Donors Trust Inc

What Donors Trust Inc does

DonorsTrust Inc, operating under the legal name DonorsTrust, is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 52-2166327) founded in 1999 and headquartered at 1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 280, Alexandria, Virginia. It is a specialized donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsor built to serve conservative, libertarian, and faith-based philanthropists who want their charitable contributions protected from institutional drift. The organization's stated mission is to provide a reliable philanthropic vehicle that preserves donor intent, privacy, and ideological alignment, with annual board member sign-offs to liberty-minded values acting as an institutional safeguard.

The core product is a donor-advised fund account, delivered through a self-serve client portal (client.mydonorstrust.org) that supports online applications, account funding with cash or stock, and grant recommendations to vetted charities. Investment management for accounts is provided via three managed funds administered through a long-standing relationship with Merrill Lynch; accounts above $1 million may engage an outside investment advisor. The firm supports around 1,513 unique recipient charities in 2025 and offers ancillary programs including the Novus Society (givers under 40), the Legacy Society (bequest and planned giving), advisor partnership services, and the Giving Ventures podcast and Intentional Giving Blog as content channels.

DonorsTrust operates on a near-pure administrative fee model, charging 75 basis points (0.75%) annually on DAF assets with a declining fee schedule as account size grows. It is distributed directly to consumers via the website (with a $10,000 minimum test-drive account) and indirectly through a network of financial, tax, legal, and professional advisors, plus a concierge service tier for high-net-worth donors. The organization employs fewer than 20 staff, is privately funded through fee revenue, and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

Donors Trust Inc

Legal name

DonorsTrust

Website

https://donorstrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DonorsTrust is a 501(c)(3) donor-advised fund sponsor founded in 1999 in Alexandria, Virginia, serving conservative, libertarian, and faith-based philanthropists with irrevocable giving accounts, a declining-fee schedule starting at 75 basis points, and investment options managed via Merrill Lynch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Donor-Advised Fund Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

Keywords

• Donor-advised funds
• Charitable giving
• Philanthropic advisory
• Planned giving vehicles
• Legacy giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Administrative Fee Revenue: DonorsTrust supports itself almost entirely on administrative fee revenue from donor-advised fund accounts. The fee schedule starts at 75 basis points (0.75%) annually and declines as accounts grow larger. Investment fund management fees go entirely to the investment institution (Merrill Lynch); DonorsTrust does not derive income from DAF fund investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DonorsTrust operates as a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider, accepting irrevocable tax-deductible contributions from donors and investing those funds through partner institutions. Donors can then recommend grants over time to IRS-approved public charities aligned with conservative, libertarian, and faith-based values. The organization supplements its core DAF administration with legacy giving programs (Legacy Society), a younger-donor community (Novus Society), advisor partnership services, and a client portal for account and grant management.

Product overview

DonorsTrust is a donor-advised fund provider offering a suite of philanthropic services designed for conservative, libertarian, and faith-based donors. The core product is the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), which allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions, receive investment growth, and recommend grants to charities over time. The platform includes a client portal for account management, investment options (ETFs and index funds), and administrative fee structures starting at 75 basis points. Supporting programs include the Legacy Society for bequest donors, the Novus Society for givers under age 40, advisory services for professional advisors, and nonprofit partnership programs. The organization also produces educational content through the Giving Ventures Podcast and Intentional Giving Blog. DonorsTrust was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Novus Society: Legacy giving program for donors funding accounts with bequest gifts, part of DonorsTrust's services for planned giving.

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) A donor-advised fund account that allows individuals and families to make tax-deductible contributions (cash, stock, or other assets), receive investment growth, and recommend grants to charities over time while protecting donor intent aligned with conservative, libertarian, and faith-based values.
• Legacy Society A planned-giving program for donors who wish to include charitable bequests or other legacy vehicles, securing charitable intent to be honored beyond the donor's lifetime.
• Novus Society A giving program designed for donors under age 40 that provides networking opportunities, community, and strategic philanthropic insights among like-minded charitable givers.
• Advisor Services Partnership services for financial, tax, legal, and other professional advisors enabling them to integrate philanthropic expertise into their client relationships through a DonorsTrust DAF.
• Nonprofit Partnership Program Partnership services for nonprofit organizations working to advance limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, making them eligible to receive grants recommended by DonorsTrust donors.
• Client Portal An online platform (client.mydonorstrust.org) for donors to manage their accounts, fund contributions, recommend grants, view investment options, and access account information.

Quantifiable outcome

• On average, 60–65% of granted dollars support policy-focused organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor and core.

• Merrill LynchsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTrusted and ideologically aligned investment managers providing three managed funds for DonorsTrust accounts. Accounts larger than $1 million may request work with an outside investment advisor.
• Philanthropy RoundtableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured guest contributor Jack Salmon is a Visiting Fellow at Philanthropy Roundtable, author of report on government funding compromising nonprofit independence. Content collaboration through blog reposts.
• Atlas NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLawson Bader appeared on Atlas Network podcast to discuss stewardship of the freedom movement. Atlas Network is a global network of free-market think tanks.
• Stand TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStand Together is a major philanthropic community supporting liberty-focused organizations. Featured prominently in Giving Ventures podcast episodes discussing Be the People initiative and broader civic engagement efforts. Sarah Cross, SVP at Stand Together, was podcast guest.
• Be the PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide civic effort coordinated by Stand Together to resurrect shared American ideals. DonorsTrust featured the initiative on Giving Ventures podcast. Coalition includes Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, 4-H, NFL, NBA, and others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fidelity Charitable: The largest donor-advised fund sponsor in the US, offering similar DAF account services with broader investment menus and lower fees (~60 bps). Competes with DonorsTrust for the same donor dollars across the political spectrum.
• Schwab Charitable: Major national DAF sponsor affiliated with Charles Schwab, providing low-fee DAF accounts to a broad donor base. Directly competes for advisory-firm-referred donors and large-balance accounts.
• National Philanthropic Trust: Independent DAF sponsor and donor-advised fund industry research publisher. Serves high-net-worth donors with custom giving strategies, overlapping with DonorsTrust's concierge segment.
• Vanguard Charitable: Affiliated with Vanguard, this is a low-fee DAF sponsor targeting cost-conscious donors. Competes on price with DonorsTrust's 75 bps fee schedule across overlapping donor demographics.
• Donors Capital Fund: Sister organization of DonorsTrust sharing leadership and a similar conservative/libertarian donor focus; functions as the related private foundation counterpart for the same donor community.
• American Endowment Foundation: Independent DAF sponsor offering customized giving accounts with flexible investment options, including complex assets. Competes with DonorsTrust for sophisticated large-balance donors.
• Raymond James Charitable: Independent DAF sponsor affiliated with Raymond James financial advisors. Competes for advisor-referred DAF accounts with similar target donor profile to DonorsTrust's advisor channel.

Broad incumbents

• BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund: Affiliated with BNY Mellon Wealth Management, this is a DAF offering within a much larger wealth management franchise. Serves ultra-high-net-worth clients alongside broader wealth services.

Emerging players

• Foundation Source: Provider of administrative services for private foundations and donor-advised funds, serving individuals and family offices. Adjacent competitor for donors who might otherwise choose a DAF sponsor.
• Arabella Advisors: Philanthropic advisory and management firm helping donors design giving strategies, including DAF setup. Adjacent rather than directly competitive but overlaps in advisor-driven donor acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Donors Trust Inc