• Our sole purpose is administering DAFs.

    Independent from financial institutions. Experienced with over 30 years of partnering with firms. People-driven approach to advisors and firms.

    We are American Endowment Foundation. (AEF, for short.)

Know the who, what, where, and why 
behind AEF.

Since AEF’s founding in 1993, we have been trusted with $11 billion generously gifted by our donors. Know the who, what, where, and why behind our mission to expand philanthropy.

Who are we?

We’re one of the nation’s largest independent donor-advised fund sponsors. At AEF, we are committed to providing a best-in-class experience. AEF solely focuses on the administration of donor-advised funds.

What We Do

Donor-advised funds (DAFs). And lots of them. Think of DAFs as a charitable account, and we’re the financial institution that takes care of it.

We partner with firms, advisors, and donors to establish and administer AEF donor-advised fund accounts with the goal of increasing the amount granted to our donors’ preferred causes and charities.

Where is AEF’s impact felt?

Almost anywhere a 501(c)3 account is found. Being cause neutral allows your clients to have more options when recommending grantees. There are virtually hundreds of thousands of charities that could reap the benefits of an AEF DAF.

Why be a DAF sponsor?

To make an impact. A positive, effective impact for causes that need it and for donors who want to expand philanthropy. It’s a win-win. Since AEF began in 1993, $11 billion in donations have been gifted. $11 billion.

We prioritize a best-in-class experience.

Enhance your charitable giving through technology, innovation, and a people-driven culture. Offering advisors flexibility in managing DAF assets—donors with thousands of grantee recipients to recommend from—by providing awareness and strategies to everyone involved in the DAF process.

Firms

We realize the importance of client relationships. Most clients are looking for new ways to invest or give. That is why our partnership with you and your donors is the focus of everything we do.

AEF looks to you, the financial firm, to determine where our gifted assets are custodied and how they are managed. Then, your financial advisors manage assets at all levels.

Advisors

AEF’s Investment Policy Statement provides flexibility for advisors to manage fund assets, allowing advisors to complement their donors’ charitable giving strategies.

Plus, the AEF team is constantly providing awareness and the latest DAF news to ensure advisors are up-to-date on the industry.

Donors

As an unbiased administrator, AEF supports donors’ freedom to recommend grantees. AEF does not prohibit grants based on geographic, religious, or other categories—so donors can recommend grants to IRS-qualified public charities.

It’s all in the details.

From local communities to alma maters to causes and charities that impact everything from healthcare to the environment, AEF DAFs are making a mark on the world.

Here’s how the numbers look.

Assets Under Management

$7.1B

in 2023

Granted over

$1.2B

in 2023

Nearly

$5M

per business day

To more than

32,000

distinct charities

aef 990 request our audited financial statement

Being independent allows us to be free from limiting a donor’s grant recommendation to specific charities—and a whole lot more.

AEF is free from:

  • Accruing any benefit from brokerage services or product sales

  • Charging commissions or finder fees

  • Selling proprietary financial products or services

  • Providing financial, tax or legal advice

  • Recommending or limiting donors’ grant to specific charities

Experience comes with 30 years 
in the industry.

Building upon our success comes with shared values and a shared mission.

A non-profit. A growing business.

AEF can be a lot of things. The biggest thing is our dedication to what we do. Your talent could make an impact here.

explore careers

Meet our Team

Executives, directors, and council members all with one shared mission—seeing philanthropy expand through AEF DAFs.

our team