First Day Podcast

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Danielle Vance-McMullen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at DePaul University and Dan Heist, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Brigham Young University shared key findings from their extensive research on Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). Conducted in collaboration with the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, their study included data from over 50,000 accounts and partnerships with 110 DAF sponsors. They uncovered that DAFs are predominantly utilized as mid-range philanthropic tools, with baby boomer generations being the primary contributors. Despite concerns about potential misuse for tax benefits, their analysis showed that only about one in nine accounts receive contributions annually, indicating broader philanthropic intentions. Furthermore, the research highlighted the frequency of grant distributions from DAFs, with over 60% of accounts making grants annually and about 80% within a three-year period. These grants support va