What is Why Giving Matters?

A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows for the contribution of assets to a philanthropic account. These are assets that must go to charity. Assets can then grow tax-free to create more charitable dollars while being granted to nonprofits. Vanguard Charitable wanted to better understand how using a DAF influences the giver and the grant recipients.

This DAF report reviewed both internal data and survey data. Surveys were collected from donor-advised fund donors and charities that have received grants from Vanguard Charitable accounts.

Key Takeaways

People may open donor-advised funds for many reasons. They may be seeking to maximize generosity through tax benefits or to find a more cost-effective alternative to private foundations. They may also want to use tax-free growth of philanthropic investments to give even more over time.

No matter the reason for opening, people begin their DAF philanthropic journey with a meaningful commitment to strategic philanthropy. Why Giving Matters observes that a donor-advised fund can have a profound impact for the better on donor behavior over time. The longer a donor has a Vanguard Charitable donor-advised fund, the more generously and more effectively they give to charity.

The DAF report considered various factors that constitute effective giving beyond just giving more. The study not only reviewed the observable giving behavior but also how donors themselves view their giving.

How do donors demonstrate more effective giving? What can nonprofits expect from those who grant with this giving vehicle? Download the report now and see the numbers for yourself.

The impact of unrestricted granting

Vanguard Charitable strives to provide top philanthropic guidance. One piece of advice often shared is to give unrestricted grants when possible. Unrestricted granting means that when donors recommend a grant, the funds can be used however the nonprofit deems best.

Unrestricted granting is a top request from nonprofits and is an important part of trust-based philanthropy. For those looking for effective giving tips, this is a top recommendation.

So, what did this DAF report discover about giving behavior and unrestricted granting? It's good news for nonprofits—data shows that Vanguard Charitable donors are listening to what their favorite charities want.

Download the report and discover how nonprofits may be able to encourage even higher levels of unrestricted granting.

Download Why Giving Matters 

This report is rich in data that can help you better understand effective giving and donor-advised fund grants. This free report is valuable to donors looking to give more effectively and nonprofits looking to understand key partners better. It can also help anyone in the giving sector interested in meaningful trends in giving behavior.

To access the exclusive findings in Why Giving Matters, please complete the form.