DAF COMMONS
We're Donor Advised Fund (DAF) holders creating a peer community to mobilize the 3.5 million DAF holders to do more good with the ~$330 billion sitting in DAFs. Whether you're new to DAFs or looking to deepen the impact of your giving, this is a space to learn and connect. Want to help us build it?
How you can help…
Join the mailing list
No spam. Just occasional updates on what we’re learning, what we’re reading, and what this community is becoming.
If you have a DAF or are DAF curious, take our survey
We want to know:
- How you’re using it
- What’s confusing
- What’s possible
- What you’re interested in learning
Not sure what this is about?
Scroll down to see the problem we’re trying to solve — or explore our resources and directory to learn what’s possible.
Why We are Here
DAF holders, like us and maybe you, steward ~$330 billion in the U.S. Most of us didn't set up our DAFs to let money sit on the sidelines. We did it because we wanted to do some good in the world. But the money sitting in DAF accounts (a number poised to grow to trillions) is largely invested in conventional market funds guided by a "grow to give" ethos that can work directly against the things we care about (i.e. you give to animal shelters but invest in companies using animals for cosmetic testing).
Many DAF holders want to do more with their DAF capital than grantmaking, but lack resources, examples, or peers to learn from. The potential to create impact with this money is staggering, and almost entirely unrealized.
What We Can Do Together
DAF Commons exists because we know that DAF holders have the power to change the status quo, and we want to build a community to do it together. There are thousands of DAF holders who want to do more with their capital. Being a DAF holder can feel isolating and anonymous. We rarely see ourselves as part of a group, let alone a group with shared power. Furthermore, many of us simply don’t know that values-aligned investing through our DAFs is even possible, let alone how to do it, and the institutions holding our money have little incentive to tell us. By coming together, asking questions, sharing knowledge, and finding joy along the way, we can start to turn our good intentions into action.
DAF Commons is a community for DAF holders who want to…
- Use our DAFs more effectively
- Invest our money more intentionally
- Learn what’s possible, collectively
- Compare notes with others who also have DAFs
- Nudge the whole system toward greater good
Where We Are Starting
DAF Commons is designed to close the gap between intention and investment. Too many DAF holders want to do more, but lack clarity, community, or pathways to act. We’ve felt that ourselves. So we’re starting with three pillars aimed at connection, education, and activation. This is a living project. Your input will shape where it goes.