Donors using DAFgiving360 pushed nearly $10 billion to charities in 2025, marking the most active granting year on record for the donor-advised fund sponsor and underscoring the role of DAFs in clients’ ongoing giving strategies.
The organization, which operated as Schwab Charitable until its rebranding in 2024, said its donors granted $9.9 billion to more than 165,000 charitable organizations last year, a 28% increase from 2024 and the largest annual total in its history.
DAFgiving360 touted 2025 as its fourth straight year of double-digit growth in grants, as donors continued to draw on their DAF balances rather than letting assets sit idle.
“Our donors’ record grantmaking in 2025 underscores their extraordinary generosity and the trust they place in our donor-advised fund as a powerful vehicle for giving,” Julie Sunwoo, president of DAFgiving360, said in a statement Tuesday. She added that clients have shown that “philanthropy is not only a response to urgent needs, but a sustained commitment to supporting the causes and communities they care about most.”
Activity on the platform was steady throughout the year. On average, donors granted more than $27 million a day and recommended 1.5 million individual grants, up 20% from the prior year. The median grant size was $500, and most accounts were used frequently, with many donors making more than seven grants over the course of 2025.
Advisors working with clients on DAF strategies may also note donors’ behavior demonstrating flexible support. The firm reported that 74% of grants last year were made without a designated purpose, giving nonprofits discretion to direct dollars where they are needed most. About 38% of all grants were set up as recurring, which can help charities plan for sustained funding and help clients systematize their giving.
Tax and investment considerations also shaped behavior. In the run-up to changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, many donors accelerated contributions into 2025 and leaned heavily on appreciated assets. A record 74% of contributions came in the form of non-cash assets such as stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrency, including gifts of “Magnificent 7” names and broad market ETFs and index funds. Investment growth inside DAFgiving360 accounts added another $8 billion in charitable capacity during the year, the organization said.
DAFgiving360 reported that donors remain responsive to key moments. On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, donors recommended more than 24,000 grants totaling $80 million to over 15,000 charities, marking a 37% year-over-year dollar increase. Disaster relief was another focus, with more than $200 million granted through nearly 56,000 recommendations tied to Center for Disaster Philanthropy guidance, up 16% from 2024.
Read more: Americans sustain charitable giving amid uncertainty, with donor-advised funds leading the way
Advisors remain central to how clients use the platform. DAFgiving360 said donors worked with more than 5,200 financial advisors in 2025, and 77% of DAF assets were associated with an advisor relationship.
“We’re proud to help donors achieve maximum charitable impact by providing tools that make giving both meaningful and effective,” Sunwoo said, noting that the organization expects elevated levels of generosity to continue in 2026.
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