Zelle and Bank of America Team Up to Deliver Near-Instant Grants to Nonprofits

Donor-advised funds allow donors to contribute assets, receive tax benefits and then recommend grants to charitable organizations. Traditional disbursements, however, are generally made through ACH transfers or paper checks, often leaving nonprofits waiting weeks for funds. Zelle and Bank of America are bringing near-instant payments to the process, an option that is especially important for urgent needs such as disaster relief.

On March 12, 2026, Zelle and Bank of America announced a pilot through the bank’s Charitable Gift Fund that will allow selected nonprofits to receive funds almost instantly. The fund distributed more than 100,000 grants totaling over $1.3 billion in 2025. Zelle processed 4.2 billion transactions worth $1.2 trillion that year, and the service is expected to expand to other financial institutions.