DAF Professional Certificate at a Glance
Admissions Requirements
There are no prerequisite courses required to take part in the DAF Professional Certificate Program, but you must have at least three years of experience in charitable planning or a related profession to use the certificate.
To meet the program’s requirements and receive the DAF Professional Certificate, you must:
- Successfully complete the in-person certificate program
- Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
Tuition
Early Bird Price: $1,200
Nonprofit Price: $1,200
Early bird pricing ends 12/6. Standard pricing will be $1,500.
Program Logistics
Attend in person and complete the comprehensive curriculum (12+ hours) over 1.5 days.
- When: April 8 - 9, 2025 (check-in April 7)
- Where: The Adolphus, Dallas, TX
This program features:
- Comprehensive curriculum providing the DAF community with foundational knowledge and practical applications from an accredited institution
- In-person learning, aimed at setting a new standard for the DAF industry by establishing a common language, competencies, governance, and practices
- Meaningful opportunities for trust and relationship-building to strengthen the relationships between DAF sponsors, community foundations, nonprofits, and financial professionals
What You'll Learn
Through the coverage of four principal themes including DAF Sector Fundamentals, Maximizing Opportunities to Give, Maximizing Opportunities for Impact, and Navigating Change, your learning outcomes will include:
- The ability to apply legal and ethical standards in DAF management
- Knowledge on how to analyze DAFs for effective philanthropic strategies
- Applications of financial knowledge to maximize DAF impact
- Analysis on donor motivations and asset suitability
- Critical thinking skills to navigate DAF policy changes
Why Become a DAF Professional?
$229B
Is the value DAF assets reached in 2022.1
21.6%
Was the average annual growth of DAF assets over the past five years.1
$86B
Were contributed to DAFs in the United States in 2022 – up $8B from 2021.1
What The DAF Program Can Do For You
Inside the DAF Professional Certificate Program
Themes Included
Four
Completion Time
1.5 Days
DAF Sector Fundamentals
This theme covers:
- Ethical considerations in DAFs
- U.S. giving trends
- Roles in establishing and managing DAFs
Maximizing Opportunities to Give
This theme covers:
- Using DAF in philanthropic strategies
- Qualified assets in DAF
- Grantmaking and due diligence
Maximizing Opportunities for Impact
This theme covers:
- Financial knowledge to maximize DAF impact
- Donor motivations and asset suitability
- Investment strategies
Navigating Change
This theme covers:
- Navigating DAF regulatory changes
- Succession and transition in DAFs
- Action planning
FAQs
For event-related questions, please send an email to events@theamericancollege.edu.
For those traveling to Dallas, TX for the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Professional Certificate Program, a block of rooms has been held at The Adolphus. Please reserve your room by March 17, 2025.
1 National Philanthropic Trust. The 2023 DAF Report. 2023.