Donor-advised funds hold billions in charitable dollars. Roughly 75% of that capital is still waiting to be granted.

And here you are… agonizing over whether to ask for a major gift.
The money has already been donated. It just hasn’t been guided to you yet.

If you want it to come to you, you have to ask. And you must make the follow-through simple.

Because no donor is going to go digging for your EIN or figuring out your process on their own. That’s your job.

DAF money doesn’t flow to the most deserving nonprofit.
It flows to the nonprofit that asked clearly.

Step 1: Make DAF giving visible

If DAF giving isn’t obvious and easy, donors default to smaller gifts. Sponsors like Charles Schwab, Fidelity Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable make recommending grants simple.... but only if your organization makes itself easy to find.

In most cases, all your donor needs is:

  • Legal nonprofit name
  • EIN
  • Mailing address
  • Contact email (for questions)

Make DAF giving visible anywhere you ask for a gift:

  • donation page
  • email footer
  • print reply device
  • major donor proposals

That’s it.

Step 2: Don't Hint. Ask Directly.

Donors are grateful when you make giving simple and clear. If someone already has charitable dollars set aside in a DAF, recommending a grant is one of the easiest ways they can support the work they care about.

Example DAF language (warm, relational):

If you happen to have a donor-advised fund, you can recommend a grant to support [impact outcome] anytime. We’d be so honored to be part of your giving. To make it easy:
[Your Nonprofit] | EIN [##-#######] | [City, State]

Notice the “you” language (three times).

Note the warm, unassuming, yet clear invitation.

Step 3: Steward DAF Givers Like a Major Donor

DAF donors need to be nurtured with the same intention you bring to your major donors.

  • They tend to be more loyal and consistent than other givers.
  • Studies show their retention rates are about 60%... compared with approximately 46% for non-DAF donors.
  • These same individuals make multiple gifts to the same organization each year.

It's time to step back from social media channels that cost more than they generate. Your resources are finite. Invest them where they actually move the needle.

Let's Tie a Bow on It

Donor-advised funds aren’t hard. Just devastatingly underused.

The nonprofits seeing consistent growth right now aren’t bigger or better staffed. They’re just... clearer.

The charitable dollars you need already exist. Your job is simply to make it easy for them to find you.

Want My Eyes on Your Strategy?

If you’d like a second set of eyes on your current approach, I’m always happy to help. You’re welcome to book a complimentary strategy call, and we’ll look together at where DAF opportunities may already be sitting inside your donor base.

Let’s dive in together.

With great respect for you, your heart, and your mission,

Danielle