Every year, billions of dollars sit inside Donor-Advised Funds, or DAF, money that’s already been set aside for good, just waiting to be put to work. DAF Day is October 8, 2026, and is the one day the nonprofit sector comes together to ask: what if that money moved today?
For Our Rescue, that question has a clear answer. A DAF gift on October 8 will help equip investigators as they locate survivors of human trafficking, strengthen local partners who care for survivors, and fund the prevention training that helps stop exploitation before it starts.
What is DAF Day?
DAF Day is a National Day of Giving dedicated entirely to activating Donor-Advised Funds. Held every second Thursday of October, DAF Day brings donors, nonprofits, and DAF providers together around one shared goal: to turn charitable dollars that are already committed into gifts that are set in motion.
It isn’t a new kind of fund or a new tax rule. It’s a coordinated reminder. Millions of donors have funds that are parked in a DAF right now, and DAF Day exists because that money doesn’t do anything for survivors, or anyone else, until someone recommends a grant.
What is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)?
A Donor-Advised Fund works as a charitable savings account. You or your family contribute cash, stock, or other assets to the fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to nonprofits like Our Rescue whenever you choose. This year, we hope you’ll choose to contribute on October 8th.
If you already have a DAF with a sponsor like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, National Philanthropic Trust, Daffy, or a community foundation, then you’re already set up to give. Recommending a grant typically takes just a few minutes.
Why DAF Giving Matters to the Fight Against Human Trafficking
Donor-Advised Funds are one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy in the nation. According to the DAF Fundraising Report, donors give roughly twice as much to the causes they care about once they start giving through a DAF. That’s a meaningful opportunity for a cause that depends on sustained, flexible funding to move quickly.
Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 U.S. states. An estimated 49.6 million people are trafficked globally, including 12 million children. The organizations fighting to end human trafficking and exploitation depend on funding that can be deployed where it’s needed most, not tied up in restrictions. A DAF grant is exactly that kind of gift: flexible, tax-smart, and ready to move.
How Your DAF Gift Supports Our Rescue’s Work
Our Rescue exists because ending human trafficking takes more than any one organization acting alone. It takes law enforcement, local partners, advocates, survivors, and supporters working together. Every DAF Day gift that we receive has a direct impact on that shared mission. Specifically, your DAF gift supports:
- Field Operations Your gift equips law enforcement with the cyber forensics tools, training, and ESD K9 units they need to identify traffickers and rescue victims.
- Survivor Care Your gift helps empower the local partner organizations providing trauma-informed transitional care to survivors as they rebuild their lives.
- Training & Prevention Your gift funds trauma-informed education that helps youth, adults, and communities recognize and prevent exploitation before it occurs.
A DAF grant doesn’t sit behind a single program budget. It gives Our Rescue the flexibility to put resources where the need is greatest, and most urgent…right now.
Putting Your DAF to Work on October 8: Here’s How
- Log in to your DAF provider’s portal (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, DAFpay-enabled giving, etc.).
- Search for Our Rescue by name or EIN.
- Recommend a grant. Any amount helps move resources toward field operations, survivor care, or prevention training.
- Share it. Tag Our Rescue and encourage others in your network who give through a DAF to do the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is DAF Day 2026?
This year, DAF Day occurs on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Do I need a Donor-Advised Fund to participate?
Yes. DAF Day is specifically about activating funds that you have already contributed to a DAF. If you don’t have one yet, most major providers let you open an account in a matter of minutes, BEFORE October 8.
Please Note: To participate in DAF Day this year, you’ll need to open an account PRIOR TO October 8.
Is my DAF gift to Our Rescue tax-deductible?
Your tax deduction happens when you contribute to your DAF, not when you recommend a grant. So, a DAF gift to Our Rescue doesn’t generate a new deduction, but it does put the dollars you’ve already set aside to work immediately.
Can I recommend a recurring DAF gift to Our Rescue?
Most DAF providers allow recurring grant recommendations. Check with your specific provider for how to set this up.
