{"id":5726,"date":"2021-05-27T09:02:52","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T14:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nptrust.org\/?p=5726"},"modified":"2026-02-09T11:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:03:08","slug":"do-more-with-your-daf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nptrust.org\/philanthropic-resources\/philanthropist\/do-more-with-your-daf\/","title":{"rendered":"Do More With Your DAF"},"content":{"rendered":"

How DAFs\u202fcreate\u202feffective,\u202fflexible and\u202fwide-ranging solutions\u202f\u202f<\/em><\/h2>\n

Many donors engaging in responsive philanthropy\u202fwant\u202fto make an impact as soon as possible, while others want to give strategically over a set\u202fperiod for long term initiatives. Whether a donor plans to support a single nonprofit\u202fwith strategic grantmaking, recommend\u202fresources to a wide array of\u202fcharitable\u202fcauses, or respond quickly to a global crisis, it\u2019s\u202fefficient and effective with a donor-advised fund (DAF).<\/p>\n

Keep the following\u202ffactors in mind when considering future grantmaking opportunities and see the kind of philanthropic flexibility DAFs offer.<\/p>\n

Impact at Any Grant Size<\/h2>\n

A single\u202fcharitable\u202fgift can have\u202fsignificant impact, causing a philanthropic ripple effect. Smaller dollar donations add up, enabling grantee organizations to expand services, offer new programming, or make transformative investments. Donor\u202fgenerosity\u202freverberates\u202ffar beyond the moment of a donation.<\/p>\n

Here at NPT, we saw significant increases in grantmaking by both total dollar value and volume in 2020. Donors were giving more generously and more widely in response to the tremendous need and stress that the COVID-19 pandemic put on nonprofits.<\/p>\n

Human services organizations providing food and housing and other groups serving basic human needs, saw a 605% increase<\/strong> in dollar value (adding up to more than $1 billion donated) and a 69% increase<\/strong> in volume. Healthcare groups like clinics, hospitals and research organizations saw a 44% increase <\/strong>in dollar value (to total nearly $150 million) and an 18% jump<\/strong> in volume.<\/p>\n

This new level of giving helped buoy smaller community organizations at a time of acute crisis and supplement national organizations focusing on large-scale disaster response. A\u202f$250 or $1,000 grant may feel modest in the moment, but organizations of all sizes benefit from the collective impact of smaller dollar donations. Apply\u202fthis mindset to your donor-advised fund; it doesn\u2019t\u202ftake a large amount of money to make a significant difference.<\/p>\n

Flexible Philanthropy Across Causes<\/h2>\n

In stressful times, a short walk around the block can help clear your head. Exercising your charitable muscles has\u202fa similar effect, not to mention\u202fsignificant benefits for your mind,\u202fbody\u202fand soul<\/a>. Like any routine,\u202fit\u2019s important to stretch outside of your habits from time to time. Expanding\u202fand exploring\u202fthe range\u202fof\u202fcauses you support as a DAF donor can\u202fprovide\u202fa more\u202fholistic\u202fexperience for your charitable habits.<\/p>\n

Total grants from DAFs to qualified nonprofit organizations have nearly doubled in the last five years<\/a>. This speaks not only to the generosity of DAF\u202fdonors, but to their willingness to increase and diversify the number of nonprofits\u202fthey\u202fsupport. At NPT in 2020, there was a 22% increase in the number of charities<\/strong> that received grants from NPT DAF donors.<\/p>\n

Beyond health and human services, the number of grants from NPT DAFs to environmental and animal-related causes increased by 36%<\/strong>, to international organizations by 31%<\/strong>, and to arts and cultural groups by about 24%<\/strong> last year.\u202fGrantees continue to\u202fprovide\u202fnew\u202fsolutions to complex challenges and address persistent needs. Some recent examples include:<\/p>\n