How to Steward Donors Who Give Stock, DAFs, or Crypto

Non-cash giving is no longer a niche strategy. As donors increasingly use appreciated assets like stock and cryptocurrency and elect to donate these non-cash assets through donor-advised funds (DAFs), development teams are presented with a powerful new opportunity for stewardship.

Non-cash gifts often require more complex processing and, in some cases, arrive with less donor information than traditional donations. Because of this, stewardship can fall through the cracks. But these donors are often incredibly financially savvy and loyal. In fact, one study found that nearly 80% of DAF grants in 2024 went to a nonprofit the donor had previously supported. What’s more, almost half of those grants were recurring, reflecting donors’ commitment to specific causes.

A proactive stewardship plan is an important part of the donor journey. It ensures high-capacity donors are recognized appropriately, turning a smart financial transaction into a deep, long-term relationship. By building a dedicated stewardship plan, your organization can celebrate these contributions, secure a new revenue stream, and transform non-cash donors’ generosity into lasting partnerships.

Acknowledge the Gift and the Asset Promptly

The first 48 hours are critical after a donation is received. A fast, personal thank-you is the foundation of all good stewardship. This requires a two-part approach:

1. Send the official, tax-compliant receipt for the cash value of the gift. This should include details like your organization’s name, the date of the contribution, and a description of the asset (like “100 shares of [stock name]”).
2. Send a separate, personal letter or email from a high-level staff member. Double the Donation recommends personalizing the letter by using the donor’s name, highlighting a relevant impact story, and referencing their support. Specifically acknowledge the type of gift by saying something like, “Thank you for your generous $5,000 gift, made through a grant from your donor-advised fund. We’re putting it to work immediately to support our community food program.”

These first key touchpoints demonstrate that your nonprofit is grateful for the donor’s specific gift and able to use it to support your mission. Whether you received a stock donation, DAF grant, or crypto gift, using the right language signals to the donor that your organization understands the smart giving vehicle they used, appreciates the extra steps they took, and is sophisticated enough to handle their support.

After your initial acknowledgment, you might also include these supporters in your annual report or on a public donor wall, as long as you get permission for public acknowledgment from the donor first. This serves the dual purpose of recognizing your donors and promoting non-cash giving to others.

Proactively Solve Anonymity Head-On

In 2025, 27% of surveyed nonprofits reported receiving too many anonymous DAF donations, creating a major problem for stewardship. The anonymity issue extends to other types of smart giving vehicles, like crypto and stock donations, too.

Waiting for donors’ information to arrive with the gift is a reactive strategy. A better approach is to get ahead of the problem.

As FreeWill’s guide to accepting crypto donations explains, “Many crypto owners like the anonymity of crypto, but they may not realize this means their gift will come to you anonymously. Letting them know that you are requesting donor information so you can properly thank them for their gift and provide tax documentation will lower anonymity rates.”

With that in mind, here are a few easy ways to lower anonymity rates:

• On your “Ways to Give” webpage, add a note below your DAF, stock, or crypto giving information. Ask donors to share their name and contact information with you when they make their grant or transfer, so you can thank them properly. Use this same approach when soliciting donations from supporters.
• Use giving tools that make self-identification easy. Embed the tool into your nonprofit’s website to automatically capture the right information (like names, contact information, and gift designations). This creates a simple, guided experience for the donor, ensuring you receive the necessary data for effective stewardship.
• Create a gift notification form. Donors who gave anonymously may later want to self-identify. Consider creating a form where they can provide their name, contact information, donation date, and the number of shares/coins they gave. Then, you can match the information they provided with their anonymous gift for proper stewardship.

Even if you still receive anonymous DAF grants, crypto gifts, or stock donations, these donors are likely paying attention to your nonprofit, so keep that in mind when designing your marketing materials. Share impact stories and highlight the impact of smart giving vehicles so they know their non-cash donations truly make a difference.

Stay in Contact with Your Non-Cash Donors

Stewardship requires more than a one-time tax receipt and thank-you letter. Treat your non-cash donors as valued major supporters who have simply chosen a different way to give. These donors have chosen a powerful tool for their philanthropy and deserve to stay informed.

Start by adding them to your donor communication stream for general announcements and mission updates. Then, go a step further with these strategies for staying in touch:

• Invite them to events. Use your events to make crypto, stock, and DAF donors feel like true insiders and valued partners in your mission. Invite them to high-touch gatherings, virtual roundtables with your leadership, or “behind-the-scenes” tours that show your mission in action.
• Send tailored updates. While general newsletters are good, non-cash donors need to see their sophisticated gifts in action. You might report back, “The $10,000 stock gift you made in January just funded our entire summer reading program for 50 children.” This proves their gift translated to real-world impact and provides an additional opportunity for your team to reconnect by saying thanks.
• Create a modern recognition society. Your organization likely has a legacy society to thank donors who have included you in their estate plans. Apply the same model to donors making high-impact non-cash gifts right now. Create a group to specifically honor donors who make significant non-cash gifts annually and to build a sense of community around your cause. You could call your modern recognition society the “Impact Investors Circle” or the “Asset Giving Society.” 

By integrating these donors into your high-level stewardship programs, you demonstrate that they’re more than just a transaction. Proactive, personal communication will reinforce their decision to give and help turn a one-time gift into recurring support.

Wrapping up: Your First Step Is Simple

Gifts of stock and crypto through DAFs or other vehicles are essential elements of a modern fundraising program. Donors who make these gifts show a high level of financial engagement in your mission, and they expect a stewardship experience that matches their commitment. If you want them to stick around, make sure to exceed those expectations!

Fine-tune your organization’s stewardship strategy by reviewing your “Ways to Give” page or other areas where you promote smart giving vehicles, such as stock and crypto donations. Does the page clearly ask donors to self-identify? If not, adding a simple, friendly note is a five-minute task that could reduce anonymity and launch lasting donor relationships going forward.