When it comes to philanthropic giving, most advisors wait for December to remind clients to complete their giving for the year.
Top performing advisors make philanthropy a 12 months per year growth engine.
Philanthropy, when done well, isn’t just a transaction—it’s a reflection of values, vision and legacy. The fastest-growing advisory firms recognize this and weave giving into their client relationships all year. That shift—from a one-time tax event to an ongoing, values-driven dialogue—creates loyalty, deepens trust and drives growth across generations.
“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” – Simon Sinek
Advisor Advantage—Anchored in Today’s Data
Advisors integrating donor-advised funds (DAFs) and next-gen engagement see 3x faster asset growth and 4x better retention from existing clients.1 If you’re not leading these conversations, someone else will.
- 91% of wealthy Americans made a charitable gift in the past year, and most want philanthropy embedded into their legacy plans—not just their taxes.2
With artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights surfacing family trends, revealing shared priorities and identifying alignment and divergence, every grant, dashboard and conversation becomes a chance to reaffirm your role at the heart of a family’s giving story.
From “What” to “Why” in Wealth Integration
In commerce and in wealth management, personalization builds loyalty – think Amazon or Spotify. An advisor-aligned DAF works the same way: it’s not just about administering gifts, it’s about helping client families express why they give, and making that purpose part of the advisory relationship all year.
• DAF assets grew by nearly 10% to $251.52B in 2023, with payout rates at 23.9% – close to 5x the foundation minimum.3
The Growth Context
Top Performing RIAs Grow Faster with Integrated Services1
| |
5-Year Net Asset Flow CAGR
|
Assets from Existing Clients (2024)
|
| Top Performing Firms |
15.7% |
$16.9M |
| All Other Firms |
5.0% |
$4.4M |
CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate
DAF Industry Scale & Payout2
| Year |
Charitable Assets ($B) |
Grants ($B) |
Payout Rate (%) |
| 2019 |
$148.85 |
$28.49 |
23.0% |
| 2023 |
$251.52 |
$54.77 |
23.9% |
Clients rarely remember what you do for them—they remember why you do it and how you make them feel part of something bigger. When your DAF strategy is built around their “why,” you’re not just another advisor. You’re indispensable.
Important Disclosures & Definitions
1 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (2025). Insights from the 2025 RIA Benchmarking Study.
2 Bank of America Private Bank. (2024). 2024 Study of Wealthy Americans.
3 National Philanthropic Trust. (2024). 2024 Donor-Advised Fund Report.
AAI000982 08/19/2026
