At the Omaha Community Foundation, our role goes beyond granting money to nonprofits. We help donors make informed decisions about how and when their generosity can have the greatest impact. Doing that well requires not only deep local knowledge, but also credible national data that adds context and perspective to an evolving philanthropic landscape.
That is why OCF sponsored the 2025 Annual Donor Advised Fund Report, produced independently by the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative. The report provides a comprehensive, data driven look at how Donor Advised Funds are used nationwide and what those patterns reveal about charitable giving today.
A Donor Advised Fund functions much like a charitable savings account. Donors contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to nonprofits over time. This structure allows donors to plan their giving thoughtfully, respond to changing community needs, and manage their philanthropy from one place without administrative complexity. Throughout the report, Donor Advised Funds, or DAFs, are examined across different sponsors and communities.
Why Independent Research Matters
Beginning with the 2025 edition, responsibility for the Annual DAF Report shifted to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, an independent group of scholars specializing in economics and philanthropy. The Collaborative includes researchers affiliated with BYU, DePaul University, Grand Valley State University’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.
This independence strengthens confidence in the findings because objective research ensures insights are shaped by data rather than marketing priorities or institutional interests. As Dan Heist, co-founder of the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, notes, when donors can trust both the data and the institution helping interpret it, better decisions follow.
“Independent data is most powerful when it’s paired with local context,” Heist said. “Community foundations like the Omaha Community Foundation play a critical connector role by translating national research into insights that help donors act.”
What the Data Shows Locally
The 2025 report draws on data from nearly 1,500 DAF sponsors nationwide, including community foundations, national providers, and single-issue charities. The findings show that when DAFs are held at community foundations, they often reflect long-term donor relationships, larger average account sizes, and consistent grantmaking. Even during periods of market volatility, grantmaking activity remains steady.
This context is especially meaningful for Omaha. In 2025, OCF distributed $315.8 million through approximately 19,000 grants to 3,670 organizations across 2,143 funds, with DAFs serving as a key giving tool for many fundholders.
“What’s interesting about philanthropy in Omaha specifically is that it blends long-term commitment with immediate responsiveness,” Heist said, “Data shows donors here are thinking beyond single transactions and using tools like DAFs to stay adaptable to changing needs in their community.”
The data also helps address common assumptions about DAFs. Public discussions sometimes suggest that charitable dollars are delayed or withheld. National data does not support that view. In 2024, DAF payout rates exceeded 25%, showing that these funds are actively used to support nonprofits and respond to community needs.
Beyond individual giving decisions, the report highlights how charitable giving responds to broader economic conditions. National trends help donors understand how contributions and grantmaking shift over time and how planning can balance immediate needs with longer-term goals.
Omaha’s philanthropic strength is further supported by a strong network of professional advisors, including experts in estate planning, tax law, accounting, investment management, and trust services. Omaha is also home to the nation’s largest Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy study group, reinforcing a culture of informed, collaborative charitable planning.
Key findings from the 2025 report help put this context into perspective. Nationwide, DAFs distributed $65 billion in grants in 2024. Overall payout rates exceeded 25 percent, with community foundation DAFs averaging payout rates above 20 percent. Despite holding fewer assets than private foundations, DAFs distributed more than half as much in total grant dollars. Community foundation DAFs also continued to reflect larger average account sizes, supporting steady, long-term giving.
Taken together, the 2025 Annual DAF Report offers a clearer picture of how DAFs are used and why they matter. The data shows that these funds consistently move charitable dollars into communities, even during uncertain economic times. By replacing assumptions with evidence, the research gives donors practical insight into how their giving fits within broader trends and how thoughtful, informed philanthropy can strengthen nonprofits and communities over time.