Tina Zellmer for The Chronicle
Donor-advised funds are an increasingly important and controversial force in philanthropy. This report compiles the Chronicle’s best articles about donor-advised-funds, including efforts to more tightly regulate them, fundraising strategies, and opinion perspectives.
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AdviceHow to Land Donor-Advised Fund Gifts
The rules keep fundraisers in the dark, but some groups are breaking through to donors. -
Tool Kit
Understanding and Tapping Into Donor-Advised Funds
These accounts have become the preferred giving vehicle for many donors. Use this collection of articles and other resources to learn how to connect with those who hold DAFs. -
Finance
10 Largest Donor-Advised Funds Grew Sharply in 2018
They took in $21.5 billion last year, up 24.7 percent from 2017. That’s more than what the top 18 charities combined received in private gifts of cash and stock. -
Government and Regulation
Donor-Advised-Fund Bill Sparks Fierce Lobbying Clash in Calif.
A long list of heavyweight nonprofits and umbrella organizations have lined up on both sides of the debate over legislation that would require greater transparency. -
Research
Some Nonprofits Say Donor-Advised Funds Hurt Relationships With Supporters
A survey by the Center for Effective Philanthropy also found some praise for DAFs, with 22 percent citing lower administrative burdens. -
News
Value of Donor-Advised Funds Soars Above $110 Billion
Grants made from funds to charity totaled more than $19 billion in 2017, an increase of nearly 20 percent over the previous year, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. -
Innovation
Donor-Advised Funds Grow in Popularity as Tools for Impact Investing
Beyond Meat’s splashy IPO and a new venture fund launched Tuesday by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are the latest examples of investors using donor-advised funds to place bets on companies that try to achieve social good. -
Opinion
Opinion: Pressure to Win Big Donors Has Distorted Priorities at Too Many Community Funds
What makes community foundations special is that they focus on the needs of specific regions, not just those of wealthy supporters. -
Opinion
Donor-Advised-Fund Sponsors Have Found a New Way to Hype Payout Rates as Fund Assets Reach $110 Billion (Opinion)
The approach seems designed to distract policy makers, charities, and others from asking tough questions about the disconnect between the benefit to donors and the benefits to charity and the common good.
