Giving Compass' Take:

• Kristen Robinson and Sarah Gelfand offer insights into developing trends around donor-advised funds based on Fidelity Charitable's work. 

• Is a donor-advised fund the right match for your philanthropic goals? 

• Learn more about impact investing and donor-advised funds.

What are future trends for philanthropy, and how does Fidelity Charitable hope to play a role?

Robinson believes that donors are becoming more deliberate about where they give: “They want to hear feedback from nonprofits about their impact.”

Gelfand sees impact investing and more advocacy-oriented gifts playing a larger role: “I also hope that we see more organizations working together to leverage dollars and build collective impact.”

In the meantime, Fidelity is working on expanding its scale and reach to educate donors about nonprofits and tools for them to give smarter, as well as considering how to create scalable solutions that are personal and reflective of donors, as well as community-oriented. “It’s about balancing the art and science of giving,” Gelfand said.

Robinson added that Fidelity Charitable hopes to use stories to “bring humanity” to DAFs and their donors. “We want to share the impact that people are enabling in their communities and around the country and world.”

Read the full interview with Kristen Robinson and Sarah Gelfand about donor-advised funds by Abby Rolland at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.