You Have A DAF. Now What Do You Do With It?
Many people open a donor-advised fund — often around a significant financial event — because they know they want to give. Then life gets busy, and the money stays put. Getting back into it doesn't have to take much time. And when you do, there are many ways to put it to work that go well beyond traditional grantmaking. I know, because this is how I've learned to use my own DAF.
The DAF is the tool. Your giving practice is the goal.
Curious this looks like in real life? I've done a fair amount of it myself — more on that on here
You’re Already Granting - and Want To Do More
Annual giving is a great place to start. There's room to grow from there.
• larger, more strategic, or multi-year commitments
• recoverable grants
• loans that are partially or fully forgiven when the borrower meets an impact outcome you both care about
YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THIS ALONE
Giving alongside others can extend your reach and sharpen your thinking.
• collaborative or pooled giving
• family funds
YOU WANT YOUR DAF TO DO WORK WHILE IT WAITS
Where your balance sits matters as much as where it goes.
• stable, liquid holdings - a sensible choice if you’re granting quickly and often
• growth-oriented investment funds, for a longer horizon
• patient capital - think affordable housing loans, community lending - that returns to your DAF as it matures, available to be granted or deployed again
not every DAF sponsor supports this; some donors open more than one DAF for exactly that reason (a topic for us to work through together.)
YOU’re READY TO GO BEYOND GRANTS ENTIRELY
Impact can take multiple forms.
• catalytic investments - equity or otherwise - into non-profit and for-profit ventures aligned with your values
Ready TO GO FURTHER?
I love meeting people starting at any point in their giving.