What You Need to Know about Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) in 2020

What You Need to Know about Donor-Advised Funds in 2020

What is a DAF and how do they work? Why are DAFs growing so fast? How can you cultivate and solicit donors using DAFs? Learn that, and MORE!

Although they aren’t “new,” donor-advised funds sure are a “hot” topic of discussion. The first donor-advised funds date back to the 1930’s, and regulatory recognition came in the form of the Tax Reform Act of 1969. Why are DAFs such a frequent topic of discussion today, if they’ve been around for decades and decades?

It could have something to do with the $37.12 billion that was contributed to DAFs in 2018 (an 86 percent increase in contributions over the past five years), representing more than 12% of all individual giving. Or, it could have something to do with the $23.42 billion that was granted out of DAFs in 2018. Regardless of the “why,” we know donor-advised funds are here to stay. Are you prepared for the rise of DAFs in 2020?

About the Presenters:

As president of The Curtis Group, founded twenty nine years ago, Keith and his team have developed strategies to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for nearly 200 clients across all nonprofit sectors. Keith is the past chair of Giving USA Foundation and past chair of the Giving USA Advisory Council on Methodology and has spoken on the report in many national publications and broadcasts. For over 60 years, Giving USA has been the nation’s most respected and comprehensive report on charitable giving. Keith has served on the Dean of the Strome College of Business’ Executive Advisory Council at Old Dominion University. In recognition of his work in philanthropy, Keith was honored with the 2012 Alumni Service Award from ODU.

Over the past 6 years, in his role as Senior Solutions Advisor at MarketSmart, Jeff has advised organizations of all sizes on Engagement Fundraising. Leveraging integrated technology and marketing, MarketSmart helps nonprofits generate, qualify, cultivate and prioritize potential donors. Over the years, Jeff has consulted with Salvation Army, City of Hope, Food For The Poor, ASPCA, Girl Scouts of the USA, Special Olympics, and more.

We will cover:

1. What are DAFs and what benefits they provide to donors
2. Why individuals give to their DAF versus directly to a charity
3. How to acknowledge and record a gift from a DAF
4. How to identify constituents with DAFs
5. Indicators of individuals who may have DAFs
6. How you can proactively market gifts from DAFs
7. Real metrics from other organizations marketing DAFs
8. Concerns about DAFs