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DonorFirst™ is pleased to announce the addition of Permian Basin Area Foundation to its growing client list.

The foundation will create an enhanced experience for their agencies and donors through DonorFirst’s streamlined access and communication capabilities. Managing a significant number of both Nonprofit Agency Funds and Donor Advised Funds for their local West Texas area, PBAF chose DonorFirst because of its capacity to service both of these important account types as well as its ability to provide a best-in-class online experience – streamlining communication and providing online access to important fund and grantee information whenever they need it.

It’s a continuing debate with foundation management: What are we going to do with our DAF?

Do you grow this area with time and resources? And if so, are the risks finally being offset by a greater return at the foundation level?

There is no denying that Donor Advised Fund programs are popular and donors are opening accounts at unprecedented rates. According to the most recent Giving USA data, a handful of commercial funds are achieving growth rates approaching 77%. While this growth is impressive, the adoption or expansion of DAF programs can be risky for foundations, particularly given that such programs haven’t traditionally generated immediate impact for the host foundation.

These concerns are heightened by the growing trends in social media, online engagement and eCommerce, where donors have come to expect a more interactive online experience for their charitable giving.

The most successful philanthropic organizations focus on donor relationships not just on gifts. The goal is to take every first-time donor and turn them into a regular contributor. The key to this metamorphosis is great communication.

The basics are always appropriate as outlined in this blog entry from Fundraising trend spotter, Fundraising trend spotter: Four simple steps to get a second gift from a new direct mail donor.

Donors now have online access to an innovative charitable environment.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. June 21, 2011: Pennsylvania State University selects DonorFirst™ as the platform for their new Donor Advised Fund philanthropic initiative.

“The Crown DonorFirst platform provides a capability we find to be unique, and essential, for engaging donors via the Internet,” stated Mike Degenhart, Director of Gift Planning for the Pennsylvania State University. Penn State will be marketing their donor advised fund as the Pennsylvania State University Charitable Gift Fund.