How to Get DAF Gifts

I had a phone call with Paul Nazareth the other day, and we discussed an alarming trend.

Charity leaders are approaching us to create a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) strategy for them, thinking it will bring in NEW donors. 😬

I have a harsh truth to share.

❌ There are no DAF donors eagerly refreshing their inbox thinking:

“If only a charity would take a gift from my DAF! I just don’t know what to do with all this money sitting in my account.” 

✅ A DAF strategy is about getting larger gifts from your existing supporters. 

Chances are some of your donors who give small cash gifts have DAFs worth thousands - and you’re not tapping into them.

Why?

Two Reasons.

One - you’re playing small. 

👉 If the largest gift you're promoting for donors to give is $250, your DAF donor doesn’t know if - and how - their larger gift will make a difference.

Two - you’re not communicating that you accept DAF gifts online and in your fundraising campaigns.

I once worked with a charity who had a large fundraising campaign they were promoting through their email list. We had a donor call and ask if her DAF gift would count towards our campaign goal.

Yikes!

It got us thinking - how many DAF donors are unsure if we would accept their gift, and are not bothering to call? 

After, we wrote a small note about accepting gifts from private giving funds in every fundraising communication - and received more as a result. ✨

✅  So before you rush to get new donors, find the hidden major gifts in your existing database with DAF messaging. Share big goals, and mention DAFs anywhere you can in your communications and donor forms.

And you can still invest in acquiring new donors - but that’s the job of a marketing or annual giving specialist - not a DAF strategy.

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