In April 2026, a federal grand jury in Alabama indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit civil rights organization founded in 1971. The indictment includes charges of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors allege that the SPLC improperly used donor funds to compensate […]
DAFinitively Speaking
Case Study in Donor Engagement Strategies: Rochester Area Community Foundation
Building on last month’s DAFinitively Speaking post defining the common types of charitable funds managed by community foundations, I was fortunate to connect with Mary Hartstein, Director of Donor Engagement and Impact at the Rochester Area Community Foundation, (RACF) to discuss her organization’s process for donor engagement, depending on the fund type. Background on RACF […]
Beyond DAFs: Common Types of Charitable Funds
Many people are familiar with donor advised funds (DAFs)—charitable giving vehicles that allow individuals, families, or organizations to make tax‑deductible contributions, place those assets in a dedicated fund at a sponsoring organization, and then recommend grants over time to qualified 501(c)(3) charities. Because the donor retains advisory privileges while the sponsoring organization maintains legal control […]
DAFinitive’s Spring 2026 Product Updates and Other Happenings
DAFinitive® Product Updates We are excited to announce two feature updates within the DAFinitive® platform: 1. Print Profile Formatting Enhancements As our subscribers already know, within each DAF profile, there is an option at the top of the screen to print a record to PDF: These PDFs now have a fresh, new design that replicates […]
Research in the News: How Donor Advised Funds Are Reshaping Fundraising Practice
Our friends at the DAF Research Collaborative (DAFRC) have recently released another insightful report; Reinventing the Cycle: Adapting Relationship Fundraising for Donors Who Use DAFs. As most readers know, DAFs are becoming more and more accessible to everyday donors because of the increase in sponsor organizations, the growth of workplace giving platforms, smaller initial contribution […]
Rethinking DAF Growth: What I Learned the Moment it Clicked
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 […]
