Donor-Advised Funds are one of the fastest-growing sources of charitable giving, and for many nonprofits they’re showing up more often, sometimes in larger amounts, and often with less clarity about who is actually behind the gift. The problem is not receiving the grant. The problem is what happens next.
Too many organizations record a DAF gift like any other donation, send a generic thank-you to the fund, and move on. That creates messy reporting, confusing acknowledgements, and a missed chance to build a real relationship with the person who recommended the grant. In this session, Bridgette will walk through a practical, repeatable approach to tracking DAF donations correctly and stewarding the donors behind them, so your team can turn one-time DAF grants into lasting support.
You’ll leave with clear guidance on how to log DAF gifts in your CRM, how to structure the “who is who” behind the transaction (fund vs. donor vs. contact), and how to acknowledge these gifts in a way that is accurate, respectful, and relationship-building. We’ll also cover common missteps nonprofits make with DAFs, plus simple follow-up rhythms you can implement immediately, even with a small team.
What you’ll learn:
- How to properly track DAF gifts in your CRM so reporting stays clean
- Who to thank (the fund, the donor, or both) and what to say in each case
- What to avoid when acknowledging DAF donors (and why it matters)
- A simple stewardship path that moves a DAF gift from “transaction” to “relationship”
- Easy next steps to strengthen DAF donor relationships without adding a ton of work
Who this is for: nonprofit staff who manage donations, donor relationships, acknowledgements, or reporting, especially small teams wearing multiple hats.
Outcome: a clearer DAF workflow, fewer awkward thank-you mistakes, and a stronger chance of earning the next gift from the donor behind the fund.
