Our Chief Development Officer Nicole Morgan explores how financial advisors can help clients turn charitable giving goals into meaningful, lasting impact
In my work as a fundraiser, I spend a lot of time thinking about what inspires people to give, and what sometimes stands between a donor’s desire to make a difference and a nonprofit receiving the resources it needs to do the work. That is why one number feels particularly meaningful on this National DAF Day: more than $326 billion is currently held in donor-advised funds (DAFs), already committed to charitable purposes. Dollars that are waiting to be distributed to nonprofit organizations – think about the potential represented by that number.
Those dollars can strengthen food banks and shelters. They can support education, healthcare, veterans, children, and families. They can help small community organizations hire another staff member, expand a successful program, serve more people, and be the help that someone might desperately need. The charitable intent is already there. The opportunity now is to help get those dollars moving and turn intent into impact.
Financial Advisors Can Help Make That Happen
At Invest in Others, I have the privilege of working with financial advisors who are deeply engaged in their communities. I see firsthand how powerful their influence can be, not only through their own generosity, but through the conversations they have with clients.
Financial advisors occupy a unique position of trust. They often know much more than what appears on a client’s financial statement. They know what their clients value, what they worry about, what they are proud of, and what they hope to leave behind. That makes philanthropy a natural part of the conversation.
For clients who have established donor-advised funds, an advisor can ask a simple but powerful question: What do you want these dollars to accomplish?
That question can lead to something important. It can become a conversation about the community where a client built a business or raised a family. It can uncover a desire to support a cause connected to a deeply personal experience. It can lead families to talk about their values across generations. And it can help a client begin thinking about philanthropy not simply as charitable giving, but as a legacy.
The View from the Nonprofit Side
Those conversations matter enormously to those of us working in the nonprofit sector. Every day, nonprofit leaders are making difficult decisions about how to meet growing needs with finite resources. They are thinking about the people they could serve, the programs they could expand, and the impact they could create if they had the funding to do it. Meanwhile, billions of dollars have already been designated for charitable purposes. There is an extraordinary opportunity to connect the two.
Financial advisors can be an important part of that bridge. They don’t need to choose causes for their clients. They can help clients clarify what matters to them, create thoughtful giving strategies, engage family members in conversations about philanthropy, and ultimately put charitable capital to work. And sometimes, the most valuable thing an advisor can do is simply start the conversation.
From Assets to Impact
At Invest in Others, we believe deeply in the power of the financial services community to create positive change. For 20 years, we have seen what happens when financial professionals use their time, talent, networks, and resources in service to others. National DAF Day is another opportunity for our industry to lead.
If you are a financial advisor, consider reaching out to clients with donor-advised funds and asking them what they want their philanthropy to accomplish. Talk about the organizations and communities they care about. Ask what kind of legacy they hope to build. Help them move from charitable intention to charitable action.
And as you consider your own giving, I hope you’ll consider Invest in Others.
Invest in Others is a public foundation fueled by the generosity of both corporate partners and individual donors. Those contributions allow us to invest in the nonprofits financial advisors champion, putting resources directly into communities across the country and celebrating an industry that gives back.
If you have a donor-advised fund, National DAF Day is a great time to put those charitable dollars to work. Recommend a grant to Invest in Others and help us fuel the work of financial professionals who are making a difference in communities nationwide.
Because the real promise of the more than $326 billion held in donor-advised funds isn’t the size of the assets. It’s what those dollars can do once they reach the communities they were intended to serve.
Nicole Morgan is Chief Development Officer at Invest in Others, where she leads fundraising strategy to advance the organization’s mission to amplify, celebrate, and inspire the charitable work of financial advisors and firms. A nonprofit and fundraising leader with experience spanning national and community-based organizations, Nicole is passionate about connecting philanthropy with meaningful community impact. In both 2025 and 2026, she was named one of the Top 50 Female Chief Development Officers in the country by Women We Admire in recognition of her leadership in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
