What National Christian Foundation does

National Christian Foundation (NCF), legally National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1982 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that operates as the nation's largest Christian donor-advised fund (DAF) provider. Its core product is the Giving Fund, a donor-advised fund account that lets givers contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, invest the fund balance, and recommend grants to vetted charities over time. Surrounding this core, NCF offers a modular suite of giving solutions: Giving Strategy advisory, Non-cash giving (stocks, real estate, business interests) supported by an in-house team of attorneys and CPAs, Impact Investing, Supporting Organization, International Granting, Investment options, Charitable Gift Annuity, and a Single-Charity Fund variant. The technology layer is a web-based giving platform (ncfgiving.com) with an eGrants portal for charities and secure account login; no proprietary AI/ML, API, or SDK stack is documented.

NCF's business model is DAF administration: revenue is generated from administrative fees on fund balances and investment returns on those balances, rather than from pass-through contributions (which totaled $2.5B contributed and $2.1B granted out in 2022, an 84% mobilization rate). The go-to-market is high-touch and relationship-driven: 30+ local offices across 180+ U.S. communities are staffed by regional teams and presidents who cultivate wealthy Christian givers, families, and business owners over multi-year cycles; a parallel channel comes through professional advisor referrals (CPAs, estate attorneys, financial planners). Content marketing, including the Saturday 7 email digest reaching nearly 50,000 subscribers, the Generosity Library, and the Inside Giving / Inside Major Gifts webinar series, feeds the top of funnel. Since inception NCF has directed more than $25B in grants to over 90,000 charities and churches and processed more than 3,200 complex non-cash gifts valued at $6B; the organization is led by CEO Kendra VanderMeulen with regional presidents across the U.S.

Name

National Christian Foundation

Legal name

National Christian Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://ncfgiving.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Christian Foundation is the nation's largest Christian donor-advised fund provider, offering a Giving Fund platform plus non-cash giving, impact investing, and international granting services to wealthy Christian families and individuals across 30+ U.S. offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Donor-Advised Funds / Charitable Giving Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Donor-advised funds
• Charitable giving services
• Non-cash asset giving
• Faith-based philanthropy
• Planned giving solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Giving Fund Management: NCF receives contributions from givers into donor-advised funds (Giving Funds). Givers recommend grants to charities, and NCF processes those grants. Revenue is generated from investment returns on fund balances and potentially administrative fees on large balances.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

National Christian Foundation operates as a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider, allowing Christian givers and families to contribute assets, receive immediate tax deductions, and recommend grants to vetted charities over time. Its core Giving Fund is supplemented by services including Non-cash giving (stocks, real estate, business interests), Giving Strategy, Impact investing, International granting, Charitable gift annuities, and Supporting organization structures, supported by a nationwide network of 30+ local offices.

Product overview

National Christian Foundation operates as a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product is the Giving Fund (donor-advised fund), which serves as the central hub for all charitable giving activities. Surrounding this core are modular add-on services including Giving Strategy (strategic planning), Non-cash giving (complex assets like stocks/real estate), Impact investing, Supporting organization, International granting, Investments, and Charitable gift annuity. Additional services target Professional Advisors and Charities/Churches. The platform enables givers to contribute assets, receive immediate tax deductions, invest funds for growth, and recommend grants to charities over time. NCF also offers a Single-Charity Fund variant for donors with specific organizational beneficiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Giving Fund A donor-advised fund (DAF) that allows Christian givers to contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, manage all their giving online, and recommend grants to charities over time. Targeted at wealthy Christian individuals, families, and business owners seeking tax-efficient, faith-aligned charitable giving.
• Giving Strategy

Quantifiable outcome

• $25 billion in grants to charities since 1982; $2.1 billion granted out in 2022 alone (84% of contributions mobilized)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• E3 (Now 4africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael Radler began funding E3 (a ministry focused on water, health, and leadership development in South Sudan) and eventually transitioned the foundation's work to 4africa, with Alex Radler running the organization. NCF's Joel Smyer connected with the Radlers, facilitating an asset gift to NCF's Giving Fund. The Radler Foundation and NCF worked together for years on South Sudan ministry work.
• SAFE (Strategic Alliance to Fight Exploitation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeather Tuininga founded SAFE in Washington state as an alliance of givers using an NCF Giving Fund to pool donor dollars and grant to vetted anti-trafficking nonprofits. NCF's Connie Houghland and Val Hetrick helped package the SAFE model for replication in other communities (Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, California). SAFE has invested $2M+ through NCF's platform.
• International Justice Mission (IJM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Grasso's Simple Charity organization partners with IJM to host student chapters on 35+ college campuses around the country. Student clubs raised $81,000 for charities working in developing countries.
• J. Rich Atlanta (Brilliant Fund)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJonathan and Callie Rich's real estate company uses NCF's Giving Fund (called the Brilliant Fund) as their corporate giving vehicle, donating 10% of revenue through NCF and sharing partner charities with clients to inspire community engagement in charitable causes.
• Simple CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrian Grasso runs Simple Charity, which helps givers develop philanthropic strategies. Simple Charity works with NCF to provide resources and guidance to young givers and connects with NCF for giving strategy support.
• Excellence in GivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a partner organization that helped research and validate giving strategies for NCF givers, working alongside NCF teams to help givers accomplish big goals.
• Sanctuary Mental Health MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, authored content for NCF's website on the Church's role in supporting youth mental health. Sanctuary's resources help young people, parents, and youth leaders explore mental health through a faith lens.
• Blessed EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatthew Sleeth, MD, executive director of Blessed Earth, authored content for NCF on the theology of trees and creation care. Blessed Earth promotes understanding of the biblical mandate to care for God's creation.
• Springtide Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in NCF content on youth mental health as the source of research showing young people increasingly want faith communities that address mental health openly.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: The largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor by AUM (~$140B+), offering a Giving Account with broad investment options and a national digital platform. Comparable to NCF as a DAF sponsor but secular, asset-light, and at materially greater scale; sets the competitive benchmark NCF's Giving Fund is measured against.
• Schwab Charitable: One of the three largest U.S. DAF sponsors, affiliated with Charles Schwab. Comparable to NCF as a national DAF provider serving HNW givers, but operates at greater scale with a digital-first distribution model and broader investment menu.
• Vanguard Charitable: Major U.S. DAF sponsor affiliated with Vanguard, known for low-cost index investment options within DAFs. Comparable to NCF as a national donor-advised fund provider, but secular and operating with an asset-light, low-fee model.
• BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund: Major bank-affiliated donor-advised fund offering integrated DAF services within a broader wealth management platform. Comparable to NCF as a national DAF sponsor with complex-gift capability, but anchored in a bank-affiliated wealth management context.

Direct peers

• The Signatry: Faith-based (Christian) donor-advised fund sponsor providing giving funds, non-cash asset services, and advisor partnerships for Christian givers. The closest direct competitor to NCF in the Christian DAF category, competing head-to-head for the same faith-aligned HNW giver base.
• National Philanthropic Trust: Independent national DAF sponsor managing billions in charitable assets, offering giving accounts, international grantmaking, and non-cash asset services. Comparable to NCF as a large national DAF provider targeting HNW donors, though secular in orientation.
• Renaissance Charitable Foundation: National donor-advised fund sponsor with custom investment options, multi-generational giving planning, and complex-gift capabilities. Comparable to NCF as a competing DAF sponsor targeting affluent givers seeking flexible investment and legacy giving structures.
• American Endowment Foundation: Independent DAF sponsor offering donor-advised funds with custom investment platforms and complex asset acceptance. Comparable to NCF as a national DAF competitor, especially in non-cash and business-asset giving segments.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities USA: Faith-aligned national network supporting Catholic giving and charitable services, with affiliated giving vehicles. Comparable to NCF as a faith-based giving ecosystem competitor for Christian (Catholic) donors with overlapping charitable-grantmaking activities.

Emerging players

• Greater Horizons (formerly Greater Kansas City Community Foundation): Community foundation operating donor-advised funds and managing charitable assets for regional givers. Comparable to NCF in offering DAF and grantmaking services, though operating with a community-foundation model rather than NCF's national Christian DAF model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ncfgiving

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Christian Foundation