How to choose between starting a donor advised fund (DAF) or a private foundation can be a complicated process.Which is best is determined by your level of wealth and the amount of control, labor, legal costs and privacy that you desire. This article will look at the pluses and minuses of each.

Data from the 2025 Bank of America (BOA) Charitable Giving by Affluent Households study determined that, on average, affluent donor households gave to 5 organizations. The BOA study continued that affluent donor households gave an average of $33,219 to charity. In comparison, donor households in the general population gave only $3,116 on average. It’s easy to see the value of an affluent donor. So, if you are an executive director or development professional at a nonprofit, h