The Strategic Use of Donor-Advised Funds for Charitable Giving

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) have become one of the fastest-growing charitable vehicles for high-net-worth individuals and families—and for good reason. They combine immediate tax benefits with long-term flexibility, allowing donors to separate the act of giving from the process of deciding where that giving should go.

In this blog, we explore how DAFs work, the key advantages they offer, and how they can serve as a core component of a strategic philanthropic and estate planning strategy.

What Is a Donor-Advised Fund?

A donor-advised fund is a philanthropic account established with a sponsoring organization—often a community foundation or financial institution—that allows donors to:

• Make irrevocable charitable contributions

• Receive immediate tax deductions

• Recommend grants to nonprofits over time

• Invest contributed assets for potential growth

DAFs are simple to set up, donor-directed, and designed to streamline the giving process.

Why DAFs Appeal to HNW Philanthropists

1. Tax Timing: Contribute in a high-income year, decide where to give later

2. Appreciated Assets: Donate securities or private equity without triggering capital gains

3. Simplicity: No legal setup, board formation, or compliance burden like a private foundation

4. Privacy: Donors can give anonymously through the DAF sponsor

5. Strategic Grantmaking: Create a long-term philanthropic plan, including recurring or multi-year grants

How DAFs Compare to Private Foundations

Ideal Use Cases for DAFs

• Bunching deductions in high-income years

• Selling a business and offsetting capital gains

• Charitable legacy planning with children or heirs

• Strategic support of long-term causes without managing operations

• Partnering with other giving vehicles (e.g., charitable trusts, foundations)

Investment and Growth Potential

DAF contributions can be invested in:

• Market portfolios (index, ESG, active)

• Thematic or impact-aligned strategies

• Custom pools (for large DAF accounts)

All growth occurs tax-free and expands charitable capacity.

Raziel helps families and advisors track DAF activity alongside trusts, foundations, and overall wealth planning.

With Raziel, you can:

• Monitor contributions, grant disbursements, and investment performance

• Tag grants by mission area, recipient, or impact category

• Track giving against strategic plans or legacy goals

• Model DAF vs. foundation tradeoffs in estate planning scenarios

Efficiency Meets Intention

Donor-advised funds provide a streamlined, strategic path to long-term charitable impact. For families who want to give with intention—while optimizing for taxes, timing, and simplicity—DAFs are one of the most flexible tools available.