February 2, 2026 - Looking for a smarter way to manage your giving and reach your philanthropic goals in 2026?

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that enables donors to give in a tax-advantaged way, streamline the giving process, involve their family, and leave a legacy of generosity.

Thanks to the faithful stewardship of our DAF Donor Advisors, HighGround distributed over $9.5 million in grants from donor-advised funds to 194 unique charitable organizations in 2025 alone. Our purpose is to advance the important work of nonprofits, and it would be our privilege to partner with you to maximize your charitable impact this year.

Giving Made Simple

Opening a DAF at HighGround takes about ten minutes, and with our zero-admin-fee policy, your dollars go even further to advance the important work of charity.

Here’s how simple it is:

1. Name the Fund & Users

Choose a name that represents your DAF well. Many donors choose to incorporate their family name or a cause they wish to support, such as hunger relief. The fund name will appear on all correspondence, including the letters sent to the charities receiving grants issued from the fund, unless you choose to give anonymously.

Then, decide who you want to be involved in your DAF and assign fund users roles with specific levels of access and responsibility. You can give your children ages 13 to 18 the opportunity to participate by naming them as Additional Users, and adult children can be included at any access level. When children are named on a DAF alongside their parents, they naturally join the charitable giving conversations, and philanthropy can be woven into the fabric of the family.

2. Make Investment Selections

The funds you contribute to your DAF have the opportunity to grow, tax-free, in the account. HighGround Advisors offers professionally managed, proprietary multi-asset class investment options for donor-advised funds as well as single-asset class funds to create a customized investment strategy. Pick from turnkey investment strategies or build your own.

3. Create a Succession Plan

Leave a legacy of generosity that extends beyond your lifetime by determining your DAF succession plan. You may name up to four Successor Advisors to assume fund advisory privileges and/or up to four Charitable Beneficiaries to receive final distributions from the fund.  Alternatively, you may establish a permanent endowment with the remaining balance to benefit up to four charitable institutions of your choice. Succession plans may be modified at any time after your DAF is established.

Once your application is approved and your DAF established, you’ll gain access to your online DAF portal, where you can recommend grants, track activity, and manage your giving all in one place.

Give Anytime, Anywhere

Charitably-minded individuals are already using donor-advised funds to maximize their giving. Using our online portal, DAF donors can support the causes they care about most at any time and from anywhere. See how opening a DAF with HighGround has transformed charitable giving for some of our clients below:

Open a DAF today by signing up online here or by contacting our Director of Philanthropic Engagement & Strategy at 214.978.3303.