The $326 Billion Question: DAFs, Donor Behavior, and What Comes Next
What if the future of generosity isn’t about giving more, but about giving differently?
In this episode of the Sustainable Giving podcast, host Dave Raley sits down with Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, to explore one of the most important (and misunderstood) shifts happening in philanthropy right now: the rise of Donor-Advised Funds, and what they could unlock for sustainable, recurring generosity.
This isn’t a technical DAF explainer or a tax-policy deep dive. Instead, Dave and Mitch zoom out to look at how modern donor behavior is changing, why friction—not generosity—is often the real blocker, and how DAFs, recurring giving, and better infrastructure might help nonprofits plan with more confidence and resilience.
Along the way, Mitch shares his unconventional path from Goldman Sachs to startup founder to philanthropy innovator, and what seeing the sector from the outside taught him about what’s broken and what’s possible.
Key Topics They Cover:
From Wall Street to Social Impact Innovation
Mitch shares how being “too creative” for traditional finance ultimately led him to philanthropy, and why founders shaping the future of generosity often didn’t start in the sector at all.
Why Donor-Advised Funds Are Rising Right Now
DAF growth isn’t random. We unpack the cultural, economic, and psychological forces behind their rise, from complexity fatigue to trust gaps and the “set aside now, decide later” mindset.
Donor-Advised Funds as Infrastructure, Not Just a Tax Tool
What changes if nonprofits stop thinking of DAFs as accounts and start thinking of them as behavior-shaping infrastructure? And what are leaders still getting wrong about how donors actually use them?
The Overlap Between DAFs and Recurring Giving
DAFs and recurring giving aren’t competitors but cousins. We explore how DAFs can act as a generosity reservoir and what that means for long-term sustainability and donor commitment.
What DAFs Could Make More Sustainable in the Sector
From forecasting and retention to stewardship and planning, we look at how better DAF integration could reshape how nonprofits operate, and what risks exist if systems don’t evolve alongside scale.
So what’s the one question nonprofit leaders should be asking themselves this year as generosity continues to evolve?
Watch or Listen:
Watch this episode now by clicking the video above, or by visiting Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Key Resources:
Learn more about Mitch’s work at Chariot
Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn
Read TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2025: Chariot DAFpay
Connect with Dave on LinkedIn
Learn about Dave’s new program, RISE
Special thanks to our team at Sustainable Giving: Tom, Kirsten, Victoria, and Abigail
