--- title: "Demystifying the DAF: What Every Charity Should Know" description: Understanding Donor Advised Funds and how your charity can take advantage of them. image: https://blog.techsoup.org/hubfs/by-the-cup/2023/blog-2.0-23.10.16-micro-donations-repost-inline.png --- [![TechSoup Home](https://blog.techsoup.org/hubfs/TechSoup_August2017/ts-logo.svg "TechSoup Home") ](https://www.techsoup.org) [My Account](https://www.techsoup.org/login?ReturnUrl=https://www.techsoup.org/) TB [My Account](https://www.techsoup.org/login?ReturnUrl=https://www.techsoup.org/) TechSoup Blog Browse Blog Posts [Back to Main Page](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts?hsLang=en-ca) × Topics [Show All Posts](https://blog.techsoup.org/en-ca/posts) - [Impact Stories (497)](https://blog.techsoup.org/en-us/posts/topic/impact-stories?hsLang=en-ca) - [Impact Stories Microsoft (353)](https://blog.techsoup.org/en-us/posts/topic/impact-stories-microsoft?hsLang=en-ca) - [Communications and Outreach (307)](https://blog.techsoup.org/en-us/posts/topic/communications-and-outreach?hsLang=en-ca) - 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[Cisco](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-cisco) - [Intuit](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-intuit) - [Microsoft](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-microsoft) - [Norton LifeLock](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-nortonlifelock) - [Symantec](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-symantec) - [Veritas](https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/topic/impact-stories-veritas) # Demystifying the DAF: What Every Charity Should Know ![TechSoup logo](https://blog.techsoup.org/hubfs/TechSoup_August2017/images/ts-chicklet.png) Tanis Patenaude, GiveWise November 18, 2025   ### When most Canadian charities hear the term “donor-advised fund,” they assume it’s something only large institutions or ultra-wealthy donors use. But that assumption could mean missing out on significant, values-aligned giving. Donor-advised funds (DAFs) — or *Giving Funds*, as we call them at [GiveWise](https://www.givewise.ca/) — are one of the fastest-growing ways Canadians are choosing to give. With nearly $10.5 billion now held in DAFs across Canada*, this is longer a niche strategy – it’s a major shift in how generosity happens. Yet many small and mid-sized charities still feel unsure about what they are, how they work, or how to engage donors who use them. Here’s the short version: A DAF is like a charitable bank account. A donor gives to their Giving Fund, receives a tax receipt right away, and then donates to the charities they care about over time. It’s a flexible, intentional way to give — and more of your supporters are using them than you think. At GiveWise, we’re Canada’s most flexible and forward-thinking *digital-first* donor-advised fund platform. We’re built to make DAFs simple, transparent, and accessible for both donors and charities. **We’re the only DAF platform designed to service charities as well as we serve donors. ** That means: - **You get a *live view into donor data*** – no more waiting or wondering who gave - **You can *thank donors directly*** and build stronger relationships - **You can *receive complex gifts*** (like donated shares or contributions from DAFs) without adding tech or admin burden Still, we often hear common misconceptions: - “Our donors aren’t wealthy enough.” - “Those gifts are always anonymous.” - “It’s another platform to manage.” - “If someone uses a DAF, we’ll lose them to other charities.” The truth? DAFs don’t fragment generosity — they focus it. And with the right support, they don’t create more work: They unlock more potential. Understanding how DAFs work is the first step. Knowing how to partner with donors who use them is what sets thriving charities apart. **Source: [Twin Rivers – Impact Investing and Donor-Advised Funds in Canada (2024) ](https://twinrivercapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TwinRiver-DAF-Impact-Investing-2025.pdf)* --- **Want to hear more from our friends at GiveWise? **[Check out the recording of our live webinar](https://youtu.be/o3p5OFbR2l0), *Other Ways to Give: How Digital DAFs and Non-Cash Gifts Can Boost Your Giving Season*. Featuring Jessica Rayne, Generosity Growth & Partnerships Lead at GiveWise, and facilitated by Eli van der Giessen of TechSoup Connects Canada. ###### *About GiveWise* *GiveWise is a Canadian foundation that operates a digital-first donor-advised fund platform designed to simplify generosity for both donors and charities. We bring nonprofit-to-nonprofit expertise to everything we do — helping organizations receive complex gifts, deepen donor relationships, and unlock more strategic giving. * ### Related Content [![Computer Hardware Is Getting More Expensive. What's Going On?](https://blog.techsoup.org/hubfs/Blog%20Images/202308/blog-2.0-23.08.16-grantstation-thumbnail.jpg) Hardware Computer Hardware Is Getting More Expensive. What's Going On? July 13, 2026 ](https://blog.techsoup.org/en-ca/posts/computer-hardware-keeps-getting-more-expensive.-whats-going-on?hsLang=en-ca) [![Which Wix Plan Is Right for Your Nonprofit?](https://blog.techsoup.org/hubfs/blog-2.0-26.01.23-quad-empowers-nonprofits-thumbnail-1.jpg) Web Development Which Wix Plan Is Right for Your Nonprofit? 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