Donor-advised funds have more money than ever – and direct more of it to politically active charities

By: Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University and Helen Flannery, University of Vermont, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 12, 2025

Words: 1,193

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 2 days ago

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By Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University and Helen Flannery, University of Vermont

Charitable giving in the United States has changed significantly in recent years.

Two of the biggest changes are the swift growth of donor-advised funds and the increasingly blurred lines between charity and politics.

Donor-advised funds, or DAFs, are charitable investment accounts. After donors put money or other financial assets into these accounts, the assets are technically no longer theirs. …

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