If the last 18 months have made you angry, frustrated, and exhausted, you’re certainly not alone. Threats to our democracy, natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, and humanitarian crises have all pushed us to the brink. As we face another giving season -- where low-income families must rely on toy drives for gifts and soup kitchens for a hot meal -- donors have an opportunity to give differently to address the longstanding disparities and unbalanced systems that have forced Band-Aid solutions.

In 2019, grants from Donor-advised Funds (DAFs) to nonprofits totaled approximately $27 billion, and while significant, nearly $142 billion still remained in DAF accounts. This was -- and continues to be -- a critical missed opportunity to redistribute wealth to marginalized communities and to support nonprofits working to restructure a more just society with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities at the helm. While it can be convenient to donate via checkbook or credit card, it’s crucial to unlock funds from your DAF first. 

Some DAFs require a minimum annual payout, but many do not, and if you don’t designate the dollars, some DAF sponsors will direct the minimum payout to organizations you have supported in the past. In this moment, you have an opportunity to spend down the money that you have already set aside to help communities and set up multi-year giving to organizations working on critical issues. This giving season -- in the midst of a multitude of crises -- engage with your DAF sponsor and request grants to nonprofits that are working to sustain democracy.

Giving Season Strategy: Strengthening Democracy

Democracy is at stake in the 2022 and 2024 elections, and we must sustain and amplify community-led power and legislative accountability in an ongoing manner to disrupt perpetual cycles of need. 

A functioning and representative democracy is tied to every major issue communities face -- education, the environment, public health, and paid leave to support a functioning workforce. Using dollars in your DAF account is a high impact opportunity to support critical components of society that are rarely sustained.

As you work with your DAF sponsor, we urge you to consider the following issues and approaches:

  • Voter education and organizing
  • Advocacy for community priorities, such as clean water in Flint or the homelessness crisis in Seattle
  • Long-term powerbuilding in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities 
  • Down ballot races that create opportunities for policy change
  • Local journalism
  • Ongoing voter engagement that sustains support of community-led priorities calling for accountability from elected officials

Get started with our Strengthening Democracy guide which includes learning resources and giving opportunities focused on powerbuilding in communities of color, civic engagement, access to voting, and voter organizing. It’s also a great place to learn about our incredible democracy partners working in key states and open to DAF dollars like Way to Rise and the Arizona Center for Empowerment among many others. Wishing you a high impact giving season focused on supporting movement leaders over the long term and beyond the checkbook!