DAF Day 2026: Turn Giving into Action for Our Coasts

In 2026, our coasts are facing a growing number of threats — from renewed pushes for offshore oil and gas drilling, to efforts to weaken the institutions that protect our coastal ecosystems, to increasingly intense storms and erosion putting coastal communities and economies at risk. Surfrider is rising to meet these challenges and on October 8, DAF Day 2026, you can join us in coastal protection by recommending a grant from your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) to Surfrider.

Every October, DAF Day celebrates all of you who are committed to making the world better through charitable giving. You've created your Donor Advised Fund account, funded it with the cash or assets that you want to dedicate to the causes you care about most, and let it — and your capacity for philanthropy — grow in the account.

According to the most recent DAF Research Collective report, there was $327.87 billion dollars in 3.59 million DAF accounts in 2024, an increase of 27.9% and 18.5% respectively from 2023, with $90.57 billion added in 2024 alone.

That means you and people like you have already taken the hardest step — you've committed to bettering our world to an amazing and impactful degree. 

Now, on DAF Day, we encourage you to turn that commitment into action for the causes you care most about. Maybe DAF Day is your day to recommend your grants for 2026, or maybe it's your day to make your plan for year end. Whatever it means to you, we hope that you will consider a grant to Surfrider, standing with us in protecting the health and resilience of our beaches, coasts, and ocean for all to enjoy, for generations to come. 

Surfrider is honored to have received over 500 DAF gifts in 2025, a nearly 20% growth over the prior year. These gifts — more than $1 million and growing — enable us to increase our advocacy campaigns and volunteer programs to make your beach more resilient through coastal restoration, plastic pollution reduction, and protection and enforcement of hard-won policies at the local, state, and federal levels. Whether your gift is $10 or a six-figure grant, you are building meaningful momentum in Surfrider's work when our ocean needs it more than ever. 

This DAF Day, put your charitable dollars to work to protect your ocean and coasts. 

🌊  If you are ready to recommend a gift from your DAF to Surfrider, use your DAF Sponsor portal or reach out to your advisor to initiate the grant, and let us know. Filling out this form helps us make sure we can connect your gift to you and honor your intention for the gift.

👋 If you've got questions about DAFs, Surfrider's work, and how you can make an impact, please reach out. 

Thank you for making a difference! 

💡 What is a DAF? 

A Donor Advised Fund (aka DAF), is an intentional and strategic tool for philanthropy, often described as a savings account that is only for charitable giving, from which you can recommend grants to charities over time.

In short, you open a fund with a DAF Sponsor, such as a community foundation or charitable financial institution, and fund it with cash or other assets when and how it makes sense for you. Any eligible charitable tax deductions happen right away. These funds you put into your account are irrevocably dedicated to charity, growing in your account until you decide it is the right time to distribute the support to the causes and charities you care about most.

While DAFs used to be a tool just for the wealthy with high minimum account balances, today DAFs are a great tool for anyone interested in being a little more organized and intentional about their and their family's giving, regardless of gift size and capacity. 

If you already have a DAF account, DAF Day is a great opportunity to take the next step: recommend a grant to a cause you care about.