DAF and QCD donations FAQ
 

What are DAF and QCD donations in Network for Good? Two payment methods for gifts that arrive as checks from a third-party custodian. A donor-advised fund (DAF) gift comes from a sponsor such as Fidelity Charitable. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) comes from a donor's IRA custodian.

Who can use it? Every Network for Good nonprofit. Admins and development staff who record gifts see the new options when they add a donation.

Who isn't included? Customers on other Bonterra products, such as EveryAction.

When is it available? Oct. 14, 2026, for all Network for Good sites.

Do I need to do anything? No. There's nothing to set up. Use the new payment methods the next time you record a DAF or QCD gift.

What can I do with it?

• Record a DAF or QCD gift with the individual as donor and the custodian organization alongside it.

• Create a new custodian organization from the donation form.

• See the custodian on the Giving list and on contact profiles.

• See what a custodian has sent on the custodian organization's contact profile.

• Build a contact filter for donors who've given through a DAF or QCD (with a date range), for "DAF Sponsor" organizations, and for "QCD Custodian (IRA Custodian)" organizations.

• Keep these donors from showing as lapsed in retention reporting. Their DAF and QCD gifts count toward their activity, and custodian organizations are never counted as donors.

Does the donor on the gift change? No. The individual stays the donor. The custodian is recorded alongside the gift.

Is the custodian required? No. It's optional, and it must be an organization.

Why do I see "DAF Custodian" on the donation form and "DAF Sponsor" in contact filters? The form says "DAF Custodian" (or "IRA Custodian" for a QCD). The filters say "DAF Sponsor" and "QCD Custodian (IRA Custodian)" because nonprofits usually call organizations like Fidelity Charitable sponsors.

Do these amounts count twice? No. They count once toward your totals and also show in the custodian organization's giving total.

How do these gifts appear on year-end statements? They're listed with a label such as "via Fidelity Charitable (Donor-Advised Fund)," left out of the tax-deductible total, and followed by a note advising donors to check with a tax advisor. This is expected.

What's not included yet?

• Donors can't give from their donor-advised fund on your Network for Good donation page. These payment methods are for gifts you record after a check arrives.

• IRS-compliant QCD acknowledgment language and QCD education content aren't part of this release.

• Importing the custodian isn't available yet.

Is this the For Good DAF? No. "NFG DAF" or "For Good DAF" is the legacy payment processor being sunset. This feature is for recording DAF and IRA gifts that your nonprofit receives.

Where can I learn more?

Not what you're looking for? Navigate back to https://community.bonterratech.com/donors-donations-other-transactions-174 

What are DAF and QCD donations? | Who can record a DAF or QCD gift? | Do DAF gifts count twice in my totals? | Why are DAF gifts excluded from the tax-deductible total? | Can I import DAF or QCD gifts? | Is this the same as the For Good DAF? | How do I filter for DAF donors?