Certificates
Build the specialized expertise today’s philanthropic clients demand.
Daylight certificates help wealth, philanthropic, and impact advisors deepen practical fluency in the issues shaping modern giving—from behavioral philanthropy and impact investing to business-owner planning, women and wealth, collaborative giving, and gift planning.
Program benefits
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Flexible online learning: Complete coursework at your own pace, on your own schedule.
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Targeted and practical content: Focus on technical topics or specialized market segments that directly support your practice.
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Continuing education credits: CE available for IPA, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®, CAP®, CSPGCM, CFRE.
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Professional recognition: Earn a certificate that demonstrates your expertise and commitment to excellence—ideal for sharing with clients or adding to your professional profile.
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Best value for active learners: Access the full certificate library for one annual subscription.
"I particularly enjoyed the numerous examples, case studies, and stories. Clearly, a lot of work has gone into this, and it didn’t feel as though it was a vanilla or basic introductory course. In many ways, I was pleasantly surprised by how far into the weeds some of the topics went."
Impact Investing Certificate
June 2026 Learner
90%
of advisors say that discussing philanthropy benefits their business.
88%
say it deepens relationships.
92%
say it helps establish new ones.
TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation, 2026
FIND THE CERTIFICATE THAT FITS YOUR PRACTICE
Build a Foundation:
Build a foundation in philanthropic planning with the vocabulary, frameworks, and tools to help clients clarify their purpose and align giving with their values. Explore Daylight’s Philanthropic Advising Competency Model, the nine components of philanthropic planning, and common approaches to giving.
Understand how donor-advised funds work, how sponsors differ, and how their policies and limitations affect client choices. This unconflicted certificate helps advisors assess the role DAFs can play within broader philanthropic and financial planning strategies.
Apply it in Practice:
Developed with ideas42, this certificate applies behavioral science to the decisions people make about giving. Learn how psychological, social, and family dynamics shape donor choices and how to help clients work through common barriers.
Explore how women’s financial choices, priorities, and relationships can shape philanthropic planning. Learn to ask better questions about giving, family participation, and social impact while tailoring advice to each client’s goals.
Learn how business ownership affects philanthropic planning, from the assets available for giving to decisions made before, during, and after an exit. Explore personal and corporate philanthropy so you can help owners connect business transitions with their giving goals.
Developed with Philanthropy Together, this certificate examines how donors combine knowledge, resources, and decision-making to pursue shared goals. Explore giving circles, collaborative funds, and practical ways to discuss collective giving with clients.
Develop Specialized Expertise:
Learn the language, vehicles, and key considerations of impact investing so you can discuss strategies that seek financial returns alongside measurable social or environmental outcomes. Examine how impact investments can fit within a client’s broader philanthropic and financial plan.
Charitable Planning for Wealth Advisors Certificate (Coming Soon)
This certificate helps advisors connect a client’s charitable goals with their financial, tax, and estate plans. Learn how to evaluate a gift’s assets, recipients, timing, and structure; collaborate with specialists; and revisit the plan as circumstances change.
Advanced DAF Certificate (Coming Soon)
Building on the essentials, this certificate examines complex assets, tax and estate planning, global giving, and impact investing. Learn how to assess sponsor capabilities and limitations, coordinate with specialists, and address more complex DAF decisions in a client’s broader philanthropic plan.
Annual Certificate Subscription
Build expertise across multiple areas of philanthropic advising with access to all Daylight certificates.
CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION
To purchase certificates or subscriptions for multiple learners, please select the appropriate box during checkout and email learn@daylightadvisors.com after completing payment. For 10 or more learners, please email learn@daylightadvisors.com and a Daylight team member will contact you.