Donors Filling Their DAFs Again

Donor-advised funds (DAF) have surpassed pre-recession levels in most all categories, according to an annual study by the National Philanthropic Trust.

The 20-page report was released today by Jenkintown, Pa.-based National Philanthropic Trust. The report included 652 charitable sponsors, including 43 national charities, 373 community foundations and 236 single-issue charities. It’s based on data collecting during the second and third quarters of this year about DAFs and charitable sponsors in fiscal year 2011.

Total assets under management increased almost 18 percent in 2011 to $37.43 billion, and almost 23 percent more than the $30.59 billion under management five years ago. The increase is likely due to an increase in the number of new accounts, according to the 2012 Donor-Advised Fund Report.

New accounts increased more than 4 percent last year – the first time since 2008 that new accounts grew more than 2 percent – to 177,357. The number of DAFs has risen each year since 2007, when there were 151,595 funds. The average account value reached an all-time high of $211,067 last year, a nearly 13-percent spike from the 2010 average of $187,505.

Contributions to DAFs were up more than 10 percent, to $9.64 billion in 2011 — compared with $9.5 billion in 2007 — while grantmaking was $7.7 billion, up almost 14 percent from $6.78 billion and $6.08 billion in 2007.

The 20-page report was released today by Jenkintown, Pa.-based National Philanthropic Trust. The report included 652 charitable sponsors, including 43 national charities, 373 community foundations and 236 single-issue charities. It’s based on data collecting during the second and third quarters of this year about DAFs and charitable sponsors in fiscal year 2011.