I’ve recently heard from a few church stewardship staff members who say they’re spending more time than ever conducting investigative research to determine the source of particular gifts.

The question is usually framed such as this: “We’ve just received a check from a community foundation donor-advised fund, but there is no indication of the donor’s name. I want to assume it’s from a church member. What do we do? How do we determine whose fund this is?”

Ah! A donor-advised fund or DAF! Increasingly, churches and other faith congregations receive gifts through these popular charitable giving vehicles.  This allows donors to contribute money or assets to support charitable organizations. Donors take a tax deduction for the dollars they use to establish the fund and then recommend grants. Often, this will include the ability to recommend to the fund sponsor that a grant from their DAF be sent to their local church.

The challenge is that each granting entity operates differently and may not provide detailed information about the specific donor.

When a church receives a grant from a DAF without an accompanying name or address, the church office can take specific steps to determine the donor’s identity for proper acknowledgment, ongoing stewardship, and recordkeeping.

Here are some steps church offices should consider:

1. Review Gift Details – Review the check’s memo line, cover letter, or electronic transfer details for any possible donor information. Some DAF sponsors provide partial donor details.
2. Contact the DAF Provider – Reach out to the sponsoring organization (e.g., Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or a community foundation). While privacy laws may limit disclosure, some providers may confirm the donor’s identity if permission is granted. Recognize, however, that some donors may request anonymity.
3. Check Past Giving Records – If the church has previously received DAF gifts, compare gift amounts and patterns with historical donor records to identify a likely match.
4. Encourage Donor Communication – Proactively educate your church members about the importance of notifying the church when making a DAF contribution. A simple note in stewardship materials or on the church website can help.
5. Use a Generic Acknowledgment – If the donor remains unidentified, send a thank-you letter to the DAF sponsor, expressing gratitude and requesting that the donor be informed.

By taking these steps, the stewardship office can maximize its ability to recognize donors while maintaining compliance with privacy regulations and fostering continued generosity.

The stewarding of church gifts has become more complex, and your church members today aren’t making it any easier because of the variety of giving opportunities at their disposal.

So, in addition to everything else they are already engaged in, church staff members have some sleuthing to do. 

And no, Sherlock Holmes, this isn’t “elementary!”