Nonprofit Coach: Matt Nash: Technology, Trust, and DAFs

Welcome to this episode of The Nonprofit Coach: Everything DAF! with your host Ted Hart, global philanthropy executive and author of The DAF Revolution: Making a Difference in Our Modern World.

In this conversation, Ted sits down with Matt Nash, Executive Director of The Blackbaud Giving Fund, to explore how technology is reshaping donor-advised funds (DAFs) and transforming the way donors and nonprofits connect.

Matt shares an inside look at the Blackbaud Giving Fund’s role as a donor-advised fund sponsor that powers workplace giving, peer-to-peer fundraising, and global charitable support. Together, Ted and Matt unpack how digital platforms are making giving easier, faster, and more transparent — “taking the sand out of the gears” of philanthropy.

Key themes you’ll hear in this episode include:

• Technology-powered DAFs: How workplace giving platforms, peer-to-peer campaigns, and digital wallets are revolutionizing donor engagement.

• Ease and speed of giving: Why simple, mobile-friendly solutions encourage generosity and allow nonprofits to receive funds in days, not weeks.

• Opportunities and challenges for nonprofits: What it means to receive funds through intermediaries, the importance of registering with giving platforms, and strategies for better donor stewardship.

• Misconceptions about anonymity: Why more than 90% of DAF donors do provide their names and contact information — and how nonprofits can capture and use that data effectively.

• The dual nature of giving decisions: How DAFs separate the “head” (tax and financial planning) from the “heart” (personal values and causes) to foster more intentional philanthropy.

• Policy insights and wishes for the future: Why Matt and many others in the sector hope that Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from retirement accounts will one day be eligible for donor-advised funds.

• Practical advice for all stakeholders: How donors, advisors, and nonprofit leaders can leverage DAFs to strengthen relationships and amplify impact.

Matt brings over a decade of experience helping nonprofits understand and engage with DAF donors, and in this episode, he offers clear, practical advice you can put to work immediately. From donor psychology to financial planning, from stewardship to technology integration, this conversation provides a roadmap for thriving in the fast-evolving world of donor-advised funds.

Whether you are a donor seeking to give more effectively, an advisor guiding clients, or a nonprofit leader striving to engage DAF donors more strategically, you’ll find actionable takeaways in this episode.

Join Ted Hart and Matt Nash as they shed light on how technology, trust, and DAFs are shaping the future of philanthropy.