Ever get hit with a data point that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about a topic? That was me when I opened the Annual DAF Report 2025. Let me explain: For many years, I have eagerly awaited the annual release of the National Philanthropic Trust’s DAF Report. I considered it the preeminent […]
Author: Melissa Stepno
Welcome to the DAFinitive® Monthly Newsletter
We’re excited to introduce our new monthly email designed exclusively for the DAFinitive® community. Each month, we’ll deliver our DAFinitively Speaking blog posts straight to your inbox—bringing you timely insights, practical guidance, and thought leadership focused entirely on donor advised funds. Whether you’re a prospect development professional or a fundraiser, our goal is to provide […]
Unlocking Potential – Reflections from the DAF Giving Summit
In September, I attended the DAF Giving Summit, a conference dedicated to exploring all aspects of the donor advised fund (DAF) industry. Now in its fourth year, this was my second time participating. As Valerie Anastasio shared in her 2023 recap, The DAF Giving Summit – Reflective of the DAF Ecosystem, the DAF landscape is […]
Giving Vehicles Aplenty! Private Foundation vs. DAFs? Why Not Both?
For most of us, when we think of omni-channel fundraising, we think of the three most common giving vehicles: donating online with a credit card, mailing in a check, or providing payment information during a telemarketing phone call. However, the options for potential giving vehicles are way longer than just “The Big Three.” PayPal, give-by-text, […]
5 Things Prospect Researchers Should Love About DAFs
March is Prospect Development Pride month. Here at The Helen Brown Group, we celebrate each year with Intelligent Edge blog posts focused on what we love about our work and on advocating for our industry. We haven’t historically cross-pollinated in the DAFinitively Speaking blog, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t! Donor Advised Funds represent […]
Company Updates
Last week, The Helen Brown Group LLC (HBG), parent company of DAFinitive®, announced an ownership transition. In fact, and to be more personal, I have acquired HBG from Helen Brown, the company’s founder. I am super excited, and honored, to take the helm! In my new role, I’ll be serving as president and CEO of […]
