Unlocking Impact Through Non-Cash Giving: Celebrate DAF Day with Servants

October 9 marks DAF Day, a national observance that highlights the growing power of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs). At Servants, we’re excited to join this celebration because DAFs—and other forms of non-cash giving—are transforming how generous people like you help neighbors in need.

Why DAF Day Matters

DAFs are charitable accounts that donors establish through a community foundation, financial institution, or investment firm. You contribute cash, stock, or other assets to the fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to charities over time. This simple structure makes DAFs the fastest-growing vehicle for philanthropy in the United States.

For Servants, which provides free home repairs and accessibility modifications to low-income seniors and people with disabilities, DAF grants have become a vital source of support. They provide steady funding for projects like wheelchair ramps, roof repairs, and safety upgrades—work that keeps families safe and independent.

The Power of Non-Cash Gifts

DAFs are just one way to give beyond the checkbook. Non-cash gifts can include appreciated stock, mutual funds, real estate, or even distributions from an IRA. Here’s why these gifts are so impactful:

• Tax Advantages – Donating appreciated assets directly to Servants can help you avoid capital gains taxes while still claiming a charitable deduction.

• Greater Capacity to Give – Many donors discover they can make a larger gift of stock or property than they could from cash flow alone.

• Strategic Timing – You can make a non-cash gift when it’s financially wise for you, even if the actual grant to Servants occurs later.

  
  

These gifts help us plan ambitious projects and respond quickly when urgent needs arise—like building an accessibility ramp so a disabled veteran can return home safely, or repairing a leaking roof before winter.

Stories of Hope

Just last year, a Servants supporter transferred appreciated stock to their DAF and recommended a grant that funded an entire accessibility ramp for Phyllis, a caregiver whose daughter is legally blind and has Down syndrome. That single non-cash gift spared them the danger of navigating seven steep steps every day. It’s a tangible reminder that creative giving can change lives.

How You Can Participate

If you already have a DAF, consider recommending a grant to Servants on DAF Day—Thursday, October 9. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate the occasion and multiply your impact in our community.

Thinking about starting a DAF? Your financial advisor or local community foundation can guide you through the quick setup process. And if you hold appreciated securities, an IRA, or other non-cash assets, ask how those gifts can benefit you and the families we serve.

Join Us

As Servants celebrates 25 years of serving Christ through serving others, we invite you to look beyond traditional giving. Whether through a Donor-Advised Fund, gifts of stock, or other non-cash assets, your generosity builds hope and stability for neighbors who need it most.

Together, let’s make DAF Day a turning point for greater generosity—and a brighter future for the people Servants is called to serve.

If you’d like to learn more about supporting Servants through a Donor-Advised Fund or other non-cash gift, contact Trent Davis at trent@servants.org or call (717) 378-0336.