The Final Countdown: 2 Weeks to DAF Day — Your 10-Step Plan
- Mitch Stein
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
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 (March of Dimes), Monique Canada (DonorsChoose), and Glen Peck (Lustgarten Foundation) 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, 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, Planned Parenthood saw a 63% lift in DAF revenue 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.
Take a moment to verify* with Chariot
A control person at your organization will need to be verified and set up with a Chariot Deposit Account. This ensures your nonprofit can receive DAF Day gifts instantly and securely.
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.
Enable DAFpay
Make sure DAFpay is enabled in your fundraising platform. 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!
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.
Plan your communications calendar
Use the toolkit templates 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.”
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.
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.
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 to generate organic matches directly on your website, and encourage donors to submit gifts of $500+ through #HalfMyDAF to be matched.
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.”
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 and @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.
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