#HalfMyDAF is a grantmaking initiative led by Lyft CEO David Risher and his wife Jennifer Risher which offers to match selected grants made towards left-of-center initiatives. In 2025, it was matching up to $2.25 million in grants; by that time, partner donors seeking grant matches had disbursed over $86 million worth of grants since its founding. ^{1 2}

In 2025, #HalfMyDAF reported that it had a $2.25 million total grant matching pool, including $1 million for “general matching.” The funding, in addition to the general pool, includes $750,000 for “gender equity,” $250,000 for “reproductive justice,” and $250,000 for education programs. ³

Background

#HalfMyDAF is an initiative started by American businessman and Lyft CEO David Risher and his wife Jennifer in 2020 to encourage those controlling donor-advised funds (DAF) to more rapidly disburse their funds. At its founding, #HalfMyDAF criticized the fact that over $120 billion had accumulated in DAFs and had not been distributed. To address this, the Rishers agreed to match up to $1 million in DAF disbursements to nonprofits that align with #HalfMyDAF’s advocacy initiatives. ⁴

#HalfMyDAF’s advocacy initiatives support nonprofits that provide subsidized housing, engage in LGBT advocacy, environmental advocacy, and advance equity initiatives. For eligible matches, donors must submit proof of their grant to #HalfMyDAF for a chance at having the grant matched and limited up to $10,000. ⁴

Grantmaking

In 2025, #HalfMyDAF reported that it had a $2.25 million total grant matching pool, including $1 million for “general matching.” The funding, in addition to the general pool, includes $750,000 for “gender equity,” $250,000 for “reproductive justice,” and $250,000 for education programs. #HalfMyDAF allows prospective grant recipients to apply for eligibility and provides them with instructions on how to solicit donations by informing donors that grants could potentially be chosen to be matched by #HalfMyDAF. ³ #HalfMyDAF’s 2025 grant matching will be limited to $5,000 per grant, except for four grants that will be matched up to $25,000, divided between a June drawing and an end-of-year drawing. ⁵

#HalfMyDAF top 2025 grants as of September included $281,500 to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) by partner donors and an additional $5,500 matched by #HalfMyDAF; $53,000 to Elevated Access by partners and $27,000 in matched grants; $140,000 to the Dr. Marlena Fejzo Research Fund at the University of Southern California by partners and $20,000 in matched grants; $100,000 to Urban Ocean Lab by partners and $25,000 in matched grants; and $84,500 to Women Donors Network (WDN) by partners and $25,000 in matched grants. ²

Funding

Since its founding, #HalfMyDAF has had additional philanthropists and philanthropic organizations join and contribute funds to be included in its grant matching initiatives. By 2025, #HalfMyDAF funders had expanded to include investor Greg Spivy and his wife Laury Spivy, venture capitalist James Slavet, venture capitalists Stasia Obremskey and her husband Dan Carroll, Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, and the financial management company Brighton Jones in conjunction with its philanthropic arm, Brighton Jones Philanthropic Advisory. ⁵

Through its partnership with Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, Amalgamated Charitable Foundation will hold #HalfMyDAF’s funds prior to disbursement, using its parent Amalgamated Bank of New York (Amalgamated Bank) and also contributing to the matched funds. ⁵

Leadership

Jennifer Risher is a philanthropist, author, and co-founder of #HalfMyDAF. As of 2025, Risher was also on the board of directors for Women Moving Millions and Women Donors Network. ⁶

Lyft CEO David Risher is a co-founder of #HalfMyDAF. He began his career as a general manager for Microsoft before becoming a senior vice president for Amazon in 1997. In 2009, Risher co-founded Worldreader and served as its CEO until 2023. As of 2025, he was also board chair for Equeum and was leading Tomorrow Cellars, a non-alcoholic wine company he co-founded. ⁷

1. “Put your funds to work. Today.” #HalfMyDAF. Accessed September 21, 2025. https://www.halfmydaf.com/.
2. “#HalfMyDAF 2025 Nonprofits.” #HalfMyDAF. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.halfmydaf.com/2024-1.
3. “Tell your donors about #HalfMyDAF.” #HalfMyDAF. Accessed September 21, 2025. https://www.halfmydaf.com/instructions.
4. Jope, Jen. “#HalfMyDAF: A Challenge to Donors to Unlock Capital for a Reimagined World.” Giving Compass. May 12, 2020. https://givingcompass.org/article/half-my-daf.
5. “The Funders Behind HalfMyDAF.” #HalfMyDAF. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.halfmydaf.com/about.
6. “Jennifer Risher on the growing power — and still untapped potential — of Donor Advised Funds.” Healthcare Foundation. January 24, 2025. https://healthcarefoundation.net/jennifer-risher-on-the-growing-power-and-still-untapped-potential-of-donor-advised-funds/.
7. “David Risher.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 21, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavidrisher/details/experience/.