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  • Growing Together: Insights From the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model | Daylighthttps://daylightadvisors.wixsite.com/daylightadvisors/daylight-in-practice/growing-together%3A-insights-from-the-philanthropic-advising-competency-model

    Growing Together: Insights From the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model Growing Together: Insights From the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model By Dien Yuen Modern philanthropic advising lacked a clear definition of the advisor’s role and a shared standard for what constitutes high-quality practice. Daylight created the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model (Model) to fill that gap. The Model comprises thirteen competences, each with a corresponding list of objectives to bring clarity, consistency, and credibility to a rapidly evolving field. At the DAF Giving Summit , Alisia Robin, Elaine Chu , and I facilitated the Impact Lab session titled "Shaping the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model." We asked the packed room of advisors and nonprofit professionals to complete a self-assessment that helps them reflect on where they are today and identify the skills they may want to build as they grow in their practice. The goal was to identify perceived strengths, areas for growth, and emerging patterns to inform training priorities and organizational development strategies across the field. We gathered the results of the two activities and have distilled our observations below. We thank all the participants for their time. How Advisors Self-Rate on Competencies In our first activity, we asked participants to rate themselves on the 13 competencies on a scale of 1 to 5 (aligned with Patricia Benner’s “From Novice to Expert” model, with 1 = Novice, 2 = Advanced Beginner, 3 = Competent, 4 = Proficient, and 5 = Expert). Across the dataset, participants demonstrated confidence in core behavioral and technical competencies while indicating development needs in specialized areas such as investment acumen, gift planning, and risk management. Most Often Rated 4–5s (Strengths) 60% of participants rated themselves as 4s or 5s in Behavioral Intelligence , making it the highest-rated competency. 47% of respondents appear proficient in Family Systems and Governance , yet the same percentage rated themselves as 1s and 2s. Other top-rated competencies include: Relationship & Network Development Purpose & Legacy Identification Sector Knowledge Mostly Rated 3s (Neutral/Average) 50% of respondents scored themselves as 3s in the Cultural Dexterity competency. Other areas of moderate comfort include: Research & Data Analysis Risk & Opportunity Management Mostly Rated 1–2s (Growth Areas) More than half of the respondents rated themselves low in Education and Facilitation . Other competencies trending lower include: Philanthropic & Social Impact Vehicles Risk & Opportunity Management Gift Planning and Investment Acumen were the lowest-rated competencies overall. 47% of respondents rated as 1s - 2s in both of these areas. 87% rated themselves 3 or lower in Investment Acumen . From Great to Growth In our second activity, we asked participants to review the 9 Components of Modern Philanthropic Planning , which are mapped to the 13 competencies in the Model. These are common deliverables expected from advisors. While an advisor or firm may not offer every component or follow a fixed planning sequence, modern philanthropic advisors are expected to be conversant across all areas. Participants were asked to identify the top three services they are currently delivering well (“great”) and three they would like to develop (“growth”). 91% of participants rated Purpose Clarification as great. Legacy Planning (43% identified as great; 52% identified as growth) received split perceptions — some feel capable, others see room to grow. Assessment & Learning (29% identified as great; 59% identified as growth) is a major developmental area. The data suggests the group is strong in defining direction but less confident in executing and measuring success. Great Mixed/Transitional Growth Purpose Clarification Legacy Planning Operational Choices Strategy Definition Vehicle Choices Resource Allocation Governance Choices Social Impact Tactic Choices Assessment & Learning Program An Evolving Philanthropic Advising Field The findings from this group of advisors and nonprofit professionals suggest that those practicing philanthropic advising bring diverse training, experiences, and perspectives to their work. Participants demonstrate notable strength in relationship building, behavioral intelligence, and purpose facilitation—core competencies that underpin effective advising. At the same time, they are steadily growing into the core technical dimensions of the field. Across the two datasets, patterns point to development opportunities in specialized technical areas, such as investment acumen, gift planning, and risk management. For some, partnering with other advisors who are proficient in gift planning and investments offers a balance. By deepening the connection between relational insight and technical skill, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, and embedding continuous learning into professional growth, these practitioners can advance both their individual practice and the field as a whole. Ultimately, our observations affirm that philanthropic advising is maturing into a modern profession—one grounded in empathy, strengthened by expertise, and united by a shared commitment to excellence. Daylight’s Philanthropic Advising Competency Model Daylight’s Philanthropic Advising Competency Model is the first of its kind — a field-informed framework that defines the knowledge, skills, and behaviors advisors need to serve clients and communities effectively today. The thirteen core competencies capture the essence of a dynamic and evolving profession — one that demands both technical fluency and relational acumen. The Model offers a flexible structure for advisors, employers, and professional networks to assess, strengthen, and align their practice. Whether you’re a practitioner charting your growth, a leader committed to strengthening the field, or an employer shaping talent strategy, the Model can help you: Recruit and evaluate talent with greater clarity Guide professional development and coaching Align teams around shared expectations Build trust and transparency in advisory services Download the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model and begin mapping your learning journey today.

  • Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey | Daylighthttps://daylightadvisors.wixsite.com/daylightadvisors/daylight-in-practice/philanthropic-advising-learning-journey

    Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey By Dien Yuen & Tony Macklin Advisors come to philanthropic advising through many paths—wealth management, philanthropy, consulting, impact investing, and beyond. At the same time, client expectations, social impact tools, and the capabilities required to advise effectively have evolved significantly. As a result, advisors often face uncertainty about where to focus their development and how to adapt their approach. We created the Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey to address this challenge. It helps advisors quickly recognize where they are in their professional journey and identify what to focus on next. The Learning Journey is grounded in Daylight’s Philanthropic Advising Competency Model , which defines the behavioral and technical capabilities required to serve clients well in today’s environment. How to use it Start by identifying the persona that most closely reflects your current role or focus. Each persona highlights: The capabilities advisors typically bring. The gaps or pressures they are experiencing. Learning pathways that align with those needs. Many advisors will see themselves in more than one persona over time. The Learning Journey is designed to be revisited as client needs evolve, careers progress, or responsibilities shift. How does this help advisors? The Learning Journey helps advisors: Prioritize learning in a crowded professional landscape. Build confidence by focusing on capabilities that matter now. Engage in more relevant conversations with clients about purpose, impact, and legacy. Create a shared language for development within teams and firms. For individual advisors, it provides clarity and direction. For managers and firm leaders, it offers a coherent way to develop teams around shared competencies while respecting individual strengths and growth paths. Our goal is not to prescribe a single path, but to support informed, intentional growth—so advisors can meet today’s complexity with confidence and relevance. Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey 2026 .pdf Download PDF • 558KB

  • Where Do Philanthropy Advisors Come From? | Daylighthttps://daylightadvisors.wixsite.com/daylightadvisors/daylight-in-practice/where-do-philanthropy-advisors-come-from

    Where Do Philanthropy Advisors Come From? Papa, Where Do Philanthropy Advisors Come From? By Tony Macklin Well, son, sometimes a donor couple loves a cause very much. So much they want to put a lot of money into it… OK, maybe a child hasn’t asked you that question. But the topic comes up in the Daylight team’s conversations with philanthropy professionals. Our answer has been something like “from more than a dozen allied professions like nonprofit management, grantmaking, gift planning, and financial services.” It turns out philanthropy advisors’ backgrounds are far more diverse. During a packed session about philanthropic services at the 2023 DAF Giving Summit , we asked attendees to share their previous three jobs or roles. Forty two percent of them came from the types of philanthropy jobs you might expect: But the larger percentage listed backgrounds as varied as cowboy, bartender, ecological designer, letter carrier, marketing coordinator, social worker, and domestic violence attorney: Wildly mixed backgrounds can be a strength in the field of philanthropic advising. The diverse lived experiences will benefit clients and advisors working collaboratively. And different professions bring new angles to identifying and solving problems, involving people in decision-making, structuring client services, and more. The mix also presents challenges. The primary one, often reported by employers, is an advisor’s limited experience with the broad range of philanthropic motivations, resources, vehicles, strategies, and social impact tools clients use. To be sure, some advisors make a living only knowing about grantmaking to charities or only working in an issue such as education. But most private sector employers, and an increasing number of foundations, need generalists who can comfortably navigate multiple options, often without judging the client’s final choices. What’s Next? Over the past 18 months, Daylight team members have been developing a standardized set of competencies for philanthropic advisors, mapping where professional development programs meet those competencies, and asking advisors where they rank themselves on a scale from novice to expert. And, no surprise, we have ideas for filling gaps with new programming and research. Stay tuned for more information about our competency mapping and new programming in April! REN DAF Giving Summit 2023 ©2025 Daylight Advisors, Inc.

  • What does it take to be a great philanthropic advisor? | Daylighthttps://daylightadvisors.wixsite.com/daylightadvisors/daylight-in-practice/what-it-takes-to-be-a-great-philanthropic-advisor

    What does it take to be a great philanthropic advisor? What does it take to be a great philanthropic advisor? By Tony Macklin Every week, the Daylight team meets with leaders of wealth management firms, banks, foundations, nonprofits, consulting firms, and more. We hear them trying to respond to four trends: The increasing number of wealth creators and inheritors who want to focus part of their financial and estate planning on philanthropy. The increasing amount of money being placed in donor-advised funds and foundations. The expanding ways people achieve social impact, going beyond charitable giving to use impact investments, advocacy, crowdfunding, and other tools. Advisors and clients alike hoping to find ways to make a difference in the complex challenges our communities and planet face. They’re often expanding and refining their roles as philanthropic advisors—people who help clients and donors navigate the why, who, what, where, and how of philanthropy and social impact. But the field of philanthropic advising is a messy mix of professional backgrounds, business models, skillsets, services, and success metrics. To help shed…well…daylight on that mess, we’re releasing a draft philanthropic advising competency model this summer. The model will describe attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential for succeeding in philanthropic advising roles. It should clarify recruitment, hiring, performance measurement, and professional development plans for employers, employees, and solo practitioners. We’ll base the model on dozens of job descriptions, interviews with a variety of employers, and competency maps from organizations such as the UHNW Institute (see graphic), Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, CFP Board, and SkillsFuture Singapore. Our project partner is the LaCire team who bring deep experience in developing effective and equitable human capital policies and procedures. And we’re fortunate to have the expertise and leadership of our volunteer working group and advisory board members. What does being a highly competent philanthropic advisor mean in this quickly-evolving world? Stay tuned to Daylight’s blog and social media for a publication and webinar this summer. And if you have questions about the project, don’t hesitate to contact me at tony@daylightadvisors.com . Update: Access the completed Daylight Philanthropic Advising Competency Model . ©2026 Daylight Advisors, Inc.

  • Daylight | Building a Visible and Trusted Philanthropic Advising Field

    Team Daylight is working hard to support your philanthropic planning professional development needs. Help us build a visible and trusted philanthropic advising profession. Features Nonprofit Nerd®: Impact Unleashed Podcast with Megan Bell Press Let's Talk DAFs Podcast ft. Dien Yuen Press Purposeful Planning Podcast ft. Dien Yuen and Marguerite Griffin Press The Philanthropic Advising Competency Model featuring Tony Macklin Press SEE MORE Press Daylight Launches DAF500 Daylight Launches DAF500 Daylight Launches Intro to Philanthropic Planning Certificate Daylight Launches Intro to Philanthropic Planning Certificate Daylight Launches DAFopedia Daylight Launches DAFopedia Daylight Launches First-Ever Industry Standard for Phil. Advisors Daylight Launches First-Ever Industry Standard for Phil. Advisors SEE MORE Advisor Brief October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 SEE MORE Awards SEE MORE Daylight Advisor Brief - Subscribe

  • Daylight| Philanthropic Advising In the Field

    Daylight equips wealth and philanthropic advisors with the confidence, competence, and cultural dexterity to grow their practices, strengthen client relationships, and lead with impact. Our Certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor (IPA) program and certificate offerings establish a new benchmark for excellence in philanthropic planning education. In the Field • Daylight IPA Info Session Virtual September 10 Button • Wealth Management Industry Awards NYC September 10 Button • Start Me Up with Complex DAF Implementation Austin September 23 Button • DAF Giving Summit Austin September 23-25 Button • Daylight IPA Info Session Virtual October 1 Button • Charitable Gift Planners Conference New Orleans October 14-16 Button • Forbes 30/50 5-Year Anniversary Summit New York City October 15-16 Button • Daylight IPA Info Session Virtual November 12 Button • Investments & Wealth Institute (IWI) Experience Scottsdale November 16-17 Button • The UHNW Institute Symposium New York City November 16-17 Button • Daylight IPA Info Session Virtual December 9 Button Start Me Up with Complex DAF Implementation - September 23 Start Me Up with Complex DAF Implementation - September 23 IPA Live Info Session - October 1 IPA Live Info Session - October 1 IPA Live Info Session - November 12 IPA Live Info Session - November 12

  • Turning Advisors Into Ambassadors | Daylighthttps://daylightadvisors.wixsite.com/daylightadvisors/daylight-in-practice/turning-advisors-into-ambassadors

    Turning Advisors Into Ambassadors Turning Advisors Into Ambassadors By Crystal Thompkins Director of Strategic Impact, Daylight A strong network of professional advisors can be invaluable to nonprofits. Professional advisors can serve as a resource for technical expertise and as connectors to others within their networks. Many nonprofits develop councils, create collateral, and host events to cultivate relationships with advisors in hopes of uncovering new opportunities. Much time and resources are spent engaging with advisors, yet often the effort does not yield commensurate results. Successful engagement with advisors, meaning engagement that creates a pipeline of new donor opportunities, doesn’t come solely from pleasant lunches and glossy marketing material. Here are 6 tips to help turn professional advisors into effective ambassadors: Develop an advisor engagement strategy. Advisor engagement should be strategic for and specific to your organization, not an obligation or copycat project from other organizations. Consider your organization’s goals, resources, and needs. How might professional advisors specifically (as opposed to other stakeholder groups) help reach those goals or meet a need given your available resources? What resources will you allocate and how? What are the measurable outcomes and success metrics for your advisor engagement? Events and activities should result from the strategy. They are not the strategy. Keep it simple. A sound strategy with supporting activities and clear goals does not need to be complicated. In fact, it shouldn’t be. The simpler the better. Limit activities to those that have a direct line to meeting your goals. Advisor engagement should not distract or subtract from other organizational priorities and resources. Recruit thoughtfully. With the strategy in mind, consider the profile of the advisors who will be most likely to help meet your goals and be thoughtful in selecting advisors to collaborate with. Look for criteria besides oldest/largest practice, most popular, or biggest donor. What networks are they connected to that you are not? Do they have an existing affinity to your organization? What role(s) have they demonstrated (asker, doer, host, connector, etc.)? Would you and your team enjoy working more closely with them? Keep in mind that an advisor may be a subject matter expert or a great supporter of your organization, but that may not translate into being a great ambassador. Be clear about the expectation. The most effective ambassadors know that’s their role. Let advisors know why your organization wants them to be a part of your success and how they can contribute. Instead of downplaying their commitment - “It’s only one meeting a quarter!” - be upfront about the importance of their participation in achieving your goals: “We’re relying on the connections made through our advisor networks to help meet our goals. We’ll need your active involvement to make that happen.” Give them something to do and the tools to do it. One of the best gifts you can give a busy person is instruction, so they don’t have to spend valuable time figuring out how to do something. Give your advisors tasks that are clear and time-sensitive, along with any tools that will help them. If you want them to make introductions, tell them who, how many, why, and by when. Make a digital toolkit with three bullet points on key initiatives, a 60-day calendar of events, a contact list, and an intro email template. Ask them to share it with at least X number of people a month. Let them tell you if that’s too many or too few. The specificity not only makes it easier for them to do, but it also makes it easier for you to track and report outcomes. Interact with purpose. Whether it’s a phone call, an email, or a meeting, every interaction with your advisor network should include: An acknowledgement of their contribution to your success. A reminder and/or status update of their tasks. A discussion of what hurdles or barriers they’re encountering. A report of the status of goals & celebrating accomplishments. A learning moment. Time for listening to their feedback or an offer to do so at a later date. Addressing these six things will affirm their importance to your organization while establishing a sense of collaboration and accountability. ©2025 Daylight Advisors, Inc.

  • Daylight | Philanthropic Advising in Practice

    Daylight's original research and thought leadership in philanthropic advising sets a new standard, delivering practical and field-informed guidance to strengthen, connect, and elevate the philanthropic advising profession. In Practice Bringing ideas and resources to light. The Charitable Planning Landscape Map View More The Rise of the Philanthropic Advisor Entrepreneurs View More The Nine Components of a Modern Philanthropic Plan View More Insights From the Philanthropic Advising Competency Model View More Philanthropic Advising Learning Journey View More Singapore Gives — But Not Always: Here’s Why View More SEE MORE

  • Daylight | Philanthropic Advising Certificates

    Daylight is your philanthropic planning training partner, equipping you with the confidence, competence, and cultural dexterity to grow your practice, strengthen client relationships, and lead with impact. Certificate programs are tailored for busy and on-the-go advisors who require flexible learning options. Enterprise Certificates Build Philanthropic Advisory Capability Across Your Firm Today, 9 in 10 advisors say it is standard practice to raise philanthropy with wealthy clients, and 96% consider it an obligation. Clients expect the same—80% believe advisors have a responsibility to initiate these conversations. Yet only 61% of clients report being highly satisfied. Most firms have not built the systems or skills needed to lead these conversations effectively or consistently across their teams. The result: Missed opportunities to deepen client relationships Weaker engagement with next-generation clients Limited differentiation beyond investment performance Stronger philanthropic conversations help firms deliver a more differentiated and relationship-driven client experience. Daylight helps firms build advisor capability through structured learning pathways focused on the evolving needs of modern philanthropy—from behavioral philanthropy and impact investing to business-owner planning, women and wealth, collaborative giving, and gift planning. "(The most valuable part of the program was) understanding how impact investing can be incorporated into DAFs and having talking points to explain this to clients in a practical way." Impact Investing Certificate Spring 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 ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCE Each engagement is designed to support implementation, adoption, and firm-level visibility. Advisor Capability Development Guided learning pathways, advisor resources, and access to peer learning through the Impact Advisors Network (IAN) CE credits available for all certificates Community & Ongoing Engagement Access to peer community and invitations to regional events Manager Support Tools to support adoption, reinforce learning, and drive accountability across teams Leadership Alignment Executive session to align program with firm priorities and goals Implementation & Rollout Support Dedicated relationship manager Onboarding session Structured rollout plan with internal communications Reporting & Insights Monthly dashboard plus post-program feedback and firm-level engagement insights ENGAGEMENT OPTIONS Daylight combines structured learning, practical implementation support, and leadership alignment to help firms operationalize philanthropic advisory capability across their teams. Professional Engagement (10-20 advisors) Team Engagement (20-50 advisors) Firm Engagement (50-100 advisors) Institutional Engagement (100-200 advisors) Engagement includes 12 months of access and participation. Join a growing group of leading firms investing in this capability to stay competitive. enterprise@daylightadvisors.com CERTIFICATE OFFERINGS Build a Foundation: Introduction to Philanthropic Planning 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. Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate Understand how donor-advised funds work, how sponsors differ, and where 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: Behavioral Philanthropy Certificate 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. Philanthropic Planning with Women 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. Philanthropic Planning with Business Owners 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. Collaborative Philanthropy Certificate 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: Impact Investing Certificate 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) Charitable giving is an important part of many clients’ wealth, tax, and estate plans. The advisor’s work begins with understanding what the client hopes to accomplish and continues through selecting, executing, and reviewing a gift. Advanced DAF Certificate (Coming Soon) The Advanced DAF Certificate builds on the essentials with a closer look at 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. Benefits Experience Engagement Certificates

  • Daylight | Impact Philanthropy Advisor Info Session

    Daylight equips wealth and philanthropic advisors with the confidence, competence, and cultural dexterity to grow their practices, strengthen client relationships, and lead with impact. Our Certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor (IPA) program and certificate offerings establish a new benchmark for excellence in philanthropic planning education. Live Info Sessions Join an upcoming Impact Philanthropy Advisor (IPA) or certificate program info session and learn how Daylight's programs can take your philanthropic planning expertise to the next level. We'll provide additional details about Daylight's programs, the learner experience, and how they can help accelerate your skills to support philanthropic clients and grow your practice. Whether you’re a client-facing advisor, development professional, or seasoned practitioner, you’ll learn what sets the Daylight experience apart from other professional development programs in philanthropic planning. Upcoming Info Session Dates November 12, 2026 at 9 am PT/ 12 pm ET December 9, 2026 at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET January 5, 2027 at 9 am PT/ 12 pm ET February 3, 2027 at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET March 23, 2027 at 9 am PT/ 12 pm ET October 22, 2026 at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET November 18, 2026 at 9 am PT/ 12 pm ET December 17, 2026 at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET January 19, 2027 at 11 am PT/ 2 pm ET February 18, 2027 at 12 pm PT/ 3 pm ET Register Now Register Now Attend an IPA Live Info Session and be eligible to receive $250 off your IPA registration .

  • Daylight | Philanthropic Advising Certificates

    Daylight is your philanthropic planning training partner, equipping you with the confidence, competence, and cultural dexterity to grow your practice, strengthen client relationships, and lead with impact. Certificate programs are tailored for busy and on-the-go advisors who require flexible learning options. 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 Flexible online learning: Complete coursework at your own pace, on your own schedule. Targeted and practical content: Focus on technical topics or specialized market segments that directly support your practice. Continuing education credits: CE available for CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®, CAP®, CSPGCM, CFRE. Professional recognition: Earn a certificate that demonstrates your expertise and commitment to excellence—ideal for sharing with clients or adding to your professional profile. 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: Introduction to Philanthropic Planning 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. Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate Understand how donor-advised funds work, how sponsors differ, and where 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: Behavioral Philanthropy Certificate 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. Philanthropic Planning with Women 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. Philanthropic Planning with Business Owners 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. Collaborative Philanthropy Certificate 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: Impact Investing Certificate 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) Charitable giving is an important part of many clients’ wealth, tax, and estate plans. The advisor’s work begins with understanding what the client hopes to accomplish and continues through selecting, executing, and reviewing a gift. Advanced DAF Certificate (Coming Soon) The Advanced DAF Certificate builds on the essentials with a closer look at 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 Enroll Now Best Value Annual Certificate Subscription Price $1,500.00 Coming Soon Advanced DAF Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Behavioral Philanthropy Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Philanthropic Planning with Business Owners Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Collaborative Philanthropy Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Essentials of Modern DAF Advising Certificate Price $300.00 Enroll Now Impact Investing Certificate Price $800.00 Coming Soon Charitable Planning for Wealth Advisors Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Philanthropic Planning with Women Certificate Price $800.00 Enroll Now Complimentary Introduction to Philanthropic Planning Certificate Price $0.00 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. Still have questions? See our FAQs . Register for a live info session . Download Certificate Program Description here . Benefits Offerings Registration FAQs

  • Daylight | Advanced DAF Certificate

    The Advanced DAF Certificate provides learners an immersive, practitioner-focused learning experience designed for professional advisors who guide, structure, and influence philanthropic giving through DAFs. Certificates Advanced DAF Certificate Donor-advised funds (DAFs) have become the fastest-growing charitable vehicle, attracting billions of dollars in annual contributions. In addition, wealthy clients increasingly seek guidance on donating complex assets, navigating pre-liquidity event planning, and using DAFs to achieve social-impact goals and build a lasting legacy. Most current DAFtraining covers mechanics and fundamentals, not the advanced planning, advisory judgment, and client-conversation skills these cases require. As a result, advisors are underserved at exactly the moment client demand is becoming more sophisticated. The Advanced DAF Certificate provides learners an immersive, practitioner-focused learning experience designed for professional advisors who guide, structure, and influence philanthropic giving through DAFs. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Analyze and advise on contributions involving non-publicly traded and alternative assets, including closely held business interests, real estate, cryptocurrency, and other illiquid holdings, with attention to valuation, timing, and tax implications. Navigate regulatory frameworks, fiduciary duties, and risk controls. Design integrated charitable strategies that position DAFs alongside estate planning vehicles, tax optimization techniques, impact investing approaches, and complementary philanthropic structures (e.g., private foundations, charitable trusts). Lead values-based philanthropic planning conversations, incorporating multi-generational engagement, governance structures, and legacy-building frameworks tailored to affluent donors. Coordinate with DAF sponsors and ecosystem partners to execute complex giving strategies and maximize impact for clients and the causes they support. FACULTY Tony Macklin Tony Macklin, CAP®, IPA, leads the development of new education programs and field-building projects as Daylight’s Director of Advisor Practice. He is a philanthropist, philanthropoid, and philanthropy geek. Tony enjoys working at the intersection of meaningful giving and community results, specifically connecting older, established forms of philanthropy with emerging trends and experiments. Tony helps donors, families, grantmakers, and their advisors and associations answer questions about shared purpose, use of resources for social impact, governance, strategy, and assessment. He is a frequent speaker, trainer, and author. Dien Yuen Dien Yuen is the founder and CEO of Daylight. Previously, Dien founded the Center for Philanthropy and Social Impact at The American College of Financial Services, where she served as the Blunt-Nickel Professor in Philanthropy. She also helped develop the curriculum for the Certified Impact Philanthropy Professional program at Singapore’s Wealth Management Institute (WMI), which recognized her with its Distinguished Faculty Award. Dien was named CEO of the Year in the Professional Services Firms category at the 2026 Wealth Management Industry Awards and is a 2026 Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree. Certificate Modules Navigating the Modern Donor Advised Fund Landscape Structuring Gifts of Complex Assets Smoothly Integrating DAFs with Tax and Estate Planning Meeting Advanced Social Impact Goals High-Impact Philanthropic Planning Course Format Program Type: Certificate program - asynchronous with module quizzes Program Delivery: Readings, videos, graphics, downloadable resources Program Complexity Level: Advanced Daylight is an approved CE sponsor. Continuing education credits are pending for completion of the Advanced DAF Certificate. IPA, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®, CAP®, CFRE, CSPGCM Registration for Advanced DAF Certificate coming in January 2027. INDIVIDUAL OR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION CHECKOUT

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