Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Americans remain steadfast in their commitment to charitable giving, with donor-advised funds (DAFs) playing a central role in sustaining and expanding support for nonprofits, according to several reports from Vanguard Charitable and Schwab’s DAFgiving360 platform.
A Harris Poll survey commissioned by Vanguard Charitable found that 70% of Americans donated to charity in the past six months, and 87% of those donors expect to give the same amount or more in the coming half-year.
According to the research, more than one-third of donors who plan to maintain or increase their giving cited a sense of civic duty as their primary motivation, especially during periods of market volatility. This sentiment is even stronger among DAF holders, with 94% having donated in the past six months compared to 68% of non-DAF donors.
DAF donors also gave, on average, two-and-a-half times more than their non-DAF counterparts – $1,586 versus $615 – and are nearly twice as likely to say they will increase their giving in the near term.
Within its platform, Vanguard Charitable reported a 30% increase in dollars granted from January to June 2025 compared to the previous year, with donors distributing more than $3.5 billion in fiscal year 2025. The organization noted that this growth extended beyond the amount given, reflecting a broader reach across nearly 63,000 nonprofits and a diversity of supported causes, including human services, religion, education, health, and the environment.
President Rebecca Moffett said the data shows that “generosity doesn’t pause during times of uncertainty, it grows,” and that DAFs enable donors to respond quickly to urgent needs without sacrificing long-term commitments.
Disaster relief remained a significant focus for DAF donors. Vanguard Charitable donors issued nearly 13,000 grants worth $110 million to 1,800 nonprofits for disaster relief, with substantial funds directed toward hurricane and wildfire response.
Schwab’s DAFgiving360 platform similarly reported that its donors distributed $148 million for emergency events during its fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30, with more than $4 million in grants to support Texas flood victims just weeks into the new fiscal year.
Both platforms highlighted a shift toward more flexible giving. Over half of Vanguard Charitable’s grant dollars were unrestricted, up from the previous year, allowing nonprofits to allocate resources where they are most needed. DAFgiving360 noted a 20% year-over-year increase in unrestricted grants, reflecting donors’ desire to empower charities with greater autonomy, particularly in the wake of disasters.
Recurring giving is also on the rise, with 38% of DAFgiving360 grants scheduled as recurring and nearly 70% of Vanguard Charitable’s annual grants classified as such. This approach provides nonprofits with reliable, year-round funding and strengthens donor engagement.
In fiscal year 2025, DAFgiving360 donors supported 155,000 charities through 1.4 million grants, a 19% increase in grants year over year. For every contribution made to DAFgiving360, 12 grants were made to charity, with donors granting at a pace averaging more than $24 million per day.
Schwab's most recent RIA Benchmarking Study also spotlighted advisors' role in supporting philanthropy, with 86% of advisor firms offering charitable planning. All in all, DAFgiving360 said donors across its platform worked with more than 4,700 financial advisors.
Cinira Baldi, the CEO of charitable platform Good360, says that the threat of deep federal funding cuts among nonprofits creates heightened urgency for DAF holders to extend their support before year-end.
"Communities across the country are facing rising needs as federal funding for essential programs like SNAP is reduced," Baldi said. "Yet in this moment, donors hold an incredible opportunity: more than $250 billion is sitting in donor-advised funds – waiting to be unlocked for impact.
"Every grant from a DAF can spark hope – putting food on the table, fueling vital services, and strengthening communities in real and lasting ways," she said. "This is a moment to reimagine what’s possible in the giving and nonprofit space. By activating the generosity already set aside, DAF holders can help ensure that nonprofits have the resources they need to rise to the challenge."
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