National Philanthropic Trust

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is an independent public charity headquartered in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, that provides philanthropic administration, charitable-giving infrastructure, and advisory support to donors, foundations, and financial institutions. Its principal service is the operation of donor-advised funds, charitable accounts that allow donors to contribute assets, receive the applicable charitable benefits, recommend grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, and engage in longer-term philanthropic planning. NPT was established in 1996 by Pitcairn Trust Company. From its origins as a donor-advised fund organization, it developed into one of the largest donor-advised fund sponsors in the United States. The organization serves as an intermediary between donors and charitable organizations: it receives and administers charitable assets, performs applicable compliance and due-diligence functions, invests or manages charitable assets through its operating structure, and processes donor-recommended grants. Its model is intended to give donors a centralized vehicle for ongoing charitable activity rather than requiring them to create and administer a separate private foundation. A significant early growth milestone came in 2005, when donor contributions to NPT exceeded $1 billion. In 2011, NPT expanded the types of assets it could accept by beginning to receive certain illiquid contributions, including closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, and real estate. This broadened the potential use of donor-advised funds for donors whose wealth was not held entirely in cash or publicly traded securities. In 2013, NPT established its first global affiliate, extending its philanthropic infrastructure beyond the United States. NPT also supports donors who want to make grants to organizations outside the United States. Its international work includes NPT Transatlantic, an independent charity registered in the United Kingdom. Through this international structure and related grantmaking processes, NPT can support cross-border philanthropy while addressing the administrative and compliance requirements associated with grants to non-U.S. organizations. According to information cited in the organization’s public description, NPT has raised nearly $93 billion in charitable contributions since its founding, manages approximately $65 billion in charitable assets, and has made more than one million grants totaling nearly $45 billion to charities around the world. In fiscal year 2025, its donors recommended more than 161,000 grants in 68 countries, with a combined value of $6.61 billion. These figures are time-specific organizational disclosures and should not be treated as permanent totals. In addition to administering charitable accounts, NPT has contributed to sector research and public information. For almost two decades it published the annual Donor-Advised Fund Report, which tracked U.S. donor-advised fund contributions, assets, grantmaking, and account counts. Beginning in 2025, publication of the annual report moved to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, which incorporated historical data previously published by NPT. NPT’s current public identity therefore combines donor-advised fund administration, complex-asset philanthropy, international grantmaking, and philanthropy-sector knowledge sharing.

National Philanthropic Trust was established in 1996 by Pitcairn Trust Company in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. It was created as a public charitable organization focused on donor-advised funds, a structure through which donors contribute assets to a charitable account and retain the ability to recommend grants to eligible nonprofit organizations. The arrangement gives donors an ongoing philanthropic vehicle while placing legal control and charitable administration with the sponsoring public charity. During its early development, NPT grew alongside the wider U.S. donor-advised fund sector. Its role was not limited to receiving donations: it administered charitable accounts, processed grant recommendations, supported donor services, and provided the operational framework needed to move funds from donors to nonprofit beneficiaries. Contributions to NPT surpassed $1 billion in 2005, marking an important scale milestone for the organization. In 2011, NPT broadened its asset-acceptance capabilities. It began accepting certain illiquid assets, including closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, and real estate. This development allowed donors to consider charitable contributions involving assets that may require valuation, specialized processing, and additional administrative review. The expansion also positioned NPT as a provider for more complex charitable-giving situations rather than only routine cash and publicly traded securities donations. NPT began international expansion in 2013 with the launch of its first global affiliate. Its international work includes NPT Transatlantic, an independent charity registered in the United Kingdom. The organization’s international grantmaking services help donors support charities outside the United States while navigating the administrative and compliance considerations associated with cross-border giving. Over time, NPT became one of the largest donor-advised fund sponsors in the United States. Its public description reports nearly $93 billion in charitable contributions raised since inception, approximately $65 billion in charitable assets under management, and more than one million grants totaling nearly $45 billion to charities worldwide. For fiscal year 2025, NPT reported that donors recommended over 161,000 grants in 68 countries with a combined value of $6.61 billion. These figures describe particular reporting periods and may change as additional grants and contributions are recorded. The organization also developed a role in philanthropy-sector research. For almost 20 years, it published the annual Donor-Advised Fund Report, which assembled information about the number of donor-advised funds in the United States, charitable assets held in them, contributions received, and grants made. In 2025, responsibility for publishing the report moved to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative. The new publisher incorporated historical information previously released by NPT, allowing continuity in the sector’s long-running data series while changing the institutional home of the publication. NPT is led by Holly Welch Stubbing as president and chief executive officer. Its broader organizational network includes NPT Transatlantic in the United Kingdom. In 2026, Natalie Pinon was identified as interim chief executive of NPT UK, succeeding John Canady. NPT’s present scope therefore spans U.S. donor-advised funds, complex charitable assets, international grantmaking, and philanthropy research and information services.

1. 2026Interim leadership change at NPT UK

   Natalie Pinon is appointed interim chief executive of National Philanthropic Trust UK, replacing John Canady.

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2. 2025Publication of the annual DAF Report moves to DAFRC

   The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative becomes the publisher of the annual report and incorporates NPT’s historical data.

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3. 2013First global affiliate is launched

   NPT expands its international presence through its first global affiliate.

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4. 2011Illiquid-asset contributions are introduced

   NPT begins accepting certain illiquid assets, including closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, and real estate.

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5. 2005Contributions exceed $1 billion

   Donor contributions to NPT pass the $1 billion threshold.

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6. 1996National Philanthropic Trust is established

   Pitcairn Trust Company establishes NPT in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, as a donor-advised fund organization.

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An independent, large-scale philanthropic infrastructure provider that combines donor-advised fund administration with complex-asset giving, grantmaking support, and international charitable expertise.

• Donor-advised fundsCharitable giving account1996

  NPT’s core offering is a donor-advised fund structure. Donors contribute assets to a charitable account and can recommend grants to eligible nonprofit organizations over time. NPT, as the sponsoring public charity, administers the accounts and charitable distributions. The model is designed for individuals, families, foundations, and financial institutions seeking an organized alternative or complement to establishing and operating a private foundation.

• Illiquid-asset givingComplex charitable asset service2011

  Introduced in 2011, NPT’s illiquid-asset contribution capability supports charitable gifts involving assets such as closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, and real estate. These gifts can require additional review, valuation, transfer procedures, and administrative handling compared with cash or publicly traded securities. The service broadens the range of assets donors may use to fund philanthropic accounts.

• International grantmakingCross-border philanthropy2013

  NPT supports donors who wish to recommend grants to charitable organizations outside the United States. Its international work includes an affiliate structure in the United Kingdom and processes intended to address the administrative and compliance requirements associated with cross-border charitable distributions.

• Donor-Advised Fund ReportPhilanthropy research publication

  For almost two decades, NPT published an annual report examining the U.S. donor-advised fund sector. The report tracked measures including donor-advised fund counts, contributions, charitable assets, and grants. From 2025, publication responsibility moved to the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, which incorporated historical data previously published by NPT.

• 2025Transfer publication of the annual Donor-Advised Fund ReportOther

  NPT had published the annual DAF Report for almost 20 years, creating a long-running series of data about the U.S. donor-advised fund sector.

  What changed. Beginning in 2025, the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative became the report’s publisher and incorporated historical NPT data.

  Aftermath. The report continued under a research-collaborative publisher while retaining historical continuity with NPT’s earlier reporting.

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• 2013Begin international affiliate expansionStrategy

  Donors increasingly sought to support charitable organizations outside the United States, creating demand for international grantmaking infrastructure.

  What changed. NPT launched its first global affiliate and subsequently operated international grantmaking activities that included NPT Transatlantic in the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath. NPT expanded its operating reach beyond U.S.-focused donor-advised fund administration.

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• 2011Expand acceptance of complex and illiquid charitable assetsStrategy

  NPT’s original donor-advised fund model primarily required infrastructure for administering charitable contributions and subsequent grant recommendations. Expanding into illiquid assets addressed donors whose wealth included closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, or real estate.

  What changed. NPT began accepting contributions involving closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, real estate, and other illiquid assets.

  Aftermath. The move broadened NPT’s donor service scope and strengthened its position in complex charitable-giving administration.

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• 2026Natalie Pinon appointed interim CEO of National Philanthropic Trust UK

  Natalie Pinon became interim chief executive of NPT UK, succeeding outgoing chief executive John Canady.

  Leadership change
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• 2025Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative takes over annual DAF Report publication

  Beginning in 2025, the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative became the publisher of the annual Donor-Advised Fund Report and incorporated historical data previously published by NPT.

  Other
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• 2025NPT donors recommend $6.61 billion in grants during fiscal year 2025

  NPT reported that donors recommended more than 161,000 grants across 68 countries, totaling $6.61 billion during fiscal year 2025.

  Other
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• 2013National Philanthropic Trust establishes its first global affiliate

  NPT created its first international affiliate, expanding the organization’s ability to support cross-border philanthropy.

  M&A
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• 2011NPT begins accepting illiquid charitable assets

  National Philanthropic Trust expanded its contribution capabilities to include assets such as closely held stock, hedge-fund interests, and real estate.

  Other
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1. National Philanthropic Trust
2. National Philanthropic Trust official website