Charityvest's Record Growth Signals a Tectonic Shift in Philanthropy

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – February 11, 2026 – Donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsor Charityvest has announced a year of explosive growth, with its 2025 annual report revealing that both contributions and grants more than doubled, positioning the tech-focused platform as a significant disruptor in the philanthropic landscape. The company facilitated $265 million in charitable contributions and distributed $119.2 million in grants to non-profits, driven by a model that prioritizes speed, accessibility, and integration with modern financial planning.

These figures represent a dramatic leap from $99.2 million in contributions and $52.2 million in grants in 2024. The surge underscores a growing appetite for more dynamic and efficient charitable giving vehicles, a trend that Charityvest appears to be capitalizing on with remarkable success.

A New Benchmark in Charitable Payouts

Perhaps the most striking figure from the report is Charityvest's 118% payout rate for 2025. This metric, which measures the percentage of assets granted out to charities relative to the assets held, stands in stark contrast to the broader industry. According to the 2025 Annual DAF Report, which covers 2024 data, the industry-wide average payout rate was 25.3%. While major national DAFs like those associated with Fidelity and Schwab are highly active, the overall industry has faced criticism for funds that can sit in accounts for extended periods.

Charityvest’s exceptionally high rate suggests that its donors are moving funds from their accounts to working charities at an unprecedented pace. This rapid deployment of capital aligns with the company’s stated mission.

“These results reflect our mission of enabling people to live a generous life through purposeful giving, powered by innovative technology that makes giving enjoyable and approachable,” said Stephen Kump, Founder and President of Charityvest, in a statement. “We saw more people commit capital to charity and move it into impact faster, reinforcing our belief that when giving is intentional and well-supported, generosity follows.”

The company’s lifetime contributions have now surpassed $460 million, with over half of that total arriving in the past year alone. This accelerated activity highlights a platform designed not just for holding charitable assets, but for actively distributing them.

The Tech-Enabled Disruption of DAFs

Charityvest’s success is emblematic of a broader fintech movement aimed at modernizing the DAF market, which held over $326 billion in assets in 2024. While giants like Fidelity Charitable (granting nearly $15 billion in 2024) and DAFgiving360 (formerly Schwab Charitable, granting over $7.7 billion) dominate in sheer volume, Charityvest and similar tech-forward platforms are competing on agility, user experience, and accessibility.

Backed by the infrastructure of Foundation Source, which acquired Charityvest's parent company Vennfi in late 2024, the platform combines a startup’s mission-driven approach with the stability and expertise of an established philanthropic services provider. This partnership appears to be a key factor in its ability to scale operations while innovating its service offerings.

The platform is designed to lower the barrier to entry for strategic giving, a trend reflected in industry data showing that nearly half of all DAF accounts now hold less than $50,000. By simplifying the process of contributing assets, recommending grants, and tracking impact, Charityvest is attracting a new generation of donors and advisors who expect the same level of digital convenience from their philanthropy as they do from their banking or investing.

Integrating Philanthropy into Modern Wealth Management

A significant driver of Charityvest's growth has been its deepening ties with the wealth management community. The report notes that the average contribution per active donor surged 128% in 2025 to exceed $100,000, largely fueled by partnerships with financial advisors and their clients.

This reflects a major industry shift where charitable planning is no longer an afterthought but a core component of holistic wealth strategy. Advisors are increasingly using DAFs to help clients achieve tax-efficient giving, especially through the contribution of appreciated non-cash assets like securities, which can eliminate capital gains tax liability and maximize the charitable gift. In 2024, such assets constituted a majority of contributions to some of the largest DAFs.

Charityvest is leaning into this trend by equipping advisors with better tools. In 2025, it introduced multi-custodial capabilities, a critical feature that allows advisors to view and manage client DAF balances held at external custodians directly within their branded Charityvest programs. This integration simplifies an advisor’s workflow and provides a clearer, more unified view of a client’s complete financial picture, including their charitable assets. By supporting contributions of cash, securities, and complex assets, the platform provides the flexibility that high-net-worth clients and their advisors demand.

Expanding the Philanthropic Footprint

Beyond its core growth metrics, Charityvest also expanded its strategic capabilities in 2025, launching new initiatives designed to embed strategic giving into different communities. One notable expansion was its entry into the university funding space with a fully branded DAF program for Temple University. This model provides alumni and supporters with a flexible, tax-efficient vehicle to give back to the university while also supporting other qualified charities, creating a powerful new fundraising tool for institutions.

The platform's grant activity shows broad donor engagement across various sectors. While the highest volume of grants went to faith-based and human services organizations, donors also directed significant support toward education, environmental causes, and health-related charities. This diversity of giving demonstrates the platform’s wide appeal and its role as a versatile conduit for philanthropy.

By developing tools for individuals, advisors, and institutions, Charityvest is building an ecosystem that aims to make purposeful giving a more integrated and intentional part of people's financial lives. Its rapid growth and high-velocity grantmaking suggest this modern approach is not only resonating with donors but also accelerating the flow of critical funds to the non-profit sector.