Donor‐Advised Funds (DAFs) are one of the fastest‑growing sources of charitable giving.
In our recent webinar, we teamed up with our 4aGoodCause DAFpay partner, Chariot, to show nonprofits how to take full advantage of DAF giving—especially now that DAFpay is available through 4aGoodCause.
We covered what DAFs are, the latest trends (from the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report), how DAFs can elevate your major gifts strategy, and most importantly, how DAFpay with 4aGoodCause makes giving via DAF simpler for your donors—and easier to manage for your development team.
Watch the full video
In this webinar, 4aGoodCause’s Ronald Pruitt joins Chariot’s Talia Gill to discuss how nonprofits can harness Donor‑Advised Funds for bigger gifts, smoother operations, and greater donor satisfaction through DAFpay.
- Understand what DAFs are and why they matter now
- Use DAFpay to simplify donation workflows
- Build strategy to engage DAF donors more effectively
In this session, you’ll explore:
- The mechanics of DAFs: how they work, what makes them powerful for nonprofits
- Key trends from the 2025 DAF Fundraising Report
- DAFpay: What it is, how it integrates with 4aGoodCause, and how to accept DAF donations easily
- Marketing and donor engagement: How to let donors know about DAF giving, solicit effectively, and steward well
- Live Q&A: Real‑world questions answered
4 top takeaways from the webinar
- Average DAF gifts are much larger than typical gifts. In 2023, the average DAF gift was over $4,600 — about 24× the average credit card gift.
- DAF donors aren’t always who you think they are. Even everyday givers benefit from using DAFs, and some organizations are offering employer-matching DAFs to increase charitable giving. DAF holders aren’t just for family trusts or larger-gift philanthropists.
- Steward your DAF donors well early on. With DAFpay, you get the donor name, email, and donation amount, which helps you say thank you quickly and build relationships.
- Giving donors the option of DAFpay is easier than you think. While DAF giving might seem complex at first, DAFpay within 4aGoodCause makes it really simple, giving small to midsize nonprofits easier access for generous donors who plan their giving ahead of time.
Why DAFpay? Here’s why DAFs are worth diving into
If you’re wondering why DAFs are becoming such a hot topic in nonprofit fundraising—or how they fit into a modern fundraising strategy—here are a few tips:
- Tax‑efficient giving tools appeal to donors. More individuals are using donor‐advised funds for both tax planning and flexible giving. DAFs allow donors to receive an immediate tax deduction, even if the nonprofit grant happens later.
- Growing donor pool. While many DAFs are held by higher‑net‑worth individuals, more people with modest accounts are opening DAFs too. Nonprofits ignoring DAF potential are likely leaving funds on the table.
- Lower friction = higher conversion. Giving through DAFs used to involve manual steps. DAFpay automates or simplifies much of it, reducing friction and delays, increasing both the donor satisfaction and the nonprofit’s ability to respond and steward.
- Integration with recurring giving and donor journeys. DAFpay works alongside other giving options. Nonprofits can offer DAF giving in their recurring giving programs, segment DAF donors, and include DAF awareness in their marketing—in fundraising appeals, website, newsletter, email surveys.
Tips for implementing DAFpay well on your donation pages and website
Keep these top of mind when encouraging DAF gifts to your nonprofit:
- Make it visible: Ensure your donation form clearly shows “Donate using Donor‑Advised Fund / DAFpay” as an option.
Educate your donors: Include info on your site, in newsletters, appeal letters about what DAFs are and how easy giving through DAFpay is.
- Train your team: Make sure your development and finance staff understand the rules (e.g. what DAF gifts can and cannot fund) and the tracking/acknowledgment process.
- Monitor and track: Use tagging or segmentation to see which donors are giving via DAF, so you can steward and follow up appropriately.
- Use board/leadership conversations: Help them see the strategic opportunity— larger gifts, more flexible giving, enhanced donor relationships.
Supplemental resources mentioned in this session
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About the guests
Talia Gill (Chariot): Talia works on the Partnerships team at Chariot, helping nonprofits unlock the full potential of DAF giving. Her background spans civic engagement, global consulting, and nonprofit tech.
Ronald Pruitt (4aGoodCause): Ronald is the Founder & President of 4aGoodCause, with over 25 years of experience helping small nonprofits grow through online giving. He is especially passionate about making monthly giving and donor engagement both accessible and effective.
About our partner, Chariot
Chariot: Chariot is a 4aGoodCause partner and a financial-tech company that offers a payment network that lets donors use their Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) anywhere they give, making giving as seamless and intentional as spending from a credit card.
