Philanthropic advisors play an increasingly central role in shaping how wealth is directed toward social good. Yet despite the billions of dollars they help guide each year, there is no widely accepted standard for high-quality and effective modern philanthropic advising. The role remains undefined, and expectations vary widely across institutions, clients, and sectors.

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Daylight created the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model to help build a modern profession grounded in excellence, professionalism, and impact. This groundbreaking framework equips employers, advisors, and practitioners with a shared language for recruitment, hiring, performance evaluation, and professional growth. Organized around thirteen core competencies, the model defines the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to advise clients and donors effectively. It brings definition to a previously ambiguous role, offering a clear path toward the professionalization of philanthropic advising.