What are the different types of DAF providers?

If you want to do a deeper exploration of potential DAFs on the market, in addition to the tools below, we can also recommend the website DonorAdvisedFunds.com for more research.

DAF providers generally fall into 4 categories

DAF-specific platforms
These providers were created primarily to make having a DAF easier and more fun to use. They have invested in mobile-first, user-friendly platforms. Daffy and Charityvest are both partners of Chariot that we can happily recommend.
Community Foundations
Hundreds of community foundations around the country manage DAFs. Many people like this option to keep their funds “local” and appreciate the engagement Community DAFs often have with local nonprofits serving their community. You can use this Community Foundation Locator tool to find a community foundation local to your region.
Financial Institutions
The largest DAFs are managed by major financial institutions and brokerage firms like Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab. People choose these options to keep their DAF bundled with the rest of their personal finances, making the transferring of stock or other assets easy from their primary account to their charitable giving account. Fidelity Charitable is the largest commercial DAF provider and is typically well resourced and supported.
Cause-Specific DAFs
There are also many organizations that manage DAFs either for one specific charity or as an umbrella over a general cause area. These options are good for people who want to concentrate their DAF giving or align their DAF accounts with a mission that’s important to them. The Jewish Communal Fund (JCF) and the National Christian Foundation (NCF) are two of the largest in the country and are both proudly supported by Chariot.

Note that with Community Foundations and Cause-Specific DAFs gifts to causes that are deemed outside of the scope of the DAF provider may be restricted or prohibited. Please ask about these restrictions before making a decision to open your DAF account. Either way, you should always be able to move your money out of one type of DAF to another and vice versa if you find your preferences change over time.

What should a donor do if their DAF is not found in the DAFpay search?

DAFpay should have all 1,100+ US-based DAFs listed and searchable in the platform. However, if a donor finds that their DAF provider is either not listed or listed incorrectly, please email us at contact@givechariot.com and we'll get them added ASAP.