Podcast Summary

We Are For Good Podcast — Episode 644: Unlocking DAF Potential: Susan G. Komen’s Record-Breaking $267,000 DAF Day
Guests: Trish Davis (VP of Major Gifts & Planned Giving, Susan G. Komen), Mitch Stein (Head of Strategy, Chariot)
Hosts: Jon McCoy, Becky Endicott
Release Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the explosive growth and untapped opportunity of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) in nonprofit fundraising, illustrated by Susan G. Komen’s groundbreaking $267,000 single-day DAF campaign. Hosts Jon and Becky are joined by Trish Davis, who led the effort at Komen, and Mitch Stein, whose company Chariot helped smooth the DAF donation process. Together, they demystify DAFs, share actionable strategies, and advocate for all nonprofits to embrace these emerging giving vehicles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Journeys into DAF World

• Mitch Stein’s Backstory (03:10):

  • Shared his journey from investment banking to the nonprofit tech sector, driven by a memorable $10,000 DAF gift during a charity bike ride.
    • Quote: “I will never forget getting a $10,000 donation from one of the partners that I worked for at Goldman. And I was like, I didn't even know donations that big happened.” (03:38, Mitch Stein)
  • Frustration with the complex DAF giving process inspired his work at Chariot, streamlining DAF payments.

• Trish Davis’s Nonprofit Path (06:05):

  • Military service shaped her desire for impact and led to a career built on personal relationships in fundraising.
  • Grew into DAFs through practical experience and focus on making giving seamless.

2. DAFs, Explained for All

• DAF Basics and Appeal (09:12):

  • Trish likens DAFs to a “charitable savings account” — donors contribute, receive the tax benefit up front, then recommend grants over time.
    • Quote: “A donor advised fund is essentially like a charitable savings account... for someone like me, I have a daf and I know Mitch has a daf. We have a DAF at the same place.” (09:25, Trish Davis)
  • Major benefits: streamlined tax receipts, consolidated giving, and suitability for any donation size.

• Why DAFs are Booming (14:27):

  • DAF giving is rapidly rising while traditional giving stagnates or declines.
  • Data: In 2024, DAF revenue grew by a median of 30% among surveyed orgs, while other giving fell 1%. (15:06, Mitch Stein)
  • The DAF universe is not just for “big donors”: 69% of DAF gifts in the study were under $1,000. (16:02, Mitch Stein)

3. How Technology Has Changed DAF Fundraising

• Streamlining the Donor (and Staff) Experience (11:18):
  • Chariot allows DAFs to function in online “checkout” flows, so donors’ gifts are immediate, credited in campaign thermometers, and staff receive donor data promptly.
    • Quote: “It’s like Apple Pay, Google Pay, DAF Pay... You actually get an email, which is, like, unheard of. I'm the fax.” (12:20, Mitch Stein)
  • This reduces friction and encourages repeat giving, even for small gifts and peer-to-peer fundraising.

4. Susan G. Komen’s Record-Breaking DAF Day: The Case Study

Preparation & Strategy

• DAF Day as a Rallying Point (19:39):

  • The creation of a formal “DAF Day” (October 9) energized the organization and aligned marketing, fundraising, and operations around a single goal.
  • Cross-Departmental Engagement: The event marked Komen’s first-ever DAF-focused social media posts and mass communications.

• Personalized Outreach Wins (19:39):

  • Emphasis on 1:1 engagement: emails, calls, handwritten postcards, and video messages to DAF donors.
    • Quote: “We tried everything to get the word out and share about this day... lots of one to one outreach, emails, phone calls, postcards, handwritten postcards, video email.” (20:27, Trish Davis)

Messaging Tactics

• Framing the Ask (21:18):
  • Messaging linked the donor’s DAF account with the urgency and impact of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  • Donors were explicitly “invited” to join a collective moment of impact.
    • Quote: “…DAFs are just, they're incredibly generous and thoughtful with their philanthropy. And so it was an invitation to join us and we were blown away.” (21:57, Trish Davis)

Outcomes & Lessons

• Results: $267,000 raised in a single day, exceeding expectations and inspiring broader DAF engagement year-round.
• Key Takeaways:
  • DAF outreach cultivates higher and more frequent giving—sometimes 10x more than a donor would otherwise give.
    • Quote: “We see donors that previously made a digital gift making sometimes a 10x gift from their donor advised fund.” (16:59, Trish Davis)
  • Celebrate DAF donors as “super fans” and invest in their experience and stewardship.
  • Internal education and segmenting DAF donors in CRM systems is essential for targeted communication and ongoing success.

5. Trends & Best Practices for Every Nonprofit

• Lower the Barriers (28:42):

  • Ensure DAF giving is easy at every donation point (main website, walk campaigns, peer-to-peer).
  • Add DAFs visibly as an option — many donors will use DAFs when prompted.

• Communicate with Everyone (28:44):

  • Don’t limit DAF messaging to major donors; education and “planting seeds” invites widespread conversion.
    • Quote: “Don’t be too cautious in who you communicate about this with, because people are curious... And if someone already has a da, they're going to be excited that you're talking about it.” (28:44, Mitch Stein)

• Start Simple, Build Momentum (28:44):

  • Pick one concrete action — update your Ways to Give page, segment your donors, or add DAF Pay to your website.
  • DAF Day is a catalyst for internal alignment as much as donor engagement.

• Stewardship Matters (26:01, 33:34):

  • Post-gift outreach (including asking for feedback) drives satisfaction and repeat giving.
    • Quote: “If I can … do some stewardship every single day and not push it off... the time spent and usually the stories that we get in those calls... it's a good way to fill your cup and just get you through another day.” (33:34, Trish Davis)

6. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Any organization that isn’t actively talking about DAFs is leaving both money and engagement on the table.” (31:10, Paraphrased from hosts and guests)
• “Just dip your toe in... these things are becoming so much more mainstream.” (31:10, Becky Endicott)

Timestamps

• 03:10 — Mitch Stein: From Goldman Sachs to nonprofit fundraising
• 06:05 — Trish Davis: Military service to nonprofit giving
• 09:12 — DAFs explained “like I’m five”
• 11:18 — How Chariot has transformed DAF giving
• 14:27 — DAF giving trends and scale of opportunity
• 16:59 — Komen’s holistic DAF engagement strategy
• 19:39 — How Komen ran DAF Day: outreach and cross-team buy-in
• 21:18 — Crafting DAF Day messaging
• 23:43 — Lessons learned: Invitations, collective experience, and cultivating DAF donors
• 26:01 — Stewarding DAF donors and improving donor experience
• 27:23 — Where to start: data, segmenting, and DAF options everywhere
• 28:44 — Don’t overthink; start with one DAF action
• 33:34 — The power of daily stewardship and gratitude

Final Takeaways & Calls to Action

• Start simple: Update donation pages, educate your board, and start communicating about DAFs to all donors.
• Make giving easy: Integrate DAF options and streamline all touchpoints.
• Emphasize stewardship: Every DAF donor is a relationship worth cultivating — feedback loops and gratitude reinforce donor loyalty.
• Leverage moments: Use giving days or DAF Day to spark internal and external engagement.

“Get in the game... Not only are we leaving money on the table, but we're leaving believers behind who are already rabid fans of our mission.”
—Becky Endicott (30:58)

Connect with Guests:

• Mitch Stein: LinkedIn, dafday.com
• Trish Davis: LinkedIn

Practical Next Step:

• Visit your giving page: Add DAF options, educate your team, and plan for DAF Day—October 9.