What is a Donor Advised Fund?
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a philanthropic giving vehicle that allows clients to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to charities over time.
Why Offer a Donor Advised Fund?
DAFs are now the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicle in the world, outpacing private foundations and traditional endowments. By launching a DAF program, your organization can:
Build and retain philanthropic capital under your management
Attract new and younger clients looking for flexible and personalized giving tools
Differentiate your services in a competitive philanthropic or financial landscape
For clients
It's like a flexible charitable investment account — where all donated funds are tax-deductible, can grow tax-free, and be distributed when they're ready, all with full privacy.
For Organizations
A DAF is an opportunity to build deeper donor relationships, expand your philanthropic reach, and manage long-term charitable capital with efficiency and transparency.
A Smarter Alternative to Private Foundations
Clients increasingly turn to DAFs instead of establishing private foundations, and here's why:
| Feature | Donor Advised Funds | Private Foundations |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Costs | No startup or legal costs | Legal formation and ongoing legal fees |
| Privacy | 100% privacy if desired | Public IRS filings required |
| Governance | No board or governance requirements | Must establish and maintain a board |
| Grantmaking | Simple grantmaking | Complex grant processes |
| Administration | Low administrative burden | High overhead and staff needs |
| Minimum Amount | No minimum contribution | Often require millions to justify setup |
As a DAF operator, you offer clients a smarter, easier, and more accessible alternative—without sacrificing impact.
How GivingTech Powers Your DAF Program
GivingTech provides the full infrastructure to help you launch, manage, and scale your own Donor Advised Fund program — from donor onboarding to cross-border grant execution.
White-Labeled Fund Portals
Let your clients open, view, and manage their funds on your own branded platform.
Donor Management Tools
Enable clients to recommend grants, track impact, invest funds, and more.
End-to-End Operations
Our tech and team handle all of the backend operations and administration.
Flexible Operating Models
Choose between our self-service tech solution, or full service management.
CRM and Accounting Integrations
Connect seamlessly to Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, and cloud-based platforms.
Forefront of AI
AI helps your clients to discover new causes, and to stay connected.
Multi-Currency and International Giving
Support multiple currencies and cross-border global giving.
Dedicated Support
Our human and AI support are available to help, 24x7.
Designed for Scale, Backed by Experience
Whether you're launching with a handful of funds or managing hundreds, GivingTech's platform supports your needs with:
