Learn About DAFs
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The NPT Donor-Advised Fund
Donor-advised funds are the nation’s most popular giving vehicle — and NPT is the largest national independent provider.
An individual, family, trust, corporation, or nonprofit organization can establish an NPT Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). NPT leverages our deep philanthropic experience to find customized solutions for donors of all types, creating social impact across all sectors and geographies.
Register on GivingPoint, our donor portal, to get started now, or learn more about opening an NPT DAF below:
Why Choose NPT for Your Donor-Advised Fund?
NPT Donor-Advised Funds offer unique benefits that set us apart from other providers.
NPT DAFs are customizable.
Our donor-advised fund program accommodates a wide range of assets, including privately held businesses, real estate, and cryptocurrency. Donors can also select from a range of investment options based on their goals and risk tolerance, creating a giving strategy that maximizes philanthropic impact.
NPT DAFs offer access to philanthropic guidance.
Our experienced team works with donors to define and pursue their charitable goals. Drawing on decades of philanthropic experience, we offer education, insights, and philanthropic advising to help donors approach their giving with greater intention and put their plans into action.
NPT DAFs provide global reach.
We are also uniquely positioned to help donors think globally about their giving. Our London-based partner organization, NPT UK, offers donor-advised funds for global givers who wish to center their philanthropy from the United Kingdom. Additionally, our grantmaking team has expertise in administering international grants — which we have facilitated in 90 countries around the world.
We have been serving individual donors and their families for thirty years, supporting them at every step of their charitable journey.
In addition to working with donors and families, we engage with a variety of partners in collaborative pursuit of global impact:
Setting Up an NPT Donor-Advised Fund
To establish an NPT Donor-Advised Fund account, you make a tax-deductible, non-refundable initial contribution — for which you can use assets of any type, including complex assets like closely held business interests and cryptocurrency. After the initial donation, additional contributions can be made in any amount at any time. Donors have the option to work with their own financial advisors to design an investment strategy for the assets, allowing them to grow their DAFs at their own pace, according to their giving goals.
Personalized Giving Experience
With the NPT Donor-Advised Fund, you can create a personalized giving experience tailored to your philanthropic goals. You can name your fund, involve your family members and trusted advisors to help you manage your DAF account, access resources to help you develop your giving strategy, and — most importantly — recommend grants to the causes closest to your heart. This level of customization allows you to create an impactful giving legacy. The true purpose of a donor-advised fund is to facilitate your giving — a process which is deeply personal — and our team is on hand to support you in determining the most effective and meaningful ways that you can give.
Managing Contributions Online
We provide a user-friendly online platform called GivingPoint for managing your NPT Donor-Advised Fund. Through this platform, you can easily make contributions, recommend grants, monitor your account activity and streamline your gift receipts. The ability to manage your DAF online offers convenience and real-time access to your philanthropic activities.
Security and Privacy
We take the security and privacy of our donor information seriously. All online transactions are encrypted, and strict privacy policies are in place to protect donor information. Donors also have the option to make their grants anonymously, providing an additional level of privacy for those who prefer it.
The NPT DAF Difference
Our mission is to unite capital and expertise, partnering with philanthropists and their advisors to drive global impact. We offer industry-leading donor-advised funds that allow our donors to:
Contribute A Wide Range of Assets
- Cash
- Publicly traded securities
- Restricted and controlled stock
- Bonds
- Mutual fund shares
- Privately-held securities
- Limited partnership interests
- Real estate
- Cryptocurrency
- Tangible personal property
In addition, your NPT DAF can accept gifts via:
- Credit cards
- Transfers and grants from private foundations
- Proceeds from life insurance or a full-paid policy
- Bequests from wills
- Beneficiary funds from charitable remainder or lead trust
- Beneficiary funds from an IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account
Access Customized Philanthropic Services
- Advisory services to help you define and maximize your philanthropy
- Philanthropic vehicles including designated funds and supporting organizations
- Enhanced services and a dedicated philanthropic concierge for Premier Donors with a DAF of $5M or more
- Infrastructure and strategic support for donor collaboratives
Choose Best-In-Class Investments
- Mutual funds
- Exchange-traded funds
- Discretionary investment plans for DAFs over $500,000 which may include alternative and private investments
Grant and Create a Permanent Giving Legacy
- Grants to international charities
- Multi-year and challenge grants
- Grant-by-grant recognition selection, with the option of total anonymity
- Advisors, successors and/or charitable beneficiaries can carry on your philanthropy in perpetuity
FAQs
As a sponsor of DAFs for 30 years, we can answer many of your questions about donor-advised funds:
What is a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund is a charitable giving account that allows you to make charitable contributions, receive tax deductions, and recommend grants from the fund over time.
Read our “What is a DAF?” guide.
How much do I need to start a DAF?
The minimum initial contribution required to open an NPT Donor-Advised Fund is $10,000.
Can I contribute non-cash assets to my DAF?
Yes. We accept various assets including securities, real estate, and even cryptocurrency.
In most cases, our team works to liquidate these assets as soon as possible, to make the proceeds available in the DAF account as funds for grantmaking.
However, in cases where the donor wishes to to keep the DAF assets invested, NPT is able to hold the assets and exit the position strategically. NPT has the unique ability to hold the highest concentration of positions of any charity in individual securities (up to 100%) and up to 95% in alternative and private investments.
How do I recommend grants from my DAF?
You can recommend grants online through our GivingPoint platform.
Can my family members be involved with my NPT Donor-Advised Fund?
Yes. You can name them as advisors or successor advisors to your NPT Donor-Advised Fund. If you are naming your children, they can legally assume these roles as soon as they are 18 years old.
NPT also offers the opportunity to discuss family philanthropy, and can offer guidance on developing a family giving strategy. To speak with a member of the Philanthropic Services team, please call (888) 878-7900.
