Speaker Submissions Are Now Closed
Thank you for your interest in speaking at the 2026 DAF Giving Summit. We are no longer accepting submissions.
Our Programming Committee is actively reviewing proposals and will notify applicants once this process is complete.
Sessions & Formats
Keynote
High-impact sessions designed for the entire DAF Giving Summit audience. These four keynote presentations will focus on the most pressing issues facing all DAF stakeholders, offering insights and inspiration relevant to the entire philanthropic ecosystem.
Breakouts
In-depth sessions aligned with specific content tracks. While tailored to particular audiences, these discussions will address critical topics that resonate across the DAF community, providing actionable insights and practical takeaways.
All Hands Sessions
Julian Castro
Larry Miller
Joe Fisher
Martin Hand
Erinn Andrews
Matt Cooper
Ron Ransom
Mike Nellis
Breakout Sessions
Lacey Abbott
Brooke Axtell
Jon Bergdoll
Alisha Fernandez Miranda
Kari Hernandez
Heidi Gider
Dan Heist
Chayce Horton
Tony Macklin
Alex Neckles
James Payne-Gill
Xanthe Scharff
Alana Stott
Michael L. Thompson
Danielle Vance-McMullen
Elizabeth Weiss
Joel Wish
Dien Yuen
Jordana Pleat
Michael Herman
Lisa Barr
Kaycee Butler
Genevieve Martin
Meagan Longley
Mollie Bunis
Robert Bachmann
Ryan Raffin
Soma Sharan
Elaine Sevier
Courtney Joyner Gage
Austin Dickson
Amy Danforth
Emily Thomas
Topics of Interest
Based on our recent content survey, the following topics are top of mind for the audience. While the conference will not be limited to only these topics, we will include them where possible across the session formats.
- The Next Chapter of DAF Growth – What drives the next $100B: new donors, new assets, or new use cases?
- Activating Dormant DAF Assets – Behavioral nudges, product design, advisor incentives, and policy levers that move capital.
- The Future of Charitable Payments – Digital rails, real-time grants, wallets, and what modern DAF payments look like at scale.
- Interoperability and Open Architecture in Philanthropy – APIs, data standards, and why closed systems limit growth and impact.
- The Role of Family Offices in the DAF Ecosystem – Where DAFs fit within UHNW, multigenerational, and bespoke philanthropic structures.
- Engaging the Next-Generation Donor Before the Wealth Transfer – Tools and governance models that bring heirs into philanthropy early.
- Impact Investing Inside DAFs: Hype vs. Reality – What works today, what remains constrained, and what’s coming next.
- AI for Donors, Advisors, and DAF Operators – Practical applications across personalization, compliance, and operational efficiency.
- The Regulatory Road Ahead for DAFs – What to expect from Washington, how to prepare, and where real risk lies.
- DAFs as Infrastructure for the Broader Giving Economy – Powering nonprofits, advisors, fintechs, and employer platforms behind the scenes.
- Complex and Non-Cash Assets at Scale – Operationalizing private equity, real estate, crypto, and other complex gifts.
- Advisor Enablement: From Tax Tool to Values-Based Planning – Embedding philanthropy into modern wealth management relationships.
- International and Disaster Grantmaking at Speed – Reducing friction while maintaining compliance in moments that matter.
- Consolidation in the DAF? – How platforms should think about M&A, partnerships, and strategic bets.
- Storytelling That Moves Money – Using narrative, transparency, and feedback loops to deepen donor engagement.
- Stewards of Shared Donors – How DAF sponsors and charities can align on data, communication, recognition, and experience to better serve the same donors without fragmentation.
Who Should Apply?
Thought leadership
Experts in philanthropy, wealth management, policy, and fintech
DAF stakeholders
Key players shaping the philanthropic ecosystem
Donors and advisors
Driving impact through guidance and giving
Submission Guidelines
Sessions will be primarily evaluated on what actionable learnings the audience can take away from the session, along with quality of the speaker(s), alignment with topics that are top of mind for all DAF stakeholders, and uniqueness.