JENKINTOWN, PA — The National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) has announced that the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (DAFRC) will assume responsibility for producing and publishing its widely recognized Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Report, marking a significant shift in how the philanthropic sector’s leading data source will be managed and shared.
For nearly two decades, NPT’s DAF Report has been considered the primary resource for tracking trends and insights surrounding donor-advised funds — a fast-growing philanthropic tool. NPT will now transfer historical data and research to the DAFRC, which will independently release future editions of the report.
“For nearly 20 years, the DAF Report has been the leading source of data on DAFs for donors, grantees, and the public at large,” said Holly Welch Stubbing, CEO of NPT. “As an early pioneer in the industry, the DAF Report increased awareness of the critical role of DAFs in generating grants to leading changemakers and nonprofits in local communities and around the world.”
Expanding Research Capabilities
NPT began producing the DAF Report by manually reviewing hundreds of IRS Form 990 filings. Over time, the report evolved into a comprehensive study of donor-advised funds, supported by a dedicated research team. However, as the sector has matured, more organizations now have the tools and capacity to conduct sophisticated research.
According to Stubbing, this made the transition to DAFRC a logical next step. “The field is ready to take ownership of the report and provide more visibility and information,” she explained, emphasizing that the DAFRC’s academic expertise and independent standing will enhance the report’s depth and reach.
The DAFRC, composed of nonprofit researchers and academics, is known for its landmark National Study on Donor Advised Funds, a four-year initiative that analyzed previously unavailable data. Co-leaders of the DAFRC, Dr. Dan Heist of Brigham Young University and Dr. Danielle Vance-McMullen of DePaul University, stated that the collaborative plans to integrate open science principles and provide fresh analyses to answer emerging questions about DAF usage.
Future of the Report
The first DAFRC-produced report is expected to be released in late 2025, funded by a broad consortium of sponsors, including NPT, community foundations, and national DAF providers. All funding sources will be disclosed to ensure transparency.
While NPT will no longer produce the report, the organization plans to explore new ways of sharing insights and data with donors, advisors, institutions, and nonprofits. NPT will remain a leading authority in donor-advised fund management and continue to provide philanthropic expertise to clients and partners.
This transition reflects a broader evolution in the philanthropic research landscape, aligning the DAF Report with emerging standards of transparency, academic rigor, and accessibility.
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