Transform your charitable giving with Donor Advised Funds
Aug 15, 2025
In this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I was joined by Alissa Maizes, Erinn Andrews and Russell James. We explore how Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) can be a great vehicle for charitable giving.
💡 Conversation Highlights:
- What is a Donor Advised Fund?
- The benefits and key considerations of using a DAF.
- How DAFs can encourage multi-generational giving.
- Charitable giving isn’t just for the wealthy.
- DAF’s can ease the process for small non-profits.
Charitable planning is more than a financial strategy—it’s a way to express your values, build legacy, and make a lasting impact. With tools like Donor Advised Funds, giving can be simple, strategic, and deeply personal.
🎥 Watch this episode below:
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🎧 Listen to the podcast below or on your favorite podcast app.
Connect with Alissa Maizes:
- Amplify My Wealth Website (here)
- LInkedIn (here)
- Instagram ( @amplifymywealth )
Connect with Erinn Andrews:
Connect with Russell James:
Bios:
Alissa Maizes is an award-winning financial literacy content creator, is a licensed attorney and registered investment advisor who provides women and young adults with financial advice and a plan to embrace the life they want. Whether sharing financial literacy content or advising clients of Savvy Ladies with pro bono advice or clients of her firm, Alissa meets you wherever you are on your journey, whether living paycheck-to-paycheck and striving to eliminate high-interest debt or are already a millionaire. Alissa's approach eliminates the traditional "waiting game" for clients who cannot afford to have a fiduciary financial advisor putting their needs first, providing trusted financial and investment advice and guidance to implement their plan to ensure they achieve the life they want sooner than you imagine.
Erinn Andrews, the current VP and incoming President of the National Board of Advisors in Philanthropy, is a social entrepreneur, innovator, and philanthropy leader. As the Founder and CEO of GiveTeam, Erinn runs a unique philanthropic planning practice specializing in supporting donors who wish to be more intentional in their giving. Offering a new philanthropic advising model, GiveTeam collaborates closely with financial advisors to help clients develop a charitable mission statement and select local nonprofits aligned with their values.
Before founding GiveTeam, Erinn led a research lab at Stanford’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, where she researched donor behavior, published resources, and developed education programs. Before that, she led GuideStar’s nonprofit strategy and launched the GuideStar bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels of distinction that nonprofits can earn. Erinn earned her B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University, is a member of P150 (a global network of philanthropy advisors), acts as a “Kitchen Cabinet” advisor to Northern California Grantmakers, is a member of the Peninsula Latina Giving Circle, and currently resides in the Bay Area in California.
Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP® is a chaired professor in the School of Financial Planning at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of the Missouri Law Review and received the United Missouri Bank Award for Most Outstanding Work in Gift and Estate Taxation and Planning. He also holds a Ph.D. in consumer economics from the University of Missouri, where his dissertation was on charitable giving. Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as the Director of Planned Giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri for 6 years and later served as president of the college for more than 5 years. During his presidency the college successfully completed two major capital campaigns, built several new debt-free buildings, and more than tripled enrollment.