Nonprofits see major growth in support from DAFs with greater retention, study finds

K2D Strategies and Chariot have released the 2026 DAF Fundraising Report, analyzing $26.1 billion in charitable giving across 54 organizations to assess the growing role of donor-advised funds in nonprofit fundraising. The study found median DAF revenue grew 75% from 2021 to 2025, compared with 9% growth in non-DAF revenue. DAF donors posted retention rates 13 percentage points higher than non-DAF donors and made gifts averaging 23 times larger. The report recommends a more intentional focus on DAF fundraising and stewardship strategies to help nonprofits capitalize on growing DAF philanthropy while addressing challenges such as delayed payments, incomplete donor information, and fragmented reporting systems.