Donor-Advised Funds for charities: guidance for fundraisers
As Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) become an increasingly important part of philanthropy in the UK, more charities are asking how they work, what they mean for fundraising, and how to engage effectively with DAF donors.
This free guide has been created to help charities and fundraisers better understand DAFs and feel more confident navigating this growing area of philanthropy.
Whether you're encountering DAFs for the first time or looking to build on your existing knowledge, the guide offers practical advice, real-life experience and insights to help your organisation become more DAF-ready.
What's inside this Donor-Advised Funds guide for charities?
The guide includes:
- An introduction to DAFs and how they work
- Why DAFs are becoming increasingly important for charities
- Practical advice on engaging with DAF donors
- How Mary’s Meals developed its DAF programme
- Q&As with Chapel & York, CAF and Stewardship about their DAFs
- A practical DAF readiness checklist
- Frequently asked questions about DAFs
Why we created this guide
As we began exploring DAFs at Mary's Meals, one thing quickly became clear: while DAFs are becoming a more established way for people to give, many charities and fundraisers still feel unsure about how they work and how best to respond.
We created this guide to help make DAFs more accessible. Rather than focusing on the technical or financial aspects alone, it offers practical guidance to help charities understand the opportunities DAFs present and build confidence in engaging with DAF donors.
Developed through collaboration
This guide was developed in collaboration with Chapel & York and includes insights from CAF and Stewardship, as well as a Mary’s Meals supporter who shares his experience of giving through a DAF.
By bringing together perspectives from across the sector, we hope the guide provides a balanced and practical introduction for charities beginning their DAF journey.
Download our guide for charities
Are you interested in supporting Mary's Meals through a Donor-Advised Fund
Are you looking for information about DAFs as a supporter?
We've also created a companion guide explaining how DAFs work, why people choose to give through them, and how they can support thoughtful, long-term and impactful generosity.
