Giving from your Donor Advised Fund is now as easy as a few clicks on ScaleFunder
At ScaleFunder, our goal is to help you remove the hurdles between a donor’s intent and their impact. We are excited to introduce DAFpay, an optional integration that makes Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving as simple as a few clicks on your campaign page.
As Millennials and Gen Z become the recipients of the greatest transfer of wealth in history, via inheritance, career success, and other milestones of economic maturity, they aren’t just changing who gives. They are changing how they give. Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are becoming the giving method of choice for these emerging leaders.
What are Donor Advised Funds?
Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are a dedicated account for charitable giving. Donors put money into the account specifically for nonprofit support, receive their tax benefits upfront, and then choose which organizations to support over time.
Why this matters for your organization:
- Active Donors: People with DAFs tend to give frequently—averaging more than 11 grants per year.
- Growing Reach: DAFs aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy. Over half of these accounts have balances under $25,000, and they are becoming the preferred giving tool for donors under 40.
- Higher Impact: Because the money is already set aside for charity, the average DAF gift made through our platform is over $1,000.
How DAFpay Works
In the past, making a DAF gift was a manual, multi-step process that forced donors to leave your website to log into a separate portal.
With DAFpay, that friction is gone:
- Three-Click Giving: Donors can complete their gift directly on your ScaleFunder page in seconds.
- Major Providers Included: It works with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and hundreds of other providers.
- Stay Connected: Unlike traditional DAF checks that can arrive without contact info, DAFpay captures the donor’s name and email so you can thank them immediately.
The Modern DAF Landscape
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are no longer exclusive to the ultra-wealthy. With over 3.5 million donors in the U.S., they have become a preferred tool for donors across all income levels, particularly those under age 40.
Key Trends in Donor Behavior:
- High Intent, Low Conversion: The 2025 National Alumni Survey* reports that 82% of alumni are philanthropic, yet only 35% gave to their alma mater last year.
- Experience Over Lack of Will: This gap is often due to traditional giving methods failing to meet modern expectations for speed and digital ease.
- Strategic Giving: Younger donors use DAFs as active, intentional tools to maximize their impact.
To engage these donors, organizations must provide frictionless, user-friendly ways to distribute DAF funds and offer prompt, digital-first stewardship.
*Data from the National Alumni Survey; full publication expected March 2026.
Committed to Advancing Fundraising
Our mission is to ensure your fundraising tools never fall behind the pace of donor expectations. By leveraging Encoura’s technology and RNL’s deep roots in advancement, ScaleFunder is delivering a more agile and effective platform. We aren’t just maintaining a tool; we are building a future-proof ecosystem with regular updates and new features designed to improve your ROI. Stay tuned for more enhancements as we continue to innovate together.
Need help with talking about Donor Advised Funds to your constituents?
Explore our free DAF Marketing Toolkit below to help your team build awareness and show donors that DAFpay is a secure, reliable way to give. Because supporters are often hesitant to try new features until they feel familiar, these resources provide the clear instructions and “social proof” they need to feel confident. Use these strategies to normalize the experience and ensure your donors feel supported as they transition to this faster way of giving.