3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Make the Most of DAF Day

October 9 marks National DAF Day, a chance to shine a spotlight on the fastest-growing vehicle for charitable giving: Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).

For nonprofits, this isn’t just a day on the calendar—it’s a wake-up call. Donor-Advised Funds have transformed the way people give, and the organizations that embrace this trend are the ones unlocking major gifts, cultivating loyal supporters, and meeting donors where they already are.

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, DAFs now hold more than $229 billion in charitable assets, and in 2023 alone, over $50 billion was granted to nonprofits from DAFs. This represents a record-breaking high and reflects a donor preference that isn’t slowing down.

The average DAF gift is also 10–20x larger than a typical credit card donation. That means even a small increase in your DAF-friendly strategy could unlock transformational funding for your mission.

So how can your nonprofit take advantage of DAF Day—and beyond? Let’s break it down into three practical steps.

1. Spotlight DAF Giving in Your Communications

One of the biggest challenges around DAFs isn’t donor hesitation—it’s donor awareness. Many supporters who already have DAFs simply don’t know that your nonprofit accepts them.

DAF Day is the perfect excuse to change that. By intentionally highlighting DAF giving across your communications channels, you can ensure that supporters see this option, recognize it as easy, and feel invited to use it.

Here’s how to spotlight DAF giving effectively:

Email Campaigns: Send a dedicated message (like the one we’ve drafted for you) that not only acknowledges DAF Day but clearly shows how supporters can use their funds to support your cause.

• Website Placement: Don’t bury DAF options under a “Ways to Give” tab. Feature them on your main donation page alongside credit card and ACH. When donors see DAFs listed prominently, it signals that your nonprofit is modern and flexible.
• Social Media Posts: A quick reminder post on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook that says “Did you know you can recommend a grant to us directly from your DAF?” can go a long way.
• Stories & Testimonials: If you’ve received DAF gifts in the past, tell the story. Example: “Last year, a donor recommended a $25,000 grant from their Fidelity Charitable DAF to support our new program. Their gift was made in minutes—and it helped us launch critical services faster.”

The more visible the option, the more likely your donors are to use it. Awareness is the first hurdle, and DAF Day gives you the platform to clear it.

2. Make Giving Through a DAF Seamless

Even when donors want to give through their DAF, many are stopped short by a frustrating reality: the process is clunky.

Historically, giving through a DAF has meant paper forms, multiple clicks through third-party platforms, and confusing instructions. For busy donors—especially those used to the “Amazon checkout” experience—this is a major barrier.

The data backs this up: research from Chariot shows that thousands of DAF gifts are abandoned each year simply because the process takes too long or feels too complicated.

So what’s the fix? Simplicity.

How to Simplify the DAF Experience:

• Integrate directly into your donation page. With platforms like Chariot, donors can log in to their DAF account without leaving your site. In just a few clicks, their grant recommendation is submitted, and you’re notified right away.
• Avoid jargon. Not all donors understand what a “grant recommendation” means or how it differs from a donation. Use plain language: “You can give directly from your Donor-Advised Fund in seconds—just like you would with a credit card.”
• Provide clear next steps. If your nonprofit hasn’t fully automated the process yet, create a simple landing page that explains step-by-step instructions for making a DAF gift. (But whenever possible, aim to reduce steps, not add them.)

Why Seamlessness Matters:

Think of it this way—if a donor was on your donation page, credit card in hand, but your form asked for 12 extra fields of information, would they stick around? Probably not.

The same is true with DAF donors. They want to give. If it feels effortless, they’ll do it—and they’ll do it again.

A nonprofit leader once said: “Donors don’t want to jump through hoops to be generous. They want to feel joy, not frustration.” The easier you make it, the more joyful the giving experience—and the more likely you are to cultivate repeat gifts.

3. Use DAF Day to Jumpstart Year-End Fundraising

DAF Day is strategically timed—it lands just before the biggest giving season of the year.

Here’s why this matters:

• Many donors set aside their charitable budgets in DAFs earlier in the year but wait until the fall or December to allocate grants.
• DAF donors often give larger-than-average gifts, which can dramatically boost year-end totals.
• Highlighting DAFs in October puts you ahead of the curve, signaling to donors that you’re ready and DAF-friendly when they’re making year-end decisions.

Practical Year-End Applications:

• Segment Your Appeals: If you know certain donors hold DAFs, send them a tailored message that acknowledges their capacity to make a transformational gift through their fund.
• Match DAF Messaging with Other Campaigns: For example, if you’re running a Giving Tuesday appeal, include a line: “You can maximize your Giving Tuesday gift by recommending a grant from your Donor-Advised Fund in seconds.”
• Highlight Impact Stories: Show how past DAF gifts made a difference. This gives donors confidence that their larger-than-average gifts will be used effectively.

Think Beyond October 9

DAF Day is the launch point, but the real opportunity is to build a year-round culture of DAF-friendly fundraising.

Imagine this scenario:

• A supporter sees your October DAF Day post.
• In November, they receive a personalized year-end appeal mentioning DAF giving.
• In December, they recommend a $50,000 grant because you kept the option visible, easy, and inspiring.

That’s the kind of cycle that transforms year-end results—and it starts with intentional messaging now.

Bringing It All Together

DAFs aren’t just another line item in your “Ways to Give” menu. They’re the fastest-growing giving vehicle in philanthropy and a major opportunity to deepen donor relationships, increase average gift size, and future-proof your fundraising.

This DAF Day, remember:

1. Spotlight the option. Don’t assume donors know they can give this way—tell them directly.

2. Make it seamless. Remove friction and let donors feel the joy of giving in just a few clicks.

3. Leverage the timing. Use October 9 as the launchpad for stronger year-end campaigns.

Your donors are ready. The assets are there. The question is: will your nonprofit be the one they choose to support with their DAF?

👉 Want to simplify DAF giving for your supporters and unlock transformational gifts? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE