impact 6. Next Steps 7. Webinar Q&A ## **1. What Is a Donor\-Advised Fund?** At its core, a Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) is a tax\-advantaged account dedicated to charitable giving, that works similarly to a charitable checking account. A donor deposits money or assets with a sponsoring organization like a financial institution or community foundation and takes the full tax deduction immediately. The funds are invested, and grow tax\-free until the donor recommends a grant to a nonprofit. *Photo Source: *["What is a DAF," Chariot blog](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/so-what-is-a-daf)*.* DAF accounts are maintained and operated by a section 501\(c\)\(3\) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Sponsors generally fall into three groups: - **National providers** \(Fidelity Charitable, DAFgiving360, Vanguard Charitable\): Large, financial\-services\-affiliated sponsors that serve hundreds of thousands of donors nationwide - **Community foundations**: Regional sponsors that are often connected to local nonprofits and donors - **Single\-Issue Sponsors**: Sponsors organized around a specific cause, identity, or faith tradition For a deeper walkthrough of the mechanics, [Donor\-Advised Funds 101: What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/donor-advised-funds-101-what-every-nonprofit-needs-to-know) and [What Is a DAF?](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/what-is-a-daf-1) are good starting points. ## 2. What Can a DAF DO or NOT DO? DAF grants have to follow rules set by the IRS and by the sponsor managing the account. The most important one: a DAF grant can't provide more than an **incidental benefit** to the donor. That rules out gala tickets, auction items, or any part of an event sponsorship that includes a meal or other benefit, even if the donor offers to pay the benefit portion out of pocket. [This explanation from Greater Houston Community Foundation](https://ghcf.org/articles/understanding-the-changes-in-bifurcated-gifts/) covers the details on bifurcated gifts. **DAF restrictions:** - **No grants to individuals.** The recipient has to be an eligible charity - **No binding pledges.** A donor can express a non\-binding "pledge of intention" to recommend future grants, but they can't sign a legally enforceable pledge funded by a DAF. See more guidance from [National Philanthropic Trust](https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/philanthropist/can-i-use-my-daf-for-that/). - **No payment for services rendered.** A DAF grant is a gift, not a purchase or a contract payment. - **The sponsor has final approval on every grant**, even one the donor has already told you is coming. If your organization doesn't already have a written policy for handling these situations, a [DAF gift acceptance policy](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) gives you language to point to when a donor pushes back. It's also worth standardizing how your team records DAF sponsors in your CRM from day one. A [DAF provider directory](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-provider-directory) helps keep sponsor names consistent for easier reporting. ## 3. Current Data on DAFs DAFs have grown from a niche planned\-giving tool into one of the fastest\-growing parts of individual philanthropy. Total DAF assets now stand at $326.5 billion, across 3.56 million accounts, with $64.9 billion granted to nonprofits in the most recent year of data. The [Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) tracks the full trend line. The 2026 DAF Fundraising Report by Chariot & K2D Strategies found: - Median DAF revenue grew 75% between 2021 and 2025, compared to 9% for non\-DAF giving. - Donors who switched to DAF giving increased their gifts by an average of 10x. - Two\-thirds of DAF gifts are under $1,000, so this isn't just a major\-donor channel. - DAF donors retain at a rate 13 percentage points higher than non\-DAF donors. The [full report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) breaks this down further by sector, with case studies from organizations that built DAF strategies from scratch. ## 4. How Smaller Nonprofits Can Raise More from DAF Donors ### Communication The goal is reminding donors: many simply forget they have a DAF or won't think to use it unless it's easily accessible. When donors give from a DAF, they give substantially more. Optimize your communication strategy for DAF giving using the following steps: - A DAF call out on your "Ways to Give" page of your website \(if not [a dedicated page to DAFs](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds)\). - Make sure your EIN is easy to discover on your website \(along with your legal name and address\) - Include a reminder about using your Donor Advised Fund in email, mail & text appeals. - Mention when you can use your DAF during events \(like general donations, a paddle raise, or "fund a need" moment at a gala\). - Bring up DAFs in donor conversations and learn from them. > The ask is different when it's coming from a donor-advised fund. This is money they already gave away. The only decision left is whether to let it sit or send it out. ### Data A DAF gift usually arrives looking like it came from an institution, such as Fidelity Charitable, rather than from a person. That makes it easy to log as a generic check and lose the details that actually matter. Personal details, when given, should be tracked for every DAF gift. > The goal is not just clean accounting. It is, with the data we capture, relationship intelligence. [Curing Your DAF Data](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow) covers the common tracking mistakes and ways to test your data. ### Stewardship It's a common myth that DAF gifts are mostly anonymous \(only [3.7% of DAF grants are anonymous](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/research/national-study-dafs)\). The vast majority of donors choose to share at least some information, and even when a gift arrives with less information than usual, that's often a limit of the sponsor's platform, not a sign the donor wants to stay hidden. If you do get contact information along with a DAF gift, treat that donor the way you would any high potential donor: thank them, ask how they'd like to hear from you, and keep them updated on your work. ### Tech Like any donation, user experience and reducing friction are key. 98% of DAF donors are using an online portal to make their gifts, which makes them digital donors. Meet their expectations by integrating DAF giving into your donation experiences and enroll in digital grant payments wherever you can. [DAFpay](http://givechariot.com/dafpay) is a payment button that lets a donor give directly from their DAF at checkout, the same way they'd choose a credit card or Apple Pay, without having to leave your site or take extra steps. Dozens of [fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup) already have DAFpay integrated, so be sure to turn it on or encourage your provider to work with Chariot on the integration if they don't have it. How DAF gifts ultimately get delivered also matter to donors. They can often see in their portal if your organization isn't signed up for e\-pay, creating unnecessary hesitation at the point of donation. Be sure to proactively enroll with platforms for digital grant payment, [like Chariot.](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) ## 5. Taking Small Steps Towards Big Impact DAF Day is a national giving day for donor\-advised fund holders, similar to Giving Tuesday, happening this year on October 8th. For a first DAF Day campaign, pick one action and do it well rather than trying to build a full strategy. View our [DAF day marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-nonprofits) and a [recap on last year’s DAF Day awards](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) for inspiration. > Someone raised their hand at a conference I was speaking at and said the first DAF Day, they decided to send an email to their donors [mentioning DAF Day]. They're a small school in Wisconsin and they raised $12,000 from seven first-time DAF donors from their existing audience. Ideas for your first DAF Day: - [Claim your Chariot Account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day&utm_campaign=38855091-Webinar%20Communications&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8_sjN75uzYZ2hkIZPW_X3-mqDA_jbONqxVY2mpPJF2qViLZ7Fx4fSvSFd4rQl0s-X6yYuLF-ALzlMfaJmMLUcRpLXBWw&_hsmi=2&utm_content=2&utm_source=hs_email) & opt into DAF Day with your preferred URL for DAF donors. This URL will live on the DAF Day Giving Page. - Download the [DAF Day marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-nonprofits) - Send an email naming DAF Day specifically \(easy templates are in the marketing toolkit\) - Have 1:1 conversations with your board or large existing donors asking if they have a DAF and can support your organization on DAF Day. - Update your website so DAF giving is easy to find. ## 6. Next Steps - Still receiving DAF grants by paper check? [Set up a free Chariot account](https://help.givechariot.com/chariot-disbursements/for-nonprofits) for electronic disbursements instead. - Share educational resources with your team, such as ["So… What is a DAF?"](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/so-what-is-a-daf) and ["DAFs 101."](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/dafs-101-what-are-they-why-do-they-matter-who-uses-them) Check out more resources [here](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights). - Read the [Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) for an industry\-wide view on DAFs. Built on IRS Form 990 data from 1,485 DAF sponsors, it covers total accounts \(3.56M\), contributions \($89.6B\), grants \($64.9B\), assets \($326B\), and payout rates. ## 7. Webinar Q&A **Is my organization the "DAF sponsor," or is the donor's brokerage?** Neither. The sponsor is a separate 501\(c\)\(3\), like Fidelity Charitable, that legally holds and administers the DAF. It's affiliated with the brokerage but is its own charitable entity. Your organization is just the grant recipient. **Can a donor use their DAF to cover part of a gala ticket and pay the rest personally?** No. If any part of the payment provides more than an incidental benefit, the DAF can't cover any of it. The donor can pay for the ticket personally and make a separate DAF gift instead, but the two can't be combined. **Can a DAF fund a multi\-year pledge?** Not as a binding pledge. Sponsors accept a non\-binding "intention" to recommend future grants, and you can track a multi\-year plan internally, but the grant request itself can't include binding pledge language. **Can a sponsor deny a grant recommendation?** Yes. Common reasons include loss of 501\(c\)\(3\) status, personal benefit to the donor, a mission conflict some sponsors screen for, or legal issues involving the recipient. **What happens to a DAF when the account holder dies?** Most sponsors let donors name a successor advisor or charitable beneficiaries in advance. Without one named, each sponsor has its own default process for distributing the remaining balance. **When can I use my DAF during events?** A DAF can be used at any point during an event where the donor isn't receiving something in exchange for the gift. That covers general donations made at the event, a paddle raise, and a "fund a need" moment at a gala, all of which are pure gifts with no goods or services attached. What it can't cover is a ticket price, a table sponsorship, or anything else where the donor gets something in return for the payment. **Does DAFpay's processing fee mean I get less than the full donation, and is it worth it for a small nonprofit?** Yes, DAFpay charges a processing fee, typically around 2.9%, similar to a credit card transaction fee. For most small nonprofits, that trade\-off is worth it. DAF donors tend to give substantially more and retain at a higher rate than typical donors. **Do nonprofits need a Chariot account to participate in DAF Day?** No. Any nonprofit can participate in DAF Day regardless of whether they use Chariot. However, a Chariot account makes it easier to receive DAF grants electronically and allows your nonprofit to be featured on the [DAF Day Giving page.](https://app.dafday.com/) **Would the nonprofit receiving the DAF grant have to provide a tax receipt to the DAF sponsor, versus the DAF account holder?** Neither party gets a tax receipt for the grant itself. The donor already received their deduction when they contributed to the DAF, and the DAF sponsor, not the donor, is technically the one making the grant, so there's no new deductible transaction for either of them. --- ## Powering Modern DAF Grants - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/-powering-modern-daf-grants - Published: 2026-06-09 > Mailed checks are slow, expensive, and increasingly risky, and donors expect better. This session walks through the problems with checks, the operational and trust benefits of electronic payments, the risks worth managing on both sides of the transaction, and the steps nonprofits and DAF sponsors can take together to make e-payment adoption real this year. For the third webinar in our [DAF Day](https://dafday.com) series, we’re diving deeply into the theme for this year: Move Billions, Faster. $326 billion are committed to giving in donor\-advised funds, but the infrastructure to deploy these funds has been too often neglected. We were joined by industry speakers on both the sending and receiving ends of donor\-advised fund payments who will break down why grant payments remain one of the hardest problems in philanthropy, and how the sector is working together to move money faster, more securely, and with better data. For grantmakers, that means sending more grants electronically and leveraging shared infrastructure for managing nonprofit due diligence and payment security. For nonprofits, it means adopting the technology to remove donor friction to DAF giving and opting in to a system that makes it easy to receive electronic grant payments. **Speakers:** - **Megan Hyman**, President and CEO of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation - **Travers Oliver**, Head of Philanthropic Services at Founders Pledge - **Deana DeSilva**, Fundraising Director at Pan\-Mass Challenge **Host:** - **Mitch Stein,** Head of Strategy at Chariot **In this recap you’ll learn:** 1. Why nonprofit payments are unlike any other payment 2. Why the shift away from checks is happening now 3. How grantmakers are modernizing disbursements 4. How receiving nonprofits are keeping up 5. What grantmakers and nonprofits can do next ## 1. Why nonprofit payments are unlike any other payment ### No invoice, no warning A typical business payment is a two\-way exchange: an invoice goes out with payment instructions, and money comes back against it. A DAF grant is a push payment. Money simply arrives, often with no advance notice and no shared reference number, from a grantmaker who may have no prior relationship with the organization being paid. **Travers** explained why that puts so much weight on the sender: > This isn't a standard business relationship where 30 businesses you work with send you an invoice with straightforward payment details. It's dependent on the grantmaker to find this information. If I want to send a check to Mitch, where does Mitch live? Is this the right Mitch? Is the address I found online correct? Grantmakers may be sending to any of roughly 1.5 million unique organizations, most of whom they have no existing relationship with, relying on IRS records and website data that may or may not be current. And when a check arrives unannounced, the nonprofit may have no idea who sent it, or why. ### The matching puzzle on the receiving end The Pan\-Mass Challenge receives close to 300,000 donations a year across checks, credit cards, Venmo, Facebook, and DAFs. As a peer\-to\-peer organization, every gift also has to be matched to the rider it supports. > Nobody's going to write your name on the check because it's coming to the Pan-Mass Challenge. It's really a puzzle for us: getting that information in, finding those unexpected arrivals, and then matching them up to the intended donor. The longer that matching takes, the more calls come in from donors who haven't been thanked and riders whose fundraising pages haven't updated. ### Manual processing consumes small teams **Megan** described the operational weight on the sending side. The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation runs on 12 employees, three of whom own the weekly grantmaking process. Before the foundation modernized, printing checks, validating recipients, and preparing letters pulled two of those staff members away for two full days every week. The cost goes beyond staff time. As Travers put it: > If we can't deploy capital safely and securely, those funds aren't going to the nonprofits that need them. --- ## 2. Why the shift away from checks is happening now ### Check fraud is rising Megan came to philanthropy from financial services, and was struck by how reliant the sector remains on paper. > There's all kinds of sophisticated fraud that can happen: lifting the account information off of checks, changing the name of the recipient and depositing those to someone else's checking account. It's just an extremely fraud-ready way to send money. Storing bank details across CRMs and fund accounting systems carries its own risk, which is why DJCF made the intentional decision not to host ACH information in its own software. > Trust is the central, most important tenet of a successful donor and grantee relationship. My job as a payment processor of that trust is to facilitate it, protect it, preserve it. ### Donor expectations have changed **Travers** described being asked for a check on the beach at the Jersey Shore, and not having a checkbook in his beach bag. The moment stuck with him. > Why would I be sending thousands of checks if I wouldn't be doing that individually? As a society, our expectation has changed. We can open a DAF at the click of a button on our phone. The largest players are responding. Fidelity Charitable announced plans this year to phase out checks and require ACH enrollment, and Mitch shared that at least one large DAF sponsor moved to electronic payments after fund holders took their account elsewhere over check\-only grantmaking. Donors increasingly expect their grants to arrive the way every other payment in their lives does: quickly, traceably, and without a stamp. ### Gift processing keeps getting harder When Mitch asks rooms of gift processors whether their job has gotten harder, easier, or stayed the same over the past five years, the answer is unanimous: significantly harder. **Deana** walked through why. Every payment method arrives with its own portal, its own timeline, its own verification, and questions from donors about processing fees, security, and data privacy. Even ACH, a clear improvement over checks, typically lands with a bank reference ID that has nothing to do with the grant ID, leaving teams to reconcile money and meaning separately. --- ## 3. How grantmakers are modernizing disbursements ### DJCF: faster payments without giving up governance Generic bill\-pay tools are built around invoices and vendor relationships, which is exactly what grantmaking is not, and DJCF found them an awkward fit. With [Chariot Disbursements](https://givechariot.com/disbursements), the foundation kept its multi\-layer approval process, including board oversight and donor privacy protections, while collapsing the delivery timeline. > Once those payments are approved, within an hour the receiving nonprofit has it in their account. Checks used to reach nonprofits 10 to 15 days after the weekly grant run. ACH cut that to three days, but the data arrived disconnected, creating a boomerang of follow\-up between DJCF and receiving organizations. Now delivery is down to one day, with all gift details in the same place as the funds, as standardized structured data that’s easy to sync with your CRM. There are also economies of scale: once a nonprofit is verified through a know\-your\-client process that meets national financial institution standards, every grantmaker on the platform benefits from that same validation. Read the full story of [how DJCF modernized grant payments and freed its team from the back office](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-djcf-modernized-grant-payments--freed-its-team-from-the-back-office). ### Founders Pledge: 98% of grants now electronic Founders Pledge previously paid almost entirely by wire, with time\-consuming verification calls on both ends. Coming up on a year with Chariot, roughly 98% of its grants go out electronically. > It's one centralized portal that many grantmakers can leverage and use. The nonprofits don't have to continue to go through the same process over and over again. The efficiency gain freed the team to focus on the complex and international grantmaking that actually needs human attention. And the donor pain points that used to generate complaints, like grants taking two or three weeks to arrive, have simply disappeared. The full case study covers [how Founders Pledge doubled its grantmaking volume without doubling its operational risk](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/how-founders-pledge-doubled-its-grantmaking-volume--without-doubling-its-operational-risk). --- ## 4. How receiving nonprofits are keeping up The Pan\-Mass Challenge spent years enrolling in ACH wherever possible, which reduced check volume but never solved the data disconnect. In March, the team onboarded [Chariot Gift Processing](https://givechariot.com/gift-processing). Since then, about 1,200 deposits representing more than 4,000 donations have arrived in one place, with a consistent format that flows into the CRM, and without adding headcount. > Now that we're getting into the busy season and we spend more time in Chariot and less time on check processing, it's actually a complete breath of fresh air. DAFs are worth the effort: PMC has seen 25% year\-over\-year DAF growth, and is up 38% this year. Deana credits rider education plus making [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) visible at the top of the donation page, because most donors don't realize giving from their DAF can be that easy. Longtime supporters who wrote $50 checks for years are now giving $250 through their DAFs. Read more on how their DAF giving is breaking records in our [Pan\-Mass Challenge case study](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/pan-mass-challenge). --- ## 5. What grantmakers and nonprofits can do next ### Make the case internally The panel was candid that change is hard. Nonprofit teams are experts in their missions, not in payments, and many organizations have had bruising experiences with new tools, so a healthy dose of diligence is warranted. Their advice is to lead with the gift data, pick partners invested in both sides of the transaction, and start before the volume forces the issue. > Be a loud advocate and fix it before it breaks. Our grantmaking volume doubled year over year, and this was a lifesaver. Megan added that modernizing is ultimately a talent story, not just an operations story: > Those same employees are even more valuable to our fund holder base, because now they're calling fund holders who haven't used their fund in six months and saying, would you like to make a grant? To me, that takes the value so much further than being an order taker who sends mail. ### Change, but change for good Deana closed with a message for nonprofits still weighing the move away from checks. PMC has lived the alternative: checks arriving five weeks after they were initiated, checks lost in the mail that had to be canceled and reissued, and donors and riders waiting on answers the whole time. > Yes, change is hard. Yes, it's worth it. Teach your staff how to work with it and the importance of it, and watch that average gift grow, because it does really make a difference. What you're trying to do is change, but change for good. ### Claim your Chariot account The most direct way to make that change is to claim your free Chariot account, which lets your nonprofit receive electronic grant payments, with the donation data attached, from 21\+ DAF provider partners including DJCF and Founders Pledge. Claiming your account opens a real bank account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC, that is legally owned by your nonprofit, and more than 15,000 organizations already use one. This is the reason our compliance verification process is so thorough. Federal law requires banks to verify whoever opens an account, and that same diligence is what keeps bad actors away from your funds. Your information is used only for verification, never for a credit check, and never shared or sold. Receiving disbursements is free and funds are FDIC insured\*. Our [onboarding guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide) walks through every step, and you can read more about [why our verification process is so thorough here](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/why-chariot-s-verification-process-is-so-thorough). ### Get ready for DAF Day: October 8, 2026 This webinar is part of the DAF Day prep series, building to the sector\-wide goal of moving billions, faster. Here's how to be ready before October 8: 1. **Get on the DAF Day Giving Page**: [add your preferred DAF giving page URL](https://help.givechariot.com/daf-day/daf-day#daf-day-giving-page) in your account settings. This is how donors find you on October 8. 2. **Download the free marketing toolkit** at [dafday.com](http://dafday.com). Graphics, copy templates, and campaign guidance ready to use. 3. **Enable DAFpay**. Chariot integrates with [70\+ fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup) and is available as standalone form components for paid Chariot users. 4. **Add DAF giving information to your website**: your EIN, mailing address, and a named contact for donor questions. Questions? Email the DAF Day team at [dafday@givechariot.com](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com). Chariot builds the infrastructure that makes DAF giving easier on both ends of the payment, from [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) to [Gift Processing](https://givechariot.com/gift-processing) to [Disbursements](https://givechariot.com/disbursements). If your organization is ready to modernize how it sends or receives DAF grants, [fill out our contact form](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) to learn more. And one encouragement from Megan for smaller organizations: any qualified 501\(c\)\(3\) can receive DAF grants, no national brand or large development team required, and sponsors like DJCF will send grants as small as $100. It's a way for local organizations to position themselves alongside the blue\-chip names and encourage supporters to keep their philanthropy at home. That's exactly where the DAF Day series goes next: join us for **"DAF Fundraising for Smaller Nonprofits"** on **August 5 at 12pm ET**. [Register here](https://www.givechariot.com/events). ### **Follow us on social** **DAF Day:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/daf-day/) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dafdayofficial) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) \| [X](https://x.com/dafdayofficial) **Chariot:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) \| [X](https://x.com/ChariotGiving) \| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) --- ## Inspiring DAF Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/inspiring-daf-giving - Published: 2026-06-09 > Susan G. Komen and Brooklyn Org share how they built high-performing DAF programs with tactics on stewardship, data tracking, donor conversations, and DAF Day prep. **Trish Davis**, VP of Strategic Philanthropy at Susan G. Komen and **Nicole Epps**, Chief Operating and Financial Officer \+ Director of Donor Services at Brooklyn Org joined Chariot's Head of Strategy **Mitch Stein** in a lively discussion outlining key data, tactics and real\-world examples that spark more DAF giving and deeper relationships. ## **In this recap:** 1. Importance of DAFs to philanthropy 2. Understanding DAF donors 3. Tactics that inspire DAF donors 4. Next steps ## 1. Importance of DAFs to philanthropy ### The DAF growth snapshot DAF assets now stand at **$326 billion**, up 4.6x over the past decade. Grants out of those accounts hit **$65 billion** in 2024, up 5.2x in ten years. The number of DAF accounts has grown 12.6x over that same period to **3.56 million.** ### What it means for nonprofit fundraising For individual nonprofits, the effect of this DAF growth, which is only expected to continue, shows up in the giving data. Across organizations tracked in Chariot's [2026 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report), median DAF revenue grew 30% year over year, while non\-DAF giving fell 1%. DAFs now account for 12% of individual nonprofit revenue on average, doubling their share over the past five years. Additionally, DAF donors give 23x more on average than non\-DAF donors, retain at rates 13 percentage points higher, and when a donor switches from a credit card to their DAF for the first time, their average gift size increases tenfold. ### The “cannibalization” myth One misconception people have is that enabling DAF giving cannibalizes existing digital revenue. However, data shows that the revenue isn't being redirected, it is being multiplied. > We've had $25,000 and $50,000 DAF gifts to participants on bib programs using donor-advised funds where we did not ever see that before without DAFs being part of that conversation. > What the data really shows is that when these donors move from giving with their debit or credit card online to using their donor-advised fund, their gifts are 5x, 10x, 20x the size that they're giving annually. --- ## 2. Understanding how DAF donors actually behave ### How DAF donors think about giving The profile of a DAF donor has some consistent markers, and understanding them shapes how nonprofits should be communicating with this segment. **Trish** described DAF donors at Komen as highly intentional, often giving to multiple organizations simultaneously and actively thinking about how to optimize their giving across all of them. They ask questions that most donors don't: "Is there a time of year where my gift has more impact? Is there a match going on?" They give throughout the year rather than clustering at year\-end, which matters a great deal for organizations whose revenue skews heavily toward the fourth quarter. For many of Komen's donors, the October–January window drives more than 70% of revenue. For DAF donors, that concentration doesn't hold. ### Relationship orientation \(and why first\-touch follow\-up matters\) DAF donors are also oriented toward long\-term relationships. **Nicole's** view is that fund holders are increasingly focused, narrowing their giving to fewer organizations and going deeper rather than wider. What she's observed most consistently: an initial modest gift, followed by attentive follow\-up from the nonprofit, followed by a substantially larger gift by year\-end or the following year. The quality of the nonprofit's response to the first gift sets the ceiling on everything that comes after. ### A generational shift Brooklyn Org has also seen a meaningful generational shift. Newer fund holders skew toward older millennials — people with families, career stability, and a growing awareness of legacy planning as a live question rather than a distant one. ### Legacy planning and succession Succession planning is also an active trend: current fund holders transferring management to their children, creating multigenerational giving relationships with the organizations they care about. > We define legacy planning not as just end of life, but how you want to give throughout your life. ### Busting the “major gifts only” misconception **Trish** addressed the misconception that DAFs are only a major gifts instrument for the ultra\-wealthy: she holds a DAF and contributes monthly on a recurring basis. She is, by her own description, not a major donor. The donors using DAFs at Komen run from annual fund all the way through principal giving, and the way they use them is genuinely different at each level. --- ## 3. Tactics that inspire DAF donors ### Brooklyn Org: build relationships \(not transactions\) **Nicole** described Brooklyn Org's approach as fundamentally relational. Opening a fund is not the end of the relationship — it's the beginning. The organization requires grantmaking activity within the first 18 months. Beyond that, they invest heavily in ongoing touchpoints: personal calls, coffee chats, breakfast briefings, informal surveys on issue areas, and curated dinners where fund holders with aligned interests meet each other. Annual reviews with every fund holder include a snapshot of the year's giving and specific suggestions for what to do next. Nonprofit visits sometimes evolve organically into pooled giving, a tour that starts as a site visit becomes a conversation where three fund holders decide to combine grants to a single organization. > We've actually seen with our fund holders, they're giving more because they're actually much more intentional with their giving, and they're able to track that daily, quarterly, weekly. For nonprofits, building a relationship with community foundations in your area is also worth the investment. Research the foundation's thematic priorities before reaching out. Send a targeted introduction that makes clear what your organization does and where you'd be a natural referral fit. When you receive a grant from one of their fund holders, acknowledge both the donor \(if their information is available\) and the foundation. Those touchpoints accumulate into awareness that can lead to referrals and events you wouldn't otherwise have been included in. **Nicole** also advises nonprofits to send explicit communications instead of generic acknowledgment letters to inspire follow\-on DAF gifts > You need to be very explicit with ‘we need to build a new farm, Our students need backpacks.’ ### Komen: three pillars that drive action For **Trish**, the Komen strategy is built on three reinforcing pillars. The first is communications integration, not creating separate DAF campaigns that operate in isolation, but embedding DAF language into existing emails, direct mail, donation pages, and everyday donor conversations. The premise is simple: if donors don't know they can give through a DAF, they won't think to. At the most basic level, **Trish** noted, a nonprofit doesn't need anything elaborate: > Just making sure that you have a place on your website that talks about... they can give through a donor-advised fund, what your EIN number is, what the address is, and a human that they can reach out to if they have any questions. When she opened her own DAF account with Daffy, Trish discovered she had been sending gifts to organizations without toggling on her contact information. She had no idea that was happening until she experienced the donor side of the transaction firsthand. > The burden is still on us to talk to our donors... it's easy to put money into the DAF and then sort of forget it, like a gift card that's in your nightstand drawer. The second pillar is dedicated moments: DAF Day and year\-end campaigns that give donors a reason to act now without feeling pressured. The third is technology, specifically enabling [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) on donation forms so that completing a DAF gift requires as few steps as possible, and ensuring that donors who give via DAF receive communications that acknowledge how they gave rather than asking them to mail a check. > Every single click that we eliminate makes generosity easier. ## The role play: how to bring up DAFs in a donor conversation One of the webinar's most practical segments was a live role play between Mitch and **Trish,** demonstrating how a fundraiser might naturally introduce the DAF conversation with a stock\-gift donor. **Trish** modeled two things very well: she described the DAF clearly and without jargon \("a charitable savings account"\), and she referenced her own experience as a DAF holder, which made the recommendation feel like an honest suggestion rather than a sales pitch. Fundraisers who use their own DAF account show up differently in these conversations — more specific, more credible, and better equipped to explain what the experience actually feels like from the donor's side. --- ## 4. Next Steps ### Make the internal case For those trying to convince a leadership team or board to take DAFs seriously, both panelists had grounded advice. **Trish** recommended framing it not as a new initiative but as an integration — adding DAF language to things already in production, not spinning up an entirely new workstream. Starting small reduces resistance and generates early evidence that then makes the case for more. **Nicole** reframed the ask as portfolio diversification and positioned a DAF pilot as genuinely low\-lift. > This is minimal work, truly, to do donor-advised funds... if you see that people are using DAFs, I think that right there is the answer to why it's important. The most persuasive argument, she suggested, isn't a slide deck. It's pointing to the actual gift data when donors start using the capability you've enabled. When organizations invest in DAF strategy — tracking, stewardship, technology, communications. They're not just making it easier to receive one type of gift. They're building relationships with a donor segment that gives more, stays longer, and deepens over time. ## Get ready for DAF Day: October 8, 2026 > We're really always about helping our donors move from intention to impact. Our donors want to make a difference, and we think this is just a great opportunity to connect them with Brooklyn nonprofits. Here's how to make sure your organization is set up before it arrives: 1. **Get on the DAF Day Giving Page** — [Claim your Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) and [add your preferred DAF giving page URL](https://help.givechariot.com/daf-day/daf-day#daf-day-giving-page) in your account settings. This is how donors find you on October 8. 2. **Download the free marketing toolkit** at [dafday.com](http://dafday.com). Graphics, copy templates, and campaign guidance ready to use. 3. **Enable DAFpay**. Chariot integrates with [70\+ fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-setup) and is available as standalone form components for paid Chariot users. 4. **Add DAF giving information to your website** — your EIN, mailing address, and a named contact for donor questions. 5. **Start your outreach early.** Trish's team at Komen begins one\-to\-one donor outreach in late August and sends print postcards in September. Marketing ramps up in late September and through DAF Day itself. Questions? Email the DAF Day team at [dafday@givechariot.com](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com). ### Invest in DAF infrastructure DAF gift data is often messy — gifts arriving anonymously, fund names without contact information, gifts that don't get properly coded in the CRM. **Trish** was direct about the journey Komen has been on to clean this up. Komen now tracks DAF gifts at the hard credit level in Salesforce, with dedicated workflows to flag and capture gifts that would previously have slipped through. A dashboard surfaces new DAF gifts in real time, and a dedicated staff person handles outreach and stewardship for that cohort. The improvement isn't just operational. It’s unlocked reporting and trend analysis that wasn't possible before. Chariot builds the infrastructure that makes DAF giving easier — from [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) to [Gift Processing](https://givechariot.com/gift-processing) to [Disbursements](https://givechariot.com/disbursements). If your organization is ready to build or strengthen its DAF program, contact us at [givechariot.com](http://givechariot.com). If you want to go deeper into DAF data hygiene and operations, register to join our webinar **“Curing DAF Data”** on **August 26.** ### Follow us on social **DAF Day:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/daf-day/) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dafdayofficial) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) \| [X](https://x.com/dafdayofficial) **Chariot:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) \| [X](https://x.com/ChariotGiving) \| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) --- ## DAF Day III Webinar Kickoff: Move Billions, Faster - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-iii-webinar-kickoff-move-billions-faster - Published: 2026-05-19 > We kicked off DAF Day 2026 alongside Shayla Titley from The Public Theater and Chelsea Paul from Daffy to unveil a host of new and improved resources to help nonprofits and DAFs make the most of the day. DAF Day is the first and only giving day dedicated to donor\-advised funds. In its third year, the campaign rallies thousands of nonprofits, dozens of DAF sponsors, and millions of donors around a single day each October to inspire more giving from the hundreds of billions of dollars already committed inside DAF accounts. We kicked off DAF Day 2026 alongside Shayla Titley from The Public Theater and Chelsea Paul from Daffy to unveil a host of new and improved resources to help nonprofits and DAFs make the most of the day. In this article you’ll find key action items for participants, a recap of prior DAF Day learnings, and all of the campaign elements available to nonprofits and DAF providers for 2026. --- ## **Contents** - Your initial checklist - Where did DAF Day come from? - What happened in prior DAF Days - Introducing DAF Day III and the four\-month campaign leading up to October 8, 2026 - - New messaging and goals - Revamped website and giving page - Social media - Overhauled marketing toolkit - New webinar schedule - What it means to participate - Why your organization should join - Your initial checklist \(recap\) --- ## **Your initial checklist** We’re four months away from DAF Day III, and it’s a great time to get plugged in. ### **1. Get on the DAF Day Giving Page** The DAF Day Giving Page displays participants to donors and links them to each organization’s preferred DAF giving page. Organizations shown on the page are: 1. **Verified by Chariot**, which enrolls them for electronic grant payments. [Claim your Chariot account.](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) 2. **Have added a preferred DAF giving page URL** in the [settings of their Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/settings). ### **2. Share your excitement** The official DAF Day III promo video is live. [Share this post from the DAF Day LinkedIn page](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daf-day_introducing-daf-day-iii-move-billions-activity-7470497395701870592-FaFv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8) to spread the word and tell people what you’re looking forward to about DAF Day this year. ### **3. Sign up for all the updates** - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/daf-day/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial/) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) - [Chariot newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/newsletter) ### **4. Download your toolkit** - [Nonprofit Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-nonprofits) - [DAF Provider Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-providers) ### **5. Register for training webinars** [See the full DAF Day III webinar series and register](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/webinars). --- ## **Where did DAF Day come from?** DAF Day started with data, and a problem. The first edition of Chariot and K2D Strategies’ [*DAF Fundraising Report*](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) showed median annual DAF giving growth of 30% across participating nonprofits, dramatically higher than non\-DAF giving trends. But the growth was uneven. Some organizations were seeing DAF revenue grow rapidly. Others were leaving DAF dollars on the table. The gap was almost entirely about awareness and activation. The 2026 edition of the report, published a few weeks before this kickoff, reinforced the scale of the opportunity: - **DAF donors give 23 times as much per gift on average** compared to non\-DAF donors. - **DAF donors retain at a rate 13 percentage points higher per year** than non\-DAF donors. - **When an existing donor switches to DAF giving**, their annual gift to the same organization increases by **more than 10x on average**. The potential is enormous, but it depends on nonprofits and DAF sponsors actively prompting their communities to use their DAFs. We knew that any one organization’s effort to engage DAF donors would be exponentially more powerful if it could be coordinated across many participants. A single day on the calendar, focused on DAFs, with a shared narrative and shared resources, would amplify what any individual campaign could do on its own. That’s the idea behind DAF Day. Shayla put the value of that coordination plainly: > “Prior to that, it was just kind of passive. We would respond when the donor let us know that they were going to be sending in or recommending a grant from their donor-advised fund. DAF Day allowed us to say, you know what, this will be a moment that we can talk about it. And we also know other people will be talking about it. So it’s an amplified message. There are a range of organizations talking about it, and this just helped to amplify the reason why people should be giving through their donor-advised funds.” And Chelsea, from the DAF sponsor side, described the awareness gap DAF Day was built to close: > “I was so excited because it was something we had thought about at Daffy quite a lot. There was really little awareness of who the donor-advised fund was actually serving — from the donor side, as well as nonprofits. There’s this misconception that it’s just for the ultra, ultra wealthy and reserved for those kind of major gifts. But based on the fundraising data, as well as what we see at Daffy ourselves, our largest donation to date was $8 million, but our median donation on the platform is just $100.” --- ## **What happened in prior DAF Days** Across two campaigns, DAF Day has grown from an idea into activation by thousands of nonprofits and dozens of DAF sponsors, reaching millions of donors with DAF\-specific messaging for the first time. The activations have spanned social campaigns, internal events, creative direct mail, and even ads in the *Wall Street Journal *and a billboard in Times Square\! The stories of what year\-one and year\-two activations produced for participating organizations are now what attract new participants every year. **Benefits for nonprofits.** See [the 2025 DAF Day Award winners on the nonprofit side](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) for a full set of creative activations and the results they produced. **Benefits for DAF sponsors.** See [the 2025 DAF Day Award winners on the DAF sponsor side](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/announcing-the-daf-winners-of-the-2025-daf-awards) for examples of how DAF providers engaged their fundholders and supported nonprofits. The most concrete examples from the kickoff conversation: **The Public Theater turned $600 donors into $5,000 donors by mentioning DAFs explicitly.** Shayla shared an example from a seat\-naming campaign at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, where The Public asked existing members at the $100\-$600 level whether they would like to name a seat for $5,000 using their donor\-advised fund. Many said yes. The full story is featured in [*The DAF Ask That Led Donors to Double Their Gifts*](https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/the-daf-ask-that-led-donors-to-double-their-gifts/) in the *Chronicle of Philanthropy*. **Daffy saw a 70% year\-over\-year increase in DAF Day donation volume in 2025.** Chelsea shared that Daffy processed roughly $400,000 in donations on DAF Day 2025, with the surrounding week running into the millions. The campaign also drove a 70% lift in new account openings during the run\-up to DAF Day. See [Daffy’s full DAF Day case study](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/customer-stories/daffy) for the strategy and outcomes. --- ## **Introducing DAF Day III and the four\-month campaign leading up to October 8, 2026** ### **New messaging and goals** In Chariot’s role as the organizer of DAF Day, we’ve adopted a new motto for 2026: **Move Billions, Faster.** Three pillars sit underneath that goal: - **Increased adoption of electronic grant payments.** Money should physically move faster from DAFs into the hands of nonprofits. - **Establishing DAF data best practices.** Better tracking unlocks better stewardship, better attribution, and better strategy. - **Educating nonprofits on how to best inspire DAF giving.** Most DAF donors are already in the database. They just need a specific reason to use their DAF. Chelsea spoke directly to why these goals matter together: > “There’s so much out there in terms of the media landscape and what donors are seeing through their email and social posts and all of that, that in order for any one organization to break through, they need partners and influencers and advocates to really step up. It’s really this amazing time for us all to better explain the benefits of a donor-advised fund and also the purpose and the stories behind them, and what that giving unlocks for an individual donor.” ### **Revamped website and giving page** The DAF Day website has been completely rebuilt for 2026, with new video content and easier paths to participate. The donor\-facing giving page now features nonprofit logos and direct links to each participating organization’s preferred DAF giving page. Visit [dafday.com](https://www.dafday.com) and [app.dafday.com](https://app.dafday.com). ### **Social media** DAF Day has expanded across three social channels in 2026. Follow along, tag us in what you’re working on, and share our updates with your network. - [DAF Day on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/daf-day/) - [DAF Day on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) - [Chariot on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) \(home of the DAF Day promo video and additional content\) ### **Overhauled marketing toolkit** The DAF Day marketing toolkit has been completely rebranded and expanded for 2026, with templates that are easier to customize with your own logo and imagery. - [Nonprofit Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-nonprofits) - [DAF Provider Marketing Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-providers) Shayla, who used the toolkit extensively in years one and two, talked through how it shows up inside an organization: > “I leveraged it both in terms of some of the copy that was in there and the statistics to include about why it’s important for folks to move this money out of their donor-advised fund to nonprofits doing work on the ground. That was a big way that I utilized that. It was key for me creating my quiz and having the data to back up what I was talking about. The other way that I used the toolkit was that I shared it with our graphic design team. We have a very specific brand, so I wasn’t able to take the graphics exactly as they were, but I was able to show this is what I’m looking for, this is what I would like, now make it The Public.” ### **New webinar schedule** DAF Day III includes a more targeted set of webinars running from June through October. Each session is built around a specific audience or topic and produces a takeaway asset. Register at [givechariot.com/events](https://www.givechariot.com/events). --- ## **What it means to participate** Participating in DAF Day does not require a big team, a custom landing page, or a complicated campaign. Many of the strongest results from year one and year two came from organizations that started with a single email and built from there. > “Just start with something. It doesn’t have to be a lot if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Put one email on the calendar right now. Look at your email schedule and put one on there. If you can, put two. And then add on. The next thing we did at The Public in year two was two emails, a mailing, and a custom webpage. Think about ways you can add on.” --- ## **Why your organization should join** DAF Day works because it’s collective. Any one organization’s DAF messaging is more powerful when it’s running alongside thousands of others on the same day, with a shared narrative and shared resources. The amplification effect is what unlocks the donors who were never going to act based on a single email from a single nonprofit. > “I think there are so many more people, because of DAF Day, talking about their experience with a DAF and how meaningful it is to their giving. That’s helping us all. The more people talk about their giving, in any way, whether it’s just to the charity they love, the better. It’s one of these financial things that is hard for people to talk about, but talking about giving really shouldn’t be that hard. It’s so personal, so important to our lives. If we can do that more as a collective industry, that’s really important. So it’s been fun to see the progression in the past couple years.” --- ## **Your initial checklist \(recap\)** We’re four months away from DAF Day III. Here’s where to start: ### **1. Get on the DAF Day Giving Page** [Claim your Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day&__hstc=125968786.debae840771430a2e600c80534ffcbe1.1781100008886.1781120282268.1781126140169.5&__hssc=125968786.2.1781126140169&__hsfp=f2e0b9dde84d159f9dacf8d07ba7cb39), then add your preferred DAF giving page URL in your [account settings](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/settings). ### **2. Share your excitement** [Share the DAF Day III promo post on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daf-day_introducing-daf-day-iii-move-billions-activity-7470497395701870592-FaFv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA4DFwIBhW95GhVyeHzuhEUzbjpHGpUUmS8) with a sentence about what you’re most excited about. ### **3. Sign up for all the updates** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/daf-day/) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) · [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) · [Chariot newsletter](https://www.givechariot.com/newsletter) ### **4. Download your toolkit** [Nonprofits](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-nonprofits) · [DAF Providers](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-providers) ### **5. Register for training webinars** [See the full DAF Day III webinar series](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/webinars). --- *Questions, ideas, or want to talk through your activation? Reach the DAF Day team at *[*dafday@givechariot.com*](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com)* or follow along on *[*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/company/daf-day/)*.* --- ## 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Release - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/2026-daf-fundraising-report-release - Published: 2026-04-20 > The third edition of the DAF Fundraising Report was released live in a webinar with nearly 1,200 nonprofit professionals registered. The report draws on nonprofits' own records, showing how DAF fundraising is evolving. On May 20, the research team behind the third edition of the DAF Fundraising Report released the results live in a webinar with nearly 1,200 nonprofit professionals registered. The report draws on something that has been difficult to find in the DAF space: not what DAF sponsors are reporting about giving activity, but what nonprofits' own records actually show about how DAF fundraising is evolving. The findings from past editions of the report have been presented in dozens of webinars and conferences, featured in Axios, Barron's, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Nonprofit Times, and Forbes, and cited in studies including the DAF Research Collaborative's Fundraising Study. What began in 2024 with 20 organizations and limited data standardization has grown into the most expansive study of its kind. **Karin Kirchoff** \(Founder & President, K2D Strategies\), **Mitch Stein** \(Head of Strategy, Chariot\), **Kate Hollandsworth** \(Senior Vice President of Strategy, AKwire\), and **Adam Rosenscruggs** \(Founder & Principal, Gambit Analytics\) presented the 2026 edition, which analyzed **$26.1 billion in total giving** across **54 participating nonprofits** and represented **$3.3 billion in DAF revenue** across **907,000 DAF gifts.** Although DAF gifts make up less than 1% of total gift volume in the dataset, they account for nearly 13% of total revenue, a ratio that captures the singular value of the average DAF donor. Here are the five key findings from this year's report. ## 1. DAFs are growing 8x faster than other giving The headline finding from the 2026 edition: median DAF revenue growth from 2021 to 2025 was \+75% among participating organizations. Median non\-DAF revenue growth over the same period was \+9%. This gap has been consistent across all three editions of the report. DAF giving is not a trend that peaked; it's an accelerating shift in how donors at every level are structuring their philanthropy. > "Even if they are facing difficulty as an organization in their fundraising picture at large, DAF still tend to most often be a bright spot for those organizations. It's just how important it is to view this as a core method of giving, not some niche one-off area of giving. It really deserves its own strategy and focus." If your organization's DAF revenue isn't keeping pace, it's not because DAF giving is slowing down. It's a signal to look carefully at how visible and accessible DAF giving is across your channels. ## 2. When donors switch to DAF giving, they give dramatically more Between 2021 and 2025, 50,000 existing donors across the study's participating organizations switched to giving through a DAF. The average increase in giving was more than 10x their prior level. Nearly half of those who made the switch more than doubled their annual giving. This finding speaks directly to one of the most persistent concerns in the sector: that DAF giving might cannibalize direct donations. The data says otherwise. Your existing donors who hold DAFs but haven't used them with your organization aren't at risk of giving less — they're your highest\-upside opportunity. > "This data shows that by and large DAF giving increases total dollars contributed to your organization from a given donor. It doesn't crowd out or merely replace giving from other methods. It is additive. And that's a significant and consistent finding that we see across all five years in this study." Making DAF giving visible and frictionless across your donation forms, direct mail, and major gift proposals is one of the highest\-ROI moves available to most development teams right now. ## 3. DAFs are a mass\-market phenomenon, not just a major gift play Two\-thirds of DAF gifts in the study are under $1,000. Major gifts make up just 2% of all DAF gifts yet DAFs account for more than 22% of major gift revenue. Both facts are true simultaneously, and they point to the same conclusion: the DAF donor population is much broader than most organizations are treating it. > "That median gift size — at $300 — that donor is likely not considered a major donor or even a mid-level donor in most programs. DAF donors and DAF giving should not be exclusively managed by one department." The ACLU has operationalized this more deliberately than almost any organization in the study. When they analyzed traffic on their Ways to Give page, they found that the section featuring DAFpay was drawing substantially more clicks than anything else — so they moved it to the second option listed. As Meghan Lee put it: "It was funny, because when I reached out to the web team and asked, can we move this link up? They said, oh yeah, this is actually the most clicked link on that page." DAF language now appears across appeals to broad audiences, not just to known DAF holders. A DAF "P.S." on direct mail lifted response rates. Telemarketing scripts include DAF language. QR codes drive to DAFpay on every direct mail reply device. The results: \+153% DAF revenue year over year in 2025, roughly 3x the growth rate of their non\-DAF revenue. 40% of ACLU's midlevel donors now give through DAFs. > "Launching an education campaign with our internal and external partners has been really helpful in creating shared goals, directing investments, and making DAF giving easy for our donors. Once you start looking at the data, you find high-value DAF giving in audiences and channels you would not have expected." Acknowledgement is where many organizations have historically fallen short. Karin Kirchhoff ran a secret shopper project early in her DAF research — making DAF gifts to roughly 20 organizations and tracking what happened over the next 12 months. The findings were sobering: > "I'll tell you that it wasn't really great, to be honest. There were instances where we didn't get acknowledged. There were instances where we used to receive mail and communication, and then after making the DAF gift, we stopped receiving mail and communication." No Kid Hungry took a similar surround\-sound approach. Charity Haines, Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship, used DAF Day as a forcing function to integrate DAF messaging across every channel: DAFpay as the primary option on donation forms, revamped acknowledgement letters for all DAF gifts including those under $250, and a dedicated DAF insert mailed inside 75,000 acknowledgement kits. Her guiding principle: "Don't stop talking about them. Keep talking about them. I think studies have said a human needs to hear something seven times to kind of register it." The result was a 100% increase in DAF revenue year over year. ## 4. DAF donors are your most loyal supporters — by a significant margin DAF donor retention is, on average, 13 percentage points higher than that of non\-DAF donors. DAF donors also made 23x larger gifts than non\-DAF donors on average in 2025. The compounding effect of higher retention and larger gift size, sustained year over year, makes this segment unlike almost any other in a development portfolio. > "DAF donors are retaining 13 percentage points — not percent, 13 percentage points — higher than a non-DAF donor. And that is not just last year's stat, that has been consistent each of the last five years." The International Rescue Committee's approach illustrates what it looks like to build genuine organizational infrastructure around DAF fundraising. IRC has a dedicated full\-time role for DAF strategy and a quarterly cross\-departmental meeting that brings together prospect research, gift processing, data, and every philanthropy segment. DAFpay is rolling out to 100% of IRC's donation entry points. Donor stories from DAF givers are produced and distributed across mass markets, planned giving, and individual philanthropy. In 2025, donors who switched to DAF giving generated more than $11 million in net\-new support to IRC. DAFs' share of IRC's total revenue increased 42% between 2021 and 2025. A single DAF Day SMS blast produced three new DAF gifts via DAFpay in under 20 minutes — all from existing donors upgrading into the mid\-level tier. > "DAFs are not sitting in one team at IRC. The cross-departmental partnership, paired with educating donors across every channel, is what is unlocking the gifts we are seeing." ## 5. For the first time: benchmarks by sector One of the most practically useful additions in the 2026 edition is sector\-by\-sector analysis. As the participant pool has grown and data quality has improved, the research can now tell you not just how DAF giving is performing across the field, but how it's performing in organizations most like yours. International Relief organizations demonstrated the highest rate of DAF giving relative to other revenue sources at 23.7% of total revenue. Health\-related organizations are seeing this figure grow the fastest, up 99.4% during the study period. Across the full dataset, DAF giving as a percentage of individual revenue ranges from 4% to 24% depending on sector — which means the field\-wide averages that have circulated for years have been obscuring significant variation. > "I am particularly excited this year that we had enough participants that we could start doing sector-level analysis. That was on my wish list from the first year." For any organization that has wondered how their DAF program stacks up, this edition of the report finally offers a meaningful answer. --- ## Put the research to work on October 8 DAF Day — the only giving day dedicated entirely to donor\-advised fund philanthropy — takes place on **October 8, 2026**. In 2025, more than 4,400 nonprofits and 30 DAF sponsors participated, making it the largest coordinated DAF fundraising event of its kind. Whether you're building your DAF strategy from scratch or running a cross\-functional program like IRC and ACLU, DAF Day gives your organization a dedicated moment, a national movement, and a proven playbook to campaign around. [Claim your free Chariot account](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to join the DAF Day Giving page — where donors are actively searching for verified organizations to support. Verified nonprofits receive fast, secure electronic grant payments from Chariot's network of partner DAF providers and can access [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) for their donation forms. --- ## Interested in participating in next year's report? The DAF Fundraising Report grows stronger with every organization that contributes data. If you'd like to be considered for the 2027 edition, register your interest below. --- ## Workplace Giving: The Strategies That Win - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/workplace-giving-the-strategies-that-win - Published: 2026-03-19 On April 20th, **Jake Wood** \(Founder & CEO, Groundswell\), **Erinn Wright O'Donnell** \(Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Kiva\), and **Kathleen Urbine** \(Director of IT Applications, Wounded Warrior Project\) joined us for a wide\-ranging conversation on workplace giving — what it actually encompasses, why it's become impossible to ignore, and what separates organizations that treat it as a strategic revenue stream from those still lumping gifts into a single line item. Here's what they shared. ## Key Takeaways ### **1. Workplace giving is far bigger than gift matching — and it's no longer optional** Jake traced the history from early corporate philanthropy \(Rockefeller, Carnegie\) through the Great Depression\-era community chests, the rise of United Way — the federated fundraising network that pioneered employer\-sponsored payroll deductions — in the mid\-20th century, and into today's platform\-driven era with Benevity, YourCause, CyberGrants, and newer entrants like [Groundswell](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-groundswell-a-chariot-disbursements-partner). Workplace giving has evolved from CEO bragging rights into a core component of corporate benefits and nonprofit fundraising strategy. **Erinn** reinforced the shift from the nonprofit side: > "It's not really incremental anymore or just something that's nice to have that you try to figure out on the side. The biggest mindset shift is not just getting the match — it's about the data and the relationships behind it." Today's workplace giving touches finance, IT, marketing, fundraising, and data teams — sometimes all at once, sometimes all in the same person. That cross\-functional complexity is exactly why it's so hard to prioritize, and exactly why alignment across those functions unlocks so much value. ### **2. The operational burden is massive — and largely invisible** **Kathleen** walked through what workplace giving processing actually looks like at an organization handling tens of thousands of gifts per month: manually downloading transactions from multiple platforms, uploading them into the CRM, reconciling ACH deposits back to individual transactions, assigning hard and soft credits, and linking employees to employers for proper reporting. Every platform formats data differently. There's virtually no standardization. > "We are the recipients, right? So we only have limited visibility into how these systems function, and little to no control over the transactional data we receive, or the format in which we receive it." A registrant jumped into the Q&A to say: "Thank you for touching on the ops challenges. I find that it just goes unspoken about how complex and tedious this is." Many organizations don't have the bandwidth to do individual\-level processing at all and simplify into just one aggregate record that misses all the individual donor detail. ### **3. Donors face their own barriers — and it's costing nonprofits relationships** **Erinn** highlighted a particularly frustrating dynamic: donors who give through workplace platforms often don't realize their contact information isn't being shared. They assume the nonprofit received their details. When they don't hear back, they blame the nonprofit. > "They're like, why haven't I been thanked? I guess they're not a very good nonprofit. And so it's that breakdown that really affects that experience." Processing delays compound the problem. If it takes months for a gift to reach the nonprofit, even donors who do share their data may not get thanked in time. And on the employee side, **Jake** pointed to accessibility as a fundamental barrier: if the giving portal only works on desktop, deskless workers — warehouse employees, delivery drivers — are effectively locked out. > "People give when they're inspired. If they can't just reach into their pocket, pull out their phone, open up an app, and with a couple taps of their thumb give, then you're gonna have a massive drop-off." ### **4. DAFs are becoming a workplace giving benefit** **Jake** shared Groundswell's thesis: that donor\-advised funds will become a standard component of a modern compensation package alongside 401\(k\)s and HSAs. Groundswell provides individual DAFs to employees through their platform, with their own routing and account numbers, and employees can take the DAF with them when they leave. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its new provisions around DAF contributions for non\-itemizers, Groundswell re\-architected its experience to offer two giving paths — direct donations \(which qualify for the new standard charitable deduction\) and DAF contributions \(which follow the new AGI threshold rules for itemizers\) — adapting quickly to keep both options accessible for employees. *Groundswell is one of a growing number of workplace giving platforms, DAF sponsors, and crowdfunding platforms working with Chariot to move funds to nonprofits faster and with better data. *[*Learn more about Chariot Disbursements.*](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) ## What You Can Try ### **1. Build a branded donation experience for your corporate supporters** Kathleen's team at WWP created custom, branded donation pages for their closest corporate partners as an alternative to routing everything through third\-party platforms. This gives them control over the full donor experience — payment methods, recurring giving, data capture — and plugs directly into their existing CRM integrations. ### **2. Automate gift processing to unlock individual donor data** Both WWP and Kiva have moved away from manual processing of workplace giving files to implement a gift processing platform. Kathleen's team is working with [Chariot's gift processing platform](https://www.givechariot.com/gift-processing) to pull Benevity transactions via API, transform the data according to their business rules, and automatically load it into their CRM. **Erinn** described the shift at Kiva: they went from aggregating 50–100 individual gifts into a single CRM line item to seeing every donor individually through Chariot's platform, which enables her team to qualify donors, route them into the right giving tiers, and begin stewardship. > "The pure ability to be able to see that individual data and actually get it uploaded into our CRM is the big, big change that has completely shifted everything for us." *Learn how organizations are transforming their development operations work with the first\-ever Gift Processing Platform from Chariot. *[Reach out to our team.](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) ### **3. Integrate match reminders into your existing communications** Rather than treating match follow\-up as a separate campaign, Erinn recommended weaving it into existing donor touchpoints — thank\-you emails, year\-end appeals, mid\-year check\-ins. Only about 10% of employees actually complete their match, often because they simply forget or don't realize their company offers it. ### **4. Acknowledge delays — don't hide them** One of the session's most practical ideas: when a workplace gift finally arrives after months of processing, mention the delay in your thank\-you rather than ignoring it. Erinn's experience is that this actually strengthens the relationship rather than damaging it — donors appreciate the transparency, and it preempts the frustration of wondering why the nonprofit seemed unresponsive. ### **5. Mine your workplace giving data for corporate partnership leads** **Erinn** offered a simple but powerful tactic: look at which companies have 20, 30, or 50 employees giving through workplace platforms. That pattern isn't random — it's a conversation starter. > "Find that decision maker at that company, find that impact team, the HR, whoever it is, and say, you already have employees that care about this. How could we build on that?" **Kathleen** described the same principle at WWP: gift officers use analytics on workplace giving donors to assess propensity, identify program interests, and build pipelines for mid\-level, major gifts, and planned giving. The 360\-degree donor view — made possible by bringing all workplace giving data into a unified system — is what enables this. ## What This Actually Unlocks The thread connecting every part of this conversation was the same: when workplace giving data is treated as a strategic asset rather than a processing burden, it transforms the function from a back\-office chore into a growth engine. Kathleen's scenario — a workplace giving donor becoming a mid\-level donor, hosting an event, connecting a CEO who makes both a corporate and personal major gift — isn't hypothetical. It's the kind of lifecycle that becomes possible when the data is clean and the systems talk to each other. **Jake** captured the spirit of the whole session: > "You're in the business of getting the resources you need to execute your mission, and you need good tactics and strategies to do it." Workplace giving is one of those strategies — but only if organizations invest in the infrastructure to make it work. [Chariot gift processing](https://www.givechariot.com/gift-processing) helps nonprofits streamline the operational side so teams can focus on the relationships and partnerships that drive real growth. --- ## AI & Gift Processing: How Nonprofits Are Automating Gift Coding - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/ai-gift-processing-how-nonprofits-are-automating-gift-coding - Published: 2026-02-25 > On March 19th, Art Weinkofsky (Director of Development Information Systems, Central Park Conservancy), Emily Palmer (Associate Director of Fundraising Data Management, Share Our Strength), and Emma Zawacki (Senior Development Operations Coordinator, Center for Reproductive Rights) joined us for an in-depth conversation on a function that is overworked, underappreciated, and — it turns out — one of the best candidates for AI-powered efficiency in the nonprofit sector. On March 19th, Art Weinkofsky \(Director of Development Information Systems, Central Park Conservancy\), Emily Palmer \(Associate Director of Fundraising Data Management, Share Our Strength\), and Emma Zawacki \(Senior Development Operations Coordinator, Center for Reproductive Rights\) joined us for an in\-depth conversation on a function that is overworked, underappreciated, and — it turns out — one of the best candidates for AI\-powered efficiency in the nonprofit sector. Here's what they shared. ## **5 Key Takeaways** ### **1. Gift processing is the engine that makes fundraising run, and it’s often overlooked** > "It's the ultimate in sausage making. Nobody wants to know how it's made. They just want the end product." What that sausage\-making actually involves: logging into dozens of different portals, manually reconciling gifts with donation data, many of which arrive without clear information about who sent them or why. It's a puzzle, and when it's done well, it's invisible. When it's done poorly, it disrupts every part of the fundraising team. ### **2. The job is only getting harder** At the Nonprofit Technology Conference \(NTC\) in Detroit last week, every attendee at a Gift Processing session said gift processing has gotten harder over the last five years. The reasons: DAF giving volume is up, and the number of sources is multiplying. According to the DAF Research Collaborative’s [Annual DAF Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers), grantmaking from DAFs increased 19.0% YoY to $65 billion in 2024. The [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) shares a similar trend, with 30% YoY DAF revenue growth across participating nonprofits. And between DAF providers and workplace giving platforms, the number of DAF sources continues to grow. > "We have a list, literally a spreadsheet of all of our third party platforms. Last I checked, it was well over two hundred logins."  Managing 200\+ portals — many with multi\-factor authentication, some tied to personal phone numbers, some whose credentials were last updated by a volunteer from twenty years ago — is not a staffing problem. It's a structural one. One of the largest nonprofits in the country recently went so far as to tell workplace giving platforms they wouldn't accept employee matches because they couldn't justify the processing burden. That's the kind of impossible trade\-off that happens when volume outpaces capacity.** ** *Read our *[*1\-page overview*](https://docsend.com/view/7xyfmhmufr6xbea4)* on how Chariot Gift Processing can help unify those portals so nonprofits receive electronic payments in one place. * ### **3. AI is an untapped opportunity in gift processing** At that same NTC session, the room was asked who was using AI for gift processing. Not a single hand went up. > "Gift processing is both complex, as we saw, and incredibly rote as well. And that kind of combination of roteness and complexity can lead to a lot of human error — but also burnout and morale loss... Any kind of place where repetition and complexity are connected so deeply, AI can just really be super helpful." ### **4. AI needs to be used responsibly** Art put it directly: > "We look at AI as an assist. It's not doing the work. It's a trust and verify type system."  Central Park Conservancy follows established internal policies, sets clear limits on what data can be used and how, and treats AI the same way they treat any other technology partner: with scrutiny around whether the data stays contained. [Chariot's gift processing software](https://www.givechariot.com/gift-processing) operates as a closed loop—its data is not used to train any external LLMs and data from Chariot’s customers is restricted to their individual account. ### **5. AI helps with the most tedious parts of the job** Art's team at Central Park Conservancy runs on a small\-but\-mighty model. *"We've got two full\-time people on our gift processing staff and we had to handle forty\-six thousand gifts last year."* The reaction when AI\-assisted coding started working wasn't fear — it was relief. > "No one's feeling like anything's being taken away. If anything, they're feeling like they've got the better shovel... to dig out from under the load." *Central Park Conservancy, Share Our Strength, and Center for Reproductive Rights work with Chariot to unify, enrich, and sync their DAF and workplace giving gifts. *[Reach out to learn more about Chariot Gift Processing.](/contact) ## What You Can Try: Practical Tips for Building Coding Rules The panelists were specific about how they got started. These are the steps that worked across three different organizations. ### ** 1. Start by segmenting your gifts BEFORE you write a single rule** Emma's first move was dividing gifts into groups that came in similarly and needed to be reported on similarly: DAFpay gifts, regular DAF gifts, and workplace matching gifts. Each follows different logic. Trying to write universal rules before doing this segmentation creates more problems than it solves. ### **2. Map which fields can be assigned immediately versus which depend on other fields** Some fields are straightforward; others build off each other. At the Center for Reproductive Rights, fund ID was dependent on constituency, which was derived from donor ID — meaning the rule had to account for that chain. Charting these dependencies before building rules saves significant rework later. ### **3. Feed your existing reference materials directly into the system** Art's team manages roughly a dozen programs, each with its own set of appeals, fund codes, and letter codes for acknowledgements. Emma and Emily mentioned having thousands of potential codes to manage. That full list — what used to require manual lookup for every gift — now lives in the platform. The AI applies it automatically based on the rules the team has set. You can also just describe rules in plain English through the chat interface and the system will generate and apply them. Either way works. ### **4. Build rules for the platforms that give you the most trouble** Share Our Strength receives both regular DAF gifts and workplace giving gifts through Groundswell — and codes them differently. **The rule:** *"If it says 'employee match' in the note of the gift, code it as a workplace gift."* That single rule eliminates a manual classification step on every [Groundswell](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/getting-to-know-groundswell-a-chariot-disbursements-partner) import. Think about which portals cause your team the most friction and start there. ### **5. Let purpose\-field logic do more work** Art's team trained the AI to flag keywords in gift purpose fields — words like "women's committee," "playground partners," "benches," "trees" — and use those to assign classification. A $25,000 gift automatically routes to the major giving category. A gift mentioning a specific event gets the event's fund ID. Gifts that mention an event that was already in the system get matched to it. The AI is reading the same cues a skilled gift processor would read manually. ### **6. Use flags for the things that still need a human** Emma set up a rule so that any gift with a purpose mentioning "in memory of" or "in honor of" generates a small exclamation point in an alert column. She doesn't have to scroll through hundreds of gifts to find the ones that need extra attention — the system surfaces them. The same logic applies to anything you want a human to review before finalizing: restriction flags, address mismatches, unusual gift amounts. Build the rule, let the AI flag it, and move on. ### **7. The Benevity file can go from eight hours to thirty minutes** Emily's team used to put Benevity gifts in as a lump sum donor record. Now, with coding rules in place, the monthly file comes in fully coded to the individual employee and employer level — hard credits, soft credits, aliases for matching — in roughly half an hour. > "In the past, if we had wanted to get that employee-level data, we're looking at six to eight hours of work."  **The process:** export your workplace\-giving company list with IDs from your CRM, upload it to the platform, and let the system match company names on incoming Benevity files to your reference list. When names don't match exactly, flag them for manual review. **A bonus:** individual employee data often includes email addresses. Those are warm leads who've already given. Share Our Strength is now building stewardship relationships with donors they previously had no direct contact with at all. ### **8. For check processing, consider a digital mailbox** Central Park Conservancy launched Chariot's digital mailbox integration in November 2025, starting with checks mailed by DAFgiving360. They've since eliminated 500\+ checks annually from manual processing — and are planning to expand to third\-party bill pay services \(Citi and others\), which they estimate will remove another 500\+ checks per year from the queue. The digital mailbox deposits the funds, pulls the relevant data from each check and grant letter image and matches it to the standard data structure. Every gift through the Digital Mailbox appears in the Chariot dashboard the same as electronic gifts, and can have the same coding rules applied. The digitally\-scanned check and grant letter images are also available if anyone needs to verify. ## **What This Actually Unlocks** The time savings are massive, but they're not the point on their own. Emily put it simply: > "There is something to be said for working with a tool that was built for your day-to-day life... So often in operations, we are working with tools that were really made because the fundraisers needed them. The Chariot gift processing platform is a platform that was made for what we do on a day-to-day basis... Someone finally saw me and what I deal with on a day-to-day basis." When gift processing teams spend less time on manual lookup and more time on the exceptions that actually need a human, the quality of data going into the CRM improves. Donor stewardship gets sharper. Fundraisers get better information. The function itself starts to look like what it is: a site of meaningful innovation, not a cost center. **Chariot gift processing combines a financial account with AI\-powered data transformation to solve a fast\-growing operational challenge that costs the 1.4 million nonprofits and thousands of grantmakers in the U.S. millions of hours annually. If you’re interested in learning more, **[**get in touch with our team**](https://www.givechariot.com/contact)**.** #### **Coming Soon: A Monthly Gift Processing User Forum** One of the most energizing moments of this conversation happened in real time: Emma described her honor/in\-memory flag policy, and Art immediately wanted to implement it. Emily walked through the Groundswell rule, and Art started connecting it to his own Benevity setup. The learning applications were immediate, and it surfaced a gap. Gift processing professionals don't have dedicated spaces to share what they're building with each other. Starting soon, Chariot will be hosting a **monthly gift processing user forum** — open to anyone using or curious about Chariot’s gift processing platform. It will be focused on sharing AI\-assisted policies, surfacing use cases, and learning from what's working working for your peers. [Register now](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DZTWREy5QaunfD2qq6H__w#/registration) --- ## What’s Ahead in DAF Fundraising 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/whats-ahead-in-daf-fundraising-2026 - Published: 2026-02-25 On February 18, 2026, Chariot’s Head of Strategy **Mitch Stein** sat down with **Rachel Sumsion**, Principal Investigator at the [DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) \(DAFRC\), to break down the latest DAF research landscape and the key themes shaping donor\-advised fund fundraising in 2026. Here’s everything we covered. # The DAF Research Landscape: More Data Than Ever There’s been more DAF research published in the last two years than ever before. But if you’re a nonprofit professional, it can be hard to know where to start. Rachel walked us through how the DAFRC approaches its work — and how all of these studies fit together. > We have data from the donors, data from the sponsors, and data from the accounts. All these pieces together get us a clearer picture of what DAFs are doing and how they’re operating. The DAFRC, founded in 2018 by Dr. Dan Heist at Brigham Young University and Dr. Danielle Vance\-McMullen at DePaul University, exists to conduct empirical research that advances the public understanding of DAFs — and to make that research accessible, not just to academics, but to fundraisers, DAF sponsors, and anyone working in philanthropy. ## DAFRC Reports - [**DAFRC Annual DAF Report**](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) — The macro\-level view of DAFs in America. Built on IRS Form 990 data from 1,485 DAF sponsors, it covers total accounts \(3.56M\), contributions \($89.6B\), grants \($64.9B\), assets \($326B\), and payout rates. - [**National Survey on DAF Managers**](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6011def87418a462fcb03978/t/6941a3e526fdb17367fb52b5/1765909513721/The+National+Survey+of+Donor+Advised+Fund+Managers.pdf) — Survey data from 128 DAF sponsor managers nationwide on policies, practices, donor engagement, and how DAFs fit into their organizations. - [**DAF Donor Study**](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/research#donor-behavior) — Data from over 2,100 DAF donors on demographics, giving strategies, motivations, and how they actually use their DAFs. - [**2024 National Study on DAFs**](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-dafs) — Transaction\-level data from 111 DAF providers covering 57,000\+ accounts across 9 years — the most granular look at how DAFs actually operate at the account level. - [**Reinventing the Cycle**](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6011def87418a462fcb03978/t/680bb62c6384346a077e3847/1765909926040/Reinventing+the+Cycle-+Adapting+Relationship+Fundraising+for+Donors+Who+Use+DAFs+without+DOI.pdf) — In\-depth interviews with 46 professional fundraisers about the real challenges and opportunities of working with DAF donors. ## Individual DAF Provider Reports Beyond the independent research, several DAF providers publish their own reports. As Rachel noted, these are valuable but represent only one part of a much larger picture — they focus on a single provider’s data and are often designed to highlight organizational achievements. - [**Fidelity Charitable**](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fidelity-charitable_2026-giving-report-impact-snapshot-activity-7424455377687306241-nhbt/) — Annual giving report. 2025 snapshot: $18.3B in grants \(\+23% YoY\), 395K donors, 3M grants recommended. - [**DAFgiving360**](https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/2025-results) — CY2025: $9.9B in grants \(\+28% YoY\), 1.5M grants recommended, median grant size of $500. - [**Vanguard Charitable**](https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/why-giving-matters-2025) — 2024: $3.1B to 62.6K nonprofits \(\+20% YoY\). - [**Daffy**](https://www.daffy.org/resources/year-in-review-2025) — 2025: $470M set aside for charity \(2.2x prior year\), $125M grant volume \(3.2x YoY\), 16K\+ accounts. Now a top 10 DAF provider. - [**Charityvest**](https://www.charityvest.org/annual-report-2025) — $265.5M in contributions \(\+167% YoY\), $119.2M in grants \(\+128% YoY\), 118% payout rate. Chariot has analyzed these reports and you can read our key takeways for fundraisers in our blog articles below. ## The DAF Fundraising Report The [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) is unique because it’s built on nonprofits’ actual historical giving data — not survey responses or provider filings. Produced by Chariot and K2D Strategies, now in its third year, this report captures real donor behavior changes, retention patterns, and revenue trends at the organizational level — things no other study can show. # 9 Key DAF Themes for 2026 ### 1. Scale DAFs now represent a massive — and growing — share of American philanthropy. - **$65 billion** in grantmaking in FY 2024 - **$90 billion** in total contributions to DAFs - DAF giving now makes up approximately **15% of total giving** and **23% of individual giving** in the U.S. - **$326 billion** in total charitable assets held in DAFs > If your organization isn’t paying attention to this, having conversations about it, having specific strategies related to DAF giving — you really are falling behind from where the market is going. As an organization, you should prioritize proper data hygiene with DAF gifts so you can track how your organization is performing against the broader market. If you're not tagging and segmenting DAF revenue in your CRM today, you're flying blind on one of the fastest\-growing segments of philanthropy. ### 2. Growth It’s not just that the DAF market is large — it’s the fastest\-growing segment of philanthropy, and major providers are already sharing accelerating grantmaking from their 2025 financial results: - **Fidelity Charitable:** $18.3B granted \(\+23% YoY\) - **DAFgiving360:** $9.9B granted \(\+28% YoY\) — 4th consecutive year of double\-digit growth - **Daffy:** $125M granted \(3.2x YoY\) - **Charityvest:** $119.2M granted \(2.3x YoY\) As Rachel noted, DAFs are becoming more popular every day — and not just for traditional philanthropists. Workplace giving platforms are increasingly using DAFs as their charitable giving vehicle, meaning some employees may have a DAF without even realizing it. If your organization doesn't yet have a clear plan for accepting and stewarding DAF gifts, now is the time. The growth trajectory isn't slowing down, and the nonprofits that build DAF\-friendly infrastructure today will be best positioned to capture this accelerating wave of generosity. ### 3. Anonymity: Debunking the Myth This was one of the most discussed topics of the webinar. Fundraisers often assume the vast majority of DAF gifts arrive anonymously — but the data tells a very different story. > Only 4% of grant transactions are actually fully anonymous. If you’re a fundraiser, I’m sure you’re going, ‘No way.’ But the data shows it. Key findings on anonymity: - **Less than 4% of all DAF grants** were fully anonymous \(2024 National Study on DAFs\) - Of donors who make partially anonymous grants, **79% said they could easily be identified** from the name of their DAF account \(DAF Donor Survey\) - Only **36% of DAF sponsors default to sharing full contact info** when donors recommend grants — about the same number \(35%\) default to just the DAF account name \(DAF Manager Survey\) - The top reason donors choose anonymity is **to avoid public recognition \(72%\)** — pointing to an important distinction between anonymity and confidentiality There’s a real opportunity here for nonprofits: if you’re reminding donors to share their contact information in your appeals, you can significantly reduce the number of “anonymous” gifts you receive. And if your organization is using [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), then you will know the donors’ names and emails right when they recommend their grant so you can reach out to thank them immediately. **Check if your fundraising platform is using DAFpay.** Finally, remember to review your gift processing workflows and make sure your gift entry team has clear business rules for DAF gifts. Include the fund name, and create a new donor record even when full contact information isn't available — too often, partially identified DAF gifts get lumped into an "anonymous" file by default, which inflates your anonymous numbers and means donors who wanted to hear from you never do. ### 4. Impact on Generosity This is what Mitch called “the many\-billion\-dollar question” — does having a DAF actually lead to more giving? Multiple data sources point to yes. - **10x average increase** in annual gift size when donors switch from non\-DAF to DAF giving; **2x median increase** \(DAF Fundraising Report\) - **3x average increase** in giving level since members opened their Daffy account \(Daffy\) - **73% of DAFgiving360 donors** report giving more because of their DAF - **93% of DAF donors surveyed** reported giving the same amount or more since opening their DAF \(DAFRC DAF Donor Survey\) > When Rachel decides to use her DAF instead of her credit card, she gave a thousand dollars instead of a hundred dollars. Even at the median, over half of donors at least doubled their gift size. Why? As Rachel explained, DAF funds are earmarked for charitable purposes — the money has to go to a charity at some point. That fundamental feature of the vehicle appears to drive increased generosity. Our takeaway is that nonprofits should make it as easy as possible for existing donors to give via DAF. Whether that's adding a DAF option to your online giving forms, creating a dedicated DAF giving page, or integrating a tool like DAFpay — removing friction at the point of giving is how you unlock that multiplier effect. ### 5. Payout Rate Payout rate — the percentage of DAF assets granted out each year — is one of the most debated and misunderstood metrics in philanthropy. Rachel provided important context on how to interpret it: - The DAFRC Annual Report found a **25.3% payout rate** — more than 3x the payout rate of private foundations \(8.1%\) - However, how you calculate payout rate matters enormously — and there are several valid ways to do it. The latest edition of the DAFRC Annual Report breaks down these different calculation methods and shows how payout rates vary significantly across different types of DAF sponsors. - **54% of DAFs** granted out more than 50% of their original contributions within 3 years \(2024 National Study\) - Newer providers like Daffy report a **55% annual payout rate**, and Charityvest reports **118%** DAFs are designed for a different philanthropic purpose than private foundations. Even though DAFs don’t have a federally mandated annual minimum payout rate, the provider’s internal policies and functionality of the vehicle have proven to make it significantly more effective at moving committed charitable dollars out as grants than private foundations \(the most common alternative\). Rather than worrying about whether donors are "sitting on" their DAF funds, focus your energy on making your organization an easy and compelling destination for those grants. ### 6. Donor Profile Who is the typical DAF donor? The research gives us interesting insight, but but may not be universal. DAFRC’s study, for example, relied heavily on data from community foundations. This is an important distinction to understand as different DAF sponsors may have different donor bases that are constantly evolving. - **Average age: 67** \(DAF Donor Survey\) - **50/50 male/female split** - **92% white** - **96%** reported net worth over $1 million - **49% of DAF accounts** had under $50K in assets — DAFs are not exclusively a major\-gift vehicle \(2024 National Study\) - **Two\-thirds of DAF accounts** are managed by more than one person — typically couples or families From the Reinventing the Cycle study, Rachel highlighted three important reminders for fundraisers: - **Remember the individual donor behind the DAF grant.** Fundraisers sometimes mistakenly thank the DAF sponsor instead of the donor. - **A DAF signals philanthropic intent and financial capacity.** Funds in DAFs are earmarked for charity — that’s valuable information for prospect research. - **DAF donors use their accounts differently.** Some “fill and drain” regularly, some distribute larger sums over time, and some treat their DAF like an endowed account. Understanding a donor’s approach is key. Use this data to inform your prospect research and segmentation. If you know a donor has a DAF, that's a signal of both philanthropic intent and financial capacity — treat it as a qualification indicator and steward accordingly. ### 7. When DAF Donors Don’t Use Their DAF It’s important to remember that most DAF donors give through multiple channels — not just their DAF. - **88% of DAF donors** also give directly to charities \(DAF Donor Survey\) - Donors are more likely to use their DAF for **recurring or large gifts \(over $10,000\)** and more likely to give directly for **small or spontaneous gifts \(under $100\)**, at fundraising events, or during crisis giving - About **two\-thirds \(63%\) of DAF holders** report that half or more of their giving flows through their DAF - DAFpay \(Chariot’s DAF payment option at checkout in donation forms\) stats show: **$1,200 average gift, $300 median** — most popular in online checkout forms and time\-bound campaigns like peer\-to\-peer fundraising and giving days This is exactly why it's important to make it easy for donors to use their DAF with your organization. When you do, you not only increase the likelihood of a larger gift, but you also identify who your DAF donors are, which lets you steward them more effectively over time. ### 8. Financial Strategy: Non\-Cash Assets, Advisors & Workplace Giving DAFs are deeply intertwined with donors’ broader financial planning: - **74% of contributions to DAFgiving360** were non\-cash assets — stocks, real estate, or crypto - **61% of Fidelity Charitable contributions** were publicly traded securities - **77% of assets at DAFgiving360** were associated with a financial advisor - Newer providers like **Daffy and Groundswell** are making DAFs accessible through workplace giving programs, creating a new pathway for employees to give through DAFs Build relationships with financial advisors who serve your donor base. If you have advisors on your board or among your supporters, engage them as partners — consider hosting a teach\-in or lunch\-and\-learn to get them more familiar with your organization and its mission. They can be a direct channel to donors who are actively planning their charitable giving through DAFs and non\-cash assets. ### 9. Democratization: DAFs Aren’t Just for the Ultra\-Wealthy One of the most important shifts: DAFs are being used by a much broader donor base than most nonprofits assume. - **69% of DAF donations are under $1,000** \(DAF Fundraising Report\) - The **fastest\-growing segments** of DAF usage are gifts under $100 and gifts over $25K — and every size bucket in between is growing too - **Median grant size:** $500 at DAFgiving360, $100 at Daffy - **49% of DAF accounts** have under $50K in assets \(2024 National Study\) - **1 in 4 DAFs** were opened after 2020 > *DAFs are not just a major gift vehicle. They’re being used across the full giving spectrum — and that’s only accelerating.* Don't limit your DAF strategy to major gifts and planned giving. Make DAF giving visible and accessible across all giving levels — in your online forms, peer\-to\-peer campaigns, giving days, and annual appeals. Make sure your whole team is educated on DAFs, not just the major gift officers. The data shows donors want to use their DAF whenever they can, so meet them where they are. ### The Bottom Line: Educate Outward and Inward - **DAFs are nothing to be afraid of **— and donors who learn about them and their benefits through your organization tend to respond positively. Including DAF education in your communications positions you as a helpful partner in their giving journey, not just a recipient. - **Share these resources internally**, make sure staff across every function have the latest information, and address any wariness about DAFs head\-on. The more your entire organization understands DAFs, the better equipped you'll be to capture this growing segment of philanthropy. # Which Reports Should You Read First? Feeling overwhelmed? We asked Rachel what she’d recommend based on your role: **For Nonprofit Fundraisers:** - [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) — for benchmarking your own DAF revenue - [DAFRC DAF Donor Study](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-management-survey) — to better understand the donors behind the grants - [Reinventing the Cycle](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/dafrc-research) — for practical guidance on adapting your fundraising approach **For Gift Processing & Operations Teams:** - [DAFRC Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) — understanding scale and growth - [DAFgiving360 Report](https://www.dafgiving360.org/press-release/2025-results) — recurring giving patterns and platform behavior - [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/resources/toolkits/daf-fundraising-report) — operational benchmarks **For Nonprofit Leadership & Board:** - [DAFRC Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) — making the case for organizational investment in DAF strategy - [DAFRC DAF Donor Study](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-management-survey) — understanding the donor opportunity **For DAF Providers & Grantmakers:** - [DAFRC Annual DAF Report](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025) — benchmarking against peers - [National Survey on DAF Managers](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/national-study-management-survey) — best practices from other providers # Stay Connected - **Follow Chariot** on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) and subscribe to our newsletter. - **Follow the** [DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/) and [Rachel Sumsion](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmsumsion/) on LinkedIn. --- ## Where Planned Giving Belongs in DAF Strategy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/where-planned-giving-belongs-in-daf-strategy-webinar - Published: 2025-12-04 > As donor-advised funds (DAFs) become a dominant philanthropic vehicle, many nonprofits are asking the same question: how do we integrate DAFs into our broader fundraising strategy, without sidelining Planned Giving? To explore this, Chariot recently hosted a conversation with Kate Rhodes, Senior Officer of Strategic Philanthropy at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Drawing on her experience with both Planned Giving and DAF strategies, Kate offered an in-depth look at how organizations can build cross-functional approaches to DAF fundraising—with Planned Giving leading the way.  ##### **As donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) become a dominant philanthropic vehicle, many nonprofits are asking the same question: how do we integrate DAFs into our broader fundraising strategy, without sidelining Planned Giving?** To explore this, Chariot recently hosted a conversation with [Kate Rhodes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-rhodes-0abb7688/), Senior Officer of Strategic Philanthropy at the [International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/article/make-an-impact-with-DAF) \(IRC\). Drawing on her experience with both Planned Giving and DAF strategies, Kate offered an in\-depth look at how organizations can build cross\-functional approaches to DAF fundraising—with Planned Giving leading the way. ## What Is Planned Giving? “Planned Giving”, or legacy giving, enables donors to make long\-term gifts through wills, retirement accounts, beneficiary designations — including from DAFs. While these gifts are only granted after a donor’s passing, their intent signals deep, lifetime engagement with a nonprofit cause. > “Planned gifts are often the largest gifts someone makes—and when people notify us of one, their giving during their lifetime typically increases substantially too.” Contrary to its name, planned giving isn’t about simply waiting to receive an end\-of\-life gift––it’s about stewarding donors over their lifetimes once they’ve signaled their intent to make a planned gift. DAF fundraising is a powerful tool to help do that, as many of these donors tend to also have DAFs. ## How Planned Giving Fits with DAFs DAFs are sometimes misunderstood strictly as a Planned Giving tool—but most DAF gifts are not delayed or contingent.“I don’t consider a typical DAF grant a planned gift,” Kate explained. “They’re often immediate, sometimes even triggered by direct response campaigns.” This misunderstanding has led to many organizations restricting DAF strategy and knowledge to their Planned Giving and/or Major Gifts team members. However, this “siloing” of DAF strategy is much too limiting as all kinds of donors are adopting DAF giving for all types of donations. At the IRC, DAFs now represent more than 26% of individual giving, and revenue from DAFs grew 39% year\-over\-year in FY2025. > “We realized we could no longer afford to be reactive. DAFs had to be part of a proactive, organization-wide strategy,” said Kate. ## Building a Collaborative DAF Strategy In her role, Kate gets to “quarterback” many of the initiatives to incorporate DAF giving across all different fundraising channels and efforts at IRC. By having designated “DAF Champions,” it allows an organization to keep aligned internally, maintain momentum and bring in new ideas across the organization. Even if it’s not a full time role, like Kate’s, designating teammates to bring more focus to these efforts can have tremendous payoff. **A few ways to better collaborate on DAFs include:** - Choose an internal DAF Champion - Bring key leaders together to build buy\-in & alignment  - Audit fundraising tools, website & communications for DAF giving - Set a quarterly meeting for a task\-force representing all stakeholders  **Some results that IRC has seen from this closer collaboration:** - Clean & clear data that lets them track collective performance   - Implemented DAFpay for easier DAF giving and instant stewardship of DAF donors - Added DAF checkboxes to all reply devices for direct mail  - Modeled likely DAF donors for more quarterly DAF post card  - Built out content related to DAFs: blog posts, webpage, webinar, podcast feature ## The Role of Planned Giving in a DAF Strategy A large contributor to IRC’s success is that Planned Giving priorities and expertise are integral to that collaborative DAF strategy. Many organizations get excited about DAFs and start pursuing a new strategy in digital or direct response, but don’t keep their Planned Giving colleagues involved. Kate pointed out several benefits that her Planned Giving background have lent her in driving more DAF focus across the organization: - **Beneficiary Designation**: Donors can name nonprofits as beneficiaries to their DAF account, but many either don’t know that or haven’t thought about it. It’s an excellent campaign to run for DAF donors that likely educates them and keeps your organization top of mind.  - **Educational Collateral**: Because gift planners are often leading the conversation on more complex giving vehicles, they prioritize effective handouts and materials to leave behind with donors. IRC developed a DAF brochure that is now used across the organization for better donor engagement.  “It filled a gap we didn’t even realize existed,” Kate said. “Now, it’s a go\-to tool across departments.” - **Long term stewardship:** When a donor names an organization as a beneficiary in their will, it will likely be many years until that gift comes to fruition. It’s critical to continue high\-touch relationship building in the meantime and Planned Giving teams are typically real experts on stewardship and giving psychology. Given DAF donors’ high capacity and loyalty, one of the biggest unlocks to increase DAF support is more intentional and curated engagement of these supporters.  “We’re used to stewarding donors through long\-term conversations. That’s exactly what DAFs necessitate, too.” - **Partner Collaboration**: Planned Giving folks often build relationships with financial institutions and community foundations given they often provide some of the more complex giving vehicles that donors might be evaluating. IRC also prioritizes those relationships in DAF strategy, which has led to a feature on [DAFgiving360’s podcast](https://www.dafgiving360.org/giving-with-impact/the-challenges-facing-humanitarian-aid-groups-right-now). ## Lessons From DAF Day at IRC A key pillar of IRC’s collaborative DAF strategy in 2025 was going all\-in on DAF Day in October. They were even recognized in the [DAF Day Awards](https://www.givechariot.com/post/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) \- Here’s what they did: - Launched multi\-channel donor outreach: \(e.g., emails, SMS, paid ads, SEO articles\) - Segmented DAF audiences with custom messaging - Hosted an educational DAF 101 webinar for donors pre\-DAF Day, featuring a financial advisor and DAF provider - Integrated a seamless DAF giving option in DAFpay across all forms & appeals While they are still awaiting the finalized data on offline DAF gifts, they saw that their SMS communication for DAF Day had promising real time DAFpay results: “Four existing donors gave via DAF for the first time—and each was their largest gift ever,” Kate shared. ## Where to Start, or Advance, Your DAF Strategy 1. Audit your public listings on Charity Navigator, Candid, and BBB \(DAFs often source information from these sites\) 2. Prioritize relationships with DAFs most relevant to your organization \(e.g. Community Foundations\) 3. Establish [data and stewardship rules](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow) for DAF gifts \(keep Planned Giving in the loop\!\) 4. Ensure DAFpay is enabled in your donation forms \(see partners [here](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations)\)  5. Create educational materials on DAFs \- for your team and donors 6. Set a recurring DAF Strategy meeting for key teammates  “DAFs are the future of giving. To succeed, we need to stop seeing them as the responsibility of just one team.” --- ## Maximize DAF Giving This Year End - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/maximize-daf-giving-this-year-end-webinar - Published: 2025-11-19 ## Maximize DAF Giving This Year\-End Year\-end giving season is officially here — and based on what we’re seeing across the sector, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years ever for donor\-advised fund \(DAF\) activity. During our recent webinar, “Maximize DAF Giving This Year\-End”, we dug into the trends, strategies, and sample campaigns nonprofits can use right now to capture more DAF dollars before December 31st. ## **Why DAF Giving Surges at Year\-End** DAF giving consistently spikes in December — and this year, nonprofits should expect an even stronger lift. - **Donors aim to meet year\-end giving goals.** December is when many donors take stock of their annual commitments and ensure they’ve met the charitable goals they set for the year. - **Appeal volume increases during Giving Season.** As inboxes fill with year\-end appeals, DAF donors are prompted to take action — especially when a nonprofit explicitly reminds them that DAFs are an option for giving. - [**2026 tax changes**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/how-the-new-tax-bill-will-reshape-philanthropy-and-dafs-actionable-steps-for-nonprofits-donors-an#:~:text=Wealthy%20Donors%3A%20Cap%20on%20Deductions%20Means%20Act%20Now&text=Beginning%20in%202026%2C%20the%20maximum,have%20a%20floor%20of%200.5%25.)** are accelerating DAF activity.** With upcoming changes to the standard and charitable deductions, many donors \(especially those in higher income brackets\) are “[bunching](https://www.trowepricecharitable.org/guides-and-forms/articles/bunching-as-a-tax-strategy.html)” and maximizing tax benefits while they still can. This means there may be an increased volume of DAF contributions *and* grants to nonprofits this December as donors plan ahead. ## **Why Nonprofits Hesitate to Target DAF Donors at Year\-end** Even as DAF giving grows, many organizations think twice about building targeted DAF outreach into year\-end campaigns. During the session, we addressed the most common barriers — and why they shouldn’t slow you down. ### **1. Fear of Re\-soliciting a DAF Donor** One of the biggest misconceptions is that you shouldn’t ask DAF donors who already gave earlier in the year to give again. But DAF donors can be among the most strategic and thoughtful–once they find a cause they want to support, they tend to respond well to periodic solicitations and reminders to give. Research from the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) highlights this, showing that 20% of DAF donors surveyed gave 2\+ times per year to the same organization. ### **2. Concern About Being “Too Specific”** Some fundraisers feel awkward referencing a donor’s DAF directly. But this level of personalization can make donors feel valued: “It just shows that you’re paying attention… asking them to consider a year\-end gift because they have a DAF is actually a great idea.” \- Briel Steinberg, Chariot ### **3. Poor DAF Tracking in the CRM** While nonprofits always welcome an uptick in DAF gifts at year\-end, if they don’t have a solid tracking methodology in place, these gifts can often create more headaches for gift processors at an already crazy time of year. Not having a systematic way to track your DAF gifts can be a common blocker to receiving more of them — but the problem is easily fixable. Even if your historical data is inconsistent, you can start standardizing your data today by: - Soft\-crediting donors and hard\-crediting DAF providers on all new DAF gifts - Tagging gifts consistently, and distinguishing DAF gifts from QCDs, corporate matches, etc. - Using DAFpay to get donor information instantly and close stewardship gaps ### **4. The Myth That “DAF Donors Already Know How to Give”** DAF donors are often making gifts in the same spontaneous, emotionally\-driven moments as every other donor — a GivingTuesday email, a compelling social post, a peer\-to\-peer ask from a friend. In those moments, **convenience outweighs intention**. If a DAF option isn’t front and center, many donors default to the fastest visible method \(usually a credit card\). **This matters because the difference in outcome is massive. **When someone switches from giving via credit card to giving via a DAF: - Their gift is [**8–10× larger, on average**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) - You receive **full donor information** \(if using DAFpay\) - You strengthen the pipeline for major \+ planned gifts Donors don’t need you to remind them they have a DAF, but they *do *need you to make using it effortless. Every time you call out DAFs explicitly in your year\-end appeals — subject lines, CTAs, text messages, donation pages — you reduce friction, prompt better giving behavior, and unlock transformational revenue that would otherwise be lost. ## **Best Practices for Year\-End Appeals** ### **1. Optimize Donor Communications for DAF Giving** Make sure your GivingTuesday and year\-end assets — emails, social media, SMS alerts, landing pages — clearly mention DAF giving and link to DAF\-friendly donation options, like DAFpay. ### **2. Audit Your Website ** Send your website to a friend and see how long it takes them to find a DAF giving option\! Can they give right away, or do they have to click around? Ensure that you have a clear: - DAF section on your **Ways to Give** page\(s\) - Guide on how to give via a DAF \(and make sure your EIN is listed clearly on your website\!\) - DAF giving option that is easy to use ### **3. Text Messaging Works** The [International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/) drove strong results by texting donors on DAF Day — and the same tactic works well during year\-end. ### **4. Make Sure DAFs are Included on All Campaign Pages and Donation Forms ** If your organization uses multiple fundraising platforms or campaign pages, make sure there’s an easy DAF giving option on those, too. And check if DAFpay is enabled on your [fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) \- if so, you can toggle it on easily. Here are some examples of DAFpay implementations within different platforms: **Native integrations:** - [International Rescue Committee](https://help.rescue.org/donate/evergreen-acq?ms=gs_ppc_fy25_evergreen_mmus_oct&initialms=gs_ppc_fy25_evergreen_mmus_oct&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59izSk_lQFcWhJvPdbtLxcZNLBEOqFD31iWY5mgHq_VYWLTTAgChaFxBoCLVkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) \(Springboard/Jackson River\) - [National MS Society](https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participants/601467/donate) \(DonorDrive\) - [National Wildlife Federation](https://support.nwf.org/page/58307/donate/1?_ga=2.247764231.1032911974.1737475544-1772799792.1735778928&_gac=1.86397034.1737475544.Cj0KCQiAqL28BhCrARIsACYJvkdg6XkuNwqxt8_oSxYO9OSljG4nXrD6PPK9t_B0SEc8E4LG6npAhwwaAk55EALw_wcB) \(Engaging Networks\) **Custom integrations \(in editable forms\)\*:** - [Houston Food Bank](https://secure.houstonfoodbank.org/site/Donation2?df_id=15111&mfc_pref=T&15111.donation=form1) \(Luminate Online\) - [Dana\-Farber Cancer Institute](https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2100&mfc_pref=T&2100.donation=form1) \(Luminate Online\) - [Center for Reproductive Rights](https://secure.reproductiverights.org/a/givingtuesday2025?source=26CRKGE-1102AAX-ON&utm_medium=web&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=26CRKGE-1102AAX-ON&utm_content=2xmatch&am=15&SelectedFrequency=0) \(Every Action\) - [American Cancer Society ](https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en&_gl=1*170tv28*_gcl_au*MTE5NDkzOTI3MS4xNzI3NzE4NzM1*_ga*NDE3NzA4MDAxLjE2OTYzNTU0NzM.*_ga_12CJLLFFQT*MTczNDUzNzEyOS4yNjguMC4xNzM0NTM3MTMwLjU5LjAuMA)\(In\-House Solution\) **“Add\-on” or “Link\-out” solutions\*:** - [AJC](https://donate.ajc.org/give/596773/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=wb_dtt_20250807_TopButtonUpdateAugust2025) \(GoFundMe Pro\)  - [Boys & Girls Club](https://www.bgca.org/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/?form=donate&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18021921492&gbraid=0AAAAADs1h8va_vyf7BRsDd4o9Ogz3FFc1&gclid=Cj0KCQiArOvIBhDLARIsAPwJXOaehccwg984jUMV246La0858-UEbldcCsRb0dJkNpZgN8yLDdbXZ3caAuasEALw_wcB) \(FundraiseUp\)  - [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/donation/) \(Tessitura\)  - [B\+ Foundation](https://www.beposfdn.org/DONATE/donate-new.aspx) \(DonorPerfect\)   *\*Note that adding DAFpay without a native integration does require a subscription Chariot plan.* If you have questions on how to best implement DAFpay on your existing donation forms, please reference the [Chariot help center](https://help.givechariot.com/), or [reach out for support](https://www.givechariot.com/nonprofit-contact-form). **5. Educate Your Team** Be your organization’s DAF champion and make sure that your DAF fundraising strategy is stressed cross\-functionally. ## **Resources to Power Your Year\-End DAF Strategy** - [**Year\-End Toolkit**](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2CcRPIbaxQqOghrLzpYq7fw) \- Campaign templates, messaging prompts, buckslip examples, and more to help you launch high\-performing, DAF\-inclusive appeals. For inspiration, check out standout examples from the [**DAF Day Award Winners\!**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/announcing-the-2025-daf-day-award-winners) And feel free to share these with us \- we’d love to see what your team comes up with\! - [**Standardize Your DAF Data Before Giving Season**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow) \- Ensure you’re tracking DAF gifts accurately — from naming conventions to CRM hygiene. - **Confirm Your Fundraising Platform Supports DAFpay** \- Make DAF giving as seamless as possible for donors by using a platform that supports DAFpay. See the full list of DAFpay integration partners [here.](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) - [**Claim Your Chariot Deposit Account**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup)**\*** \- Centralize your DAF payments and visualize all your data in one place. This is essential for fast, effective stewardship — especially at year\-end. - **Apply for the **[**2026 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form)** ** \- Participate to benchmark your organization’s DAF performance and gain deeper insights into donor behavior over time. --- ## 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Official Kick Off - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/2026-daf-fundraising-report-official-kick-off - Published: 2025-10-30 ## Kickoff for the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report ##### What you missed from the 2026 DFR Kickoff Webinar, and what your organization needs to do to participate. Yesterday, hundreds of nonprofit leaders joined us for the kickoff of the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report—the only large\-scale research on nonprofits’ own DAF giving data. The session focused on what you need to do to get involved, the benefits of participating, the data and formatting requirements, and the key deadlines for joining the study. Any organization interested in joining **must review** the kickoff session and [**submit their application**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) by **January 15, 2026.** ## Building on the Success of the 2025 Report Since the first DAF Fundraising Report launched in 2024, the project has grown into a cornerstone resource for understanding the role of Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) in nonprofit fundraising. Following the success of the [**2025 Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which was downloaded by thousands of nonprofit and DAF leaders, the research team — led by Chariot, [**K2D Strategies**](https://k2dstrategies.com/), [**AKwire**](https://akwiregroup.com/) and [**Gambit Analytics**](https://www.gambitanalytics.io/)** **— is expanding both the scale and scope of the 2026 study. We’re also kicking off the process earlier to help participating organizations get organized and gain actionable insights sooner. ## Benefits of Participating - **Be part of the movement: **Join hundreds of nonprofits shaping how the sector understands DAF fundraising. - **Organize your data: **Access resources, templates, and data quality tests you can use to clean up your DAF data and ensure a strong tracking strategy moving forward. - **Showcase your success:** Participating organizations receive visibility in a national report used by fundraisers, researchers, and DAF providers alike. ## Participation Requirements To take part in the 2026 study, organizations will need to: - Gather **five years** of individual giving data \(2021\-2025\), with all DAF gifts clearly marked. - Run the Data Quality Check tests \(shared in the kickoff session\) to ensure your data is clean and consistent before sharing it. - Submit your data in the templatized format \(accessible in the slides and recording\) with unique donor IDs applied — **no personally identifiable information \(PII\) is collected**. ## Key Deadlines - **January 15, 2026: **Review the 2026 DFR Kickoff recording and [**submit your application**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). - **February 15, 2026: **Submit your organization’s data following the provided template and instructions found in the recording and slides. ## Helpful Resource To make participation easier, we’ve collected these tools and guides to help you get started and see success: - Leverage our [**DAF Provider Directory**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-provider-directory), a comprehensive list of DAF providers, to help organizations clean up your DAF naming conventions. - Run these [**5 tests**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/curing-your-daf-data-best-practices-for-everyone-to-follow)** **to check your data for quality and make your life easier during the busy giving season. ## Questions? For any questions about data submission or participation, contact Imran Ali at [**iali@k2dstrategies.com**](mailto:iali@k2dstrategies.com). --- ## Unlocking the Power of DAFs - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/unlocking-the-power-of-dafs - Published: 2025-10-24 --- ## Improving Donor Experience with your DAF Program - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/improving-donor-experience-with-your-daf-program - Published: 2025-09-15 ## Setting a Strategy for DAF Growth: Key Takeaways for Providers Donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) are the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy — but growth in the sector doesn’t guarantee maximum growth for your program. For DAF providers, the question is no longer whether DAFs will grow, but **how to set a strategy that makes your program stand out, scale sustainably, and deliver a better experience for both donors and nonprofits.** That was the focus of a recent conversation between [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) \(Head of Strategy at Chariot\) and [Melissa Ekanem](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ekanem/), a 17\-year Fidelity alum who led large\-scale growth initiatives at Fidelity Charitable before joining Chariot. Here are the most important takeaways — and action items — for providers building out a more intentional growth strategy today. ## **1. Close the Awareness Gap** Despite explosive growth in adoption, awareness of DAFs remains surprisingly low. Fewer than 10% of financial advisors offer them, and at the largest financial services firms, less than 1% of clients actually hold a DAF. Especially for community foundations, even when donors in their area are aware of DAFs, it’s still common they have no idea their local community foundation offers one as well. **Action item:** Build a proactive marketing and education strategy. Use[ DAF Day](https://dafday.com) as a campaign moment to spotlight your program. Share clear, donor\-friendly explanations of what a DAF is and why it matters. ## **2. Make Donor Experience Your Growth Engine** A decade ago, opening and using a DAF often required paper forms and long waits. Today, most providers offer a digital experience — but donors still encounter friction in portals, and they want more seamless ways to use their funds. > When donors have a seamless, engaging experience with their DAF, they’re more likely to use it, recommend it to others, and bring in more assets over time. Some providers still fear that making donor experience “too easy” will shrink assets under management. But the opposite is true: great experiences expand the pie. Engaged donors don’t just give more often — they also contribute more to their accounts. **Action items:** - Audit your donor portal for friction points and usability issues. - Ensure your DAF is connected in[ DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form), so donors can give directly on 50,000\+ nonprofit donation forms, campaign pages and websites. - Track engagement metrics \(account activity, grant volume, donor satisfaction\) and set goals around them. AUM alone doesn’t tell the growth story. ## **3. Fix the Grant Payment Process** DAFs exist to drive impact via nonprofits, yet too often nonprofits describe their experience with DAF gifts as “chaotic” or “cumbersome.” At the same time, providers are weighed down by time\-consuming, manual, and increasingly risky disbursement processes — from nonprofit vetting to check sending to constant bank detail confirmations — tasks repeated over and over again by every provider across the country. **Action item:** It’s probably time for an upgrade to your disbursement process. [Explore how Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) solves for both sides of the equation — delivering faster, safer payments with complete grant details for nonprofits, while reducing risk, manual work, and compliance burden for DAF providers. ## **4. Equip Donors With Confidence** Even once donors have a DAF, many feel uncertain about where to give. That paralysis slows down generosity. Community foundations, in particular, can play a powerful role here by guiding donors to causes close to home. **Action item:** Provide resources that connect donors with trusted causes. Whether that’s curated giving guides, local nonprofit roundtables, or thematic funds, helping donors feel confident unblocks generosity — and encourages them to add more to their accounts. ## **5. Leverage DAF Day for Collective Impact** Achieving DAFs’ full potential won’t come from isolated efforts within one provider. Collective moments like **DAF Day** offer DAFs the chance to align marketing, donor engagement, and nonprofit partnerships. > This can’t just be each DAF figuring it out alone. Coalition building is key to long-term growth. **Action item:** Download the[ DAF Day Provider Toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/providers) for plug\-and\-play marketing assets. Use it to highlight your program, engage your fundholders, and strengthen the entire DAF ecosystem. ## **Final Takeaways & Next Steps** Sustainable DAF growth doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from: - **Closing the awareness gap** so more donors know about your program. - **Making donor experience your growth engine** with seamless portals and integrations like[ DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/offerings-dafpay). - **Fixing the grant payment process** through[ Chariot Disbursements](https://www.givechariot.com/disbursements) to reduce risk and make nonprofits eager partners \- not detractors. - **Equipping donors with confidence** so generosity flows more easily. - **Leveraging DAF Day** to tap into a collective movement with aligned goals, that has [ready\-to\-use assets](https://www.dafday.com/providers) for easy activation. By tackling these priorities, you’ll not only grow your DAF program — you’ll contribute to a stronger, more connected philanthropic ecosystem. --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: The Final Countdown for DAF Day - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-the-final-countdown-for-daf-day - Published: 2025-09-15 ## The Final Countdown: 2 Weeks to DAF Day — Your 10\-Step Plan We’re just **two weeks away from DAF Day** — October 9, 2025. What started last year has already become a fixture on the philanthropic calendar. Nonprofits and DAF providers are coming together again to engage fund holders, elevate DAF giving, and create a surge of generosity that will extend well beyond DAF Day\! In our most recent webinar, Chariot was joined by [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/) \([March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/)\), [Monique Canada](https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-canada-9224432/) \([DonorsChoose](https://www.donorschoose.org/)\), and [Glen Peck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpeck/) \([Lustgarten Foundation](https://lustgarten.org/)\) to share how their organizations are gearing up for DAF Day. Together, we walked through a **10\-step checklist** that any nonprofit can follow in these final weeks. ## Why DAF Day Matters DAFs are the fastest\-growing vehicle in philanthropy. Today, DAFs hold more than $250 billion in charitable dollars, already dedicated to the sector but waiting to be put to work. According to Chariot’s [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), when donors shifted from giving by credit card to giving through their DAF, their annual support for the same nonprofit increased on average by 10x, with the median donor giving 2x as much. DAF Day is the moment to unlock that potential on a massive scale. DAF Providers reported [four times more DAF gifts than a typical day](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhessekiel/2024/10/15/was-daf-day-a-success--that-depends-on-how-you-measure/), Planned Parenthood saw a [63% lift in DAF revenue](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/advice-for-a-givingtuesday-like-blitz-to-boost-daf-gifts) at the start of October, and the ACLU uncovered new DAF donors by simply spotlighting the DAF payment option across their campaigns. As **Karyn DeMartini of March of Dimes** shared during the session: > I have long watched philanthropists galvanize giving from DAFs. What struck me about DAF Day is that it gives nonprofits a clear, collective moment to focus on this opportunity and encourage more people to actually use their DAFs for giving. ## The 10\-Step Checklist for DAF Day Success With just two weeks to go, the list of priorities can feel long. That’s why we put together this checklist to simplify the process and highlight the steps that you can still take that will make the biggest difference. 1. **Take a moment to verify\* with Chariot** A control person at your organization will need to be [verified](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) and set up with a Chariot Deposit Account. This ensures your nonprofit can receive DAF Day gifts instantly and securely. 2. **Update your Chariot profile** Log into your Chariot account to confirm how your organization appears to donors. Make sure your name displays correctly, upload a high\-resolution logo, and preview your profile so supporters recognize you right away.  3. **Enable DAFpay** Make sure DAFpay is enabled in your [fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay-integrations). This is the fastest way to capture DAF gifts instantly. You might have more than one fundraising tool, so double\-check DAFpay is active in each to maximize your DAF Day\! 4. **Check your website for DAF language** Take a quick audit of your “ways to give” page. Is your EIN easy to find? Do you explain how donors can use their DAFs to support you? Adding a simple link or line of text can remove barriers. 5. **Plan your communications calendar** Use the [toolkit templates](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) to map out your DAF Day messages across email and social. Even one dedicated email and a couple of posts will help remind donors. If you know who your past DAF donors are, give them a little extra attention with personalized outreach. As **Monique Canada from DonorsChoose** shared: > These aren’t heavy lifts — but when you put them in motion together, they create momentum your donors can’t ignore. 1. **Add a banner for Oct 9** Use a simple homepage or donation page banner to spotlight DAF Day and invite donors to act. Messaging like “*Make a difference on DAF Day — recommend a grant from your DAF to support \[your mission\]*” connects the action to impact and gives supporters a clear reason to click. 2. **Create a call sheet for outreach** Make a list of your top donors and known DAF donors, and assign them to staff or board members for a quick outreach. Even a short call or personal email can be the reminder that prompts a grant on DAF Day. 3. **Line up a DAF\-funded match** Ask your board or close supporters to put up a match — a 2x match often inspires far more than double the giving. Even if you don’t have one lined up, you can use [MatchNice](www.matchnice.org) to generate organic matches directly on your website, and encourage donors to submit gifts of $500\+ through [\#HalfMyDAF](https://www.halfmydaf.com/) to be matched. 4. **Raise DAF Day at team meetings** Make sure everyone knows the plan — from communications staff to gift officers to finance. Aligning early avoids last\-minute confusion and helps you thank donors promptly. As **Glen Peck of the Lustgarten Foundation **pointed out: > DAFs don’t just appear in your database. You need to build touchpoints that help you actually identify who has a fund and how they’re giving. 1. **Consider opening your own DAF** If you or a board member don’t already have one, opening a DAF yourself is a great way to understand the donor experience. Firsthand knowledge makes it easier to explain DAFs, answer donor questions, and guide supporters through the process with confidence. **Bonus tips:** Reach out to your local community foundation to broaden awareness, and share your DAF Day efforts on social media — tagging [Chariot](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) and [@dafdayofficial](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial/) to amplify your reach. ## **The final two weeks before DAF Day** Here’s how to pace yourself: - **September 26 – October 2:** verify your setup, add a homepage banner, embed DAFpay, draft email and social posts, secure a match, and finalize your call sheet. - **October 3 – October 9:** launch your email, run social, brief your board, activate your call plan, and get thank\-yous ready. ## **Let’s make this the biggest DAF Day yet** October 9 is an opportunity to bring DAF giving into focus and show what’s possible when nonprofits and providers act together. More than **3,000 organizations** **and dozens of DAF Providers** have already signed on, and momentum is building\! If you haven’t started, there’s still time\! Add the banner, send the email, activate your champions, and make sure DAF giving is front and center. The payoff will last well beyond Day Day alone. --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: Fine Tuning DAF Strategy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-fine-tuning-daf-strategy - Published: 2025-09-03 ## Fine\-Tuning Your DAF Strategy: Turning Interest into Action for Nonprofit Fundraisers Over the past few months, Chariot’s [DAF Day webinar series](https://www.dafday.com/events) has explored why donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) matter and how they’re reshaping philanthropy. But, if you’re a nonprofit fundraiser, you may be asking: What do I actually do next? This recap of our latest session provides a specific list of action items that you can take before DAF Day on October 9th to go from strategy to tactical execution. From your digital presentation, to campaign elements, to closing the loop on donor stewardship, our panel of experts shared the playbook they’re using to move from intention to action. Featuring: - [Wendy Vizek](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-folk-vizek-7284342/), SVP of Community Engagement & Field Operations at the Alzheimer’s Association - [Shirley Nagar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleynagar/), VP of Planned Giving at The Michael J. Fox Foundation \(MJFF\) - [Kim Brisse](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimbrisse/), Direct Response Lead at MJFF - Hosted by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot ## **Tech Capabilities That Unlock Giving** Wendy Vizek described how the Alzheimer’s Association prioritized integrating **DAFpay by Chariot** into their fundraising platforms. The results have been striking: over **2,100 donors gave $1.4M in the first year** using this option . The key, Wendy noted, was making giving easy and instant. “If a donor can’t see their thermometer rise when they give to a peer\-to\-peer fundraiser, they may never come back. DAFpay solved that problem for us.” **Action item:** Audit your donation forms and event pages. Is DAF giving visible and as easy as credit card or PayPal? Check if your [fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) and if not, request the integration from them. ## **Building a Web Presence That Works** MJFF’s team invested in a dedicated [**DAF Day landing page**](https://www.michaeljfox.org/dafday) last year, that includes: - Overview of DAF Day - Overview of DAFs - A downloadable resource on DAFs - A donor story  - A reminder on beneficiary opportunities with a DAF  - An easy way to complete a gift \(DAFpay\)  - Contact information and organization details  A dedicated page for DAF Day not only gives you an easy place to link all of your outreach about DAF Day, it also helps you track engagement with this campaign and rank better from an SEO perspective. The Alzheimer’s Association also updated their [**Ways to Give page**](https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/other_ways_to_give/donor_advised_funds) to highlight DAF giving, making sure it was a visible option for any supporter browsing the site. **Action item:** Review your website’s “Ways to Give” page. Add a dedicated DAF section and consider a campaign landing page for DAF Day. ## **Campaign Planning and Segmentation** At ALZ, the **average DAFpay gift was $640, with a median of $250** —proof that DAF gifts can come from any part of your donor file. The takeaway for our panel: for more expensive channels like direct mail, it makes sense to do more specific segmentation to donors that give at a certain level or have used a DAF before, but leverage email and social media to highlight DAF day and DAF giving to everyone. MJFF layers its approach: targeting known DAF donors first, but also testing inserts and emails to broader audiences. > We focus first on people already giving through DAFs, but we’ve also seen great response when we include DAF messaging in mass campaigns. This summer, we mailed an insert about DAFs and IRAs to our entire file, and Shirley’s team got a ton of inquiries back. It was proof that broader outreach can work. **Action item:** Identify segments of your file that may already give through DAFs, but also test broader outreach—especially on low\-cost channels like email. ## **Stewardship: Closing the Loop** One of the most consistent mistakes fundraisers make with DAFs is not stewarding donors properly. Because gifts often come through sponsoring institutions, some nonprofits fail to send acknowledgments. The cost can be high. Mitch Stein shared: “I’ve spoken to donors who gave through their DAF for three years and never received a thank\-you from the nonprofit. They canceled their recurring gift.” > Stewardship is not optional—it’s the beginning of a strategic philanthropic journey. Both MJFF and the Alzheimer’s Association have embraced **rapid personalized acknowledgments** made possible by DAFpay, which enables seamless sharing of the donor email the second they initiate their DAF gift. Donors are now thanked within 24 hours, with clear recognition of their specific gift intention—whether that’s supporting a walk team, a research project, or a general fund. **Action item:** Create a DAF\-specific stewardship workflow. Commit to thanking donors within 48 hours and acknowledging their specific intent \(walk team, research program, etc.\). ## **Linking DAFs to Planned Giving** DAFs aren’t just a transactional channel. They can also be an entry point into deeper legacy conversations. “Many donors don’t realize they can name a nonprofit as a beneficiary of their DAF,” Shirley explained. “DAF Day complements activations like Make a Will Month, helping donors connect the dots between how they give today and the impact they want to leave in the future”. **Action item:** Train your planned giving staff to mention DAF beneficiary designations in donor conversations. Include it in your will\-making month or estate planning campaigns. ## **Internal Education Matters** Even the best strategies can falter without internal alignment. Both Wendy and Shirley stressed the importance of **educating staff and volunteers**. The Alzheimer’s Association created a simple **DAF one\-pager** for internal and external use, busting myths and equipping staff to bring up DAF giving in conversations without feeling like they need to be experts. **Action item:** Create or adapt a simple one\-pager for internal staff and volunteers so they feel confident mentioning DAFs without needing to be technical experts. Check out [this example](https://docsend.com/view/w3mxbnmdyzmanbce) from the Alzheimer’s Association. ## **Where DAF Day Fits** With busy fall calendars—walks, galas, Giving Tuesday, Yearend—some fundraisers wonder how to fit DAF Day into the mix. The speakers agreed that it’s not about competing priorities, but about **amplifying all giving**. Joining the movement to highlight DAF giving on October 9th for DAF Day means your supporters are more likely to use their DAF in all those other campaigns as well. As Shirley put it: “DAF Day cuts across programs—major gifts, annual giving, peer\-to\-peer, planned giving. It’s a unique opportunity for alignment.” **Action item:** Position DAF Day as a cross\-team opportunity. Encourage every department—annual fund, peer\-to\-peer, planned giving—to leverage the day in ways that support their goals. ## **Take Action This Fall** Every step that your team takes to implement DAF Fundraising Strategy before DAF Day on October 9th will support the team’s effort through yearend and beyond. **Bonus Action item:** Is your organization verified on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/)? [Learn more](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits) about the benefits and opportunities of claiming your Chariot Account\*. --- ## DAW: The Digital Age for DAF Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daw-the-digital-age-for-daf-fundraising - Published: 2025-08-21 ## How Digital DAF Giving Is Reshaping Nonprofit Fundraising For years, donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) were seen as a tool for offline, major gifts—slow\-moving, paperwork\-heavy, and primarily used by wealthy donors. But in 2025, that perception has become extremely outdated. With [**$250 billion already committed to giving through DAFs**](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) and nearly **$55 billion granted out **in 2023, nonprofits have a powerful opportunity to make this generosity flow even more seamlessly into their digital campaigns. That was the theme of our recent DAF Awareness Week webinar, *The Digital Age of DAF Fundraising*, where leaders from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, CauseMatch, GiveCampus, and GoFundMe discussed how digital DAF giving is reshaping donor behavior and unlocking new opportunities for fundraisers. ## **From Offline Checks to DAFpay** Historically, DAF donations meant phone calls, mailed checks, and long delays. For fundraisers, that often resulted in late crediting, missed stewardship windows, and donor frustration. Today, with **DAFpay**, giving from a donor\-advised fund is as simple as selecting Apple Pay or PayPal at checkout. Nonprofits can now embed DAF as a **payment option directly on their digital donation forms**, eliminating friction and unlocking larger gifts. > It’s as easy for a donor to give by DAF as it is by credit card. That’s a revolution in philanthropy. ## **Why Friction Matters** Inspiration\-based giving—like giving days, peer\-to\-peer campaigns, crowdfunding, or crisis response—relies on urgency. Until recently, donors with DAFs often defaulted to credit cards in these moments, leaving their larger, pre\-committed funds untapped. As recent DAF Donor surveys by the [DAF Research Collaborative](https://www.givechariot.com/post/breaking-down-the-new-national-daf-donor-survey) and [Giving Compass](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) revealed, DAF donors regularly give outside their DAF–especially for inspiration\-based giving. Brandy Reppy of Memorial Sloan Kettering shared how difficult this was during Cycle for Survival: > Participants wouldn’t see their donations reflected for weeks, which meant recognition, leaderboards, and stewardship moments were lost. With DAFpay, those delays vanish. Donations are acknowledged instantly, participants see progress right away, and nonprofits can steward in real time. Risher explained that if giving with her DAF wasn’t easy, she would often default to a quick $100 credit card gift—when she might have given $1,000 through her DAF if it were available at checkout. ## **The Psychology of DAF Giving** The behavioral shift between credit card giving and DAF giving is powerful. > The beauty of DAF giving is that it separates the pain of giving from the joy of giving. The money is already set aside, so making the gift feels like spending store credit—it’s pure joy. That “store credit” effect leads to larger donations: - On CauseMatch, the **average DAFpay gift is three times larger** than a credit card donation. - On GiveCampus, DAFpay gifts average **$2,500**, and **20% of donors upgrade their gift** once they see their DAF balance. ## **Beyond the Dollars** The benefits of digital DAF giving extend beyond bigger gifts: - **Better stewardship:** Donors receive instant confirmation. - **Improved prospecting:** A DAF gift is one of the strongest wealth signals for future giving. - **Cross\-channel activation:** QR codes on postcards or links in emails can now route directly to DAF\-enabled forms. > The upside is more than just increasing peer-to-peer gifts. The technology has changed how our entire organization talks about DAFs at every giving level. ## **A Strategic Imperative for Nonprofits** GoFundMe’s Amanda Brown\-Lierman emphasized the difference DAF integration made in disaster response: “When you lower friction for donors, the money flows—and it flows quickly.” That urgency was echoed by GiveCampus’s Billy Tabrizi: > Nonprofits need to meet donors where they are. The schools that turned on DAFpay are finding new donors, bigger gifts, and better conversations. ## **The Present and Future of DAF Giving ** Digital DAF giving isn’t just another feature—it’s a fundamental shift in how generosity is expressed. With billions already committed to charitable giving through DAFs, organizations that make DAFpay available aren’t just adding a button. They’re creating a seamless pathway for donors to act on their inspiration, give at higher levels, and stay more connected to their mission. > The more we can expose DAF opportunities, the better off our organizations will be. ## **Join the Movement on DAF Day** One of the best opportunities to put these ideas into practice is **DAF Day**, coming up on **October 9, 2025**. DAF Day is a nationwide effort to inspire donors to use their donor\-advised funds in support of the causes they care about most. By participating, nonprofits can: - Highlight Digital DAF payment as a giving option \- either on your forms or on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/) \- and make generosity frictionless. - Tap into a coordinated campaign that raises awareness among donors and utilize the marketing toolkit for easy activation. - Join a movement of peers who are working to unlock billions in charitable potential. Regardless of your experience with DAF giving, DAF Day is the perfect occasion to take steps forward and capitalize on the national focus on Donor Advised Funds\! To learn more and join the movement, visit[ ](https://dafday.com)[**DAFDay.com**](http://DAFDay.com). --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: DAW: How DAFs Can Transform Your Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-daw-how-dafs-can-transform-your-giving - Published: 2025-08-20 ## What Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) Mean for Donors Most of us want to give more than we do. The challenge is time, planning, and sometimes the worry that our dollars won’t have the impact we hope. A Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) can change that—giving you a simple tool to plan ahead, give more freely, and feel confident about your generosity. That’s why we recently brought together a panel of experts to talk about how DAFs work and how donors are using them to transform their giving. The conversation featured: - [Nicole Medeiros](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemedeiros/), SVP, Client Relationship Team Lead at BNY Wealth - [Becky MacDonald](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckymacdonald/), Wealth Advisor at Ashton Thomas Private Wealth - [Sharon Bean](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-bean-62281a8/), Senior Director of Planned Giving at the International Rescue Committee - [Michele Sommer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelesommer/), CFO at Pan\-Mass Challenge - Moderated by: [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchstein1/), Head of Strategy at Chariot Together, they explored: what DAFs are, why they matter, and how donors at every level—from casual givers to multi\-generational families—are using them to give with more ease, impact, and joy. ## **What is a DAF?** Think of a DAF as a **giving account just for your philanthropy**. You make contributions—cash, stock, or other assets—receive an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants to many nonprofits over time. As Sharon Bean put it, > A donor-advised fund is a charitable piggy bank that brings coordination and intentionality to your giving.” It’s there when inspiration strikes, and it grows when you have time to plan. Unlike one\-off check writing or credit card gifts, a DAF makes it possible to: - Easily see all your giving in one place - Pre\-commit funds so you’re more likely to follow through - Potentially grow your charitable dollars tax\-free before granting them out For a simple primer and guide to DAF selection, check out [the donor resources](https://www.dafday.com/daf-101) on the DAF Day site. ## **Why Donors Love DAFs** DAFs aren’t just convenient—they’re changing how people feel about giving. Simplicity: “It’s all in one place—you can see every organization you’ve supported, and that makes giving simpler and more intentional,” said Michele Sommer. Confidence: Knowing your money is already set aside for charity makes it easier to say “yes” when a friend asks for support or when a crisis hits. Family connection: “DAFs make it easy for families to come together and talk about their philanthropy,” noted Nicole Medeiros. Identity: “DAFs help people see themselves as philanthropists, even if they’re giving a few thousand dollars or less a year,” added Becky MacDonald. When the logistics are simple, giving stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like what it should be—joyful, empowering, and deeply personal. ## **Who Uses DAFs?** DAF donors aren’t one\-size\-fits\-all. In fact, most fall into one of three giving styles: - **The Organizer**: Uses a DAF to keep giving organized and stay accountable to donation goals, even if they’re giving modest amounts. - **The Optimizer**: Contributes larger sums strategically—often appreciated stock or assets—to maximize tax benefits, then grants steadily over a few years. - **The Builder**: Treats the DAF like a simplified alternative to a family foundation, often after an inheritance or financial windfall, using it for long\-term, multi\-generational giving. No matter where you are in your giving journey, there’s space for you to see your own goals in the wide spectrum of DAF donors. ## **How to Use a DAF** Getting started is easier than most people expect. 1. **Open an account** with a provider \(like a community foundation, national sponsor, or your financial institution\). 2. **Fund it** with cash, stock, or other assets. Contributions are irrevocable, which is what secures your charitable tax benefit. 3. **Invest it** in one of the options offered. Growth stays in your account tax\-free, increasing your future giving potential. 4. **Grant it out** anytime to eligible nonprofits. Many nonprofits now even feature a “DAF Pay” button on their donation forms, campaign pages or websites –making it as easy to use your DAF as using Apple Pay. And while there are a few restrictions—you can’t use DAF dollars for anything that benefits you personally, like gala tickets—most donors find them incredibly flexible and simple. ## **Why It Matters Now** The scale of giving through DAFs is remarkable \- driven by more accessible options for any donors. Sharon mentioned that the International Rescue Committee has seen 30% of their support from individuals so far this year come through DAFs. Michele shared that Pan\-Mass Challenge has grown their DAF support from $1 million in 2012 to over $11 million so far this year, making up 18% of their fundraising. What that means for you is simple: if you want your giving to be impactful, timely, and easy, this is one of the most effective ways to do it. > It gives you freedom to give. You know you can’t use the money for anything else, so it becomes a source of joy and empowerment.” - ## **Getting a DAF** If you think a DAF might be a good fit for you, here a few helpful next steps: 1. Download the “[Get a DAF Guide](https://www.dafday.com/daf-101)” for in\-depth guidance on how to assess the many DAF options.  2. Discuss with your professional advisors. 3. Act before DAF Day\!  ## **DAF Day: October 9th** If you already have a DAF—or if you’ve been curious about opening one—there’s no better time to take action than **DAF Day on October 9th**. DAF day is a national holiday for donors and nonprofits to get more from giving—with DAFs. It’s a celebration of generosity, a reminder to use what you’ve set aside, and an invitation to make giving joyful and visible. How you can get involved: - **Set up your DAF** before October 9th so you can fully participate. - **Encourage your favorite nonprofits** to highlight DAF giving on their websites and [participate in DAF day](https://www.dafday.com/nonprofits). - **Make a plan **to make sure you don’t miss out on DAF Day. [Mark your calendar](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/eventedit?text=DAF+DAY+2025:+Don%27t+Forget+to+Donate!&dates=20251009/20251010&details=%3Ca+href%3D%22https://dafday.com%22%3EDAF+Day%3C/a%3E+is+a+national+day+of+giving+with+donor+advised+funds.+DAFs+are+already+a+powerful+tool+for+any+donor+to+accelerate+their+giving,+but+they+have+even+greater+potential+when+we+all+use+them+together.+DAF+Day+aims+to+unleash+a+wave+of+giving+that+makes+donors+more+powerful,+nonprofits+more+resilient,+and+communities+stronger.&location=dafday.com&sf=true&output=xml), think about organizations to support and encourage your friends and family.  - **Give together** on October 9th. You can support any DAF\-eligible organization directly through the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/) via DAFpay as well for the easiest way to give.  By giving on DAF Day, you’re not only supporting the causes you love—you’re joining a movement to unlock the true potential of donor\-advised funds. --- ## DAW: DAF 101 for Nonprofit Staff - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daw-daf-101-for-nonprofit-staff - Published: 2025-08-18 ## Donor\-Advised Funds 101: What Every Nonprofit Needs to Know This week, Chariot kicked off DAF Awareness Week with our session “DAF 101 for Nonprofit Staff.” Hosted by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot, and joined by [Rick Peck](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-peck/), Founder & CEO of GiveTrust, the webinar broke down the essentials of Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\), their rapid growth, and how nonprofits can best position themselves to benefit from this powerful tool. If you missed it, here’s a recap of the discussion—plus a quick primer on what DAFs are and why they matter for your organization. ### What is a DAF? At its core, a Donor\-Advised Fund is a **tax\-advantaged account dedicated to charitable giving**. As Rick explained during the session: > Think of a DAF like a 401(k) for retirement or an HSA for healthcare. It’s a container for giving—donors contribute, get an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants over time. Once assets are placed into a DAF, they are irrevocable. Donors can’t take them back, and the funds can only be distributed to qualified nonprofits. Popular contributions include cash, appreciated stocks, and even complex assets like real estate. Mitch summarized it simply: “There are no takesies\-backsies—the money in a DAF can only ever leave as a charitable gift.” ### Why DAFs Have Become So Popular DAFs combine convenience with strategy. Instead of managing multiple receipts and donations throughout the year, donors consolidate their giving in one place. According to Rick: > People see DAFs as an advantage over checkbook giving or even private foundations. They’re simpler, more flexible, and come with real tax efficiency. Other benefits include: - **Tax savings** – donors can deduct the full contribution in the year they give, and avoid capital gains on appreciated assets. - **Growing generosity** – the process of pre\-comitting funds to giving often leads to setting goals and greater accountability, plus the investments within a DAF can grow tax\-free, adding to the donor’s giving potential. - **Streamlined giving** – one portal to manage all gifts. ### Who Uses DAFs? During the webinar, Mitch introduced three common “archetypes” of DAF users : - **The Organizer** – everyday donors who want structure and convenience. They are often introduced to DAFs as an employee benefit. - **The Optimizer** – couples or individuals contributing appreciated assets or large lump sums to maximize tax benefits. - **The Builder** – families treating a DAF as an alternative to a private foundation, often following a major liquidity or inheritance event. Despite these different categories, one thing is consistent across the board: DAF donors see themselves as **smart, intentional, and data\-driven.** They often treat their giving like an investment portfolio—seeking measurable impact. ### The State of the DAF Market DAFs are no longer a niche tool. As Mitch noted, “this is a quarter\-trillion\-dollar sector and growing fast.” In 2023 alone, nonprofits received nearly **$55 billion in grants from DAFs** . Even more striking: research shows that while most nonprofits are seeing flat or declining revenue from traditional giving, over 80% of participants in the [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) reported **growth in DAF revenue** in 2024, with the median being \+30% year\-over\-year. DAF giving is also not limited to major donors. **69% of DAF gifts are under $1,000**, which underscores the democratization of this giving vehicle across donor levels. ### Why DAFs Matter for Nonprofits One of the biggest opportunities with DAFs is what Mitch called the **“power of pre\-commitment.”** “Having a DAF is like walking into a store with a gift card instead of cash. The money is already earmarked for giving, so donors are more likely to act—and to give more.” In fact, when donors switch from making gifts via credit card to giving through their DAF, their contributions to the same nonprofit **grew by 10x on average \(**according to the DAF Fundraising Report\)**.** ### Overcoming Barriers: Making DAF Giving Easy Despite their popularity, DAFs are still underused in spontaneous giving moments. A [recent survey by Giving Compass](https://5154904.hs-sites.com/daf-donor-content-preferences-impact-on-giving-behaviors?__hstc=156812004.c4e34d0198e7e7350a9027c2dbd041d2.1745509639267.1755560405243.1755607686009.404&__hssc=156812004.3.1755607686009&__hsfp=1923652471) found that 37% of donors skipped using their DAF just on their latest gift simply because it was “too many steps”. Rick emphasized that nonprofits can solve this friction: > If you don’t make it easy for people, they’ll default to their checkbook or credit card. And that means you miss out on bigger gifts. Some practical steps for nonprofits: - **Audit your website** – add your EIN and a dedicated DAF giving page. - **Include DAFs in your appeals** – wherever you list ways to give, mention DAFs. - **Enable DAF technology** – tools like[ DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/daff) allow donors to use their DAF as seamlessly as Apple Pay or PayPal, and is available on [dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations). ### Stewardship Matters Even More A critical reminder from the session: DAF gifts are **not tax\-deductible for the donor at the time of disbursement**, since the tax benefit was received when they made the contribution. That means nonprofits should *not* send a tax receipt. However, it is still very important to send a **thank you** to these donors, and it’s a step many nonprofits overlook. As Rick put it: “Donors want to feel appreciated. I’ve seen fundholders cancel recurring grants simply because they never got a thank you from the nonprofit.” It’s important to remember that DAF gifts come from individuals, it’s an institution that facilitates the gift for them. Not only should these donors be stewarded individually, it’s wise for organizations to use their major donor playbook for DAF donors regardless of their first gift size. DAFs are a powerful indicator of someone’s capacity and propensity to give. ### Next Steps & Resources Some of the recommended action items included: 1. **Review your gift acceptance policy** – make sure DAFs are covered. Leverage [this template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) to get started. 2. **Train your staff** – everyone should be comfortable explaining DAFs \- [share this recording with the broader team.](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/2-35cg4I4QbWryDmwEsAx5Q) 3. **Test the process** – try making a DAF gift to your own organization to see what donors experience. Learn more about getting your own DAF [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf).  4. **Take advantage of **[**DAF Day**](http://www.dafday.com/) \- Claim your Chariot Account\* to be verified and make use of [the marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit).    5. **Download the **[**2025 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.dafday.com/) – full of data, case studies, and checklists to go deeper on all aspects of DAFs for nonprofits. #### DAFs are reshaping philanthropy. As Rick reminded us at the end of the session: > Donor-advised funds aren’t going anywhere. If anything, they’re just getting started. For nonprofits, the takeaway is clear: the sooner you embrace DAFs in your fundraising strategy, the more sustainable and impactful your donor relationships will be. --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: DAF Champion AMA: Any nonprofit leader can take ownership of DAF strategy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-daf-champion-ama-any-nonprofit-leader-can-take-ownership-of-daf-strategy - Published: 2025-08-12 --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: Getting DAF Ready: A Guide to Nonprofit Activation for DAF Day - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-getting-daf-ready-a-guide-to-nonprofit-activation-for-daf-day - Published: 2025-07-17 ## Getting DAF Ready: How Nonprofits can Maximize DAF Day 2025 ##### As donor\-advised funds \(DAFs\) continue to reshape the philanthropic landscape, nonprofits are finding new ways to engage, educate, and empower their supporters. That urgency and opportunity were on full display in the recent Chariot\-hosted webinar, “Getting DAF Ready,” featuring nonprofit leaders from [the ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund), [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/), and [Wounded Warrior Project](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate/donor-advised-funds). With DAF Day 2025 set for October 9, the conversation offered practical strategies, timely lessons, and inspiring examples of what it means to truly be “DAF ready” in time for the big day. This article covers: 1. Why DAFs matter now more than ever 2. Being the DAF Champion 3. Making DAF strategy tangible  4. Why DAF Day resonates 5. 2024 DAF Day results  6. Planning for 2025 ### Why DAFs Matter Now More Than Ever All three organizations also participated in the [2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which provided compelling analysis on how important DAFs have become for modern nonprofit fundraising. Some of the most meaningful findings included: - Existing donors that switched to giving through DAFs from another giving method \(e.g. credit cards\) increased their giving by 10x on average, and the median change was \+100%. - 69% of DAF gifts were under $1,000, dispelling the myth that DAFs are reserved for major donors making their largest gifts.   - The median growth in 2024 DAF giving was \+30%, compared to a median change in non\-DAF giving of \-1%. “These gifts aren’t just large, they're broad\-based,” said [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot. “They’re coming from donors across the spectrum. This is a rising tide moment for the entire sector.” ### Being the DAF Champion Every organization has been on a slightly different journey with DAF strategy, but having an internal DAF Champion is the most consistent step. At the ACLU, [Meghan Lee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmle/), Associate Director of Impact Giving, has been that champion and described how she’s seen DAFs evolve from a curiosity into a core channel over the past few years. “DAF giving just continues to be a juggernaut,” she said. “We’re seeing DAF usage from every level of our file. It’s helped us foster more cross\-team collaboration.” [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron Programs & Services at The Public Theater, described how she took the initiative herself to prioritize DAF strategy: “It wasn’t like someone said, ‘Shayla, focus on DAFs.’ I just saw the opportunity.” And [Theresa Scordo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresascordo/), Donor Stewardship Associate Director at Wounded Warrior Project, reminded us that no one is behind if they’re just starting to get more engaged with DAF giving: “Even at a large organization like ours, we really only started dialing this up in the past year”. ### Making DAF Strategy Tangible Across the board, successful DAF fundraising strategies included three components: 1. **Internal alignment**: Is the whole team educated on DAFs so that everyone knows why to prioritize it and is able to spot opportunities? Does everyone have a shared vocabulary, rules, etc. to follow? Wounded Warrior Project took another step and hired a dedicated DAF Stewardship Specialist. “It’s a quarterback role,” said Theresa. “That person ensures gift tracking is accurate, data is clean, and our messaging is on point for all DAF donors, regardless of gift size.” 1. **Integration into giving systems**: Is DAF giving called out by name in all your donation forms, solicitations, etc.? Is DAF giving an integrated payment option wherever possible? For arts institutions like The Public Theater, where DAFs can raise complex tax questions, transparency is key. “We’re very clear about when a DAF can be used,” Shayla noted. For example, memberships that offer ticket perks might not be fully tax\-deductible, so The Public nudges donors toward levels that are. That clarity paid off—in [a recent direct mail campaign that emphasized DAF giving](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-daf-ask-that-led-donors-to-double-their-gifts), several donors went from giving $100 to $5,000, simply because they were educated on how to do it using their DAF. 1. **Direct donor appeals**: Are you curating specific outreach for your DAF donors and DAF giving to your broader file? DAF day is the perfect time to implement both.  The ACLU has deeply embedded DAF messaging into its appeals—both digitally and via direct mail. “We explicitly call out Fidelity or Schwab by name when we talk to DAF donors,” Meghan explained. “It shows them we’re paying attention to exactly how they give.” ### DAF Day 2024 Results DAF Day 2024 brought in big wins, internally and externally for organizations. The ACLU saw a meaningful bump not just on the day itself, but in donor behavior for the remainder of the year. “DAF Day helped us stay top of mind through year\-end,” Meghan shared. The Public Theater received several unexpected gifts on DAF Day—a signal that their messaging was breaking through. “It wasn’t about setting a monetary goal. It was about showing up and starting a conversation,” said Shayla. And then there were [standout successes like Susan G. Komen](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen), which received $267,000 in DAF support on the day, including a single $88,000 gift from a first\-time DAF donor. ### Planning for 2025 This year, all three panelists are going bigger. Wounded Warrior Project has an omnichannel campaign in motion, complete with mailers, emails, and even a DAF Day QR code on their Zoom backdrops. “Everywhere our name appears, that QR code is there too,” said Theresa. The ACLU is doubling down on donor segmentation and testing a match offer promoted via postcard. “Even if this year hasn’t gone perfectly, whatever you can do is better than nothing,” said Meghan. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” Meanwhile, Shayla is aiming to secure a donor testimonial and activate The Public Theater’s social media presence around DAF Day. “Now that we’ve got more time, we’re ready to build on what we started,” she said. ### Activation Timeline For nonprofits wondering how to plan, here is a recommended activation calendar: - **July**: Internal education and setup, including [Chariot account verification](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup?fp=daf-day) so that your organization shows as verified on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/). - **August**: DAF education and website updates. Participate in *DAF Awareness Week* \(Aug 18–21\), with [dedicated webinars](https://www.dafday.com/events) for staff, donors, and nonprofit leadership. - **September**: Start public communications around DAF Day. Include donor stories and prepare your match campaigns. - **October**: Build momentum in the week leading up to DAF Day on October 9, with daily touchpoints and calls to action. The message is clear: DAF Day isn’t just about a single day of giving. It’s a movement to make DAFs more accessible, more visible, and more powerful for every organization. Megan mentioned how they asked to move DAF giving to the top of the ACLU ways to give page, and learned that it already was by far the most clicked on part of the page\! ### Final Takeaway: Progress Over Perfection Being “DAF ready” doesn’t require perfection. It starts with intention—and evolves through collaboration, transparency, and iteration. “Start with your giving page,” advised Theresa. “Update your DAF info. Get verified with Chariot. Everything else can build from there.” Meghan agreed: “Even if all you can do this year is send one DAF\-focused email, that’s progress. And it’ll pay off.” Shayla summed it up perfectly: “You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just get moving. And don’t be afraid to bring a little creativity along the way.” --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: DAF Day for DAFs & Financial Advisors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-daf-day-for-dafs--financial-advisors - Published: 2025-07-09 ## Why DAF Providers Can’t Afford to Miss DAF Day This Year ##### DAF Day is now a key moment in the philanthropy calendar that drives more fund holder activity, nonprofit engagement and overall DAF program growth. It's a national giving day specifically for Donor\-Advised Funds, but the impact extends far beyond October 9th for the DAF Providers that [commit to the movement](https://www.dafday.com/providers). Chariot recently hosted a conversation with two DAF CEOs \- Megan Hyman from the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation & Robbie Heeger from Endaoment. They were both early advocates for DAF Day, and are already seeing the benefits for their team internally, their fund holders and their community. This recap covers all the key takeaways, benefits and resources available to make DAF Day as easy and powerful as possible. DAF Day was built to do something that traditional communications from any one DAF Provider can not: create interest, urgency and pride around DAF giving. From DAFs managing 50 accounts to those with 50,000, DAF Day offers a way to reinvigorate brand awareness, re\-engage fund holders, and inspire action at a critical moment in the giving season. ### What You'll Learn In this session recap, we’ll cover: - **The significance of DAF Day:** Why October 9 is the right moment to activate the community, alongside other DAFs around the country. - **Closing the awareness gap:** What people still misunderstand about DAFs, and how this day can reframe the narrative. - **An Opportunity for Grantee Activation:** How to align the goals of providers and grantees. - **An easy formula for fund holder engagement:** Why less than 50% of DAF holders engage consistently and how to change that. - **Let DAF Day Start the Giving Conversation:** How DAF Day turns natural small talk into philanthropic momentum. - **Easy ways to get started:** How to get participate without overcommitting resources. - **The Bigger Picture:** How DAF Day helps elevate the entire sector. ### The Significance of DAF Day DAF Day is a national giving day started in 2024, designed to drive more Donor\-Advised Fund awareness, adoption and giving. This year, it falls on Thursday **October 9, 2025.** This is intentionally aligned with Q4 tax planning season, when charitable contributions are being contemplated. The timing gives DAF Providers an interesting reason to reach out to fund holders, prospects, financial advisors and local nonprofits to start a conversation on DAFs that leads to more action and more impact. And the results speak for themselves. In 2024: - The Provider’s Fund saw over **$4 million granted in a single day, **[**a 4x increase over their 2023 giving on the same day.**](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) - [Daffy saw a **40% spike in new accounts created**](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) during the week of DAF Day. - Nonprofits ranging from ACLU to [**Susan G. Komen**](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen) leveraged DAF Day messaging across email, SMS, and social media, amplifying the DAF Day message nationwide. ### Closing the Awareness Gap Despite the rapid growth of donor\-advised funds, the vast majority of Americans still don’t understand what they are, or how they work. A [2022 Ipsos poll](https://ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Summary-of-American-Opinions-re-Foundations_Final.pdf) showed that **only 17% of U.S. adults are familiar with DAFs.** This lack of public awareness fuels confusion, stigma, and missed opportunities for deeper engagement with giving. Often, DAFs are perceived as opaque or exclusive, when in reality they’re one of the most accessible, versatile and effective giving tools available. As [Robbie](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheeger/) explained in the webinar, > We spend a lot of time, energy, effort, brain cycles trying to unwind some of the negativity…What if we injected a moment of pride about engaging with DAFs? DAF Day helps bridge this gap. Robbie goes on to point out that when, “you say ‘Happy DAF Day’ and someone asks what that is. It’s an opening to explain that DAFs are a smarter, more flexible way to give—regardless of wealth level.” By creating a reason to talk about DAFs in a public\-facing and approachable way—through emails, website pages, press coverage, and events—providers can reframe the narrative and build confidence with both fund holders and their broader networks. ### An Opportunity for Grantee Activation DAF Day presents an opportunity to align the interests between grantees and DAF administrators. When nonprofits understand the benefits of DAFs—they speak to fund holders with confidence, embrace enabling tech like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), and promote DAF usage more often. During the webinar Mitch pointed out a vivid example: > We saw the ACLU blast their full list, Doctors Without Borders take a half-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, and even the Montana Community Foundation turn DAF Day into a teach-in for their whole network. That kind of sector\-wide storytelling pays off for providers: informed nonprofits cultivate more DAF donors, provide more effective appeals for support, and keep the positive narrative moving long after 9 October. ### The Easy Formula For Fund holder Engagement DAF Day isn’t just about raising awareness externally, it’s also about more deeply engaging board members and existing fund holders. A recent analysis from the **DAF Research Collaborative** shows that [**more than half of DAF programs see fewer than 50 percent of their fund holders using philanthropic advising services**.](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-6-takeaways-from-new-daf-research-collaborative-report) Yet the fund holders who *do* engage give more often, at higher levels, and with stronger long\-term retention. As Robbie noted in the webinar, the bottleneck often starts upstream: > Financial advisors are usually the ones who initiate the opening of DAFs for clients because they have visibility into the client’s tax situation. The issue isn’t donor intent—it’s activation. Fund holders often need a clear reason to engage. That’s why DAF Day matters: it provides a non\-solicitation moment to prompt generosity, start conversations, and reinforce provider value. Megan mentioned several stories of DAF Providers sharing examples where they used DAF Day to reintroduce advising services or share creative estate planning strategies. > “We have a lot of people opening funds for their kids and grandkids who ask, ‘How do I even start the conversation about philanthropy?’” Megan explained. “DAF Day gave them the perfect reason to bring it up.” This is the kind of engagement that builds long\-term loyalty, and real impact. ### Let DAF Day Start the Giving Conversation DAF Day boosts growth by aligning with Q4’s year\-end gift planning season, creating a natural moment for action in conversations that already take place. As Megan put it, “Not a lot of people go around saying, ‘Hey, I have my checking account at this bank.’” Talking about money—even charitable giving—can feel awkward. But a shared moment like DAF Day opens the door in a way that feels light and socially acceptable. Robbie noted the deeper value here: “\[the talk surrounding\] DAFs often lacks soul.” DAF Day helps shift that narrative, turning a financial tool into a proud expression of generosity. When supporters are invited to give visibly, they’re more likely to share, and that sharing sparks curiosity, awareness, and growth.” The momentum effect is real. In last year’s campaign, **Daffy** asked members to share a simple “Happy DAF Day” link with friends. That natural prompt fueled a [**40 % surge in new accounts and a 4× grant spike** during DAF Day week](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study); proof that a proud fund holder can serve as effective marketers. ### It’s Easy to Participate DAF Providers can start with whatever works best with their existing schedule and available resources. To make things as easy as possible, there’s also a comprehensive **DAF Day Toolkit** specifically for DAF Providers that equips teams with everything they need to execute a high\-impact rollout with minimal effort. The Toolkit includes: - A **Start\-Here checklist and timeline** to help internal planning - Fully branded **email and SMS campaign kits** for fund holders engagement - Editable **social media templates and captions** - A one\-page **Executive Briefing** for leadership buy\-in - Educational resources for fund holders, nonprofits, and wealth advisors Remember: DAF Day participation is scalable. It can start as some simple DAF Day promotion in a few emails and social media posts, or go all the way to running a DAF Day “challenge” for board members and hosting an in\-person event. No matter the path choice, the toolkit is flexible, fast to deploy, and aligned with how DAF Providers actually work. The only wrong way to do DAF Day is to miss out. ### The Bigger Picture The DAF Day opportunity goes far beyond one day of giving. This movement helps define how DAFs are discussed, understood, utilized and valued in the future. Giving through a DAF is an incredible thing. As Robbie put it, “You grow your little philanthropist island… it becomes part of your personality.” DAF Day creates space to reinforce that identity, making sure every giver has a chance to feel that same level of pride and purpose. This initiative also helps emphasize the real role of the DAF Provider. They’re not just managing accounts, they’re a champion for generosity, a connector of donors and causes, and a committed partner for driving philanthropy forward. *Remind everyone of that role you play by committing to DAF Day.* ### Key Takeaways & Next Steps ### Conclusion DAF Day holds a tremendous potential for any DAF Provider regardless of their strategic focus in 2025. Providing an opportunity to engage DAF activity, increase visibility, strengthen their partnerships with grantees or showcase leadership—**DAF Day 2025 is a can't miss opportunity.** At Chariot, we’re here to support every step of the DAF Day journey. Our team is on call to help any way we can, and are constantly evolving the platform and resources based on provider feedback. Partnering with Chariot on DAFpay or using Chariot Disbursements to streamline grant payments is not a prerequisite, DAF Day welcomes providers at all levels of involvement. --- ## Curing your DAF Data: A critical visit to the DAF Data Doctors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/curing-your-daf-data-a-critical-visit-to-the-daf-data-doctors - Published: 2025-07-02 ## Curing Your DAF Data: Best Practices for Everyone to follow ##### Transforming data chaos into clarity: a strategic framework for smarter DAF fundraising rooted in high quality DAF giving data. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have gone from niche financial instruments to mainstream giving vehicles—transforming how individuals support causes they care about. Yet, despite their explosive growth and unmatched potential, one critical area continues to hold nonprofits back: DAF data hygiene. [Adam Rosenscruggs](https://www.linkedin.com/in/arosenscruggs/), the data scientist behind this year’s DAF Fundraising Report joined a recent Chariot Webinar with [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) for a DAF data workshop that is a must\-watch for any gift processor, database admin, development operations lead or diligent fundraiser in general. This recap includes: - Recap of the DAF Fundraising Report’s key findings  - The strategic value of high quality DAF data - Common challenges to tracking DAF data - Ideal DAF data framework - The 6 most common errors in DAF data - 8 tests and best practices to implement  ### Recap of the DAF Fundraising Report’s key findings Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have rapidly transitioned from niche financial tools to mainstream giving mechanisms, fundamentally reshaping philanthropy. Yet, despite their meteoric rise, one critical piece of infrastructure continues to lag behind: **data hygiene**. In the [*2025* *DAF Fundraising Report*](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) — an analysis of $12B in contributions across 100M\+ transactions — a clear message emerged: the opportunity with DAF fundraising is tremendous, but DAF data challenges are preventing nonprofits from making the most of DAF giving’s potential. "DAFs are remaking the landscape of philanthropy. If you're not tracking them correctly, you're missing the full picture of your organization’s growth," said Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot. This article distills this opportunity into an actionable blueprint. If your nonprofit gets DAF gifts, this is your field guide to fixing your data—and unlocking your donors’ potential. DAFs aren’t just a tool for the major donors and major gifts. They are now a fastest\-growing giving channel across all donor segments and gift types. Key findings from the 2025 report include: - **69% of DAF gifts** were under $1,000 - DAF donors had **13 percentage points higher retention** than non\-DAF donors - \+30% was the median year\-over\-year growth in DAF revenue \(compared to \-1% for non\-DAF revenue\) “DAFs are no longer just a major donor strategy,” said Adam Rosenscruggs, founder of Gambit Analytics. “From memberships to events to annual giving—DAFs are being used everywhere.” ### The strategic value of high quality DAF data Many nonprofits struggle to take a proactive approach to DAF fundraising because they can’t track outcomes effectively. This exposes organizations to three major problems: #### 1. Legal & Audit Risk Every organization’s audit includes a public support test, to determine that giving isn’t too concentrated with a single donor. But if you’re not putting the hard credit on the DAF and ensuring no duplicate records of DAF Provider names, you aren’t accurately representing the support from that one single legal entity \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\). This was easy to overlook when DAFs were a small portion of revenue, but now they’re 12% on average and growing 30% per year\! #### 2. Poor Donor Stewardship "An all\-too\-common complaint from DAF donors is that they give a gift and never hear back," said Mitch. "Better data is the first step to fixing that." These donors tend to give more and retain longer. Without clear records, you can’t follow up properly—or upgrade them effectively. #### 3. Uninformed Strategy Adam explained it plainly: “You can’t answer simple questions like ‘Which campaign generated the most DAF gifts?’ or ‘How much are we raising through DAFpay?’ without clean data. And if you can’t answer these questions, you can’t act on them.” ### Common challenges to tracking DAF data #### 1. Limited Gift Information DAF gifts often arrive without contact details—sometimes only listing a fund name. Presenting roadblocks to effective data entry and stewardship. #### 2. No Business Rules for DAF gift coding Most nonprofits lack written policies on how to process DAF gifts. As a result, staff often lump DAFs in with other complex gifts like QCDs or payroll deductions, neglect to record the fundholder details along with the DAF provider name, etc. \- especially when new people join, or people leave the team. #### 3. Manual Entry With no source codes or automation, DAF gifts are often entered by hand—inviting human error and inconsistencies. #### 4. CRM Limitations Many systems weren’t built to accommodate DAF\-specific fields \(like soft\-soft credits, fund names, date initiated, etc.\). Without customization, tracking falls apart. #### 5. Siloed Ownership DAFs may be handled by finance, major gifts, or marketing—varying by org. Without shared ownership, mistakes multiply. ### The Ideal DAF Data Framework To cure your DAF data, start with an understanding of what “great” looks like. Must have fields include: ### The 6 Most Common DAF Data Errors From reviewing data across 30\+ organizations, six core errors kept showing up: #### 1. Commingling Gift Types Gifts from platforms like Benevity, Network for Good, and United Way are often misclassified as DAFs. But unless they originate from an **individual’s DAF account**, they don’t count. #### 2. Mixing Hard & Soft Credit "Hard credit goes to the DAF provider. Soft credit goes to the fundholder," Adam emphasized. "If you mix that up, you’re essentially erasing the donor from your system." #### 3. Duplicate Provider Names Your CRM might have "Fidelity Charitable", "Fidelity Ch.", and "Fid. Charitable Trust" as separate records. That makes it impossible to report accurate totals—or pass audits. #### 4. False Anonymous Flags Just because a gift lacks a name doesn’t mean it’s anonymous. "If a fund name is present, it’s not truly anonymous,” said Mitch. “Store what you can, update when you learn more.” #### 5. Improper Gift Dates DAF gifts are often coded by the date received—but the **gift initiation date** matters most for campaign tracking and year\-end reporting. #### 6. Tax Receipts Sent in Error DAF donors shouldn’t get tax receipts. If your system doesn’t distinguish them, it could trigger receipts automatically—leading to compliance risks. If you can't stop tax receipts from being sent for DAF gifts, you should add language to your tax receipts that clearly explain that the tax receipt itself should be disregarded in the case of gifts from Donor Advised Funds. ### 8 Tests and Best Practices to Implement You don’t need a full complex audit to find your weak spots. Try these 8 suggestions to reveal some of the biggest issues in your data and avoid gaps going forward: #### 1. Test: What % of DAF gifts are under $18? The largest DAF providers \(like Fidelity, Schwab\) have a $50 minimum. Some newer providers go as low as $18 \(like Daffy\). Gifts below $18 are likely **crowdfunding or employee matches** misclassified as DAFs. #### 2. Test: How many unique DAF providers do you have? There are only ~1,150 DAFs in the U.S. If your CRM has more than a few hundred, you're likely duplicating or mislabeling providers. Tip: Check out Chariot’s [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) for a full list and naming convention. #### 3. Test: Do any DAF donors make 12\+ gifts per year? That’s a red flag. It likely means you’re either soft\-crediting the provider or not filtering anonymous gifts correctly. #### 4. Test: What % of DAF gifts are logged in January? If it’s over 6%, you're probably using the receipt date instead of the donor’s initiation date. That skews the timing of gifts and makes it difficult to connect to certain campaigns, efforts, events, etc. #### 5. Test: What % of DAF gifts are marked anonymous? More than 5% suggests some poor labeling. Limited data does not equal anonymity. “These are diagnostic tools,” Adam said. “They help you identify patterns—then you can work backward to fix them.” **Once your data is clean, keep it that way with a few smart systems:** #### 6. Run Biweekly Gift Review Meetings Fundraisers and gift processors should meet regularly to reconcile gaps. Often times a fundraiser was waiting on a specific gift, or can interpret the source based on gift size, fund name, etc. #### 7. Research Every New DAF Gift Even small gifts may signal larger DAF accounts so it’s always worth double clicking when you get a gift from a new DAF donor. "A $100 DAF gift may come from someone with $1 million in their account," said Mitch. "It’s one of the strongest wealth signals you can get." #### 8. Create a “Red Flag” Word List Maintain a shared list of terms that often indicate false DAF classifications—like “LLC”, “Inc.”, “household” “Benevity”, “Network for Good”, and “PayPal”. ### Preparing for the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report Any organization that’s focused on raising more from DAFs should prioritize participating in next year’s report because you’ll get: - Personalized feedback and guidance from DAF Data experts. - Visibility to major DAF providers that all read the report. - Ability to measure your performance against the only DAF fundraising benchmarks **Expectations:** - 5 years of giving history \(2021–2025\) - Data that adheres to the best practices in this guide  - *Recommended*: At least $500K in contributions and $100k in DAF revenue in 2025. To join, fill out [the interest form](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form) today\! ### Final Word: Don’t Let Data Debt Compound “Cleaning DAF data is like fixing your CRM’s duplicate records,” Adam said. “Do it regularly, and it’s manageable. Let it sit, and it snowballs into a nightmare.” DAF donors are generous, loyal, and growing. But without clear data practices, you won’t know who they are, what they care about, or how to retain them. Now is the time to adopt these principles—because tomorrow’s fundraising success depends on today’s data discipline. --- ## DAF Fundraising Report 2025 Live Release - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-fundraising-report-2025-live-release - Published: 2025-06-26 ## Inside the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report: How Donor\-Advised Funds Are Transforming Philanthropy ##### DAF giving grew 30% in 2024—discover how donors are doubling their impact and reshaping fundraising with DAFs. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have taken center stage in the nonprofit fundraising landscape—and the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report released by Chariot and K2D Strategies on June 26th is the most comprehensive examination of that transformation to date. The report was presented in a lively webinar by [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/) \(Head of Strategy at Chariot\), [Karin Kirchhoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) \(Founder at K2D Strategies\), and [Kate Hollandsworth](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-phillips-hollandsworth-0174ba7b/) \(AKwire\), this year’s report builds on the 2024 findings with sharper insights, expanded data, and new strategic guidance for nonprofit leaders. Below, we unpack the key findings, stories, and recommendations from the report and the webinar, showcasing how nonprofits across the country are harnessing the power of DAF giving to not just raise more, but raise smarter. ### A Record Year: More Data, More Impact The 2025 report draws from a robust dataset: 32 nonprofit participants representing $12 billion in total revenue, 108 million individual transactions, and over 400,000 DAF gifts—more than doubling the scale of the prior year's analysis. “This is about uncovering what’s truly happening with donor behavior when it comes to DAFs,” Mitch Stein explained in the webinar kickoff. “We’re looking beyond the aggregate data from DAF sponsors. We went straight to nonprofits’ own records to understand what DAF giving actually looks like in practice.” The result is a remarkably rich, actionable view of how DAFs are shaping the donor journey and nonprofit staff experience. ### Five Key Takeaways from the Report **1. DAFs Boost Individual Giving** Perhaps the most compelling finding is this: donors who convert from traditional giving \(credit card, check\) to DAF giving **double their contributions** to the same organization. In 2024, the median change after an existing donor “converts” to DAF giving was \+100% \- the average was an 888% increase\! **2. DAFs Aren’t Just for the Ultra\-Wealthy** A myth that continues to circulate in the nonprofit industry is that DAFs are primarily the realm of ultra\-wealthy, major donors. The data shows otherwise. "Sixty\-nine percent of all DAF gifts in this study were under $1,000," noted Karin Kirchhoff. “DAFs are used at every donor level, from under $100 to over $10,000.” This is reshaping how nonprofits think about their fundraising strategies—no longer reserving DAF messaging only for high\-net\-worth households. **3. DAF Donors Are More Loyal** DAF donors aren’t just more generous—they’re also more consistent. The study found a 13\-point higher donor retention rate for DAF givers compared to their non\-DAF counterparts. “Even though most organizations aren’t stewarding DAF donors very intentionally yet, the retention numbers are remarkable,” said Kirchhoff. “That tells us there’s so much upside here if we just put a bit more structure and energy into these relationships.” **4. DAFs Are the Fastest\-Growing Way to Give** In 2024, the median year\-over\-year growth rate for DAF revenue among participants was 30%—while non\-DAF giving actually declined by \-1%. Even for organizations with growing non\-DAF revenue, the difference is extreme. The [National Audubon Society](https://act.audubon.org/a/donate?SelectedFrequency=6&ms=digital-fund-web-website_nas-topmenu_donateblue_20240100&aud_cta=top-nav_primary-btn&aud_path=/&_gl=1*reuy5q*_gcl_au*MzY3MTQ5NTUzLjE3NTA1MTM0NDM.*_ga*MTIwNzAwMDc4Ny4xNzUwNTEzNDQ0*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*czE3NTA5NzU1MTYkbzIkZzEkdDE3NTA5NzU1MTYkajYwJGwwJGgw), for example, had double\-digit non\-DAF revenue growth in 2024 and DAF revenue grew 6x faster. **5. DAFs are increasingly benefitting smaller organizations** This growth isn’t limited to large institutions. In fact, smaller nonprofits \(under $10M in revenue\) saw a 143% increase in the share of revenue coming from DAFs between 2020 and 2024. This category also had the highest percentage of revenue coming from DAFs by 2024, at 15% across all organizations in that category. **Bonus: DAFs Are Reshaping Mid\-Level Giving** The data shows that DAFs are rapidly gaining traction in the mid\-level donor segment \($1,000–$10,000\). ### Tech Meets Generosity: The Power of Embedded DAF Giving A recurring theme in the webinar was friction—specifically, how the complexity of DAF transactions has historically limited their potential. DAFpay, Chariot’s express checkout option for DAFs, is changing that by embedding three\-click DAF giving directly into donation forms alongside credit cards and ApplePay. [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds) is a standout example with a robust case study in the report. After embedding DAFpay on their site and peer\-to\-peer forms in 2023, their DAF revenue more than doubled in 2024. The average increase from converted donors was 140%, and half of their DAFpay donors were brand new. As one anonymous donor quoted in [a Giving Compass Philanthropy report](https://cdn.givingcompass.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/18085530/FINAL_Donor-Satisfaction-and-Unlocking-Public-Sector-Funding-from-DAFs.pdf) put it: > There are just many more steps with donor advised funds… I often forget it’s there. When I’m asked in the moment, it’s easier to just put in my card. Reducing friction unlocks giving. ### Practical Strategies for Elevating DAF Fundraising The second half of the report is rich with strategy, starting with how to recognize, track, and cultivate DAF donors more effectively. From attribution and coding best practices to donor segmentation and communications, the report offers a comprehensive toolkit and action plans. One success story came from Public Theater who is featured in a robust case study in the report. [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron Programs & Services at [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/join-support/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/). shared the inspiring results of a Capital Campaign mail effort where 25% of $5K\+ gifts during a recent campaign came via DAFs—half from donors who had previously given just $100–$600 via credit card. ### “We Need a DAF Champion” Several organizations profiled in the report cited internal advocacy as the key to their success. Whether it’s a development lead, data manager, or planned giving officer, someone has to own DAF strategy and drive cross\-team coordination. At March of Dimes, that champion was VP of Major, Principal & Planned Giving, [Karyn DeMartini](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-demartini-mba-21a7884/). Her leadership catalyzed both a cultural and operational shift that led to exponential results. ### What’s Next? Join the Movement The report closes with a call to action. While many DAF donors are already showing increased generosity, retention, and gift size, the sector still has a long way to go in maximizing this opportunity. Here’s how to start: - **Download the full report:**[ **Read the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report-2025) - [**Attend upcoming workshops**](https://www.dafday.com/events), including "Curing Your DAF Data" with Mitch Stein and Adam Rosenscruggs from Gambit Analytics. This will be an in\-depth workshop to get your DAF data in order. - **Join **[**DAF Day**](http://www.dafday.com/)** on October 9th**, a nationwide celebration and activation campaign - **Claim your **[**Chariot account**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to enable DAFpay and explore additional integrations “Everyone should be talking about DAFs,” said Kate Hollandsworth during the webinar. “This is no longer a niche donor segment—it’s central to your fundraising future. ### Final Word The 2025 DAF Fundraising Report is not just a recap of industry trends—it’s a roadmap for nonprofit innovation. From digital strategy to mid\-level giving to technology adoption, DAFs are quietly but powerfully reshaping the donor landscape. And for the nonprofits that lean in? The data suggests the upside has only just begun If you are interested in joining the 2026 report, please [let us know](https://www.givechariot.com/2026-daf-report-interest-form)\! --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar: Double your DAF Day Impact with #HalfMyDAF Matching Gifts - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-double-your-daf-day-impact-with-halfmydaf-matching-gifts - Published: 2025-06-24 ## Double Your DAF Day Impact: Unlock Matching Gifts with Half My DAF ##### Half My DAF joins forces with DAF Day 2025 to unlock $2.25M in matching funds for nonprofits—here’s how to get involved before the deadline. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have become one of the most powerful philanthropic tools available today. But with over $250 billion committed to giving in DAFs, the question becomes: how do we turn all of that good intention into more immediate action? In a recent DAF Day session, we sat down with [Jen Risher](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-risher/)—author, philanthropist, and co\-founder of [\#HalfMyDAF](http://www.halfmydaf.com/)—to explore exactly that. She shared her personal journey into philanthropy, explained why DAFs often go underutilized, and unveiled a practical, inspiring path forward: unlocking matching gifts to move more money into the community now. ### Understanding DAFs—and Why the System Gets Stuck Jen began by grounding the conversation in the basics: what a DAF is, why people open them, and what often gets in the way of actually using them. “A DAF is a charitable vehicle. You put your money into this DAF—you are going to be charitable with that money, because once the money goes into this DAF, it’s irrevocable. You can’t get it back,” she explained. DAFs are simple to open and easy to manage, making them a go\-to choice for donors seeking flexibility. But there’s a systemic flaw: while donors receive an immediate tax deduction when contributing to their DAF, there’s no requirement—or even much encouragement—to move that money out. The result: inertia. Donors get busy, advisors don’t follow up, and there aren’t enough reminders to give. As Jen put it: “People don’t forget to be generous—they forget about their DAF.” ### What Stops People from Giving Beyond the system itself, Jen explored the psychological barriers that keep DAF holders from making grants. Chief among them: overwhelm. “There’s also this fear of, ‘What if I get it wrong?’” she said. “Philanthropy is kind of over\-intellectualized. It’s really more about: what do I care about, what speaks to me, where can I make a difference, where can I partner?” Other blockers include the complexity of actually making a grant—logging into portals, navigating outdated UIs—and the misperception that DAF money is still part of one’s personal assets. Many people plan to “get to it later,” often forgetting they even have a fund. Jen shared a deeply relatable example of how process friction affects her own giving decisions: > I really would like to use my DAF, but if I get a solicitation from a nonprofit online... I’ll just do what’s easiest. I don’t put any hurdles in front of me. If it’s not easy for me to give from my DAF—which means I have to close out of the email, go to my portal, make the gift—it’s all these steps. I won’t do it. And I’ll give $100 with my credit card instead of $1,000 with my DAF. This isn’t a failure of generosity, Jen emphasized, but a very human behavior pattern. People are more likely to give when the action is seamless. If nonprofits want to unlock more DAF gifts, they need to eliminate the extra clicks. One solution? Make sure [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay) \- the only DAF payment option \- is on your donation forms as a payment option at checkout. DAFpay is already natively [integrated with dozens of fundraising platforms](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations) \- and if you don’t see your provider listed, ask them to add the integration. When donors are inspired to give, the path should be as frictionless as possible. ### What Nonprofits Can Do Right Now The good news: these hurdles are fixable. For nonprofits, it starts with recognizing the opportunity. If you receive a check from a known DAF sponsor and there’s no contact info, investigate—it’s likely a DAF grant. Then, ask donors directly: “Do you have a DAF?” These conversations are critical, especially because donors often don’t realize how invisible their gifts might appear. “The donor probably didn’t realize that their name wasn’t associated with it,” Jen noted. “So donors, if you're out there, be aware of how your DAF checks are reaching organizations.” Key actions for nonprofits: - Learn to spot DAF gifts and track them properly \(reference this [DAF Provider Director](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) to know all of their names\). - Soft credit the donor in your CRM, and hard credit the DAF provider because they are the legal payer. - Include DAF giving language and tools \(like DAFpay\) on your website and donation forms. - Include DAFs in your planned giving conversations \- it’s a chance to educate donors that they could name your organization as a beneficiary to their DAF account. ### The Half My DAF Model: Matching to Inspire Movement In 2020, as the pandemic created massive need and uncertainty, Jen and her husband decided to act. They created \#HalfMyDAF, a simple but radical idea: encourage DAF holders to spend down at least half their fund within a year, and offer matching incentives to multiply their giving. They put up $1 million of their own money. The result? $8.6 million in DAF grants to nonprofits—in just five months. Half My DAF is now entering its sixth year, with $2.25 million in matches available in 2025. Here’s how it works: 1. A DAF holder commits to giving at least half their fund by October 10. 2. Each time they make a grant of $250 or more, they upload the receipt. 3. Twice a year—once in June, once in October—Half My DAF randomly selects grants to match. 4. Matches are dollar\-for\-dollar up to $5,000 per grant, and up to $25,000 in key categories like gender equity, reproductive health, and education. Importantly, the model is built on trust. There’s no application or lengthy vetting—just a checkbox confirming the pledge. ### Why It Works What makes \#HalfMyDAF so effective is its simplicity and emotional clarity. It adds both urgency and leverage to a process that otherwise feels open\-ended and stagnant. “Philanthropy is a muscle,” Jen said. “You need to build it and get used to it. You learn and grow and develop in the way you think about your philanthropic life.” For donors, \#HalfMyDAF offers both structure and inspiration. For nonprofits, it creates a time\-sensitive window to re\-engage DAF holders, even those they may not have known were giving from a DAF. And the results are real: in most years, about one\-third of all submitted grants are matched. That’s a tremendous return for any organization doing outreach—especially when the donors are already motivated to give. ### How Nonprofits Can Get Involved You don’t need to apply to receive matches from Half My DAF. Every nonprofit is eligible. Your focus should be on mobilizing your donors: - Send a dedicated email about the matching opportunity - Use the sample template on [www.halfmydaf.com](http://www.halfmydaf.com)  - Combine messaging with your [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com/) campaign or other seasonal appeals - Make sure your online giving tools support DAFpay ### What Donors Should Do Next If you use a DAF, here’s how to participate: - Affirm your commitment to use half your DAF this year - Submit any grant made of $250 or more can be submitted before October 10th. - Go to [www.halfmydaf.com](http://www.halfmydaf.com) and upload your receipts Here’s how easy it was to give through DAFpay on a GoFundMe fundraiser for The Trevor Project and submit that gift for matching from \#HalfMyDAF. ### The Road Ahead As [DAF Day 2025](http://dafday.com/) approaches on October 9, the timing couldn’t be better. With billions already committed to giving in donor\-advised funds, the philanthropic community has a rare chance to push those dollars into motion at an absolutely critical name for the sector. If you’re a nonprofit, start planning your outreach today. If you’re a donor, take the pledge and start making your grants by DAF Day. And for everyone involved in fundraising, stewardship, or DAF education: let’s make it easier, faster, and more joyful to give. Visit[ ](https://www.halfmydaf.com/)[halfmydaf.com](http://halfmydaf.com) for more information on gift matching and [dafday.com](http://dafday.com) to get involved. --- ## DAF Day 2025 Webinar Kickoff Recording - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-day-2025-webinar-kickoff-recording - Published: 2025-06-16 ## The DAF Day 2025 Campaign Officially Kicks Off ##### The second annual DAF Day will be on Thursday October 9th, with a new site, new capabilities and new partners to show what Donor Advised Funds will do to meet the moment. **Monday June 16th, 2025, New York City \-** The national day of giving with Donor Advised Funds is back for year two, with ambitious goals to activate more philanthropy at a time of immense need for communities around the country. ### Recapping DAF Day 2024 In 2024, Chariot partnered with dozens of leading nonprofits, fundraising platforms and Donor Advised Funds to introduce a new giving day to the calendar in early October: DAF Day. After announcing the new initiative on July 30th, the collaborative group spent 10 weeks educating and activating the sector for the first\-ever [DAF Day](http://www.dafday.com/). The new giving day [led to incredible results](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) for the early adopters \- and set the stage for an expanded platform, more support, longer campaign and deeper partnerships for DAF Day 2025. Nonprofits like [Susan G. Komen went all\-in across channels](https://www.givechariot.com/susan-g-komen), and raised record amounts of DAF funding. DAF Providers like [Daffy offered special promos for signing up friends and giving](https://www.givechariot.com/daffy-daf-day-case-study) on DAF Day that led to a surge in new accounts and single\-day giving. ### What’s New in 2025 This year, the DAF Day movement has honed its focus on seamless donor experience, actionable nonprofit resources and DAF Provider collaboration. In today’s live kickoff to over 1,000 registered attendees, the key elements of DAF Day 2025 were unveiled publicly for the first time, including: - A brand new [DAF Day website](http://www.dafday.com/) that helps DAF holders easily get involved and other supporters easily learn about donor advised funds.  - A free “plug & play” [marketing toolkit](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) so nonprofits of any size can effectively activate their community.  - A months\-long [webinar series](https://www.dafday.com/events) leading up to October 9th, featuring expert speakers and targeted sessions for every group involved in the movement. - A [DAF Day giving page](https://app.dafday.com/) that lets donors use any DAF via DAFpay to support eligible nonprofits in a few seconds. “We know that donor advised funds have an incredible impact on giving, but we can’t wait any longer to harness their full potential,” shared [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Chariot’s Head of Strategy. “DAF Day creates the perfect shared opportunity, at a critical time, for passionate supporters, impactful nonprofits and leading DAF Providers to all amplify the same message: Your DAF will make the difference.” ### How to Get Involved There’s no cost for anyone to join DAF Day and Chariot is working hard to provide everyone the resources they need to make the most of the initiative. Below are recommended next steps: **Donors** - **Set a Reminder**: If you already have a DAF, click “Set a Reminder” on the DAF Day homepage to use it on Thursday October 9th. - **Get a DAF**: If you don’t have a DAF, see if it’s right for you \- check out the [“Get a DAF” Guide](https://www.dafday.com/get-a-daf) to help make the choice before October 9th.  **Nonprofits** There’s no sign up required to participate, but we recommend the following to be an official partner and get the most out of the initiative: - **Get Verified**: Every organization that has claimed their Chariot account and completed Chariot’s compliance verification\* will appear as a verified DAF Day Partner on the [DAF Day Giving Page](https://app.dafday.com/). - **Get the Marketing Toolkit**: It contains a [host of free resources](https://www.dafday.com/marketing-toolkit) \(templates, graphics, messaging, etc.\) to make participation as low lift as possible for any organization.  - **Get More Training**: Sign up for all the [upcoming free training](https://www.dafday.com/events) and share with your teams.  **DAF Providers** You’ll have a powerful impact on your DAF program, your community and the sector by partnering on DAF Day. - **Become an Official Partner**: there’s no cost to partner, plus you’ll receive a customized toolkit and brand visibility across the DAF Day platform. [Submit the interest form](https://www.dafday.com/providers) and we’ll be in touch ASAP.  - **Activate**: Promote DAF Day to your community and share your results to help us track overall impact.  Reach out to [dafday@givechariot.com](mailto:dafday@givechariot.com) with any questions \- we look forward to partnering with all of you on a record breaking year for DAF giving. *\*Chariot runs an industry\-leading compliance program and your verification signals to potential DAF donors that not only is your organization DAF eligible, but also that a verified Control Person with validated identity is engaged to utilize the donation promptly & effectively. Chariot accounts also all include a Chariot Deposit Account \(CDA\)*\* to receive rapid, data\-rich grant payments from participating DAF providers. --- ## A New Collaborative Solution for Better DAF Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/a-new-collaborative-solution-for-better-daf-giving - Published: 2025-04-30 ## Chariot Introduces New Solution for Better Grant Payments with 6 DAF Partners #### This collaborative product launch brings a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. Chariot has joined forces with 6 Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) Providers to introduce a new solution for grant payments that benefits DAF providers and nonprofits alike. We’re thrilled to announce that Chariot Disbursements\* is now available to DAFs and nonprofit organizations on Chariot. #### The age\-old problem Chariot Disbursements solves an increasingly difficult and costly problem in philanthropy: *What is the best way for DAFs to send grant funds and gift details to eligible nonprofits? * Previously, there has been no effective, holistic solution for disbursing funds to the 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S. This has led to all DAF Providers using different, sub\-optimal processes. And the worst part? Every single DAF provider replicates much of the same work when they each pay the same nonprofits—including running diligence on the organization, searching and confirming its address, or locating its account and routing numbers. Nonprofit recipients ultimately bear the greatest burden of this phenomenon, having to manage these disparate processes for every DAF provider that sends them gifts. #### The all\-new solution **Chariot Disbursements** aims to change these inefficient, time\-consuming processes with an accessible payment network custom\-built for rapid, data\-rich grant payments. “We’ve been on a long search for a grant payment solution that could effectively scale with Daffy’s rapid growth,” says [Adam Nash](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamnash/), Daffy’s co\-founder and CEO. “Helping to build this solution with the Chariot team, and share the innovation with any other DAF providers that want to use it, is exactly the collaborative approach our sector needs to solve these big problems.” Once a nonprofit completes their Chariot onboarding, they will now have a Chariot Deposit Account\*. DAF Providers using Chariot Disbursements can easily send funds enriched with full gift details to that validated organization and its verified users. For organizations that aren’t yet on Chariot, payments may be sent as mailed checks with enhanced security procedures\*\*, and customized grant letters attached, through the same API or dashboard. #### Discover the benefits of Connected Payments Chariot Disbursements is a holistic solution that doesn’t simply offer *digital *payments —\-it creates ***Connected*** ***Payments ***between DAFs and nonprofits on Chariot. Connected payments are: - Connected to **speed**: Payments settle instantly, once approved, so funds can be put to work faster.  - Connected to **data**: Payments contain structured data and attachments in one place for more efficient operations. - Connected to **identity**: Verified recipients mean more secure delivery.      #### Developed in partnership with leading DAF providers Chariot Disbursements was born from the needs of nonprofits and DAF Providers. We worked alongside people who manage grant payments on both sides of the equation to thoughtfully build a comprehensive solution that supports a seamless and trusted giving experience for everyone. “Our prior methods of sending grant payments put an immense operational burden on our team and our grantees,” adds [Megan Hyman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganartz/), CEO of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. “We have been thrilled to partner on the development of Chariot Disbursements, which will be a tremendous organizational improvement for community foundations of all sizes around the country, especially while we’re all working hard to keep our DAF offerings competitive and cost\-effective.” Chariot is well\-positioned to create this universal platform between nonprofits and DAF Providers, regardless of the tools they use to manage their program. The solution is accessible via open API or an easy\-to\-use dashboard, so that DAF Providers at any scale, with any technology, can easily plug in. The network for Chariot Disbursements will combine the audience of over 60,000 nonprofits with DAFpay on their donation forms, with all of the Disbursements Partners’ grant recipients, who will be encouraged to get on Chariot for Connected Payments. “This is just the beginning of an important evolution in giving,” shares Salo Serfati, Chariot’s Co\-Founder & CEO. “We are ambitiously expanding our footprint and investing in innovations that can make this a ubiquitous payment layer for the DAF ecosystem. We’re all incredibly motivated by the impact this can have on our mission to accelerate philanthropy.” In addition to [Daffy](https://www.daffy.org/home) and [Dallas Jewish Community Foundation](https://djcf.org/), [Endaoment](https://endaoment.org/), [EarthShare](https://www.earthshare.org/), [Neta](https://www.netafoundation.org/) and [Daffeinated](https://daffeinated.com/login/) partnered on the development and launch of the new platform. Connected Payments from Chariot Disbursements will help these DAF Providers efficiently scale their giving and support nonprofits in increasing their impact with streamlined gift processing. #### Next steps: For nonprofit organizations Any eligible nonprofit [**can get on Chariot today**](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) to start benefiting from Connected Payments sent by enrolled DAF Providers for free. There is no cost to receive Disbursements on Chariot or transfer funds to an external financial account once per week. Organizations that currently have a Chariot account will need to verify an Officer’s information during some additional onboarding steps that will be displayed in your dashboard. [**Learn more about onboarding here**](https://intercom.help/givechariot/en/articles/11125410-claiming-your-chariot-deposit-account). #### Next steps: For DAF providers [**Reach out to the Chariot Team**](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-contact-form) to learn more about the onboarding process and pricing structure. \*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a DDA \(Demand Deposit Account\) through our Bank Partner, Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Chariot Disbursements.  Deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held. \*\*Chariot’s check payment verification process tailors validation methods based on donation amount, prior payment history, and address verification through sources like the IRS Business Master File and the nonprofit’s website. The system incorporates automated outreach, direct contact for larger payments, an adaptable risk engine to help reduce fraud, and important controls like Positive Pay protections and delivery tracking to ensure payment reaches the intended nonprofit. **About Chariot** Chariot is a financial technology company focused on Donor Advised Fund payments. We create better DAF giving experiences for donors, nonprofits and DAF providers. Chariot’s DAFpay is the first and only DAF payment option that embeds easy DAF giving into any donation form or nonprofit website where someone is inspired to give. DAFpay lets donors use their DAF in 3 clicks, helps nonprofits spur more DAF giving with more useful \+ instant donor details, and helps DAF providers add new utility to their DAF accounts. Chariot’s other product, Chariot Disbursements, solves operational challenges for DAFs and nonprofits, enabling a faster, easier, safer way to send & receive grant payments. --- ## DAFs + Direct Response Membership, & Mid-Level Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/dafs--direct-response-membership--mid-level-giving - Published: 2025-03-26 ## DAFs for the Masses: How to Unlock DAF Giving Potential in Every Donor ### If you’re not asking all of your donors for DAF gifts, you’re missing out. Check out these best practices and simple tactics you and your team can adopt today. Since its inception, DAF giving was typically viewed as a philanthropic vehicle for major donors. But with the recent ease of account restrictions and introduction of technology that makes DAF giving seamless, nonprofits are discovering that this mode of philanthropy can thrive far beyond a single donor type. To explore the emerging possibilities of DAF fundraising, we spoke with nonprofit leaders who have grown DAF giving within their own organizations. Our conversation featured: - [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy at Chariot - [Meghan M. Lee](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanmle/), Associate Director, Mid & Major Gifts at the ACLU  - [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley), Director of Patron Programs and Services at The Public Theater  Whether you’ve yet to consider DAFs beyond the major donor level or haven’t embraced DAF fundraising yet, we’ve rounded up these tried\-and\-true best practices from our recent webinar to help you set the foundation for a winning DAF strategy regardless of your experience. ### Value donors at every level From one\-time donors to long\-time sustainers to mid and major donors, your organization should make every one of your supporters feel like a partner in your mission. Of course, you’ll want to keep on\-staff liaisons available for major donors, but at the same time, any donor should know that you have an open door for them. Here are just some ways you can make this work \(even on a budget\): - **Keep every donor in the loop:** Leverage social media and weekly newsletters to become a trusted news source for the issues your supporters care about most. - **Host a town hall\-style event with an open invite: **Welcome donors to hear directly from your staffers on the front lines. Share about your critical work, take questions and suggestions, and collect valuable feedback. ** ** - **Send your donors an annual magazine: **Compile the greatest stories and accomplishments your donors have made possible into a tangible form of celebration and thanks they can’t miss. - **Say “Thank you” often: **Your donors can never hear it too much—say thanks via email for individual gifts, spotlight donors of all levels on social media, and lead every ask and invitation with gratitude for their presence on the front lines with you. ### Educate your staff about the impact of DAFs Your tight\-knit team finds success when everyone’s rowing in the same direction, and this idea also holds true in DAF fundraising. Before you engage donors, all of your staff members should be well\-versed in DAFs—the state of DAF giving today, how other nonprofits are embracing it, and the enormous amount of money you can raise for your mission. Look to these free resources to get started: - [The 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) - [Recent DAF fundraising case studies](https://www.givechariot.com/chariot-case-studies)  - [DAF giving live webinars and recordings](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) ### Let your development department work its magic At many organizations, the marketing team manages donors who give more sporadically and in lower amount. But while this mass\-marketing approach makes sense from an ROI standpoint in the short\-term, moving these donors into development outreach initiatives can help your organization establish stronger, more meaningful relationships—and that’s where the DAF conversation comes in. ### Diversify your approach—and track what works It’s critical to incorporate DAF giving language and functionality into all your communication channels. Think about how supporters engage with each of these channels, along with the main message you want to communicate. There’s a time and a place for content on DAF education vs. DAF engagement—and as your DAF holders grow and you and your team become accustomed to DAF fundraising in a broader context, your supporters will show you when and where your DAF messaging works best. While email has become a go\-to communication channel for nonprofit organizations, inboxes can become crowded. To ensure your donors see your message, consider a variety of ways to reach out, including: #### SMS text messages With an average open rate of over 90 percent, text messaging is king. Once you have a donor’s permission, you can communicate with them about DAFs and other topics using the same channel they lean on to keep in touch with family, colleagues, and friends. Avoid unsubscribes by using text messaging sparingly and thoughtfully. Aim for a cadence of three to five texts per month. Text themes can include: - Automated thank you messages upon receiving digital DAF gifts - Peer\-to\-peer solicitations from volunteers to their networks - Event invitations and reminders to boost attendance - Emergency appeals that mention DAFs as a prime giving option - Soliciting and organizing volunteers #### Social media Show up where your donors go to engage with their interests, hobbies, and people they love most. While a Facebook account is a must, expanding to other channels like Instagram and TikTok can help you reach younger generations of social\-savvy supporters. If your social media presence could use a boost, consider these light\-lift moves: - Ramp up to posting two to five times per week - Follow social media trends and create your own version  - Look to hashtag holidays for inspiration  - Feature donors’ photos and testimonials on why they give - Use short\-form video to show a look behind the scenes Keep tabs on your social media posts’ engagement metrics and take note. Your best\-performing posts can become a weekly theme that brings donors back to your page week after week. #### Direct mail As communication becomes almost entirely digital, things we can hold have become extra special. Cut down costs by choosing postcards and apply for [special nonprofit mailing rates](https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=NonprofitApplication) from USPS if you haven’t just yet. #### Phone calls Finding time to call every donor isn’t an easy feat, but when you break down your list and divvy up contacts, it’s suddenly more than achievable. If you’re too short\-staffed at the moment, consider recruiting your most passionate volunteers or board members to lend a hand. Before you hit “Send,” “Share,” or pick up the phone, work with your marketing and development teams to set up a tracking process for each initiative. When you lay the groundwork to measure engagement, you can fine\-tune your outreach to prioritize the most effective methods moving forward. ### Equip your organization for digital DAF giving DAF donors aren’t the only thing changing—how we give via DAF is, too. And that’s a good thing, because now, DAF giving is as easy as giving via credit card with no more middle person. Best of all, you don’t have to contact a foundation or quiz your development team to find out crucial DAF gift information. With tools like [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), you can receive DAF gifts directly from your donors—with names and contact information included. ### Tell every donor what a DAF is—and why they should use one If major donors have been the only supporters in your DAF giving orbit, it’s time to spread the word. Just like your staff, donors need 101 education on DAF giving. Share [simple explainers](https://www.dafday.com/whatisdaf) on what DAFs are and how they work via: - A dedicated DAF giving page on your website that includes your tax ID - Social media posts \(Try short\-form videos and carousels\) - An email newsletter dedicated to DAF giving featuring 101 content, steps to get started, DAF donor testimonials, and impact data - Face\-to\-face conversations and phone calls ### Encourage current DAF donors to take the next step Mid\-level and major donors who already give via DAF are typically prospects for your planned giving initiatives. These loyal supporters are always seeking new and more impactful ways to further your important work. If you haven't had the conversation yet, let them know that they have the option to list your organization as the beneficiary of their DAF account. ### Make DAFs a mainstay at your organization Many donors automatically contribute money to their DAFs. While that’s great for the growth of their giving power, the set\-it\-and\-forget\-it nature of DAFs can make them easy to, well, forget. ### Keep DAF giving at top\-of\-mind for your supporters by: - Reminding donors that they can give via DAF  - Adding a DAF giving option to all of your donation forms  - Turning DAF giving into a movement within your community by participating in [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/) on October 9th ### Start now First things first: Before you can debut DAFs to the masses, you need to get set on your side of things. Begin with making DAF giving as easy as the click of a button. --- ## DAFs + Peer-to-Peer & Events - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/dafs--peer-to-peer--events - Published: 2025-03-05 ## Integrating DAFs into Peer\-to\-Peer & Event Fundraising Peer\-to\-Peer and Event fundraising are the most common instances where DAF donors don’t use their DAF \- and therefore the biggest opportunity to unlock increased giving. Whether because of added steps, confusion about eligibility or just forgetting about their DAF in a moment of inspired giving, DAFs have been left out of these fundraising channels for too long\! As DAFs become even more prominent in philanthropy – Fidelity Charitable’s 2025 report shows a [25% year\-over\-year increase](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/insights/2025-giving-report.html) in DAF giving among their account holders – it’s time for nonprofits to shift their mindset and focus on integrating Donor Advised Fund giving across their entire fundraising strategies. There’s [over $250 billion already committed](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) to giving in these accounts. This week, [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), Head of Strategy at Chariot, and [Emily Delp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-delp-47294a139/), Gift Processing Manager at [Pelotonia](https://www.pelotonia.org/), hosted a webinar discussing DAFs in the Peer\-to\-Peer and Events landscape. Emily shared what she’s learned as a seasoned fundraiser and data\-management expert. Read on for the top strategies: ### 1. Educate and Engage with Your Community The first step to integrating DAF giving into your Peer\-to\-Peer and Events campaigns is educating your team, your board, your participants** **and your donors** **on how DAFs can be used in these contexts. Put information on DAF giving across all your communication channels—your website, emails, mailers, and even one\-on\-one donor conversations. Your messaging should offer clear, step\-by\-step instructions on what a DAF is, how they work and where donors can give with their DAFs. This includes prominently displaying your organization’s EIN and full legal name on your website. \(Check out [Pelotonia](https://www.pelotonia.org/get-involved/give/donor-advised-fund)’s site for a great example.\) It's also critical to proactively address common misconceptions that might stop donors from using their DAFs—like the idea that DAFs can't be used for event\-related gifts or that DAFs take too long to process. When your donors understand how and when they can give with their DAF, you'll unlock more opportunities to bring in these valuable gifts. ##### Here’s how to reframe these common DAF misconceptions: 1. The Restriction Myth : DAFs and Event Gifts DAF gifts have certain restrictions. They can’t be donated in exchange for anything that provides a benefit to the donor, like a registration fee, a gala table, a ticket, or a membership non\-tax deductible. They also can’t be used to commit to a legally binding pledge. These limitations have led many to avoid using DAFs in Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns or at Events altogether — but this doesn’t have to be the case. Though DAF gifts can’t be made for purchases, folks can still make general donations with their DAF at an event, the same way they would donate with a credit card, cash, or check. And while DAF gifts can’t be used to commit to a legally binding multi\-year pledge, donors *can* recommend a grant from their DAF in response to a pledge request. To provide even more clarity to donors on when and where you can accept DAF gifts, check out our recommendations in this [Gift Acceptance Policy template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy). 1. Delayed Recognition: The Wait for DAF Gifts Before new DAF technology, it could take weeks \- or even months \- for nonprofits to even know that a donor had contributed with their DAF. This delay made it impossible to include DAF gifts in any time\-sensitive campaigns, which Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns typically are. Many DAF donors are still conditioned to use their credit card on these campaign pages so they can quickly contribute and see their gift included in the total right away. The problem is that these gifts tend to be much smaller than if they could use their DAF. With [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), the express\-payout DAF payment option developed by Chariot, nonprofits can instantly capture and record DAF gift data in real time. This allows nonprofits to properly direct a gift to its intended event page or crowdfunder, right when the gift is made, without any delay. 1. Recognize That DAF Donors Can Be Anyone While it's true that many high net worth individuals use DAFs, the landscape of DAF giving has shifted significantly. As DAF accounts become more commonplace, more donors across income levels are opening DAFs to streamline their charitable giving. While these donors might not all have similar income levels, they do all have something else in common: a deep commitment to philanthropy. Whether a donor is giving through a DAF for the first time or has been using one for years, their decision to give this way signals that they think intentionally about their charitable impact. That makes them exactly the kind of donor your organization wants to cultivate for long\-term support. DAF donors can enter your ecosystem through a single Peer\-to\-Peer gift or event donation — and with the right stewardship, they can become loyal, recurring supporters. By acknowledging their generosity, educating them on how they can continue giving through their DAF, and showing the impact of their gift, you're laying the groundwork for a lasting donor relationship. 1. Leverage New Technology to Optimize DAF Giving The best way to engage every potential DAF donor is by putting DAF giving front and center in your giving experiences and making the giving process as simple as possible. [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), developed by Chariot, is the only DAF payment option and it embeds intuitive, express DAF giving into your donation forms. It also instantly captures gift information, allowing your donors to use their DAF in time\-sensitive fundraising efforts, like Peer\-to\-Peer campaigns. And DAFpay goes beyond just simplifying DAF giving for donors — it streamlines operations for Gift Processing Managers. Historically, DAF gifts arrived with little to no donor information, forcing fundraisers to manually track down details like names, emails, gift dates and the intended participant’s page. With DAFpay, this critical donor information is automatically captured and synced, eliminating guesswork, time\-spent searching for details and unlocking a new level of data transparency. With immediate insight on DAF gifts, your organization and your participants can seamlessly steward DAF donors. You can also leverage this new data for more strategic, impactful campaigns. > On our website, DAFpay automatically links to a participant or team. So, as a Gift Processor, when I receive that money I can easily apply that gift…it makes it so there’s no confusion at all. As a bonus – when DAFpay appears on your checkout flow, it acts as a built\-in educational tool for your donors. Any donor who goes through your donation flow is automatically alerted to the fact that they can give to your organization with a DAF. > People are going through that donation process as is, and it’s amazing for them to see that option already. 1. Use Fundraising Data to Your Advantage Data isn’t just something to collect — it’s a powerful tool to refine your fundraising process. As Emily shared, analyzing donor behavior has helped her team iterate on what’s already working. After noticing the popularity of Peer\-to\-Peer events, they expanded their programming to include an additional walk/run and bike ride — keeping their community engaged year\-round. > We’re always trying to change it up to keep the community engaged. The same mindset applies to DAF donors. Take the extra time to uncover DAF donor data, either by integrating DAFpay or by taking other steps, like cross\-referencing fund names with donor records or checking with colleagues to see if they recognize a gift\-source. Once you’ve identified your DAF donors, file them accordingly — they may be great candidates for major gift cultivation or respond to different messaging. The more you know, the more robust your strategy can be. > We’ve really turned towards data over the past year in order to make educated decisions and optimize our outreach. Get more DAF donor insights [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). 1. Work Closely With Your Major Gifts Team Building cross\-team alignment can unlock new fundraising opportunities — especially when it comes to DAF donors. At Pelotonia, the events, gift processing and major gifts teams meet bi\-weekly to review incoming gifts, focusing specifically on DAF contributions. This regular touchpoint makes it easier to track every gift, avoid duplicate records, and ensure proper stewardship. > We meet on a regular basis with the Major Gifts team…when it comes to DAF gifts, coming in and acknowledging those gifts in a special way is crucial. These meetings also create a natural opportunity to move donors between giving pipelines. A donor who first engages through a Peer\-to\-Peer campaign or Gala may have the capacity for larger gifts — especially if they're giving through a DAF. By collaborating with the Major Gifts team, fundraisers can identify high\-potential donors early and provide personalized outreach that encourages deeper engagement. Breaking down silos between teams helps create a more holistic donor journey, ensuring that no giving opportunity falls through the cracks. 1. Maximize Corporate Partnerships Corporate partnerships can be a game\-changer in fundraising. Emily shared how Pelotonia has leveraged corporate support by having companies pay for registration fees for riders that join with that company’s team for their bike rides. This structure fosters a sense of camaraderie amongst riders, removes the cost burden for participants and elevates the company’s brand. While many are familiar with employee gift matching programs, it’s less widely known that some corporations will even match DAF gifts made by their employees. Make sure your nonprofit is reminding folks that make DAF gifts to check if it can be matched by their employer. --- ## DAFs + Major & Planned Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/dafs--major--planned-giving - Published: 2025-02-12 ## A Guide to Incorporating DAFs into Your Major Gifts & Planned Giving Fundraising Strategies Major Gifts and Planned Giving are essential pillars of nonprofit fundraising, providing sustained support and deepening donor relationships. Since DAF donors typically skew more affluent, the oversight of DAF fundraising often lands with staff focused on Major Gifts or Planned Giving. And yet, many professionals in these areas have yet to fully integrate DAF gifts into their broader fundraising strategy. Instead, they treat DAFs as an “extra” set of gifts that happen almost by chance. As DAF giving grows in popularity–with assets set aside for giving in DAFs now exceeding [$250 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/), and grants surpassing [$54 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) in 2023 alone–nonprofits need to think about proactive DAF strategies across their fundraising team, but especially in their Major and Planned giving efforts. This week, three seasoned fundraising leaders—[Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/) \(VP of Major Gifts & Panned Giving Susan G. Komen\), [Sharon Bean](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-bean-cfre-54291b4a/) \(Senior Director of Planned Giving at International Rescue Committee\), and [Shirley Nagar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleynagar/) \(Director of Planned Giving at The Michael J. Fox Foundation\)— joined Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) to tackle this challenge. They shared how nonprofits can better integrate DAFs into their fundraising strategies, ensuring these funds become a bigger, more reliable piece of the giving puzzle. In this recap, we’ll break down their insights and offer practical tips to help you maximize DAFs within your Major gifts and Planned Giving programs. Read on for: 1. Major Gifts and Planned Giving: Definitions and Insights 2. Where DAFs fit into Major Gifts and Planned Giving 3. Strategies to Elevate DAF Giving in Major Gifts and Planned Giving ## Major Gifts and Planned Giving: Definitions and Best Practices **Major gifts**: Significant donations that have a substantial impact on an organization, often cultivated through personalized relationships with donors. **Planned Giving**: Contributions arranged in advance, typically as part of a donor’s financial or estate planning, such as bequests, trusts, or pledged gifts of assets. #### Best Practices from Seasoned Professionals 1. Always Consider the Full Donor JourneyDonors don’t always start as major contributors; relationships evolve over time. By engaging with donors at every stage—whether they’re giving a little or a lot—you build trust and pave the way for deeper, more impactful involvement in the future. When your whole team is focused on learning from donors in this full journey, everyone will be able to identify the best opportunities for 1x1 relationship building and long\-term planning.   2. Integrate Your Entire Fundraising StrategyThere’s no such thing as an isolated section in fundraising. All elements of your organization’s fundraising should come together in a comprehensive, unified strategy. It’s important for everyone on your team \- from Major Gifts, to Sustainer Programs, to Gift Processing \- to approach fundraising with this mindset. All fundraising efforts work in harmony to support one another.  > Major Gifts and planned giving succeed when they’re integrated into a comprehensive donor strategy. 1. Encourage a Variety of Revenue SourcesEconomic shifts and changes in government funding highlight the need for diverse revenue streams. With the future of federal funding being so uncertain, many organizations are leaning into the variety of ways that individuals can support. Learn for yourself why and how donors can contribute through methods beyond just credit cards or checks. Exploring options like DAFs, stocks, and QCDs not only broadens your fundraising potential but also meets donors where they are, offering more flexible and tax\-efficient ways to give. 2. Lead with Your MissionEspecially in times of uncertainty, donors look to nonprofits to help address huge challenges. As you engage with your donors, always lead with your mission. Focus on the shared goal of creating positive change and emphasize the impact their support can have. By grounding these conversations in a strong connection to your cause, you’ll help give your donors the purpose they are really seeking with their philanthropy.  > We don’t necessarily need to talk about all the technicalities all the time. We need to bring the mission. ## Where DAFs Fit into Major and Planned Giving DAFs have experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Over the past five years, both assets held in DAFs and the annual grants distributed have roughly doubled. In 2023 alone, assets grew [by 10%](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report), signaling a strong trajectory for continued expansion. While DAF donations tend to be larger, DAF donors give gifts of all sizes. Among gifts made via [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising), the express\-checkout DAF payment tool from Chariot, the average gift size is $1,000 and the median gift size is $220, showcasing this range. When a donor makes a gift with a DAF, it reflects more than just a gift: 1. It communicates their seriousness about philanthropy. Using a DAF shows that the donor is not just giving casually, they are taking a more thoughtful, long\-term approach to their philanthropy. The structure of DAFs encourages donors to plan their giving and engage with causes in a deeper, more intentional way, highlighting their serious commitment to making a meaningful impact. > All of our donors, especially DAF donors, are very smart and savvy. They know what’s happening in the world and they’re really thinking about their philanthropy. 1. It highlights their potential giving capacity: In 2023, the average DAF account size was [$141,120](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/). Even if a donor’s first DAF gift is small, the fact that they have established a DAF indicates a significant potential for larger contributions in the future. Holding a DAF account often reflects a donor's financial capability and intention to give strategically, signaling the potential for higher\-level gifts, including Major and Planned Giving. 2. DAF donors can designate beneficiaries for their funds, creating a perfect opportunity for planned giving.Many DAF donors don’t realize that they need to designate a beneficiary for their DAF. This is an important step for long\-term planning and ensuring that their charitable intentions are carried out after their passing. Be sure to bring this up with your donors and encourage them to update their DAF beneficiary details. Dig a layer deeper into how their DAFs play into their estate plans. Sharon said that even if a donor says they’ve named their kids, she always asks about the alignment between the cause areas the donor supports compared with their children. Sometimes it opens their eyes to the opportunity to name a nonprofit they personally care about as an additional beneficiary.   > I want to double underline how many donors might not realize that they have the opportunity to name a beneficiary in their DAF account. It is typically not a standard part of their onboarding. ## Strategies to Elevate DAF Giving in Major Gifts and Planned Giving ##### 1. Educate Your Entire Team - DAF gifts shouldn’t be siloed within one part of your organization. They should be integrated into your broader donor engagement strategy, ensuring that all teams are aligned and working together to maximize DAF giving and cultivate long\-term relationships with DAF donors. - - It’s essential that everyone on your fundraising team understands the value of DAF donors. When a donor contributes via DAF—even if it is at an event or during a peer\-to\-peer campaign—it’s important that your entire team knows to flag that donor for the Major Gifts and Planned Giving teams. These gifts often signal the potential for larger contributions in the future, and those teams should be aware of these opportunities. - Be your organization’s DAF Champion. Take the lead in promoting understanding and collaboration around DAFs. Host internal trainings to educate your team about the nuances of DAF giving, and share real\-life donor stories to inspire engagement and demonstrate the impact. - Identifying DAF donors can be challenging, as these donors may not provide full information when designating a grant. However, it’s important to make an effort to track these gifts as best as possible to ensure effective stewardship. Here’s a c[omprehensive guide to DAF donor stewardship](https://www.givechariot.com/post/stewardship-throughout-the-full-daf-donor-journey). ##### 2. Follow Your Donors’ Lead - Donors are proud of their DAFs–they show forethought, organization, and a commitment to lifelong philanthropy. Often, they *want* to share how they use them for charitable giving. When a donor brings up their DAF, lean into these conversations and use it as an opportunity to highlight the advantages of DAFs as a giving tool. This can deepen your connection and open the door for more substantial gifts in the future. - - [In times of economic uncertainty](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-donor-advised-funds-matter-more-than-ever-during-a-recession), DAF holders are proven to still increase their giving while other giving vehicles decline. Since donors don’t need to give directly from their pocketbooks, they can continue contributing to causes they care about without impacting their immediate finances. - Similarly, if you’re speaking with a donor and they mention challenges with giving—whether it’s a preference for non\-cash donations or logistical hurdles—bring up the possibility of opening a DAF.  - - While fundraisers are not financial advisors, it is possible to bring up DAFs without offering financial advice. In the session, Trish shared an example of a donor who frequently makes stock gifts but found the process cumbersome. The donor also supports several organizations, prompting Trish to suggest exploring a Donor Advised Fund. That way they could contribute stock in one place, then recommend grants to all the nonprofits they want to support \- which are sent in the form of cash. The DAFs are set up to easily receive and liquidate stock. The donor had never heard of DAFs, and Trish was able to clearly explain these benefits, addressing the donor's specific challenges and needs. > I simply asked: ‘Have you considered a donor advised fund? Their response: ‘What’s a donor advised fund? It was a perfect opportunity to explain the benefits. - Talking to your donors about DAFs gives you a way to learn about them and potentially teach them about something useful, which is a nice change from just making an ask for a donation. Here are a few suggestions to help with those conversations: - - Provide a point of contact on your website if they have questions about DAFs \(like [Trish does for Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/)\) - Add a donor story to your website or materials that demonstrates the value other supporters get from having a DAF \(like [Shirley’s team does for Michael J. Fox Foundation](https://plannedgiving.michaeljfox.org/donor-advised-funds)\)  - Dig a layer deeper into how their DAFs play into their estate plans. Sharon said that even if a donor says they’ve named their kids, she always asks about the alignment between the cause areas the donor supports compared with their children. Sometimes it opens their eyes to the opportunity to name a nonprofit they personally care about as an additional beneficiary.   1. Make DAF Giving Accessible to As Many Donors as Possible - The easiest way to increase DAF donations is by making the process simpler and more accessible. Donors often find giving via DAF confusing, as it involves multiple steps and different portals. Especially if a DAF donor is newer or less connected to your organization, they are less likely to take all those extra steps and more [likely to give with a credit card](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) \(leaving you with a smaller donation and no knowledge of the fact they have a DAF\!\) By streamlining this process, you can help engage more donors. Here are a few ways to reduce these barriers: - Simply the giving process with DAFpay  - - Consider using Chariot’s express\-checkout DAF payments option, [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/), which allows donors to initiate DAF grants with just 3 clicks  without leaving your website or donation form. This streamlines the process, removing friction and encouraging more, larger DAF donations. - Check if [your current fundraising platform](https://www.givechariot.com/integrations) already integrates with Chariot to make the process even easier. - DAFpay also allows you to instantly capture a donor’s name and email, helping you to engage in effective stewardship and build lasting relationships. > I really see DAFS as a gateway to deeper conversations about a donor's vision for their philanthropy. - Deliver messaging about DAFs to your entire donor base - Don’t limit your outreach to just major donors or previous DAF users. To unlock new major gifts, you need to educate your entire donor base on the benefits of DAFs. By expanding your messaging, you’ll increase awareness and make DAF giving an accessible option for more people. According to[ the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), once donors give via DAF, their annual contributions to the same nonprofit rise by 96% on average.  - Join [DAF Day 2025](https://www.dafday.com/) – a new kind of giving day dedicated to Donor Advised Funds. Use this opportunity to generate widespread awareness and excitement around DAFs.  > DAF Day was the first time we actively marketed to our full donor base about Donor Advised Funds – and it was a huge success. **Bonus Tip:** As a fundraiser, consider opening your own DAF to gain firsthand experience with the giving process. All three of this session’s speakers now have one\! This will deepen your understanding and make you better equipped to guide donors through their own giving journeys. [Here’s a resource ](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-your-own-donor-advised-fund-daf)packed with reasons to open your own DAF, as well as popular accessible options. 1. Engage with the DAF community - Build relationships with DAF sponsoring organization and community foundations  - - By fostering these relationships, you gain insight into trends, best practices, and opportunities to engage DAF donors more effectively. - Collaborate with financial advisors  - - Financial advisors are often the go\-to professionals for guiding donors through charitable giving decisions, including the use of DAFs. Building relationships with financial advisors can be incredibly beneficial. Consider co\-creating resources or educational downloads that highlight the advantages of DAFs, making it easier for advisors to share this information with their clients. By working together, you can increase awareness of DAFs and their potential to support your organization’s mission. --- ## DAFs + Gift Processing - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/dafs--gift-processing - Published: 2025-01-28 ## DAF Gift Processing: Why It Matters & How to Get It Right Donor\-Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving growth is drastically outpacing other forms of giving for nonprofit fundraisers. In the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), participants saw a median 4 year growth rate in Non\-DAF giving of [1%](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), while the median DAF giving growth rate was [214%](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) over the same time period. And signs show that this isn’t slowing down \- Chariot conducted a poll of 100\+ webinar participants and over 80% saw DAF giving growth in 2024 as well. This week, Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) and K2D Strategy’s [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) hosted a webinar on arguably the most critical element of a nonprofit’s DAF strategy: DAFs and Gift Processing. DAFs are a type of “indirect” or “offline” gift, meaning they pass through a third party on their way from the donor to the nonprofit. Because of this, gift processors interact with every DAF gift and are responsible for all data entry related to this gift type. In 2024, Mitch and Karin led the [first ever DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), a study focused on analyzing nonprofit DAF data. Here are their two biggest takeaways: 1. DAF donors are critical to nonprofit success. They are deeply engaged in their personal philanthropy, displaying significantly higher loyalty, frequency and size of gifts. \(Read [this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf) to learn more about characteristics of DAF donors.\)  2. Nonprofits face challenges understanding the DAF industry and mastering DAF data. \(We are currently accepting [applications for the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-report-interest-form) – see more details at the bottom of this post\!\) Without proper data tracking, there is no DAF strategy. For any nonprofit that is looking to grow their DAF fundraising, the place you have to start is with Gift Processing \- that includes your database admins, development operations, finance, and prospect research. Mitch put it succinctly: “DAF strategy all comes down to gift processing – it underlies everything.” > DAF strategy all comes down to gift processing – it underlies everything. In the session, Mitch and Karin discussed the four biggest hurdles to effective DAF gift processing and some of their best solutions: 1. Inadequate Stewardship 2. Lackluster Analysis 3. Sweeping Attribution 4. Complex Guidelines ### Inadequate Stewardship Despite the importance of DAF donors, the extra steps required to identify them often leaves them overlooked. Many organizations have also been misinformed about the best practices and requirements around DAFs. Here are two most common issues that arise: 1. Nonprofits often fail to code DAF gifts as contributions made by individuals. Instead, they record the DAF provider that dispensed the funds, like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable / DAFGiving360. As a result, individual donors go unrecognized and fall through the cracks. 2. Organizations have limited visibility into DAF donor identities, as most DAF providers don’t share a donor's name or contact information. Instead, they provide the fund name, which can range from descriptive \(e.g., Mitch Stein’s Fund\) to vague \(e.g., The Puppies & Kittens Fund\), making it difficult for nonprofits to connect with the donor. ##### Solutions: - Gift processors should create both a hard and soft credit for all DAF gifts where possible. The hard credit should go to the DAF provider, like Fidelity Charitable, and the soft credit should go to the individual donor. If it’s a peer\-to\-peer fundraising setting, there can also be “soft\-soft” credits for the participant fundraiser.  - Take proactive steps to uncover the identities of your DAF donors where more digging may be required. Check in with teammates if they were expecting a gift, or try to match the address or fund name with other records in your database if the individual name isn’t provided.  - If there’s no way to identify a donor, you can always send their thank you to the DAF Provider and request for it to be passed on. Most DAF Providers, especially smaller or community focused ones, will offer some help here if the thank you is personalized in some way and not just a standard form email.  - [See if your fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), Chariot’s DAF payment solution, which automatically captures donor names and emails.  ### Lackluster Analysis Rather than being treated as a unique category, DAF gifts are often processed the same way as other “offline” or “indirect” gifts, like QCDs, payroll giving, corporate matching, etc.This makes it impossible to analyze your DAF giving data, assess effectiveness of different fundraising strategies and iterate on your work. ##### Solutions: - Implement a yes/no tag for DAF gifts in your CRM to enable tailored workflows and reporting. - Only mark DAF gifts as anonymous if there’s truly no identifying information whatsoever, and make sure you can separate out anonymous gifts in your database. A “yes/no” flag for anonymous works well for this capability.  - Only bucket true DAF Providers that individuals hold accounts at and recommend grants from in this group, not other entities that use the legal DAF structure to send gifts \(like Backbaud Giving Fund or Benevity\).    - Follow a standard naming convention for DAF providers so that all gifts from a specific provider can be pulled into the same search. Utilize Chariot’s [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) for a comprehensive list.  - Top Tip: If you’re struggling to differentiate QCDs from DAFs, remember that QCDs are sent out of 401k accounts held at financial brokerage firms, where DAFs are always held by a charitable entity. So the name of the institution will be Fidelity Charitable for a DAF and just Fidelity for a QCD, for example.  ### Sweeping Attribution Many nonprofits automatically classify DAF gifts as “major gifts.” This leads to two primary issues: 1. Many DAF gifts don’t originate from the major gifts pipeline. Instead, they come from broader fundraising efforts like direct mail campaigns, peer\-to\-peer fundraising, or event participation. Misclassifying these gifts as major gifts skews your organization’s understanding of donor engagement and weakens your overall fundraising strategy. 2. When DAF gifts are exclusively credited to the major gifts team, it can create silos within your organization. Other teams—such as annual giving, events, or digital fundraising—may feel less motivated to promote DAFs as a giving option, even though they play a critical role in inspiring these gifts. ##### Solution: - Track the source of DAF gifts just like you would any other gift, and attribute them to the appropriate campaign or effort. ### Complex Guidelines When it comes to DAF gifts, nonprofits must navigate two key sets of legal guidelines to ensure compliance: 1. DAF Restrictions 2. 1. DAFs come with specific rules that nonprofits must follow. For example, DAF gifts cannot be made in exchange for any material good, like a gala table. While turning down a gift from a donor might be uncomfortable, it’s crucial to abide by these restrictions in order to preserve your organization’s tax status.  3. Receipting Rules 4. 1. Nonprofits should not send tax receipts for DAF gifts to the individual donor. Since the DAF provider \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) is the entity disbursing the funds, they are responsible for issuing tax documentation. Sending a tax receipt to the donor could create confusion or legal complications. 2. You do still want to send the individual donor a thank you \- it is a very common DAF donor complaint that they don’t hear anything from the nonprofit after making their gift.  3. You do not need to send a thank you to the DAF Provider \- they do not review these documents, so it is a waste of your time and paper.   ##### Solutions: - Download [Chariot’s Gift Acceptance Policy](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) and adapt it to fit your organization. If anyone – whether a donor or a fellow fundraiser – feels uncertain about the rules, refer to the policy’s terms. - Use the same yes/no DAF tag mentioned above to immediately flag gifts that don’t require tax receipts and trigger a unique workflow For more insights on the challenges of DAF data and how to build a comprehensive flow for optimal management,[ visit our detailed guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it). ## Proactive Strategies to Optimize Gift Processing Beyond those specific tips, here are proactive strategies to optimize gift processing at your organization: 1. Leverage Technology [Check if your fundraising platform offers DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations), Chariot’s DAF payment solution, which automatically captures donor names and emails, making it easier to track and acknowledge DAF gifts. \(Learn more about how to access DAFpay [in this guide](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising) and see the power of real\-time DAF stewardship in [this case study](https://www.givechariot.com/mjff-case-study) with Michael J. Fox Foundation. 1. Capture as Much Data as Possible  Prioritize gathering comprehensive details about DAF gifts. Establish a system that tracks the source of a DAF gift, the donor’s intent, and any relevant campaign details to gain a clearer picture of your fundraising efforts. 1. Engage your team DAF giving shouldn’t be siloed within one department. Train your entire team—from annual giving to events—to understand how DAFs work and how to promote them as a giving option. When everyone is equipped with the right knowledge, your organization can better engage DAF donors and maximize contributions. A great way to engage your broader team is to hold periodic DAF gift review sessions monthly, when Gift Processors can flag gifts where the individual donor can’t be identified and the broader team can weigh in on any leads. 1. Participate in the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report  By participating, you'll gain exclusive access to: 1. Unique Insights – The only DAF research built from nonprofits’ own data, offering an unparalleled look into DAF giving trends. 2. Expert Evaluation – Industry leaders will assess your data practices, helping you uncover opportunities for improvement. 3. Peer Benchmarking – Compare your DAF giving trends against similar organizations to better understand your performance. #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news,[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/)subscribe to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on[ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Proper Stewardship for DAF Donors - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/proper-stewardship-for-daf-donors - Published: 2024-12-17 ## Stewardship Throughout the Full DAF Donor Journey #### How to cultivate, convert and grow DAF donor giving across your fundraising team The vast majority of organizations do not have a stewardship plan for donors using Donor Advised Funds \(DAFs\). Since there are over $250 billion in DAFs already committed to giving, it represents the biggest opportunity for nonprofits \- that is largely untapped for most organizations. This article covers the many ways that fundraising teams can align on maximizing DAF giving, informed by Chariot’s webinar conversation “Proper Stewardship for DAF Donors” on December 17, 2025, featuring: [Shayla Titley](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaylaltitley/), Director of Patron & Program Services for [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/support-us/donor-advised-funds/) [Trish Davis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/usafveterantrishdavis/), VP of Major & Planned Giving for [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Head of Strategy for Chariot In this session, Shayla and Trish shared what they’ve learned from their journeys, focusing on five different steps to creating an effective stewardship experience for DAF donors: 1. Be a DAF champion  2. Educate your team 3. Make your website and materials DAF\-donor friendly 4. Develop a follow\-up process specific to DAF donors 5. Re\-solicit your DAF donors – thoughtfully #### 1. Be a Champion While DAF giving is now a part of every fundraiser’s job, organizations see the most success with their DAF strategies when there is at least one person passionately advocating for DAF giving internally. That person can also be in a wide variety of roles at an organization: major gifts, direct response, events, digital, etc. If you’re wondering who the Champion at your organization is… it could likely be you. Champions like Shayla and Trish bring the energy and focus that organizations need to engage with DAF giving effectively. While DAFs are not new, integrating DAF giving across all team members and giving experiences is very new. It requires a mindset shift and some upfront work to implement changes. Your organization’s champion will help keep the team motivated through that transition to see the many payoffs over time. > It wasn’t hard to get leadership to buy in…now it’s just an ongoing conversation of showing the wins when we have them, and it’s going great! #### 2. Educate your team Your entire team should be fluent in DAFs. That shows up differently in different roles. Major gifts fundraisers need to be comfortable discussing DAFs in 1x1 conversations. Direct response folks need to be able to write effectively about DAF giving in email or mail communications. Technology folks need to be familiar with [Digital DAF giving](https://www.givechariot.com/post/defining-digital-daf-strategy-and-how-to-implement-one) capabilities. Gift processors need to be well\-versed in [DAF data nuances](https://www.givechariot.com/post/why-is-daf-data-so-complicated-and-what-can-we-do-about-it). Once your whole organization is comfortable with DAFs, they will all be able to spot more opportunities in their specific roles. An easy first step that everyone on your team can take is to make sure they are plugged into the flow of updates and educational opportunities related to DAFs. Chariot provides the most frequent and in\-depth resources on DAF fundraising in the industry \- so following our work is an easy first step: - [Sign up](https://www.givechariot.com/#newsletter) for Chariot’s bi\-weekly newsletter  - [Follow Chariot](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot) on LinkedIn  - [Follow Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), Chariot’s head of strategy, who shares near\-daily updates on the DAF market A good next step is sharing specific resources internally and making time to discuss the implications on various fundraising teams’ strategy. [Chariot’s blog](https://www.givechariot.com/blog) is chock full of analysis that is worth digging into further, but here are the key concepts that are most critical for everyone to be familiar with: the *what*, the *who*, the *how*, the *why *of DAFs. **What:** - A donor advised fund, or a DAF, is a charitable giving account that allows donors to contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to their favorite nonprofits over time. - Donors can designate a grant to any qualified nonprofit organization. Note however, that grants *cannot *be used to obtain any tangible personal benefit, like event tickets, gala tables, etc. - DAFs have become a preferred vehicle for giving because they can offer substantial tax benefits, they are proven to significantly increase someone’s giving capacity and they streamline the admin work of philanthropy.  - Learn more DAF basics [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/so-what-is-a-daf).  **Who:** - There are a wide variety of donors who take advantage of DAFs, but generally these are highly intentional donors. They tend to be wealthier, more frequent, and more engaged givers.   - Although Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have traditionally been associated with the ultra\-wealthy, DAF donors come from a diverse range of income levels.  - - While the average gift made through [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), Chariot’s DAF\-payment option, is $1,000, the median gift is actually $200. This highlights the wide range of gift amounts granted by DAF donors, especially in the digital setting.  - While it’s not our role to advise donors on whether to use a DAF, educating them about how this giving vehicle works can provide significant value to the donor and deepen your relationship. Plus, donors who use a DAF are proven to double their giving to your organization, on average, according to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report).  - Learn more about DAF donors [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). **How:** - If your organization offers DAFpay as a payment option, then DAF donors can use their DAF to support you in 3 clicks. If they are going through their DAF portal, they will have to navigate through several extra steps, including looking up your organization either by your legal name or EIN.  This process presents three key challenges the team should all be mindful of: 1. The several extra steps without DAFpay can reduce conversion  2. The “look up” step can result in donor confusion or, at worse, gifts to the wrong organization. 3. Your organization won’t know the gift was submitted until it arrives, which can take several weeks.  Your team can curb these risks by making your EIN and legal name very clear to donors when you’re talking about DAF giving and adding DAFpay for fully connected DAF giving experiences. Shayla shared how her organization is known to the public as The Public Theater, but their legal name with the IRS is The New York Shakespeare Festival. That’s why investing in better DAF donor communication and giving experience has been such a priority \- and successful strategy. **Why:** DAFs are a huge fundraising opportunity that most organizations are not maximizing. Donors with DAFs are different and deserve a focused strategy. They have precommitted a pool of funds for philanthropy that can’t be used for any purpose except giving. Think about them like someone with a gift card going shopping \- they are looking for things to buy. DAF donors are looking for things to support and when they give, it isn’t “competing” with the rest of their budget like a credit card gift would. The big opportunity is that most DAF donors still make gifts outside of their DAF. A recent donor survey by Giving Compass and The Lilly School of Philanthropy found that 37% of DAF donors didn’t use their DAF for their most recent gift. Why don’t DAF donors use their DAF? 1. Most often, Donors assume it will take a long time to go through all the steps on their DAF portal, so just make a faster credit card gift \- especially when DAFpay isn’t present.  2. DAF donors aren’t always experts on where they can and can’t use their DAF, but they do know there are some restrictions that can make them hesitant.  3. Some folks can genuinely forget they have a DAF available \- especially if it’s managed by their spouse or financial advisor.  The opportunity lies in reminding folks to use their DAF and making it easy\! #### 3. Make your website and materials DAF\-donor friendly Once you have your organization on board, DAF donor stewardship really starts with getting their first DAF gift. Incorporating DAF giving into all of your donor touchpoints makes sure none of those DAF gifts fall through the cracks. A few items on your checklist: - **Website**: Make sure you have a dedicated page for Donor Advised Fund details, most importantly your EIN, official legal name and a point of contact. - - Check out these great examples from [The Public Theater](https://publictheater.org/support-us/donor-advised-funds/) and [Susan G. Komen](https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/donor-advised-fund/) - **Campaigns**: At a minimum include language and a clear CTA for using a DAF in any donation form or campaign that is DAF eligible.  - - Shayla shared a recent example where she advised her team to add language on DAF giving and a link to their DAF page to a capital campaign mailer. It clarified that this campaign was DAF eligible and they’ve seen incredible success with donor upgrades and first\-time DAF donors.  - **Peer\-to\-Peer**: DAFpay’s most successful use case thus far has been in peer\-to\-peer fundraising, so this should be a high priority for any P2P fundraisers.  - - Trish talked about the “lightbulb moment” donors have had when they see DAFpay on Komen’s Walks and realize they can use it to support someone’s campaign page directly.  - **Main Donation form**: Check if your donation form provider already has a DAFpay integration you can enable, if not ask them to add it.  - - If DAFpay isn’t available, add language about DAF giving at a minimum.    These opportunities will vary depending on your organization’s specific fundraising tactics, but once your team starts thinking outside of the old DAF box, creative openings will emerge. #### 4. Develop a follow\-up process specific to DAF donors We ran a poll at the start of the webinar that confirmed a mismatch in how organizations currently steward DAF donors: - \>90% have a received a DAF gift in 2024 from a first time donor  - \>80% have received a first\-time DAF gift in 2024 from an existing donor  - <20% have a specific stewardship flow for DAF gifts  While this method of giving is growing across the board, it’s key to have a specific playbook for how you engage these donors post\-gift. A few of the key differences for the DAF donor experience that you can incorporate into your playbook: - They need to get an acknowledgement, not a tax receipt - - Recommending grants from a DAF is not tax deductible, only contributions to a DAF are tax deductible.  - They should be a priority to thank and engage - - Because DAF donor information often is not readily available, organizations don’t engage with DAF donors individually and just send thank you notes to the DAF provider. Even if it takes more work to match up a fund name with an existing donor record or follow up with the provider for more details, it should be a priority.  - Research every DAF donor - - Even if a DAF donor gave $100, the fact that they used their DAF is one of the most valuable indicators you can have for wealth and giving capacity. Prioritize these donors in any prospect research efforts.   - Engage DAF donors like major donor prospects - - Because they are so likely to be high\-value donors, some of the most successful DAF fundraisers provide the full “V.I.P” experience for DAF donors. This can include personalized outreach from a leader at your organization, an invitation for a facility tour, a phone call, etc. Try to find ways to engage them more deeply in your mission before the next ask.  - Their gift timing is less tax\-driven - - DAF giving tends to be more balanced throughout the year since gifts out of a DAF are not a tax deductible event. Messaging that highlights the urgency of year\-end giving for tax purposes won’t resonate with them, but acknowledging that the markets are up significantly and their DAF balance has likely grown is much more relevant to them.  - Mention their DAF in subsequent outreach  - - Showing a donor that you understand how they like to give goes a long way in building your relationship. Most DAF donors think about their DAF as evidence that they’ve made the smart choice with their giving so it’s good to reinforce that sentiment in your outreach.  - A quick email thank you will likely blow them away - - DAF donors are used to never hearing from an organization after they support them through their DAF. When they give via DAFpay, your organization has their email right away and can thank them immediately. Trish mentioned how high the engagement rate is with those thank you emails because the donor is so happy to be acknowledged for their support.   #### 5. Re\-solicit your DAF donors – thoughtfully Many organizations are hesitant to re\-solicit DAF donors more than once a year, especially if they made a substantial gift from their DAF. Trish and Shayla offered a different mindset to consider: any DAF gift is coming from a different “budget” for that donor than their checkbook. This means that they have fewer mental barriers to giving. In fact, the DAF Fundraising report found that DAF donors were more likely to give to the same organization twice in one year than a non\-DAF donor. There’s nothing wrong with making another ask in the same year for a DAF donor, but it’s important to be mindful of a few key things that will inform how you make that next ask: - What did they make their first DAF gift in response to? - - If it was a response to a specific campaign \(a giving day, DAF Day, Giving Tuesday, etc.\), that’s a signal that they like using their DAF to participate in a collective giving moment. Highlight another opportunity to give together when making your next ask.  - Have you engaged with them since their last DAF gift?  - - It’s important to take steps to build the relationship with a donor before your next ask. At a minimum, that means sending a thank you for the prior gift. Ideally that also includes some other communication that built the relationship.  - Can you point to the specific impact of their first gift?  - - DAF donors typically manage their DAF account like another investment account. Therefore they often think in terms of returns on investment. Showing them how you’ve put their first contribution to good use can go a long way in making the case for their next gift. --- ## Digital Strategies for DAF Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/digital-strategies-for-daf-giving - Published: 2024-12-10 > Defining digital DAF strategy – and how to implement one. Steps to effectively incorporate Donor Advised Funds  into your nonprofit’s digital strategy and keep up with the evolving landscape for digital fundraising. ## Defining digital DAF strategy – and how to implement one. #### Steps to effectively incorporate Donor Advised Funds  into your nonprofit’s digital strategy and keep up with the evolving landscape for digital fundraising. Donor\-Advised Funds \(DAFs\) have rapidly become a critical segment of philanthropy and opportunity for nonprofit fundraisers. Over the past 5 years, both assets in DAFs and annual grants out of DAFs have roughly doubled \- with [over $250 billion in assets and $54 billion in grants in 2023](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report). Such rapid growth has also come with a host of changes in giving behavior.   This week, [Paul St Onge](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulstonge/) from [Doing Good Digital](https://www.doinggoodagency.com/) joined Chariot’s [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) to discuss how nonprofits can adapt  their digital strategies to acquire and engage with more DAF donors. Our digital DAF strategy recommendations fall into the following categories: 1. Understanding why DAFs are now relevant for digital strategies  2. Ways to incorporate DAF giving across your digital strategy 3. 1. New Donor Acquisition 2. Converting current donors 3. Educating donors about DAFs 4. Segmenting DAF donor communication  4. Next steps Just three years ago, a webinar focused on “Digital DAF Giving Strategies” would have likely left most attendees puzzled, as the concept of DAFs and digital giving seemed incongruous. This serves as a powerful reminder of how much has evolved in such a short period. A poll at the start of the webinar revealed that only 30% of participants had incorporated DAF giving into their GivingTuesday campaign assets, emphasizing the missed opportunity for nonprofits to fully engage their DAF donors in recent campaigns, particularly in today’s increasingly digital landscape. > Three years ago, if we were doing a webinar called Digital DAF Giving Strategies, all of you in the audience would have been like, ‘huh? DAFs aren’t digital! ### 3 recent shifts that make digital strategies essential for DAF giving 1. More money As DAF giving has grown exponentially, the giving vehicle has come to occupy a different, more prominent position in the fundraising landscape. Unlike donations made via credit card, DAF gifts don’t affect a donor’s monthly budget. The funds in their DAF are already allocated for charitable giving, making it a prime giving option for both donors and nonprofits. Further, recent studies show that donors give more when they use their DAFs than other kinds of giving tools. The average DAF gift in 2023 was $4,625 \(according to[ Fidelity Charitable](https://www.givechariot.com/post/the-15-top-takeaways-from-fidelity-charitable-s-2024-daf-report)\), making it 23x larger than the average credit card gift \(according to[ the Blackbaud Institute](https://institute.blackbaud.com/charitable-giving-report/online-giving-trends/#:~:text=The%20Charitable%20Giving%20Report%20continues,having%20solid%20increases%20in%202021)\). [The 2024 Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that a donor’s gift size increased by 96% on average when they started giving with their DAF. 1. More types of donors There’s a persistent myth in our sector that DAFs are only used by the ultra\-wealthy to make major gifts. This has led to many organizations confining DAF strategy to major or planned giving.  While this may have been true 20 years ago, the demographics of DAF donors have changed dramatically. Today, over 3.5 million people use DAF, and they span a spectrum of income levels that want to use their DAF whenever possible. That includes everything from major 6\-figure gifts, to supporting folks doing run/walk/ride campaigns and even monthly giving programs. When donors use DAFpay, Chariot’s express checkout option for online DAF giving, the maximum gift in 2024 was nearly $700,000, the average gift was $1,000 and the median gift was $200. This indicates just how broad the spectrum of DAF donors and DAF giving levels really is \- especially in the digital setting. > It’s not a monolith; [the DAF market] is made up of a bunch of different kinds of donors. 1. More donation settings As more and more donors prefer giving online—[63% of them](https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/#:~:text=Fundraising%20Statistics%3A%20Online%20and%20Mobile%20Donations&text=63%25%20of%20donors%20prefer%20to,to%2Dgive%20(1%25).), in fact—advances in DAF giving technology, such as Chariot’s DAFpay, have made it possible for donors to give with their DAF in 3 clicks wherever they are inspired to give online: a nonprofit’s main donation form, a giving day campaign, a peer\-to\-peer fundraiser, etc Once a donor has a DAF set up, it’s their preferred method of giving for any eligible donation. It’s critical for nonprofits to make it clear when it’s possible to use your DAF for something and make the experience easy. ### 4 opportunities to add DAFs to your digital strategy 1. DAF donor acquisition: Ensure new donors are using their DAF if they have one  Review all of the entry points for your donor journey \- do you clearly encourage DAF giving? Are there any routes where donors might not be aware they can use their DAF for this purpose or think it will be arduous to do so? By identifying these gaps, you can ensure that every part of the donor experience encourages the use of DAFs. While every organization’s fundraising strategies and potential donor touch points will vary, here’s a list of key digital assets to “audit” for DAF inclusion: - Main donation form - - See [World Wildlife Fund](https://protect.worldwildlife.org/page/77001/donate/1?en_og_source=Web_Donation&ea.tracking.id=Web_Topnav&supporter.appealCode=AWE2505OQ18299A08339RX&_gl=1*krt99u*_gcl_au*OTg2Mjc2MTA0LjE3MzM5Mjg4OTM.*_ga*MTI4Nzc3NzkuMTczMzkyODg5Mw..*_ga_FK6M9RK84Z*MTczMzk0NzA5Mi4yLjAuMTczMzk0NzA5Mi4wLjAuNTE0NDQxNjg2) and [American Cancer Society](https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en&_gl=1*upfkq2*_gcl_au*NzgyNzQ4OTIwLjE3MjgwNTk4MjQ.*_ga*MTM2MjA0MDgxNi4xNzIwMjAzODcy*_ga_12CJLLFFQT*MTczMzk0NzIyNi40MS4wLjE3MzM5NDcyMjcuNTkuMC4w)   - Check if your fundraising platform offers a [native DAFpay integration](https://www.givechariot.com/fundraising-platform-all-integrations)  - Campaign\-specific donation forms  - - If you use separate forms for things like Giving Tuesday, year end campaigns or different email efforts, double check that they also have DAFs mentioned or DAFpay added.  - Planned giving site  - - See Michael J. Fox Foundation as an example - Peer\-to\-peer donation forms - - See Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s   - In\-person events, galas, etc.  - - Mention DAFs in spoken remarks, in printed materials and include a QR code to an easy DAF giving page on your tables.  - DIY Fundraising - - GoFundMe, Givebutter & Pledge all make it easy for individuals to fundraise for your organization and include DAFpay as a payment option - 3rd party fundraising A dedicated DAF page on your website is recommended for every nonprofit. This page should explain how to support your organization with a DAF, describe the benefits of giving with a DAF and including DAFpay if you have it. This page should be included at the top of your “Ways to Give” section of your website, and be part of donation button drop downs if you feature multiple ways to give there. Having a dedicated page on DAFs also gives you something to link to whenever you mention DAFs in other places. When donors google “your org name” \+ “DAF,” this also gives them the best search result to take action. Some of the key details to include on your website’s DAF page: - EIN  - Full legal name - Address - Point of contact for more questions  - Brief explanation of what a DAF is, why it helps donors, why it helps your organization  - Great place to include a tool like DAFpay, if you use it There are many examples of quality DAF pages, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Here’s a list of some of our favorites you can learn from: - [The Nature Conservancy](https://preserve.nature.org/page/161552/donate/1?en_txn1=p_g.dfa.fd.gtues24.dtd.br.sitelink.daf.X&en_txn8=NewSch.ADPCGO2411PDMZNZZD02Z0S-BZUZZ-DGAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjeW6BhBAEiwAdKltMlK7wbpTYXmXfsMvEbYofCKtg69K2b4rVPl731Y5GDaiXwv6rNHmYhoCcnIQAvD_BwE) - [UNICEF](https://www.unicefusa.org/how-help/donate/donor-advised-funds) - [American Cancer Society](https://www.cancer.org/donate/donor-advised-fund.html) - [Leukemia & Lymphoma Society](https://www.lls.org/gift-donor-advised-funds) - [Rady Children’s Hospital](https://radyfoundation.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-fund/) - [ACLU](https://www.aclu.org/support-aclu-foundation-through-your-donor-advised-fund) - [The Center](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) 1. Converting current donors: Encourage existing donors who haven’t used their DAF yet to start supporting you with it Too often, donors that have DAFs don’t use them when they make a donation. This typically happens when DAF donors decide to make a quick credit card gift online instead of taking the extra steps of a DAF gift in their portal \(as discovered in [this study](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-takeaways-from-the-daf-donor-satisfaction-survey-by-giving-compass-the-lilly-family-school-of-ph) by Giving Compass and The Lilly School of Philanthropy\). The good news is that nonprofits can change this behavior by keeping DAF giving top\-of\-mind \- and easy. Don’t overlook donors who have given in other ways for your DAF strategy, many of them are likely DAF donors “in hiding.” There’s a variety strategies to “convert” those hidden DAF donors ranging from broad to hyper\-targeted: 1. **Welcome series: ** 2. 1. A welcome series is the standard sequence of automated communications someone receives when they enter your email list \- by donating, volunteering, attending an event or just signing up for your newsletter.  2. At some point early on in that email series, it’s smart to highlight other effective ways to support your mission \- like DAF giving, stock contributions, etc. 3. If you’re able to see when someone clicked on a link about DAF giving, that’s a great opportunity to follow up.  3. **Thank you letters** 4. 1. Even standalone thank yous for non\-DAF gifts can include a mention about DAF giving in subtle ways. Try a P.S. below the signature to still capture their attention, but not overwhelm them with information.  1. **Newsletter** 2. 1. Highlighting the benefits of DAF giving in your newsletter helps put the topic in front of your widest audience. It’s especially powerful to feature a donor story from one of your supporters that used a DAF to increase their giving to your mission.  3. **Donor surveys ** 4. 1. Another creative approach you can take is to include a quick survey in your broad donor communication. These are great engagement opportunities and can include questions like “Do you have a Donor Advised Fund?” or “Are you curious to learn more about Donor Advised Funds.” Answers to these questions allow you to then enroll supporters into more targeted sequences specific to DAF giving.  5. **Segmented automations** 6. 1. Especially with larger email lists and good details in your database, you can test more specific DAF messaging with “likely” lists of DAF donors. You can create those lists with wealth screening tools, prior gift size \(say, $250 or greater\), giving frequency or consecutive years of giving.  ##### 3. Educate all of your donors about DAFs Beyond just activating DAF donors in hiding, you can also increase the understanding of DAFs across your supporter base with great DAF content. When folks use a DAF for their giving, it’s proven to increase their philanthropy \- by 96% on average, according to the [DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). . More supporters using DAFs means larger gifts, higher retention and deeper engagement. Providing high quality educational content on DAFs gives you useful materials to link to in your communications and generates more “leads” for donors interested in DAFs. In addition to that core DAF page, consider some of the following ideas: 1. **A downloadable guide with more information on DAF giving ** 2. 1. You could even partner with a local financial advisor or your local community foundation to help create the content. 2. This provides real value to your supporter, builds a partnership with key stakeholders and generates email you can follow up with when individuals download the report. 3. Check out what Michael J. Fox Foundation created here.     3. **An educational quiz on DAFs** 4. 1. Make the learning experience even more engaging with a quiz to test folks’ knowledge of DAFs.  2. You could even have a prize or giveaway for folks that complete it. The Public Theater in New York included the chance to win tickets to a show for anyone who took their quiz\!  5. **A blog article on DAFs** 6. 1. Have some news to share about a transformative DAF gift or positive donor experience with a DAF? Turn it into a story for your blog that provides timely news and a valuable asset for SEO \(search engine optimization\). 7. **An activation for DAF Day ** 8. 1. The second annual DAF Day will be on October 9th, 2025 and it’s not too early to start planning\! The more you educate donors in advance about DAFs, the more engaged they’ll be on DAF Day itself. Consider a dedicated landing page for DAF day or a series of communications leading up to DAF Day that promote DAF education.  9. **A section on DAFs in a donor or board meeting** 10. 1. While not entirely digital \(although they may take place virtually\!\), reserving time to discuss DAFs at gatherings of your key supporters is also a great opportunity to build awareness and connect donors to your DAF resources.   ##### 4. Target your DAF donors with tailored, exclusive messaging. One of the best results of activating DAF donors through your digital strategy is that you’ll be able to track them in your database as a DAF donor \- especially if they gave through DAFpay, which provides you with the DAF donor’s name and email instantly when they submit their gift. When you can reliably segment DAF donors, you can customize your communications to maximize their future giving. Consider ways to adjust the messaging in your appeals specifically for DAF donors, such as: 1. Put DAF giving at the top of any list of ways to give or payment options  2. Refer to timing considerations specific to DAFs, such as market gains that have likely boosted their DAF balances.  3. Clarify opportunities to give where they might not know they can use their DAF \- like tax deductible membership dues, capital campaign commitments, peer\-to\-peer fundraising efforts, etc.  4. Consider tactics that are typically reserved for “major gift” donors, even if a DAF gift isn’t quite at that threshold yet \- like offering a phone call or a building tour. The average DAF account balance is over $140,000 \- even if it was a relatively small DAF gift, there’s likely a lot more where that came from.   5. Don’t refer to tax benefits of making a gift before yearend, because DAF donors got their tax benefits when they contributed to a DAF, not when they grant money out of it.  6. Don’t include a tax receipt in your acknowledgement letter, because that’s just incorrect.  ### Next Steps: While year end campaigns are already in full swing, there is still time to check if you can incorporate some of these tips into your campaign emails at the very least. Either way, 2025 is when DAF giving will become a standard part of digital fundraising across the industry and is a perfect time to incorporate these suggestions into your campaigns. If you’re cautious about trying these new things, isolate some small steps that you can test and build confidence around what works best for your organization’s unique needs. See if there are opportunities to deploy some of these strategies in your campaign emails. #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news,[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/)subscribe to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on[ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Getting Your DAF Data In Order - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/getting-your-daf-data-in-order - Published: 2024-12-04 ## Why is DAF data so complicated? And, what can we do about it? ### Quality DAF Data is difficult, but possible and incredibly valuable. Learn how to get, keep and utilize great DAF data in this guide. DAF giving has become a critical revenue stream for nonprofits, while also creating significant headaches for donor database management. [Karin Kirchoff](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinkirchoff/) from K2D Strategies and [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein) recently hosted a conversation that covered the key best practices when it comes to DAF data management. This guide includes: 1. The case for better DAF data 2. Understand the challenges of DAF Data 3. The Ultimate DAF Data Structure 4. 10 DAF Data steps to improve your DAF Fundraising ### The Case For Better DAF Data Mitch and Karin conducted a poll during the webinar to assess participants’ understanding of their internal data. The results were striking: over 90% of attendees didn’t know how much their organization had raised from DAF gifts this year. 95% of participants didn’t know the average percentage of nonprofit revenue that comes from DAFs \(Spoiler alert–you’ll find this answer below\!\) Building a strong system to collect, organize and action your DAF data is important, but it’s not easy. While your nonprofit can build a system that runs smoothly on its own, getting there takes effort. Before you get too overwhelmed, consider the key reasons for why optimizing your DAF data is worth it: 1. DAF giving accounts for a significant amount of nonprofit revenue  The [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) found that among participants, 12% of overall giving came from DAFs. The recent National Philanthropic Trust DAF report reported that in 2023, DAF grants accounted for [$55 billion](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) of total giving – nearly double the 2019 pre\-pandemic total. The total assets in DAFs exceeds $250 billion, [increasing 10%](https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/) from 2022. This growth has happened with little\-to\-no DAF\-focused marketing from nonprofits, as most nonprofits haven’t meaningfully targeted DAF donors in their fundraising strategies. It raises an exciting question: how much more could nonprofits receive if they did? > DAF giving is increasingly a really sizable chunk of revenue across the nonprofit sector, and in a lot of cases orgs don’t even understand that. 1. DAF Donors are your highest\-value segment  In the 2024 DAF Fundraising Report, the average DAF gift size was [$1,294](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) \(even with gifts over $25k excluded\) – 19 times larger than the average non\-DAF gift  in the study. The report also found that retention amongst DAF donors was [15% higher](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) than non\-DAF donors in the same study period. But, if your nonprofit doesn’t take steps to gather DAF data, you won’t be equipped to employ proactive engagement strategies to facilitate more DAF giving. > If you don’t have good handle on data, you can’t affect performance. 1. Compliance compliance compliance Many organizations are not tracking or reporting their DAF giving in a fully compliant way. These inconsistencies were a minor issue when receiving a few DAF gifts a year, but when it’s one of your largest revenue streams, it’s critical to have things buttoned up to protect the organization. If gifts aren’t attributed to the right entity \(like the DAF sponsor\), or the same entity has lots of different entries, or DAF gifts aren’t recorded as DAF at all, your organization could have your hands full in an audit… ### Understanding the Challenges of DAF Data Before taking steps to improve your DAF data practices, it’s important to have an appreciation for the key sources of difficulty. Every organization is different and understanding which elements are most challenging for your organization will help you tailor the best solution. ##### DAFs all send gifts differently DAF gifts come from  different sources. Some arrive in the form of a check, others arrive via ACH and still others via PayPal. Each provider also sends slightly different information or include it in different places \- in seemingly infinite portals for your team to manage\! A standardized process must account for this variability. ##### One DAF gift has multiple “donors” Proper DAF data must account both for the person who directed a DAF grant *and *the DAF provider from which the funds will arrive. While a nonprofit should make sure to thank the person, and file them as a DAF donor, the data must reflect that a gift arrived from a DAF provider. This gets even more complex in the case of peer\-to\-peer campaigns, which adds a third party into the mix. ##### Absent donor information leads to data gaps DAF donor data, such as names and email addresses, is often incomplete or even entirely absent from DAF gifts. Often the gift processing manager is doing their best to fill in these data gaps, but it is not straight forward. Further, individual DAF accounts have “fund names” that are often not easily connected to an individual, providing another layer of complexity. ##### DAF gifts have restrictions DAF gifts cannot be used to “purchase” anything \(auction items, gala tables, tickets, etc.\) or provide a donor with any benefit \(i.e. membership with material benefits\). Properly organized data with accurate coding can help identify and flag DAF gifts that may violate regulations and be remedied. If you need a gift acceptance policy that delineates these restrictions for donors, check out [this free template](https://www.givechariot.com/post/daf-gift-acceptance-policy) to get you started. ##### Time delay DAF disbursements can take weeks, which complicates gift tracking for nonprofits. For example, a donor might initiate a grant on [GivingTuesday](https://www.givechariot.com/post/get-more-from-givingtuesday), but the nonprofit will likely not receive the funds until January from most DAFs. ### The Ultimate DAF Data Structure This work all starts with reviewing the data fields available in your system and how you use them for DAFs. If you want to track your DAF gifts in a compliant way that also allows you to reliably analyze and quickly action your data, we recommend adhering to something like the below: 1. The “**hard credit**” in your system should go to the DAF provider. All money in a DAF is technically “owned” by the DAF sponsor after a DAF donor contributes to their account \- that’s how they get the tax write off upfront. That means legally speaking the gift came from the DAF itself \(e.g. Fidelity Charitable\) and all DAF gifts from that one provider should “roll up” to the same entity.  2. The “**soft credit**” goes to the donor. Even though the DAF Sponsor legally donated the money to you, you do not need to engage them in your stewardship. They will not open, review or respond to a thank you letter. However, the account holder does want to be acknowledged and you do want to engage with them afterward. Be sure to track them as a soft credit to the best of your ability.  3. 1. In the peer\-to\-peer setting, there may also be a soft\-soft credit for an individual fundraising for your organization. If it’s possible to include a second soft credit here, be sure to associate this record with that fundraiser.  4. The **Fund Name** is still valuable to track \- either in a custom field or the notes on the record. That way, if someone gets a gift with that fund name in the future and is trying to figure out if there’s an existing record with more detail, they will easily find it.  5. A simple but powerful flag to include \- simply **is this a DAF or not**? It’s incredibly powerful for analysis and streamlining actions specific to DAF donors.  6. Enter gifts with **the date that they were issued on**, not when they’re being entered into the system for a more accurate representation of timing. That will help accurately associate them with a specific campaign, event or time of year and inform your planning in future years.  7. To improve your attribution, try to also **associate DAF gifts with their relevant fundraising channel** or event if you have them. Matching the gift back to a specific mailer or luncheon will empower your team to make smarter decisions going forward.  8. If a DAF gift is truly anonymous \- as in, no fund name or donor name at all \- **have a simple yes or no flag for anonymous**. That way you can easily exclude anonymous donor records from certain per\-donor analysis that otherwise gets awfully skewed.  9. **Include all the other details you can**\! Many folks aren’t tracking things like email on DAF gifts, but new tools like DAFpay actually capture email with a DAF gift immediately.  ### 10 DAF Data Steps to Improve your DAF Fundraising Now that you have an appreciation for the significance of improved DAF data to your organization, you’ve taken stock of the challenges that afflict your organizations DAF data efforts and you’ve reviewed the proper DAF data template, you’re ready to make some big improvements. 1. Implement your new DAF data template You’ll likely need to tweak things from our template to fit your exact needs and CRM set up. Working with your team to implement a uniform template in your database for DAF gifts is the key starting point. 1. Codify shared business rules Once you have the database fields set up and confirmed, you need to align on the business rules around how your organization uses them. These rules should be documented, shared across your team, and regularly evaluated to ensure they are being followed. 1. Download the [DAF Provider Directory](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) Without a centralized, publicly available list of DAF providers, nonprofits often recorded incomplete or incorrect names, causing data confusion and making it difficult to track a year’s worth of gifts. To address this, Chariot has created an official list of DAF providers with their correct names. By including this list and its naming conventions in your gift processing rules, you can simplify tracking and reduce errors. [Download the list here.](https://www.givechariot.com/post/introducing-chariot-s-directory-of-all-daf-providers) 1. Integrate DAFpay, Chariot’s express\-checkout for DAF gifts, on your donation form. DAFpay provides your donor with an opportunity to donate via DAF straight from your donation form, instead of having to leave your website and visit a DAF provider. In terms of data – DAFpay alerts you immediately when a DAF grant has been initiated by a donor. It also provides you with the donor’s full name and email address. This enables you to record accurate and complete information, anticipate incoming DAF gifts, and follow up with the DAF provider if a gift doesn’t arrive as expected. There’s free and easy ways for everyone to start using DAFpay today \- learn more [here](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising). 1. Educate staff Your entire team should have an in\-depth understanding of the DAF data process – just like they do with other types of gifts. This education should go beyond just handing someone a codified list. Make sure the broader team has a chance to ask questions and understands *why* DAFs are coded this way. If they want to go deeper, they can also check out [Chariot’s Webinars](https://www.givechariot.com/webinars) \(past and upcoming\) and the dozens of other resources on [Chariot’s blog](https://www.givechariot.com/blog). 1. Hold DAF Data reviews One of the best ways to tackle DAF data gaps is to review them as a team. Often a major gift officer is actually expecting a DAF gift from a specific donor, but when it arrives without clear details a gift processor can’t code it correctly. Schedule a recurring meeting every month to go over these gaps across teams or departments \- it saves everyone time in the long run. 1. Segment your DAF donors for dedicated communications  For any communications \- mail, email, sms, etc. \- once you have reliable segmentation for DAF donors, you can send them tailored messaging. With this audience you can highlight DAF giving more prominently and include links direct to a dedicated DAF page where DAFpay is featured \(like this example from American Cancer Society\). You can also test specific messaging relevant to DAF donors. For example, yearend giving isn’t motivated by tax benefits for DAF donors since there is not incremental tax write off when they give out of their DAF \(they got the benefit when they contributed funds into the DAF\). However, sharp increases in the stock market mean their DAF accounts \(which are invested in the markets\) are likely appreciated in value and that triggers an interest in more giving. 1. Identify potential DAF donors that are currently “hiding” in your donor files Analyzing your existing DAF donors and the ways they got into your file gives you a lot of information on what other existing supporters might have a DAF they’re not using with you yet. You can test specific communications with a “likely” DAF donor group, especially ahead of events like [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com/), happening on October 9th 2025. 1. Share ownership of DAF gifts across your whole team  DAF giving cannot sit within just one silo of your giving team – it should span groups because it spans types of giving. DAF gifts can fall under events, direct response, planned giving campaigns, major gifts, mid\-level giving, annual giving, etc. Making sure everyone can get credit for DAF fundraising success is a good way to share ownership across your whole team 1. Participate in the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report\! The 2024 DAF Fundraising report gave participating organizations unprecedented insight into their DAF giving history, areas for improvement and comparison to their closest peers. Participants were also included in media coverage by [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/charities-daf-donations), [The Chronicle of Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/gifts-from-dafs-are-nearly-10-of-all-giving-how-nonprofits-are-trying-to-court-those-donors?sra=true), [Barrons](https://www.barrons.com/articles/donors-who-give-through-dafs-tend-to-be-generous-contributors-study-finds-83f0ac8f), [Nonprofit Times](https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/daf-donors-making-their-presence-felt/), [Nonprofit Pro,](https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/donor-advised-funds-increase-annual-giving-by-96-chariot-k2d-strategies-study-shows/) [Candid](https://blog.candid.org/post/5-takeaways-2024-daf-donors-fundraising-report/), and more. It is a competitive process to be selected for the study, but having a quality data set is the best way to improve your chances for the 2025 report. We will be taking applications in Q1 2025 \- learn more [here](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report). #### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news,[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/)subscribe to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on[ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## DAF Giving & Giving Tuesday - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/daf-giving--giving-tuesday - Published: 2024-11-20 > What you may not know about GivingTuesday and the best ways to maximize support and engagement on the biggest giving day of the year As November winds down, the countdown to GivingTuesday begins. Over the past 12 years, GivingTuesday has developed into a global movement, marking a day of the year dedicated to giving. It currently has 104 official country campaigns and over 200 community campaigns in the US alone.  ## What you may not know about GivingTuesday and the best ways to maximize support and engagement on the biggest giving day of the year As November winds down, the countdown to GivingTuesday begins. Over the past 12 years, GivingTuesday has developed into a global movement, marking a day of the year dedicated to giving. It [currently has](https://www.givingtuesday.org/global/) 104 official country campaigns and over 200 community campaigns in the US alone. Since 2022, GivingTuesday has been [the leading day for new donors](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/making-the-case-for-givingtuesday/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20GivingTuesday%20became%20the,than%20those%20that%20didn't.); it offers nonprofits an unparalleled opportunity to reengage loyal supporters and share their mission with untapped audiences. 2024 also offers a special opportunity to identify and engage DAF donors, a [$251 billion opportunity](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) with tens of thousands of nonprofits having DAFpay, the [express DAF giving option](https://www.givechariot.com/dafpay), embedded directly in their donation forms. In a recent webinar hosted by Chariot, [Kelsey Kramer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kramerkl/), VP of Partnerships at GivingTuesday, joined Chariot’s Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein/), to explore **why GivingTuesday is a crucial opportunity** for nonprofits and share **actionable tips** to help organizations maximize their impact on this transformative day. ## 6 things you might not know about GivingTuesday 1. GivingTuesday is the single biggest Giving Day of the year In 2023, 34 million adults in the U.S. took part in [GivingTuesday](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/3-1-billion-in-giving-millions-united-around-generosity-to-celebrate-givingtuesday-2023/), making an impact in various ways. Around 18 million donated money, 14 million shared messages or promoted nonprofits on social media, 8 million gave their time by volunteering, and 10 million donated goods. The total sum donated amounted to $3.1 billion – increasing 0.6% from 2022. 1. Nonprofits engage more new donors on GivingTuesday than any other day of the year In 2022, GivingTuesday officially became [the top day for nonprofits](https://www.givingtuesday.org/blog/making-the-case-for-givingtuesday/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20GivingTuesday%20became%20the,than%20those%20that%20didn%27t.) to engage new donors, surpassing even December 31st. This milestone underscores the importance of focusing on donor outreach during this key time. As individual giving and donor retention [see incremental decline](https://givingusa.org/5-takeaways-and-next-steps-from-the-giving-usa-2024-report/), GivingTuesday offers nonprofits a unique opportunity to attract new supporters and drive greater participation. 1. It’s the best free awareness building of the whole year To reach donors – nonprofits often focus on three key steps: 1. Generating awareness of their organization 2. Fostering interest amongst their target demographic 3. Cultivating engagement through various campaigns and giving\-opportunities.  The first step – creating awareness – is arguably the most difficult and the most expensive. With its ever\-growing name recognition, GivingTuesday offers an effective \- and free\! \-  springboard for nonprofits to amplify marketing efforts. While potential donors might not yet know your organization, they likely are familiar with GivingTuesday, and launching a campaign with that language will help raise the visibility of your organization and capture the attention of your target audience, all without costing you a penny in marketing fees. 1. Half of the general public doesn’t recall getting solicited in Q4 – 9% say they would have given if they had been According to GivingPulse, last year, half of all donors don’t recall being solicited for gifts in Q4 **—** when GivingTuesday and giving season are in full swing\! And, at least 9% of those individuals reported that they would have given had they been asked. People are most likely to give when asked, and it’s clear that money is being left on the table when we’re not asking\! At this time of year, those of us working in the nonprofit sector likely see GivingTuesday content wherever we look– it feels ubiquitous. And yet, while the day does have high name recognition amongst the general public, most do not share a perception of this oversaturation, and nonprofits shouldn’t feel like a specific GivingTuesday campaign is “overkill”. On the contrary, your potential donors are looking out for it\! > When we ask, they show up. 1. People giving in other settings is a great indicator that they’ll give again Even if someone has given to your nonprofit recently, they might still want to give on GivingTuesday and beyond. In fact, [recent data from Neon One](https://neonone.com/resources/blog/givingtuesday-statistics/#:~:text=Recurring%20GivingTuesday%20Donors%20Give%20Again%20By%20Year's%20End&text=Here's%20another%20cool%20piece%20of,before%20the%20year%20was%20out.) shows that 80% of donors who gave on GivingTuesday gave *another *gift to the same organization before the end of the year, showing that involvement in a campaign does not disqualify a donor from participating again soon after. 1. DAF Donors want to be involved in GivingTuesday  While DAF donors love to use their DAFs for their major, year end gifts, they also use them more spontaneously, when solicited. According to data from [Vanguard Charitable](https://www.vanguardcharitable.org/news/donors-expand-philanthropy-with-unexpected-giving), donors who used their DAFs for unplanned grants gave 39% more than those who only gave for planned giving. The same Vanguard Charitable study also showed that spontaneous giving didn’t replace other planned gifts: “more than three quarters of individuals who give unexpectedly say their unexpected giving increases their total giving, rather than displacing the giving they’d already planned to do.” Further – donors typically give much more when they donate via DAF. According to the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report) released by Chariot and K2D Strategies, donors increase their support of an organization by **by 96%** once they start supporting from their DAF instead of other payment methods**. ** ## 8 Action items for your nonprofit this GivingTuesday 1. Engage donors directly GivingTuesday provides a shared giving moment for your supporters to come together. Be sure to share that opportunity with your audience\! If you’ve successfully promoted other giving moments recently \- like a regional giving day or [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday) \- even more reason to share the opportunity on GivingTuesday with your audience. By participating in other giving days, your supporters have shown you that they enjoy supporting your mission when their impact can be amplified by a community. Make sure they hear from you on December 3, 2024. 1. Differentiate your appeal  Whether you’re concerned that your supporters have gotten many appeals from you this year before GivingTuesday, or that they’re getting solicited by many organizations on GivingTuesday, the answer is to differentiate your ask. Is there a specific program you can highlight in your messaging? Is there a donor willing to contribute a matching gift? Can you promote your monthly recurring giving program? Consider ways to make this a more novel opportunity to support your mission. 1. Explore untapped audiences Use the free publicity provided by GivingTuesday to try and reach audiences you’ve yet to reach. Both [Millennials](https://thegivingblock.com/resources/13-ways-to-inspire-and-engage-younger-donors/) and [members of Gen\-Z](https://givingcompass.org/article/how-gen-z-donors-do-philanthropy-differently#:~:text=They%20are%20adept%20at%20using,and%20mobilize%20support%20for%20them.&text=In%20addition%20to%20donating%20money,and%20skills%20to%20charitable%20causes.) are committed to bettering the world through charity, but they might not respond to the same communication and marketing tools as an older crowd. Conduct research and tests to see how best to reach this widely overlooked, yet increasingly more important, segment of individuals. Consider if there are other demographics your team has yet to invest time and/or effort into. 1. Activate Volunteers Some demographics – especially younger ones – like to volunteer their time. Your leading ask for volunteers or social media followers could be amplifying your GivingTuesday campaign vs. a direct ask for donations. Once you’ve engaged folks as volunteers, they are often a reliable source of support throughout the year, not just during giving season. 1. Highlight DAF giving in your messaging In 2023, the average size of a DAF gift was $4,625 – over 26 times bigger than the average credit card gift \([Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/content/dam/fc-public/docs/insights/2024-giving-report.pdf)\). Be sure that your standard outreach includes information about DAF giving, making it clear and easy for donors to see that your organization accepts DAFs gifts – and the steps it takes to donate with one. 1. DAF details should be easy to find When a donor searches “your organization \+ DAF” on Google, make sure they find helpful, detailed information that guides them through the process of donating via DAF. This means having a DAF section of your website, typically at the top of your “Ways to Give Page” or drop down list of donation options. At a minimum, that page should include your organization’s EIN, full legal name, and a point of contact for questions. Other helpful things include a description of how DAFs work and why people use them to support your organization. Check out great examples from [The NYC LGBT Center](https://gaycenter.org/donate/donor-advised-fund/) and [March of Dimes](https://www.marchofdimes.org/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds). 1. Segment & solicit DAF donors in a unique way It’s important to note that DAF donors represent a distinct group with specific giving behaviors and preferences – [they are engaged and intentional](https://www.givechariot.com/post/who-uses-a-daf). By tailoring your approach, you can emphasize the ease and benefits of giving through DAFs, while also highlighting the impact of their donation. Consider personalizing messaging, providing clear instructions on how to donate via DAF, and linking to DAFpay if you have it available. 1. Simplify the DAF giving process  Provide [DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising), Chariot’s 3\-step DAF payment method, to your supporters. It’s the easiest way for a donor to give and [provides maximum security](https://www.givechariot.com/post/give-confidently-with-your-daf-this-giving-season), ensuring the gift is made to the right organization and for the money to get to the right place quickly. Donors can submit DAF gifts directly in your donation form or website, and you capture their gift size, name and email immediately to start stewarding them. Check out the [6 free and easy ways to get started with DAFpay](https://www.givechariot.com/post/6-free-and-easy-ways-to-access-dafpay-for-your-fundraising) before GivingTuesday. ### To stay up to date on all the latest DAF research and news,[ ](https://www.givechariot.com/)subscribe to the Chariot monthly newsletter and follow us on[ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/?viewAsMember=true). --- ## Integrating DAF Giving in Year End Fundraising - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/webinars/integrating-daf-giving-in-year-end-fundraising - Published: 2024-11-13 > The best way to get more DAF gifts is integrating DAF giving in all parts of your fundraising campaigns at year end.  As we head into the giving season of a challenging year for nonprofit fundraising, everyone is fine-tuning their year end campaigns to meet their goals for the year. With 30% of annual donations occurring in December alone, it’s the time of year when every effort counts — both to boost year end giving and to build momentum for the year ahead. ## The Keys to Success With DAF Fundraising This Giving Season #### The best way to get more DAF gifts is integrating DAF giving in all parts of your fundraising campaigns at year end. As we head into the giving season of a challenging year for nonprofit fundraising, everyone is fine\-tuning their year end campaigns to meet their goals for the year. With [30% of annual donations occurring in December alone](https://www.onecause.com/blog/daf-fundraising-for-year-end/), it’s the time of year when every effort counts — both to boost year end giving and to build momentum for the year ahead. This week, Chariot’s Head of Strategy, [Mitch Stein](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-stein), sat down with [Tracy Malloy\-Curtis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymalloycurtis/), VP at Mal Warwick Donordigital \(MWD\), a leading marketing agency for nonprofits, to discuss the opportunity DAF giving brings to year end campaigns. Their conversation emphasized the importance of integrating DAFs into organization\-wide fundraising strategies and explored actionable tactics to make this happen. ### Better understanding the DAF market To set a DAF strategy, the first step is making sure everyone is on the same page about what DAF giving is and is not. There are several misconceptions, myths and misunderstandings about DAFs that continue to persist at nonprofits. Most importantly: ##### Myth 1: DAFs are a bespoke, niche or small part of fundraising DAFs have become an essential part of nonprofit fundraising. DAF giving made up an average of 12% of revenue among nonprofits that participated in the [2024 DAF Fundraising Report](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), which doubled between 2019 and 2023. ##### Myth 2: DAFs are bad for fundraising and should be avoided While many organizations are seeing declines in cash contributions, \([overall giving declined by 2.4% in 2024](https://givingusa.org/5-takeaways-and-next-steps-from-the-giving-usa-2024-report/)\) DAF giving has actually [trended upward for the last decade](https://www.givechariot.com/daf-fundraising-report), helping to offset these losses for many organizations. With over [$250 billion in DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/top-10-takeaways-from-the-2024-national-philanthropic-trust-daf-report) that’s already committed to charitable giving, the opportunity is immense. ##### Myth 3: DAFs are only used for major gifts Donors of all types use DAFs. Annual donors, mid\-level donors, peer\-to\-peer supporters – DAF donors are everywhere. Among MWD clients, they see that the average DAF gift is around $1,000. Through Chariot’s DAFpay, an express payment option for DAF Donors, the average is also around $1,000 and the median gift is $200. Especially in established mid\-level programs, we see [40\-80% of donors using DAFs](https://www.givechariot.com/post/7-practical-steps-to-improve-the-nonprofit-experience-with-daf-giving). In peer\-to\-peer fundraising, we see major events like the Pan\-Mass Challenge have [over 5,000 donors supporting via digital DAF gifts](https://www.givechariot.com/pmc-case-study) through DAFpay. ##### Myth 4: DAFs are a type of “Planned Gift” Contrary to what the structure of many nonprofits would suggest, DAFs are not primarily used in Planned Giving. Tracy stressed the importance of breaking DAF strategy out of the planned giving silo and integrating it into a broader fundraising approach. Donors don’t reserve DAFs solely for planned gifts; they also utilize them for annual donations, recurring gifts, and even in response to urgent needs—such as natural disasters or other time\-sensitive causes. ##### Myth 5: DAF giving will just increase on its own Unlocking the potential of DAFs requires a real strategy in place – nonprofits can’t just sit back and expect more DAF gifts to roll in. Organizations need to take steps that make giving via DAF as simple and straightforward as possible. As Tracy put it: “The reality is organizations don’t have a choice. This is how donors are giving, and we have to meet donors where they are if we want to benefit from their generosity.” > The reality is organizations don’t have a choice. This is how donors are giving, and we have to meet donors where they are if we want to benefit from their generosity. ### Crafting a winning DAF strategy Once your organization has an appreciation for the opportunity with DAF fundraising, there are **\[3\]** key tenants to setting a powerful DAF strategy. 1. DAF giving belongs everywhere Other than fundraising that’s not permissible for DAF usage \(like tickets, tables & auctions\), DAF giving belongs anywhere that your supporters can give. The concerns that highlighting DAFs is distracting or confusing have been unfounded by countless experiments done by MWD clients, Chariot and other partners. 1. DAF giving is a shared responsibility and opportunity  Every person or team within an organization needs to take ownership of the ways they can boost DAF giving within their responsibility area, and collectively share in the upside of increased DAF support across an organization. Too often, gift crediting systems internally keep organizations from adopting this mindset, but as Tracy shared, “Gift crediting is ruining our industry. Don’t ever let crediting get in the way of good strategy.” In other words, nonprofits should prioritize maximizing giving and donor engagement over worrying about who gets credit for the donation. > Don’t ever let crediting get in the way of good strategy. 1. Make the donor’s preferred way of giving as easy as possible  With DAF giving, donors have already taken a step toward donating money by putting it in a DAF where it has to be used as a donation. With the mental hurdle for giving already lower, it’s important to also lower the physical hurdles to completing a DAF gift. This approach means a practice of always mentioning the ability to give with DAFs and adding DAFpay for the easiest way to give. It’s important to also remember that your appeals to DAF donors should still highlight mission first, and payment method second. They don’t support you because they have a DAF. Once they’ve been inspired to give, they be looking to donate in their preferred way \- as long as it’s easy\! ## Action Items for Nonprofits As you are putting the finishing touches on your yearend campaign, and preparing for 2025, here is the checklist of top suggestions that your organization can implement for maximum DAF support. 1. Equip Your Website with Information and Options for DAF Giving Part of integrating DAFs into your general fundraising strategy is including DAF giving in your online presence. Make sure that you have a DAF section on your website with key information that DAF donors seek when researching their gifts. That includes your EIN, your legal name, your address and a point of contact for any questions. Many organizations also include general overview information on what DAFs are and how they work in case donors have questions. The best way to make sure donors use their DAF if they have one is to include a DAF payment option in all your donation forms. Chariot’s DAFpay is the only toll that enables 3\-click express checkout with a DAF without ever leaving your website. A long time supporter of DAFpay, Tracy highlighted an important point from her research on the DAF\-donor experience: “One of the primary pain points that \[she\] saw is that people could not make a donor\-advised fund gift as a payment in response to either a direct mail or an online appeal.” Without DAFpay, Donors have to navigate the tedious and often confusing process through their DAF account portal. By integrating DAF payments directly into your donation process, you streamline giving and ensure that donors can contribute quickly and easily. 1. Appoint a DAF Champion Elect someone within your organization to champion DAF giving. This person can come from just about any department internally and there have been examples of successful cross\-department DAF programs led by all types of staff. \- The key is ensuring that the cause of DAF giving is shared internally, endorsed by leadership and keeps momentum forward with an internal captain. 1. Properly attribute DAF gifts  It’s impossible to test what is working with your DAF strategy if you’re not ensuring that every DAF gift is properly attributed to specific campaigns or channels wherever possible. DAFpay helps with this given it ties a gift to a specific form, but even for gifts that arrive outside DAFpay, Tracy’s team works hard to tie back to the campaigns that donor was enrolled in. 1. Experiment with Different Forms of Outreach Experiment with different outreach methods to engage different segments of your DAF donors. For example, try sending direct\-mail responses without a remit, but instead, include a QR code that links directly to your DAF payment page. This approach can help better segment your audience and offer a frictionless way for donors to contribute via their DAF. 1. Customize language for DAF donors  There are some important differences for DAF giving that should be taken into account, particularly for more segmented communication and outreach. Grants out of donors advised funds are not motivated by the year\-end tax planning that other gifts are – remember that DAF grants are not tax\-deductible since the donor already got the tax write off from their contribution to the DAF. DAF giving is still highly elevated in December, given how many solicitations they get in that time period, but language the highlights the urgency of the cause vs. the urgency of the calendar is more relevant for them. It also means that there are other important times in the calendar to reach out to DAF donors specifically, like in January after they’ve likely made additional contributions to their DAF in the prior month, or October for [DAF Day](https://www.givechariot.com/post/early-results-from-the-first-ever-dafday). Another important thing to keep in mind this year is that DAFs are restricted from supporting political campaigns. That means that you don’t need to worry about a DAF donor’s giving budget being depleted from the election\! 1. Thank your DAF Donors Showing gratitude to your DAF donors is essential, but it can be tricky when gifts take time to arrive or when you don’t have a donor’s contact information. DAFpay helps streamline this by providing key donor details like names and email addresses. Even if you don’t have this data, prioritizing better data entry and tracking standards in your CRM can improve your ability to acknowledge DAF gifts efficiently. Remember: thanking donors is an important step in building long\-term relationships and encouraging future giving. --- # Product Updates ## What's New for Grantmakers | July 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-for-grantmakers--july-2026 - Published: 2026-07-30 > July puts more disbursement power directly in your dashboard: send individual grants in a few clicks, set up your trusted email domain, and track everything in an upgraded disbursements table. July puts more disbursement power directly in your dashboard: send individual grants, set up your trusted email domain, and track everything in an upgraded disbursements table. ## Here's what's new: ### Sending disbursements - **Create individual disbursements:** You can now send a single disbursement to a single organization right from your dashboard. Look up the recipient by name or EIN, and Chariot provides inline eligibility validation as you go. Just click "Create disbursement" to get started. - **Trusted sender emails:** You can now send disbursement email notifications to grantees without Chariot accounts from an email on your own domain \(e.g. grants@…\). For one grantmaker, this led to a 4x increase in open rates and an 11x increase in click\-through rates. Go to Settings \> Domains \> Add domain to verify your DNS records. Reach out to [jackm\[at\]givechariot.com](mailto:jackm@givechariot.com) for assistance. - **Unlimited, free External Financial Account \(EFA\) transfers for grantees:** You can now inform your grantees that there is no cost to receive disbursements on Chariot AND they can transfer funds out at any time for free. - **Upgraded disbursements table:** Manage your disbursement approvals and track disbursements by payment status or delivery method with new custom properties and saved filtered views. Add your own properties, bulk edit property assignments, and save views so your whole team sees the same picture. ### Growing the network - **10K\+ verified churches added:** Through a partnership with a large church network, we've added more than 10,000 churches to our Disbursements database this month, so more of your faith\-based grantees are pre\-verified for your grant payments. - **New default payment source:** Welcome, Community Foundation of East Mississippi, our newest grantmaker already sending electronic grants through Chariot\! ## Upcoming events - **DAF Sponsor Roundtable** \| Virtual \(Zoom\) Event August 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET Hear from DAF sponsors who led past DAF Day initiatives. Learn what worked, what they would do differently, and what the campaign delivered for their fundholder relationships, grantee experience, and sector reputation. [**Request to attend**](https://q159y.share.hsforms.com/23x6TmEcsSma7R4kRrkBkrA) - **DAF Fundraising for Smaller Nonprofits** \| Webinar August 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET Dig into how to spot the DAF donors already in your file, make DAF giving visible across your website and appeals, and build stewardship habits that fit a small team's capacity, all in time to make the most of [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com) on October 8. [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rkpNc3nVRUyylFAOLO_j8w#/registration) --- ## What’s New on Chariot | July 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-on-chariot-july-2026 - Published: 2026-07-30 > July brings some of our most- requested updates yet, all focused on getting funds where you need them, faster, including automatic bank transfers and unlimited outbound external financial account (EFA) transfers. July brings some of our most\-requested updates yet, all focused on getting funds where you need them, faster, including automatic bank transfers and unlimited outbound External Financial Account \(EFA\) transfers. ## Here's what's new: - **Automatic Outbound EFA Transfers:** Set up automatic monthly transfers to your EFA that are initiated on the 20th of every month. Go to ***Settings***** \> *****General***** \> *****EFAs*** and click **"Enable / Edit Automatic Transfers"** \(requires a Finance, Admin, or Owner role\). Enterprise customers can opt for weekly transfers, which will be initiated every Wednesday. - **Unlimited, Free Outbound EFA Transfers:** We’ve eliminated outbound transfer fees so you can transfer funds out of your Chariot Account as often as you need at no additional cost. - **DAFpay is now live with FundraiseUp:** Go to your FundraiseUp dashboard to turn on DAFpay. Read more [here](https://fundraiseup.com/docs/changelog/new-payment-method-dafpay/). - **New default payment source:** Community Foundation of East Mississippi is our newest grantmaker partner and already sending electronic grants to your Chariot account. ## New for paid subscribers: - **New accounting integration:** Your Chariot ledger data can now be synced automatically to QuickBooks, in addition to Xero & Sage, through automated bank feed imports. - **Growth plan update:** Digital Mailbox is now included in the Growth plan. With a Digital Mailbox, you can turn mailed checks into digital gifts that flow through Chariot just like electronic donations. Go to **Mailroom** in your dashboard to get started. Learn more [here.](https://help.givechariot.com/gift-processing/digital-mailbox) ## What’s next - Next month, we have a major redesign in the works for our **Sources** page\! We’re hoping to create a more intuitive experience for our users to easily link and manage payment sources. Stay tuned. ## Upcoming events - **Gift Processing Forum \| Peer\-to\-Peer Zoom Session** August 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET A monthly peer discussion group for gift processing leaders to ask questions, share how they solve problems in their organizations, and how they use Chariot to scale their impact. [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6KQ_tVI9SfyC8hajgRavDw#/registration) - **DAF Fundraising for Smaller Nonprofits** \| Webinar August 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET Dig into how to spot the DAF donors already in your file, make DAF giving visible across your website and appeals, and build stewardship habits that fit a small team's capacity, all in time to make the most of [DAF Day](https://www.dafday.com) on October 8. [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rkpNc3nVRUyylFAOLO_j8w#/registration) - **DAF 101 with Daffy: Get Your Grants Faster** \| Webinar August 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET We're honored to be joined by Casey Kellogg, VP of Philanthropic Services and Operations at Daffy to cover the essentials of how DAFs work and how donors use Daffy to give. [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0wRNi8rXRuWXUMiz4GoxLw?_ics=1784298948024&irclickid=~6YQYVLKIKDArspohgh~f8Z054XOPFyxsouyvwlmlfca-1ZRQJGDu&_gl=1*1ig8rk*_gcl_au*MTUyMTAyODI4MS4xNzgxODE0NDY2*_ga*ODA5NjA4ODgxLjE3NzM5Mjk0NTc.*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3ODQyOTgzNTgkbzY0JGcxJHQxNzg0Mjk4OTAzJGo0NyRsMCRoMA..#/registration) --- ## What's New for Grantmakers | June 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-for-grantmakers--june-2026 - Published: 2026-06-26 > We have a big summer update for you — we've completely rebuilt the onboarding experience for nonprofits joining Chariot, which means your grantees are getting set up faster and with less friction than ever before. We have a big summer update for you — we've completely rebuilt the onboarding experience for nonprofits joining Chariot, which means your grantees are getting set up faster and with less friction than ever before. ## Here's what's new: - **A better onboarding experience for your grantees:** We've redesigned the Chariot onboarding flow from the ground up. When you invite a nonprofit to receive disbursements through Chariot, they'll move through a faster, cleaner setup process — less back\-and\-forth, fewer onboarding drop\-offs, and a smoother path to receiving their first electronic payment from you. - **Specify a secondary recipient when sending disbursements:** When creating a disbursement, you can now enter a secondary recipient name to indicate which project or program the grant is intended for. That name flows through to the donation record as a secondary recipient to accommodate fiscal sponsor programs or other designations. - **The DAF Day Giving Page is live:** Donors can now discover and give to nonprofits at [app.dafday.com](https://app.dafday.com/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KGkmnt_uSCl1nmrlDStxsPBNTpBUIvzQzNmU6um-ZcdWZNNlalZPjUmFTIpFTcQDZG3Al) — and we want to make sure your donors know about it. Download the [DAF Day marketing toolkit for providers](https://dafday.com/marketing-toolkit-providers?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KGkmnt_uSCl1nmrlDStxsPBNTpBUIvzQzNmU6um-ZcdWZNNlalZPjUmFTIpFTcQDZG3Al) to get your promotion started early. ## **Follow us on social** **DAF Day:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/daf-day/) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dafdayofficial) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) \| [X](https://x.com/dafdayofficial) **Chariot:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) \| [X](https://x.com/ChariotGiving) \| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) --- ## What’s New on Chariot | June 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-on-chariot--june-2026 - Published: 2026-06-25 > We have a busy summer update for you — from new accounting integrations and custom payment sources to CRM connectivity and DAF Day prep. A lot shipped this month and we can't wait to share it all. We have a busy summer update for you — from new accounting integrations and custom payment sources to CRM connectivity and DAF Day prep. A lot shipped this month and we can't wait to share it all. ## Here's what's new: - **DAF Day Giving Page is live:** DAF Day is coming up on Oct 8th and our giving page is now LIVE. Donors can discover verified nonprofits at [app.dafday.com](https://app.dafday.com/), but you need to add your giving link to appear. To get listed, update your logo and DAF giving link in your Chariot account settings. [See step\-by\-step instructions in our help center](https://help.givechariot.com/daf-day/daf-day?__hstc=125968786.5ef05af289ad646926508d4f275406d2.1781031640580.1782314382753.1782322372732.23&__hssc=125968786.3.1782322372732&__hsfp=7d4a3eba257f32398e4d10c3c184c860#daf-day-giving-page). - **Manage multiple accounts:** You can now manage multiple Chariot accounts under a single login. If you’d like to be added to another account, simply request a user invite from the other organization so you can access both orgs in your dashboard. - **New default payment source: **[**Brooklyn Org**](https://brooklyn.org/) is our newest grantmaker partner. Chariot account holders will soon receive electronic payments from them directly in your Chariot account. ## New for paid subscribers: - **Custom Payment Sources:** You can now add virtually any ACH\-enabled payer directly to Chariot — even if they're not connected yet. Generate unique account and routing numbers for each source; share those payment details with payers like Pledge or JustGiving and funds flow straight into your Chariot account. When a deposit arrives, upload your donation documentation and Chariot automatically extracts the gift data and links it to the deposit. [See the full setup guide](https://help.givechariot.com/gift-processing/custom-payment-sources). - **Read\-only CRM integrations for Policies:** Chariot can now get read\-only access to Salesforce & Raiser’s Edge NXT. Once linked, you can write policy rules that reference your CRM directly. Matches incoming donors to their CRM record, pull in the campaign, fund, or opportunity ID, and apply it to the donation automatically. And because the opportunity ID links directly to your CRM, you can jump from a Chariot donation to the exact Salesforce or RE record in a single click. - **Accounting integrations:** Your Chariot ledger data can now be synced automatically to Xero or Sage through automated bank feeds imports. No more manual exports. --- ## What’s next - In July, we're expanding our accounting integration to **QuickBooks Online**. If your organization wants early access, contact your Chariot account manager to let them know. --- ## Upcoming events - **Gift Processing Forum** \| Peer\-to\-Peer Zoom Session July 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET \| [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/W5evJ5i7Tr2Sqy_Mg5p7cQ#/registration) - **Donor\-Advised Funds in Action: What Charities Need to Know** \| Webinar with CLA Connect July 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST \| [**Register here**](https://www.claconnect.com/en/events/2026/donor-advised-funds-what-data-reveals-and-what-charities-need-to-know) - **Powering Modern DAF Grants** \| Webinar July 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST \| [**Register here**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rkpNc3nVRUyylFAOLO_j8w#/registration) --- ## **Follow us on social** **DAF Day:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/daf-day/) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dafdayofficial) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dafdayofficial) \| [X](https://x.com/dafdayofficial) **Chariot:** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/givechariot/) \| [X](https://x.com/ChariotGiving) \| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@givechariot) --- ## What's New for Grantmakers | May 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-for-grantmakers--may-2026 - Published: 2026-05-28 > Welcome to our first “What’s New on Chariot” grantmaker update where we’ll share the new features and enhancements we’ve released for you each month! Welcome to our first “What’s New on Chariot” grantmaker update where we’ll share the new features and enhancements we’ve released for you each month\! ## Here's what's new: - **New Look for Disbursements:** The disbursements overview, activity table, transactions table, create\-disbursement flow, and grant letter page have all been rebuilt on Chariot's new design system, with cleaner filters, column management, bulk selection, and selective downloads. - **Corporate Match Transactions:** Your disbursements now support corporate match transactions alongside DAF grants, with the company name included on grant letters. - **Checks to Local Chapters Now Print DBA Name:** When you send a check to a group\-exemption subordinate \(think local PTAs, booster clubs, or lodges\), they are now made out to the chapter's DBA name programmatically so recipients can actually deposit them. This covers more than 295,000 subordinate nonprofits. - **Stopped Disbursement Automations: **Sometimes a check just refuses to land: the nonprofit has relocated, shut down, or the check was lost in transit. Chariot now automatically halts a disbursement after a check is voided 3 consecutive times \(frequency is configurable per grantmaker\), notifies the sending grantmaker, and returns the funds to the CDA so the grantmaker can redirect them. - **Suggested Contacts and Addresses:** Providing an email or mailing address for a nonprofit used to mean one\-off Slacks, emails, and spreadsheets. Now you can propose a contact or address directly, through the [dashboard](https://dashboard.givechariot.com/?utm_campaign=37186927-Product%20Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--OqcZM2nFBedfSvJlDNikwiX8qZR3XVn219JsxI_8adpx_Mw775fEWd07FKIkC6kD4DUas) or via our APIs, and Chariot's team will verify and add it to the nonprofit's record. - **Faster Review on the Donation Slider: **Grantmaker legal terms now appear directly on the donation detail slider, no need to jump up to the deposit to find them. Recipient nonprofit name, EIN, and check number also show up on the ledger transaction slider for outbound disbursements. - **New Disbursements Partner: **[Brooklyn Org](https://brooklyn.org/?utm_campaign=37186927-Product%20Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--OqcZM2nFBedfSvJlDNikwiX8qZR3XVn219JsxI_8adpx_Mw775fEWd07FKIkC6kD4DUas) is our newest grantmaker partner. We’re thrilled to continue growing our network of grantmakers committed to faster, safer electronic payments. --- ## What’s New on Chariot | April 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-on-chariot--april-2026 - Published: 2026-04-30 > This month was all about giving you sharper visibility into where every gift stands — from the moment a gift is initiated to the moment funds arrive. This month was all about giving you sharper visibility into where every gift stands — from the moment a gift is initiated to the moment funds arrive. ## Here's what's new: - **Overview Page has a new look:** We’ve centralized your payment sources view, added in\-app field explanations, & more in our new intuitive brand design\! - **Payment status on every donation:** We’ve added a Payment Status to every donation, so you can clearly see the status of funds—whether they’re on the way, received electronically or delivered outside of Chariot. - **Default export builder:** Default exports are now fully customizable. Choose exactly which columns to export and your selection will be saved for future use. - **Groundswell Company Matches:** Groundswell Company Matches now appear with details in the “Company Name” and “Match Amount” donation fields rather than as a note in the “Description” field. - **New default payment source:** [Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey \(JFNNJ\)](https://jfnnj.org/) is our newest grantmaker partner. All Chariot account holders will now receive electronic payments from JFNNJ directly in your Chariot account. \***For those who subscribed to our Digital Mailbox**, you can now configure which DAFs are expected to route gifts through Chariot directly from your Mailroom. Updates will trigger an automatic re\-sync so payment statuses stay accurate. ## What’s next - In May, we will be developing features to manage grant designations and fiscally\-sponsored projects. If your organization is a fiscal sponsor or manages many fund designations, please **email **[**contact@givechariot.com**](mailto:contact@givechariot.com) to share what your requirements would be with our team. ## Upcoming events - **Gift Processing Forum** \| Peer\-to\-Peer Zoom Session May 5, 2026 at 12PM ET \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XSl2rwdxQvu99PDwCaqCVA?utm_campaign=37935156-Chariot%20Newsletter&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9fuOh9FIlYbIGbZqoxo05WPJ3AjRdNOnFm5qVj_lJnGRRxnyT1DnbzOVvlcgHQVniSonrJ) - **Group Q&A with Chariot Team** May 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OD7ETmMmTw2blPCdfGpwsg#/registration) May 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM ET \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kOxGUB_rQgSe__wJ3CJFVg#/registration) - **2026 DAF Fundraising Report Release** \| Webinar May 20, 2026 at 12pm EST \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RbUwFtGtSNKAFAdvttcrQA?ampDeviceId=ef341a92-5768-4257-991c-37e3a7a39436&SessionId=1776696869969&_ics=1776698641469&irclickid=~6YQYVLKIKDArspohgh~f8Z054XOPFyxsouyvwlmlfca-1ZRQJGDu&_gl=1*dn4ezc*_gcl_au*ODAwNDk1MC4xNzczOTI5NDQ5LjEwNDA0Mjc5NTAuMTc3MzkyOTUwNS4xNzczOTI5NTA1*_ga*ODA5NjA4ODgxLjE3NzM5Mjk0NTc.*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3NzY2OTY4NjUkbzYkZzEkdDE3NzY2OTg2NDgkajQyJGwwJGgw#/registration) --- ## What’s New on Chariot | March 2026 - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/product-updates/whats-new-on-chariot--march-2026 - Published: 2026-03-31 > In March, we focused on giving gift processing teams a better mailroom experience, more powerful donation coding, and a more intuitive dashboard. Here's a look at what we shipped. In March, we focused on giving gift processing teams a better mailroom experience, more powerful donation coding, and a more intuitive dashboard. Here's a look at what we shipped. **New payers — YourCause and CyberGrants** Deposits from YourCause and CyberGrants are now automatically matched with donation data and processed alongside your other payers. **Redesigned Mailroom** The mailroom has a new inbox\-style layout that makes it faster to triage your mail. You can now upload mail items manually and mark items as unread. Items needing your attention automatically surface to the top. **Smarter donation coding** Your donation policies can now create new property values on the fly as they process gifts — no more pre\-defining every option. We also redesigned the policies page for easier navigation and added more precise editing tools for sections and clauses. **Dashboard tables, refined** Relative date filters let you quickly surface recent activity \(like "last 24 hours"\). You can duplicate saved views with one click, filter donations by donor name, and view count badges now update in real time. Property fields show helpful tooltips, and the options editor is easier to use. --- ### **What's next** In April, we're testing Salesforce CRM data integration with our AI\-powered gift coding tool — so you can auto\-enrich donations with info directly from Salesforce. If you have a gift processing enterprise subscription and want to beta test this, reach out to us directly. --- ### **Upcoming events** - **Gift Processing User Forum** \| Peer\-to\-Peer Zoom Session Apr 7, 2026 at 12pm EST \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DZTWREy5QaunfD2qq6H__w#/registration) - **Growth Plan Office Hours \| **Zoom Session April 13, 2026, 3:00 PM EST \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/El4rUHirRvuPkuBlIEXdRA#/registration) - **Growth Plan Office Hours \| **Zoom Session April 14, 2026, 1:30 PM EST \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/K1-A-VU0Ss-7NMb2H2-IlQ#/registration) - **Workplace Giving: The Strategies that Win** \| Webinar Apr 20, 2026 at 12pm EST \| [Register here](https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/K1-A-VU0Ss-7NMb2H2-IlQ#/registration) --- # Fundraising Platforms ## Turning DAFpay On With ibidmobile.net - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-ibidmobilenet - Published: 2026-06-09 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It's live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses [ibidmobile.net](http://ibidmobile.net) to accept donations to your 501\(c\)\(3\), you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 2. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider's standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on **[**ibidmobile.net**](http://ibidmobile.net) 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across certain [ibidmobile.net](http://ibidmobile.net) campaigns. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to ibidmobile.net at [info@ibidmobile.net](mailto:info@ibidmobile.net) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). *Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With EvolvArts - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-evolvarts - Published: 2026-06-08 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses EvolvArts for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on EvolvArts** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all EvolvArts fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to EvolvArts at [support@evolvarts.com](mailto:support@evolvarts.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With PBCS Technology - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-pbcs-technology - Published: 2026-06-08 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses PBCS Technology for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within PBCS Technology** Questions? Reach out to PBCS Technology at [wantinfo@pbcstechnology.com](mailto:wantinfo@pbcstechnology.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Kavua - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-kavua - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Kavua for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: *Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)*\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Kavua** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Kavua fundraising pages. Questions? Reach out to Kavua at [info@kavua.org](mailto:info@kavua.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Handbid - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-handbid - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Handbid for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within Handbid, under Organization Settings → Add\-Ons → click Connect to Chariot. 2. Once enabled, under Event Settings → Donations tab → check the DAFpay Enabled checkbox. Questions? Reach out to Handbid at [service@handbid.com](mailto:service@handbid.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Gravyty - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-gravyty - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Gravyty for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay within your Gravyty account** Questions? Reach out to Gravyty at [support@gravyty.com](mailto:support@gravyty.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Givergy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givergy - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Givergy for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay within your Givergy account** Questions? Reach out to Givergy at [us.inquiries@givergy.com](mailto:us.inquiries@givergy.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With GiveForms - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-giveforms - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses GiveForms for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within GiveForms** Questions? Reach out to GiveForms at [hello@giveforms.com](mailto:hello@giveforms.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Givecloud - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givecloud - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Givecloud for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within Givecloud, under Organization Settings → Accept Payments → DAFpay, click Connect. Questions? Reach out to Givecloud at [support@givecloud.com](mailto:support@givecloud.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With GiveCampus - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givecampus - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses GiveCampus for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within GiveCampus, under Fundraising Dashboard → Online Giving → School\-Level Settings → DAFpay, agree to the terms and enter in the required information. 2. Once done, you can enable DAFpay within your forms and campaigns. Questions? Reach out to GiveCampus at [support@givecampus.com](mailto:support@givecampus.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Givebutter - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givebutter - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Givebutter for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay in Givebutter** 1. Log in to your Givebutter account. 2. Go to **Settings → Account tab.** 3. Scroll down to **Payment methods.** 4. Click **Enable** next to the **Donor Advised Fund** option. 5. DAFpay is now live on all your Givebutter campaigns \(one\-time donations only\). Questions? Reach out to Givebutter at [support@givebutter.com](mailto:support@givebutter.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Funraisin - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-funraisin - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Funraisin for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within Funraisin, under Admin → Platform Setup → Payment Settings → DAFpay Settings, enter in your EIN, Name of Nonprofit, and Contact Information, then click Submit. 2. Toggle on DAFpay to include it within your fundraising pages. Questions? Reach out to Funraisin at [support@funraisin.zendesk.com](mailto:support@funraisin.zendesk.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Funraise - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-funraise - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Funraise for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. In Funraise, under Settings → Gateways → Connect With Chariot 2. Enter your email address then select Connect With Chariot 3. Add DAFpay to your giving forms by going to Giving Form → Settings → Payments → Payment Methods Questions? Reach out to Funraise at [support@funraise.org](mailto:support@funraise.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With FlexFormz - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-flexformz - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses FlexFormz for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: *Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)*\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on FlexFormz** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all FlexFormz fundraising pages. Questions? Reach out to FlexFormz at [support@flexformz.com](mailto:support@flexformz.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Engaging Networks - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-engaging-networks - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Engaging Networks for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — Set up Chariot gateway in Engaging Networks** 1. Go to **Hello → Account Settings → Gateways** 2. Click **New Payment Gateway** 3. In the gateway configuration, select **Chariot Gateway** 4. Enter a reference name \(e.g. "Chariot Live"\) and your EIN 5. Leave **Test mode** unchecked for live donations **Step 3 — Add Chariot to a donation page** 1. On the donation page, go to **Admin → Donation Settings** 2. Select **I would like to add another merchant account or add support for digital wallets** 3. Select the **Chariot** option and save **Step 4 — Enable the DAFpay button on the form** 1. Edit the form block where you want the DAFpay button 2. Check the **Enable digital wallet buttons** checkbox and save Questions? Reach out to Engaging Networks at [**info@engagingnetworks.net**](mailto:info@engagingnetworks.net) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Encoura - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-encoura - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Encoura \+ RNL for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Turn DAFpay on within your Encoura \+ RNL fundraising pages. Questions? Reach out to your Encoura \+ RNL support rep or [support@encoura.org](mailto:support@encoura.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Double - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-double - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Double for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Under “Edit campaign” → “Payment options” → switch DAF from hidden to shown. Questions? Reach out to Double at [support@double.giving](mailto:support@double.giving) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Donor Wrangler - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-donor-wrangler - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Donor Wrangler for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within Donor Wrangler, under Third Party Integrations → Donor Advised Funds → enter in your organization’s EIN and other questions about the organization. 2. Edit your donation forms by going to “Form Settings” and enable Chariot. Questions? Reach out to Donor Wrangler at [support@donorwrangler.com](mailto:support@donorwrangler.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With DonorPerfect via Givecloud - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-donorperfect-via-givecloud - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Givecloud for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Within Givecloud, under Organization Settings → Accept Payments → DAFpay, click Connect. Questions? Reach out to Givecloud at [support@givecloud.com](mailto:support@givecloud.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With CharityEngine - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-charityengine - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses CharityEngine for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — Set up DAFpay within CharityEngine** 1. Connect DAFpay as one of your available payment options within your CharityEngine account. Questions? Reach out to CharityEngine at [support@charityengine.net](mailto:support@charityengine.net) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Charidy - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-charidy - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Charidy for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — Set up DAFpay within Charidy** 1. Connect DAFpay as one of your available payment options within your Charidy account. Questions? Reach out to Charidy at [support@charidy.com](mailto:support@charidy.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Boost My School - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-boost-my-school - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Boost My School for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Under “Edit campaign” → “Payment options” → switch DAF from hidden to shown. Questions? Reach out to your Boost My School Success Manager or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With BetterUnite - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-betterunite - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses BetterUnite for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Go to Settings within your BetterUnite account → Integrations → Chariot → “Enable DAF”, and provide your EIN, Organization Name, email address and click **Connect** to fully complete your DAF integration. Questions? Reach out to BetterUnite with [support@betterunite.com](mailto:support@betterunite.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Anthology - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-anthology - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Anthology for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Enable DAFpay in Payment Gateways \(Digital Wallets → DAFpay\). 2. Assign DAFpay to the forms you want \(recommended: set at Defaults so it shows on all donation forms\). Questions? Reach out to Anthology with [Encompass\-CustomerSupport@anthology.com](mailto:Encompass-CustomerSupport@anthology.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Almabase - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-almabase - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Almabase for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Log in to your Almabase admin panel 2. Navigate to Gift Settings → Admin Dashboard → Tools → Giving 3. Scroll down to the Payment Method Setup section and toggle ENable DAFpay On 4. Connect your Chariot account using your EIN Questions? Reach out to Almabase with the Chat Bubble within your admin site or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With 4 A Good Cause - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-4-a-good-cause - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses 4 A Good Cause for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account** 1. Log in to 4aGoodCause at [4agc.com](http://4agc.com) as a Nonprofit User 2. Click **Settings** on the left menu 3. Click **Payment Gateways** on the left menu 4. Check the box labeled **Enable DAF Pay** 5. Click **Save** **Step 3 — Enable DAFpay on each campaign** 1. Go to **Campaigns** and find the campaign you want to enable DAF on 2. Click **Edit** on the campaign 3. Scroll down to **Payment Options** 4. Check the box labeled **DAF Pay enabled** 5. Scroll to the bottom and click **Update** Questions? Reach out to 4 A Good Cause at [support@4agoodcause.com](mailto:support@4agoodcause.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Ziggby - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-ziggby - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Ziggby for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Ziggby** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Ziggby fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Ziggby at [https://ziggby.com/contact\-us](https://ziggby.com/contact-us) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With DonorDrive - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-donordrive - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses DonorDrive for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay in DonorDrive** Questions? Reach out to DonorDrive at [support@donordrive.com](mailto:support@donordrive.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With The Chesed Fund - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-the-chesed-fund - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses The Chesed Fund for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on The Chesed Fund** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all The Chesed Fund fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to The Chesed Fund at [support@thechesedfund.com](mailto:support@thechesedfund.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Giving Docs - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-giving-docs - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Giving Docs for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Giving Docs** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Giving Docs fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Giving Docs at [support@givingdocs.com](mailto:support@givingdocs.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Overflow - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-overflow - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Overflow for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Overflow** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Overflow fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Overflow at [support@overflow.co](mailto:support@overflow.co) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Our Community - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-our-community - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Our Community for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Our Community** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Our Community fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Our Community at [https://ourcommunity.one/?pageType=contact](https://ourcommunity.one/?pageType=contact) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With The Giving Block - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-the-giving-block - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses The Giving Block for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on The Giving Block** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all The Giving Block fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to The Giving Block at [support@thegivingblock.com](mailto:support@thegivingblock.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Pledge (Pledgeling) - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-pledge-pledgeling - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Pledge for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Pledge** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Pledge fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Pledge at [https://www.pledge.to/contact](https://www.pledge.to/contact) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Oath - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-oath - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Oath for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Oath** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Oath fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Oath at [https://app.oath.vote/contact](https://app.oath.vote/contact) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Milaap - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-milaap - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Milaap for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Milaap** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Milaap fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Milaap at [feedback@milaap.org](mailto:feedback@milaap.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With MatchNice - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-matchnice - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses MatchNice for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on MatchNice** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all MatchNice fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to MatchNice at [support@matchnice.org](mailto:support@matchnice.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Maaser - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-maaser - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Maaser for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Maaser** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Maaser fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Maaser at [mymasser@gmail.com](mailto:mymasser@gmail.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Kindest - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-kindest - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Kindest for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Kindest** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Kindest fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Kindest here at [https://kindest.com/contact](https://kindest.com/contact) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With GoFundMe - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-gofundme - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses GoFundMe’s fundraising pages to accept donations to your 501\(c\)\(3\), you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on GoFundMe** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all GoFundMe fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Visit GoFundMe’s support site here at [https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en\-us](https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Give Suite - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-give-suite - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Give Suite for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Give Suite** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Give Suite fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Give Suite at [support@givesuite.com](mailto:support@givesuite.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Give Lively - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-give-lively - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Give Lively for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Give Lively** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Give Lively fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Give Lively at [support@givelively.org](mailto:support@givelively.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With GiveHub - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givehub - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses GiveHub for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on GiveHub** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all GiveHub fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to GiveHub at [support@givehub.com](mailto:support@givehub.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With GiveCentral - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-givecentral - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses GiveCentral for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on GiveCentral** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all GiveCentral fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to GiveCentral at [support@givecentral.org](mailto:support@givecentral.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Generously - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-generously - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Generously for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Generously** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Generously fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Generously at their contact form here \([https://generously.me/contact](https://generously.me/contact)\) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Fundnation - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-fundnation - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Fundnation for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Fundnation** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Fundnation fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Fundnation at [support@fundnationconnect.org](mailto:support@fundnationconnect.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Every.org - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-everyorg - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses [Every.org](http://Every.org) for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on **[**Every.org**](http://Every.org) 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all [Every.org](http://Every.org) fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to [Every.org](http://Every.org) at [support@every.org](mailto:support@every.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With DonorDock - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-donordock - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses DonorDock for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on DonorDock** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all DonorDock fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to DonorDock at [support@donordock.com](mailto:support@donordock.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With DonorFuse - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-donorfuse - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses DonorFuse for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on DonorFuse** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all DonorFuse fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to DonorFuse at [info@donorfuse.com](mailto:info@donorfuse.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Custom Donations - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-custom-donations - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Custom Donations for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Custom Donations** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Custom Donations fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Custom Donations at [info@customdonations.com](mailto:info@customdonations.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With CrowdChange - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-crowdchange - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses CrowdChange for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on CrowdChange** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all CrowdChange fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to CrowdChange at [support@crowdchange.co](mailto:support@crowdchange.co) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Chabad One - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-chabad-one - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Chabad One for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Chabad One** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Chabad One fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Chabad One at [https://www.chabad.org/tools/feedback.htm](https://www.chabad.org/tools/feedback.htm) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With CauseMatch - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-causematch - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses CauseMatch for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on CauseMatch** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all CauseMatch fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to CauseMatch at [support@causematch.com](mailto:support@causematch.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With BetterWorld - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-betterworld - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses BetterWorld for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: *Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)*\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on BetterWorld** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all BetterWorld fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to BetterWorld at [support@betterworld.org](mailto:support@betterworld.org) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Better Giving - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-better-giving - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Better Giving for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)\*** 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Better Giving** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Better Giving fundraising pages. 2. Still not seeing it? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). Questions? Reach out to Better Giving at [https://intercom.help/better\-giving/en](https://intercom.help/better-giving/en) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With EveryAction - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-everyaction - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It's live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. **Please note: Chariot does not currently have a free, native integration with EveryAction.** If you use one of these platforms, we encourage you to reach out to EveryAction directly to ask them to build a free DAFpay integration. In the meantime, you don't have to wait. With a paid Chariot subscription, our team can build a custom solution to get DAFpay live on your EveryAction forms now. Here's how to get started: Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. 1. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider's standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. Step 2 — Contact Chariot's Partnerships Team 1. Submit a Contact Form at [https://www.givechariot.com/contact](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) and mention you want to use DAFpay on your EveryAction form. 2. Our partnerships team will reach out regarding next steps. A paid subscription to Chariot will be required to build and turn on your custom DAFpay solution. Questions? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held. --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Kind Kiosk - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-kind-kiosk - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Kind Kiosk for your fundraising pages, you can use DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: *Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account \(recommended\)*\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process. 4. 1. Without a Chariot Deposit Account, DAFpay gifts will be paid out by the DAFpay Network and may be subject to delays. **Step 2 — DAFpay is already enabled on Kind Kiosk** 1. DAFpay is automatically turned on across all Chabad One fundraising pages. Questions? Reach out to Kind Kiosk at [support@kindkiosk.com](mailto:support@kindkiosk.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With LevCharity - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-levcharity - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses LevCharity for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within LevCharity** Questions? Reach out to LevCharity at [help@levcharity.com](mailto:help@levcharity.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Neon One - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-neon-one - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Neon One for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within Neon One.** Questions? Reach out to Neon One at [support@neonone.com](mailto:support@neonone.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With OneCause - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-onecause - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses OneCause for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within OneCause** Questions? Reach out to OneCause at [support@onecause.com](mailto:support@onecause.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Rayze.it - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-rayzeit - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses [Rayze.it](http://Rayze.it) for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within **[**Rayze.it**](http://Rayze.it) Questions? Reach out to [Rayze.it](http://Rayze.it) at [https://www.rayze.it/platform/\#1](https://www.rayze.it/platform/#1) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With SensePass - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-sensepass - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses SensePass for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within SensePass** Questions? Reach out to SensePass at [info@sensepass.com](mailto:info@sensepass.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Soapbox Engage - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-soapbox-engage - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Soapbox Engage for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within Soapbox Engage** Questions? Reach out to Soapbox Engage at [https://support.picnet.net/hc/en\-us](https://support.picnet.net/hc/en-us) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Springboard (Jackson River) - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-springboard-jackson-river - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Boost My School for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within Springboard by Jackson River** Questions? Reach out to Springboard by Jackson River at [support@jacksonriver.com](mailto:support@jacksonriver.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Summa - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-summa - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Summa for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within Summa** Questions? Reach out to Summa at [support@gosumma.com](https://www.gosumma.com/contact#) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Tiltify - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-tiltify - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It’s live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. If your nonprofit uses Tiltify for your fundraising pages, you can turn on DAFpay\! To do so, follow these steps: **Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account**\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. 1. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider’s standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. **Step 2 — Enable DAFpay for your account within Tiltify** Questions? Reach out to Tiltify at [support@tiltify.com](mailto:support@tiltify.com) or Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \**Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held.* --- ## Turning DAFpay On With Blackbaud (Luminate Online & Team Raiser) - Source: https://givechariot.com/resources/fundraising-platforms/turning-dafpay-on-with-blackbaud-luminate-online--team-raiser - Published: 2026-06-05 Chariot is the payments platform built for Donor Advised Fund \(DAF\) giving. Our flagship product, DAFpay, lets donors give with their DAF in just 3 clicks, directly on your site. It's live on over 60,000 donation forms, including the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania. **Please note: Chariot does not currently have a free, native integration with Blackbaud \(Luminate Online or TeamRaiser\).** If you use one of these platforms, we encourage you to reach out to Blackbaud directly to ask them to build a free DAFpay integration. In the meantime, you don't have to wait. With a paid Chariot subscription, our team can build a custom solution to get DAFpay live on your Blackbaud forms now. Here's how to get started: Step 1 — Claim your Chariot Deposit Account\* 1. Go to [dashboard.givechariot.com/signup](http://dashboard.givechariot.com/signup) 2. See our Onboarding Guide \([https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding\-guide](https://help.givechariot.com/onboarding/onboarding-guide)\) to walk you through the account set\-up. 3. 1. With your Chariot Deposit Account, all DAFpay gifts will arrive according to the DAF provider's standard timeline and delivery process, and real\-time donation info will be in your Chariot dashboard. Step 2 — Contact Chariot's Partnerships Team 1. Submit a Contact Form at [https://www.givechariot.com/contact](https://www.givechariot.com/contact) and mention you want to use DAFpay on your Blackbaud form. 2. Our partnerships team will reach out regarding next steps. A paid subscription to Chariot will be required to build and turn on your custom DAFpay solution. Questions? Reach out to Chariot at [support@givechariot.com](mailto:support@givechariot.com). \*Chariot is a financial technology company, not a bank. Chariot Deposit Accounts are a Demand Deposit Account provided by Column N.A., Member FDIC. The Chariot Deposit Account is required to access Disbursements or Gift Processing. FDIC deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured depository institution. While Chariot is not an FDIC\-insured depository institution, deposits in Chariot Deposit Accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, for each insurable capacity in which the account is held. ---