Enable multi-custodial DAF accounts
Expand your program's reach with external custodians
Your custom DAF platform leverages an integrated, self-clearing broker-dealer, Alpaca, for simplified on-platform DAF investments. For sophisticated clients who require external, separately managed accounts (SMAs), you can enable multi-custodial donor-advised fund accounts through your custom DAF program.
Multi-custodial functionality enables your firm’s custom DAF program to display client assets held at external custodians directly within your branded DAF platform.
This capability allows you to provide clients with a complete view of their philanthropic assets—regardless of where they're held—while maintaining your firm's existing custodial relationships.
Learn more about multi-custodial capabilities for your firm's custom DAF program below:
Powered by BridgeFT
Charityvest partners with BridgeFT, the industry's leading API-first wealth infrastructure platform, to enable seamless connectivity to external custodians. BridgeFT's technology aggregates data from multiple custodians through a single API connection, allowing you to display balance information without building individual integrations.
Benefits of multi-custodial accounts
Multi-custodial capabilities allow your firm to:
Scale your custom DAF program without having to move existing client assets from their current custodians
Strengthen your brand by consolidating all DAF visibility under your firm's platform
Your clients and team benefit from viewing all DAF balances in one trusted, branded interface—eliminating the need to access multiple platforms just to check account values.
Looking to manage client external DAF accounts? External account management still requires accessing the custodian's platform for external grant processing, external asset transfers, external investment rebalancing, and external transaction history.
How billing works on multi-custodial DAF accounts
Once you enable multi-custodial accounts for your firm, you will be able to manage DAF investments on behalf of your clients both on and off-platform.
On-Platform Billing
For billing on each client's on-platform "Giving Wallet" balance, your existing custom DAF program billing will apply, including:
Advisory fees: Your customary investment management fees, accrued daily and assessed monthly on each fund balance. These fees are remitted by our team to your firm's connected bank account in the month following the fee accrual period.
Admin fees: The fees collected on behalf of Charityvest, accrued daily and assessed monthly on each fund balance.
External Custodian Billing
For billing on each client's off-platform external custodian balance, you have more flexibility with billing:
Advisory fees: Your customary investment management fees collected by your firm directly, as with any other client brokerage account. These fees can differ from your on-platform fee structure, with a cap of 150 bps.
Admin fees: The fees collected on behalf of Charityvest, accrued daily and assessed monthly. These fees are calculated by our team and one consolidated invoice is delivered to your firm program manager in the month following the fee accrual period.
How to configure multi-custodial DAF accounts
Curious how much time it will take? The total estimated timeline for initial setup is approximately 2-3 weeks from initiation.
If you are a firm program manager, and wish to set up multi-custodial accounts under your custom DAF program, contact your Charityvest relationship manager or the Charityvest support team ([email protected]) for guidance on completing these steps per custodian:
Pershing
Fidelity
Multi-custodial connectivity helps differentiate your DAF program by meeting clients where they are—within their existing custodial relationships—while providing the modern, unified experience they value.
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