Donor-advised funds reach $328 billion in fiscal 2024

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) experienced significant growth in fiscal 2024, increasing by 27.9% to reach a total of $328 billion, according to data from the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative. During that period, these funds granted $64.6 billion to various charities.

Despite the sophisticated infrastructure used to manage this capital, concerns have been raised regarding the long-term alignment of these funds with their original intent. As funds are structured to outlast their founders, there is a risk that the longevity of the financial structure may not match the durability of the original philanthropic purpose. This can lead to a disconnect where new trustees execute strategic plans without a clear understanding of the specific problems the original founders intended to address.