Philanthropic advising for busy professionals
Do more good with what you’ve earned.
Helping you contribute strategically to the causes you care about
Whether you just opened a DAF or have donated sporadically or years, I help you create a personalized giving plan that you can feel confident in - all with your schedule and personal goals in mind.
Who I Work With
Individuals & Couples
I help you discover your passions and structure your giving to have the greatest impact, saving you time and helping you maximize your charitable deduction.
CPAs & Professional Advisors
According to TPI’s study, 80% of high net worth clients want their financial advisor to connect them with a philanthropic advisor. You help your clients set up DAFs and maximize charitable giving, I help them make an impact with those funds.
Businesses & Networks
Your employees and members already want to give. I run workshops that show them how to use employer matching and other giving vehicles to have the greatest impact.
How it works
Designed with your busy schedule in mind
One focused conversation about what you care about, how much you want to give, and how you want giving to fit into your life. You walk away with a personalized giving strategy and a roadmap for what to do next.
1) 60 minute discovery session
After our session, I put together a list of vetted organizations matched to your interests, which typically includes a review of the nonprofits you already support, so you can give with confidence without spending hours researching.
2) Curated recommendations
3) Optional additional services
If you want ongoing support, I can help with impact monitoring, board matching, impact investing, and volunteer opportunities.
About Kayla S. Ajavon
Kayla has spent 10+ years in the social impact sector partnering with philanthropists and family foundations to support local and global causes. She previously founded NonProfit Life to help build the capacity of nonprofits to raise funds and manage their organizations effectively, reaching 7,000+ organizations to date. She launched the Philanthropy Edit in response to having conversations with friends and connections who were looking to be more strategic in their giving.
Kayla was a Rotary Peace Fellow scholar and holds a MSc in Post-Conflict Justice & Peacebuilding from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. She earned her certificate in Modern DAF Advising from Daylight, and is an active member of the Network of Engaged International Donors (NEID) NYC Committee. She manages her own DAF where she supports high impact organizations.
FAQs
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No, you do not need a DAF to work with me.
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is like a brokerage account for charitable giving. You transfer cash, stocks, or other assets into the account and get a tax-deduction right away, and then you can recommend where the money is donated at a later time. DAFs have surged in popularity (the amount of money in DAFs have doubled since 2020 to now $327 billion) because it can help streamline your giving and simplify your charitable tax deductions.
If you already have a DAF, I'll help you create a giving strategy to make sure your donations are effective and in line with your philanthropic goals.
If you don't have a DAF, we will create a personalized giving strategy utilizing your existing methods of giving. If you’re interested in opening a DAF, I can connect you with a recommended CPA or professional advisor.
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I charge a flat fee for my time, never a percentage of your gift, so more of your money reaches the causes you care about. Optional services are priced separately, and I'll share the cost before you commit to anything. Email me at kayla@philanthropyedit.com for more information.
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While I specialize in helping people make a giving plan for their DAF, you should always consult your tax advisor when considering setting up a DAF. My expertise is in helping you decide how to use your DAF and structure your giving (although you do not need a DAF to work with me). I’m happy to refer you to a list of recommended CPAs and advisors if you would like support exploring if a DAF is right for you!
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Starting in 2026, most people can now deduct charitable gifts, even if they don't itemize. A charitable deduction means you can subtract the amount you donated from the income the IRS taxes you on, so you pay less tax to the government.
If you take the standard deduction (which 90%+ people do), you can now deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to charities ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). However, this doesn't apply to contributions to a donor-advised fund (DAF).
If you itemize, two things changed in 2026:
First, only the part of your giving above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income counts. For example, with a $200,000 income, the first $1,000 you donate isn't deductible.
Second, if you're in the top 37% tax bracket (which in 2026 means you make $640,600+ for single filers or $768,700+ for married couples filing jointly), the tax benefit of your deduction is capped at 35%. For example, in this bracket if you donate $10k, instead of generating $3,700 in tax savings at 37%, it now generates $3,500 at 35%. Because of the new floor, many donors who itemize "bunch" several years of giving into one year. This means they contribute a larger amount to a DAF in one year to take the deduction up front, then recommend grants to charities over time.
The bottom line is that charitable giving not only helps the causes you care about, but it can also help lower your taxable income.
And remember - this is general information, not tax or legal advice. Please talk with a CPA or tax professional about your situation.
Get in Touch
Want to explore how you can be more strategic in your giving?
Reach out using the form or send an email directly to kayla@philanthropyedit.com. I’m happy to answer any questions by email or a short phone call about where you are in your giving and what you’re looking to do.