Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF): A Powerful Tool to Fight for Food Security

As a caring community member and nonprofit donor, you want your generosity to make a tangible impact on the causes that matter most to you. That means knowing your dollars are reaching the people who need them, not sitting idle.

When you give to the Maryland Food Bank, that’s exactly what happens. The Maryland Food Bank and its network of 800 community partners distribute over 126,000 meals every single day for children, older adults, and working families throughout Maryland. One dollar helps fund one meal, and every gift helps build long-term pathways to stability for families across the state.

If you’re looking for a smart way to make that gift, you should consider a donor advised fund, or DAF. DAFs have become the fastest-growing vehicle for charitable giving in the country, and for good reason. They combine an immediate tax benefit with long-term flexibility, letting you give intentionally now and into the future.

DAF Day is a special day of recognition for what makes giving with a DAF special. Now in its third year, DAF Day is a national call for donors with DAFs to recommend a grant to an organization they believe in, like the Maryland Food Bank. Marked this year on October 8, 2026, the day helps unlock some of the billions of dollars already committed to charitable giving but sitting, un-granted, in DAF accounts nationwide.

Whether you already have a DAF set up or you’re just learning what one is, here’s what you need to know.

What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

Think of a DAF as a charitable savings account, something like a 401(k), but for giving instead of retirement. You contribute cash, securities, or other assets into the fund on your own schedule. As soon as you do, you’re eligible for an immediate tax deduction. From there, the funds can be invested and grow tax-free, and you can recommend grants to nonprofits—like the Maryland Food Bank—whenever you’re ready.

That separation between “when I get the tax benefit” and “when I decide who receives the gift” is what makes DAFs so appealing. It gives donors room to be thoughtful rather than rushed, and it’s part of why many financial advisors recommend DAFs as a core piece of charitable and tax planning.

What Are the Benefits?

A meaningful way to make an impact. The Maryland Food Bank puts roughly 90% of the funds it receives directly toward programs and mission work, meaning your grant goes where it counts.

• Easy to set up, with no minimum. Opening a DAF account is typically straightforward and doesn’t require a large upfront commitment.
• An immediate tax benefit. You receive your deduction in the year you contribute to the fund, regardless of when the money is granted out to a nonprofit.
• The potential to grow. Because DAF assets can be invested, your original contribution may grow over time, meaning even more support for the causes you care about down the road.
• Flexibility on timing. You can recommend a grant whenever you choose, rather than being locked into a single moment of giving.
• A way to give intentionally over time. DAFs can make it easier to provide ongoing support to organizations you care about, not just one-time gifts.
• Support for cash and non-cash assets. Many DAFs accept not just cash, but appreciated securities and other assets, which can come with their own tax advantages.

What Do I Need to Do to Set Up a DAF?

Getting started is more approachable than many donors expect:

First, choose a sponsor and open an account. DAF sponsors include community foundations, dedicated giving platforms, and financial institutions—including those you may already have a relationship with, like Schwab or Ameritrade. Setting up an account typically takes under 20 minutes. Then, fund the account. You can contribute cash or appreciated assets, and you’ll generally become eligible for a tax deduction as soon as the contribution is made.

From there, your DAF is ready to support the causes you care about, on your timeline.

I Already Have a DAF. How Do I Give?

If you’re already a DAF holder, giving to the Maryland Food Bank is simple. The Maryland Food Bank accepts gifts from DAFs through DAFpay, a tool that lets donors grant directly from their DAF in just a few clicks. DAFpay has become widely adopted across the nonprofit sector and is now embedded on the donation forms of over 100,000 nonprofits nationwide. You can log in to your DAFpay account using this widget.

To give, simply log into your DAF provider’s portal, or use the DAFpay option on the Maryland Food Bank’s donation page, and recommend a grant to the Maryland Food Bank. If your DAF is held with a participating provider, your gift can be delivered electronically, quickly, and securely. If you are considering a larger or more strategic DAF gift, our Philanthropy team would be happy to connect about the areas of our work that align most closely with what matters to you.

Make Your DAF Work for Maryland Families

Donor advised funds mean you’re in the driver’s seat of your giving: you decide when to contribute, how your funds are invested, and which causes ultimately benefit. This October 8, on DAF Day, consider putting that flexibility to work for the neighbors in your own community. A grant to the Maryland Food Bank turns dollars already set aside for good into real meals—for a child who needs breakfast before school, an older adult on a fixed income, or a family working hard to make ends meet.

Whether you’re opening your first DAF or recommending your fiftieth grant, your gift helps the Maryland Food Bank keep building a hunger-free future.