 Donor-advised funds have become an increasingly visible part of charitable giving, and DAF Day offers nonprofits a timely reason to make sure donors know they can use these funds to support the organizations they care about.
But making the most of DAF Day on October 8 does not require a complicated campaign—or a sudden push to become a donor-advised fund expert. Instead, think of the day as another opportunity to communicate clearly with donors, make giving easy, and keep your organization’s mission front and center. Consider these three tips for DAF Day 2026: Make sure donors know you accept gifts from donor-advised funds. Duh, right? This sounds simple, but it is an important first step. A donor may have money available in a donor-advised fund without realizing that your organization can receive a grant from it. Take a look at your website, giving page, email communications, and other donor materials. Is giving through a donor-advised fund mentioned anywhere? If not, DAF Day is a good reason to add a simple reminder. You do not need to explain the mechanics. A sentence such as, “You can also support our mission by recommending a grant from your donor-advised fund,” may be enough to prompt a donor who already has a donor-advised fund to consider using it. Connect donor-advised fund giving to your mission—not to the giving vehicle. DAF Day may be about donor-advised funds, but your communications should still be focused on your organization’s work and the many, many ways donors can support it. Accordingly, rather than making the giving vehicle the centerpiece of your message, show donors what their generosity in any form can accomplish. Share a story, highlight a current need, describe an opportunity, or remind supporters what their gifts have made possible. Then include donor-advised funds as an option alongside the many other ways people can provide support—gifts of stock, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs (for donors 70½ and older), gifts through an estate plan, and so much more. This keeps the emphasis where it belongs: on the donor’s charitable intentions and your mission. A donor-advised fund is simply one tool a donor may choose to put those intentions into action. Use DAF Day as a conversation starter. Not every communication, for DAF Day or otherwise, needs to include an immediate ask. DAF Day can simply provide an opening for broader conversations with donors about their philanthropy. For example, a longtime supporter may have established a donor-advised fund as part of a broader financial or estate plan. Another donor may be interested in making a larger gift but has not considered whether assets already set aside for charity could be part of the solution. Still another may appreciate a reminder to review the charitable funds available to them as year-end approaches. The goal is not to assume that every donor has a donor-advised fund—or that a donor-advised fund is the right giving tool for every donor. Instead, use the occasion to invite conversation and remind supporters that there are many ways to be generous. Keep the Community Foundation team in your philanthropic network As you prepare for DAF Day, as always, the community foundation team is a useful sounding board for general questions about charitable giving through donor-advised funds and the philanthropic landscape in our community. Remember, though, that donor relationships and fund information are confidential. The community foundation cannot share information about which donors have donor-advised funds, encourage particular fund holders to support a particular organization, or provide a shortcut to securing donor-advised fund grants. And that is actually an important feature of the relationship. Donors trust the community foundation to honor their privacy and charitable intentions, just as they trust nonprofits to steward their gifts well. And that’s good for everyone. Donor-advised funds often inspire and facilitate charitable giving that never would have happened without this useful tool. So approach DAF Day for what it is: an opportunity to make donors aware of another way to support the causes they already care about—including your organization. Make it easy for donors to give, keep the focus on your mission, and use the occasion to strengthen the charitable conversations that matter all year long.  Many families established private foundations years ago because they wanted to make a lasting difference in their communities. Those foundations have supported important causes, brought family members together around charitable giving, and created meaningful legacies.
Over time, though, circumstances can change. Children and grandchildren may live in different parts of the country. Board meetings become harder to schedule. Administrative responsibilities grow. Tax filings, investment oversight, recordkeeping, and compliance with complex rules can begin to feel like more work than anyone anticipated. For many families, that's when it becomes worthwhile to ask an important question: “Would a donor-advised fund at the community foundation better serve our charitable goals?” There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but if you're beginning to explore the possibility, here are a few steps to consider as you discuss the options with your family and your tax advisors. Be realistic about what’s working and what’s not. Start by taking an honest look at how well your private foundation is working today. Is it still helping your family accomplish what you hoped it would? Are family members actively engaged, or has the responsibility fallen to just one or two people? Sometimes the answer isn't that the private foundation has failed—it's simply that your family's needs have evolved. Consult the specialists. Next, talk with your attorney, CPA, and financial advisors. Transitioning from a private foundation to a donor-advised fund involves important legal, tax, and financial considerations. Your advisors can help you evaluate the options and factors from a tax and legal perspective and determine whether the approach makes sense for your family's particular financial circumstances. The Community Foundation is an important part of the conversation, too, even in the early stages. Be sure to introduce your advisors to the Community Foundation as soon as you can. Our team can explain how a donor-advised fund works, answer questions about the transition process, and, importantly, help you explore ways to preserve the identity and charitable purpose your family has built over the years. In many cases, the donor-advised fund can even continue under a familiar name, allowing your family's charitable legacy to live on in a meaningful way. Identify decisionmakers. As you consider the transition, the Community Foundation team can help you think about who should serve as advisors to the new fund. One of the strengths of a donor-advised fund is its flexibility. You can name family members to recommend grants today and designate successor advisors to help involve future generations in your family's philanthropy. In many ways, the advisors to a donor-advised fund resemble a private foundation’s board of directors. Move to implementation. If your family decides to move forward, the transition itself often can be handled efficiently, although it requires careful planning. Generally, the private foundation distributes its remaining assets to the community foundation to establish or add to the donor-advised fund after reserving sufficient funds to pay final accounting, legal, tax preparation, and other closing expenses. Your advisors will then help complete the foundation's final tax return and any required state filings. Carry on with your good work! Once the transition is complete, your family can continue supporting the organizations and causes you care about—often with significantly less administrative responsibility. Rather than spending time on compliance and paperwork, you can devote more energy to what likely inspired the foundation in the first place: making a difference. Every family's situation is unique, and moving from a private foundation to a donor-advised fund is an important decision. If you're wondering whether it might be the right fit for your family, we'd be delighted to visit with you and your advisors. The Community Foundation is here to help you evaluate your options and continue building the charitable legacy you've worked so hard to create.  National Estate Planning Awareness Week is coming up from October 19 through 25. This comes on the heels of August’s Make-A-Will Month. A reminder to “make a will” is good advice, of course, but a thoughtful estate plan usually involves much more than a single document. And if charitable giving is important to you, making sure all the pieces work together can be especially important.
Think about the different ways assets can pass at death. Some assets may be distributed under a will or according to the terms of a revocable trust. Other assets—including IRAs, retirement plan accounts, life insurance policies, and certain financial accounts—may pass according to beneficiary designations or “transfer on death” designations. All of this means creating the legacy you envision requires thinking not only about who and what you want to support, but also about how particular assets will get there. For example, suppose you would like part of your estate eventually to support charitable causes through the Community Foundation. Depending on your circumstances and goals, you and your estate planning advisors might consider approaches such as: --Naming a fund at the Community Foundation as beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account. You can generally designate a charitable beneficiary to receive all or a percentage of your IRA or retirement account, while leaving other assets to family members or other beneficiaries. Traditional retirement accounts can be particularly worth discussing with your advisors because distributions that may be taxable to individual beneficiaries generally can be received by a qualified charitable organization—including the community foundation—without the same income tax burden. --Leaving a specific dollar amount through your will or trust. Perhaps you want $25,000, $100,000, or another amount to establish or add to a fund at the community foundation. Your attorney can incorporate the appropriate language into your estate planning documents. --Leaving a percentage of your estate through your will or trust. Instead of specifying a dollar amount, you might direct that a percentage of your estate pass to a charitable fund. A percentage gift can adjust along with the value of your estate over time. --Creating a fund to support favorite organizations or causes. Your estate gift could establish or add to a designated fund benefiting an organization you care about, or a field-of-interest fund supporting an issue or area of interest that has been meaningful to you. --Leaving a gift to meet changing community needs. You might instead leave all or a percentage of your estate as an unrestricted gift to the Community Foundation. This approach entrusts the community foundation to put charitable dollars to work where they can make an important difference as community needs and opportunities change over time. These approaches do not necessarily have to stand alone! Charitable components of your estate plan might incorporate more than one document, beneficiary designation, asset, or type of fund to accomplish your goals. What’s more, setting up a charitable giving structure is especially important if you are anticipating a business exit at some point in the future. For these reasons, National Estate Planning Awareness Week is about more than simply checking “make a will” off your to-do list. It is an opportunity to look at your entire estate plan and ask whether your documents and beneficiary designations work together to reflect the people, organizations, and community you want to support. If charitable giving has been an important part of your life, the Community Foundation team would be honored to help you think about how it can become part of your legacy, too. We can work alongside your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to help you explore charitable options and determine what type of fund may best carry out your intentions for years—and perhaps generations—to come.  You’ve no doubt seen the report that in 2025, Americans contributed an estimated $617 billion to support nonprofits. Philanthropy is going strong! It’s also likely not a surprise that donor-advised funds continue to play a growing role in charitable giving. Across the country, more donors are using donor-advised funds to organize their philanthropy, make grants to favorite nonprofit organizations, and involve family members in giving decisions. The Community Foundation offers donor-advised funds to families, individuals, and businesses to help maximize the dollars that ultimately flow to support a wide range of charities, including local organizations like yours that are making a difference every single day.
Yet despite the growth of these vehicles, many nonprofit organizations still find them somewhat mysterious. One of the most common frustrations nonprofit leaders express to the Community Foundation team is that, because grants arrive from the Community Foundation rather than directly from the donor, nonprofit leaders may feel disconnected from the people whose generosity is supporting their mission. The good news is that donor-advised fund donors are often exactly the type of supporters that you and other nonprofits want to cultivate. Research and industry reports consistently show that donor-advised fund donors tend to be thoughtful philanthropists who are actively engaged in charitable planning and frequently work with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors to maximize their impact. The team at the Community Foundation is always happy to have a conversation about why donor-advised funds are actually not a barrier to your donor relationships, but rather an important tool that fits into a donor's broader charitable giving strategy. We look forward to a conversation! In the meantime, here are three ways you can strengthen your relationships with donor-advised fund donors. 1. Recognize that a donor-advised fund is a giving tool—not a donor A donor-advised fund is simply a vehicle for charitable giving. Behind every donor-advised fund grant are real people who have intentionally recommended support for your organization. When a grant arrives from a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, try to avoid treating it as a transaction from a financial institution. Instead, look for opportunities to identify and thank the individual donor whenever possible. Even when the grant itself comes from the Community Foundation, the charitable decision originated with a person who believes in your mission. 2. Make it easy for donor-advised fund donors to support your organization Many nonprofits now include information on their websites and donation materials about how donors can give from their donor-advised funds. Simple reminders that your organization accepts grants from donor-advised funds can help donors understand that this option is available. You may also want to ensure that your organization's legal name, tax identification number, and contact information are easy for the team at the Community Foundation to locate. Our team needs this information to receive and process grant requests from donor-advised fund holders. 3. Steward donor-advised fund donors the same way you steward other donors Some organizations unintentionally place less emphasis on donor-advised fund gifts because the donation arrives through an intermediary. This can be a missed opportunity. Donor-advised fund donors should receive meaningful stewardship, impact reporting, invitations to engage, and ongoing communication whenever possible. The fact that a donor uses a donor-advised fund does not make the relationship less personal. In many cases, these donors are among an organization's most committed supporters. In addition, it’s important to know that the Community Foundation gives donors access to resources, information, and education about local organizations and how to make maximum impact. We encourage donors’ active involvement with the community and the nonprofits they support. We take seriously our role as a convenor and champion for local quality of life. The bottom line As charitable giving tools become increasingly sophisticated, nonprofits in our community can benefit from understanding the tools donors use to support the causes they care about. Donor-advised funds are no longer a niche giving vehicle. They have become an important part of modern philanthropy and are likely to remain so for years to come. The Community Foundation is always happy to help your organization stay informed about charitable giving trends and identify opportunities to strengthen donor engagement. We look forward to our next conversation!  "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." — John Lennon
You’ve certainly heard that well-known quote. But have you thought about it in the context of your charitable giving? It’s common to create a charitable giving plan during a particular season of life. Perhaps you established a donor-advised fund after selling a business, included charitable gifts in your estate plan when your children were young, or began supporting favorite causes after retirement. Over time, however, your life changes—and so does the community around you. Families grow, financial circumstances shift, priorities evolve, and our community faces new challenges. Organizations you care about may expand their missions or collaborate with other nonprofits tackling similar needs. Just as financial and estate plans benefit from periodic review, your charitable plan deserves an occasional checkup as well. If it has been a few years since you've revisited your charitable goals, consider reaching out to the Community Foundation team. We’d be happy to serve as a sounding board as you ask yourself a few questions. Examples include: Are the causes I support today the same causes I cared about ten years ago? Many donors find that their interests evolve over time. You may have become passionate about education, environmental conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, faith-based initiatives, or other causes that were not top priorities years ago. Does my charitable plan still reflect my family's values? Children and grandchildren often develop interests and perspectives of their own. Many families discover that charitable giving provides a meaningful opportunity to discuss values, generosity, and community impact across generations. The result is that families want to adjust their charitable priorities to reflect the interests of the family’s next generation. Have I reviewed my retirement account beneficiary designations recently? Perhaps you’ve already worked with your advisors to update beneficiary designations of your retirement plans. Even so, it’s a good idea to take a look at those documents every few years to be sure nothing is missing. And if you’ve not yet named your fund at the Community Foundation or another charity as a beneficiary of IRAs and other retirement accounts, it’s worth exploring because of the potentially meaningful tax benefits of these arrangements. Be sure to ask your tax advisor about whether this technique could be a fit for you, and reach out to the Community Foundation team to help set your intentions in motion. Do I know how local needs have changed? Communities are constantly evolving and ours is no exception. While many longstanding needs remain, new challenges and opportunities often emerge over time. New opportunities to make a difference pop up every year, and learning about them can inspire you to get involved. The Community Foundation is a valuable resource to provide not only the big picture of what’s going on in our region but also specific examples of how nonprofits are meeting the most pressing community needs. Am I making this as easy on myself as possible? You want to experience the joy of giving—not add administrative layers! Many donors appreciate opportunities to simplify their philanthropy. Whether through a donor-advised fund, another type of fund at the Community Foundation, or a combination of funds designed to achieve different goals, the right structure can make giving more organized and enjoyable. Remember that updating your charitable plan does not necessarily require major changes. Sometimes a simple conversation with the Community Foundation team is enough to confirm that everything remains on track. Other times, donors discover opportunities to strengthen their impact, engage family members, or support causes in new ways. The Community Foundation is always happy to help you review your charitable goals and explore ways to ensure that your philanthropy continues to reflect your values, your family, and your hopes for the future. We look forward to our next conversation!  At the Community Foundation, we are honored to work with many families across multiple generations. Quite frequently, parents and grandparents share with us their hopes of passing along to the next generation more than just financial assets. They want to pass along values, encourage generosity, and foster a lifelong commitment to community.
In many of these conversations, parents and grandparents ask how they can get teens involved. "The teenage years can be tricky," they tell us. "But we also know this is an important time to begin conversations about philanthropy." And that’s certainly true! Teens are old enough to understand community challenges, form opinions about issues they care about, and make thoughtful decisions about how they want to help. For parents, it’s likely worth exploring the research behind the benefits of getting teens involved in the community. In particular, a landmark study published eight years ago (and still relevant) in the Journal of Adolescence found that altruistic behaviors—such as learning about and assisting strangers—not only appeal to adolescents, but actively raise their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth. No matter how compelling the strategy may be, however, getting teens involved is often easier said than done. The team at the Community Foundation is happy to help. Here are ten suggestions for simple ways to start the process. 1. Ask what they care about Many adults begin by talking about charities they support. Instead, start by asking your teen what issues matter to them. They may be passionate about animals, the environment, education, healthcare, mental health, or helping neighbors in need. Listening first can create a stronger foundation for future conversations and ultimately deeper community engagement. 2. Volunteer together Giving involves more than writing checks. Spending even just an hour volunteering as a family can help teens see firsthand how nonprofit organizations serve the community and why charitable support matters. 3. Let them help make giving decisions If your family uses a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, consider inviting teens to recommend a portion of the annual grants to nonprofit organizations they believe in. Even small decisions can help them gain confidence and feel invested in the family's philanthropy. Some families even choose to establish a donor-advised fund for a child or grandchild when they reach adulthood, using cash or appreciated assets to help launch a lifetime of charitable giving. 4. Visit local nonprofits Many nonprofit organizations welcome visitors and offer tours or informational meetings. Seeing an organization's work in action often leaves a lasting impression and helps young people understand the impact of charitable giving. Again, this does not need to take a lot of time. Even a 20-minute visit can be eye-opening. The Community Foundation team is happy to offer suggestions and make connections. 5. Encourage teens to research charities Ask your teen to identify a cause they care about and jump online to learn more about organizations addressing that issue. This can help develop critical thinking skills and introduce concepts such as nonprofit missions, effectiveness, and community impact. Feel free to ask the Community Foundation team to suggest websites, books, and other educational resources if your teen wants to learn more. 6. Talk about family values Charitable giving often reflects deeply held beliefs and priorities. Sharing stories about why your family supports certain causes can help teens understand that philanthropy is about more than money—it's about making a difference. For example, if your family has supported a particular nonprofit for many years because of a personal connection, take the time to explain to your teen the history and original connection. 7. Help them give their own money Whether it is a portion of an allowance, earnings from a summer job, or birthday money, encouraging teens to make their own charitable gifts can be a powerful learning experience. It always feels more “real” to spend your own money, and charitable giving is no exception. 8. Introduce teens to community leaders This suggestion surprises many parents and grandparents who wish they would have thought of it sooner! Think of all the people you know who are making a difference every day in the community, whether working at a nonprofit, serving in a civic leadership position, or leading philanthropy efforts for a business. These conversations can inspire teens by showing them how individuals—real people—can create meaningful change. 9. Invite teens to Community Foundation events Many events hosted by the Community Foundation may be well-suited for your teen to attend, especially when our team is presenting information about community needs or celebrating a community milestone. The next time you plan to attend a Community Foundation event, consider asking our team whether it might be appropriate to bring a teenage child or grandchild. We are also happy to suggest upcoming events that may be especially engaging for young people. 10. Focus on progress, not perfection To state the obvious, there is no single right way to raise charitable children and grandchildren! The goal is not to create experts overnight. Instead, focus on creating opportunities for curiosity, learning, and participation. Small—even very small—experiences can help teens build lifelong habits of generosity and civic engagement. One of the greatest gifts you can give the next generation is an understanding that they have the power to make a difference. The Community Foundation would be delighted to help!  At the Community Foundation, we work with a wide range of donors who want to support favorite charities and causes they care about. Sometimes we meet with individuals and families who have already begun their charitable giving journey by establishing a donor-advised fund at a national charitable sponsor or commercial provider.
Over time, many donors discover that they want something more. They want to learn about local needs, connect with nonprofits making a difference in their community, involve family members in giving decisions, and work with people who understand the place they call home. For these donors, transferring a donor-advised fund from a national charitable sponsor or a commercial provider to the Community Foundation can be a natural next step. The good news is that moving a donor-advised fund is often easier than people expect. Here is a simple guide to the process. Step 1: Start a conversation with the community foundation The first step is simply to reach out. The Community Foundation team can learn about your charitable interests, answer questions, and explain how a donor-advised fund at the community foundation can support your goals. Many donors are surprised to learn that a Community Foundation offers not only the convenience of a donor-advised fund, but also local knowledge, philanthropic expertise, and a long-term commitment to strengthening the community. Step 2: Map out a fund that reflects your values One of the most enjoyable parts of the process is designing a fund that reflects your family's charitable vision. You can choose a fund name, such as the Smith Family Fund or Smith Family Foundation, designate fund advisors, and discuss how future generations might become involved. Many donors use this opportunity to create a structure that encourages family conversations about generosity and community impact, tapping into the Community Foundation’s resources and expertise. Step 3: Establish your new donor-advised fund The Community Foundation will provide a simple fund agreement that outlines how the fund will operate and who may recommend grants to nonprofit organizations. The process is typically straightforward, and the Community Foundation team will guide you through each step. Step 4: Recommend a grant to make the transfer from your current donor-advised fund Once your new fund is established at the Community Foundation, you can contact your current donor-advised fund provider and recommend a grant to the community foundation for the benefit of your newly created fund. In many cases, this can be completed online and requires only a few minutes. Step 5: Confirm the details To help ensure a smooth transfer, be sure to use the exact name of your new fund and any instructions provided by the Community Foundation. Our team will gladly help coordinate the details and answer any questions that arise along the way. Step 6: Decide how much to transfer Some donors transfer the entire balance of an existing donor-advised fund at once. Others prefer to transfer a portion first and move additional assets later. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The right decision depends on your charitable goals, giving plans, and personal preferences. Some donors even choose to maintain their existing donor-advised fund at a commercial provider while also establishing a separate locally-focused donor-advised fund or other charitable fund at the Community Foundation. Step 7: Put your philanthropy to work in the community After the transfer is complete, you can begin recommending grants from your Community Foundation donor-advised fund. Our team is always here as a sounding board and resource if you have questions! You may already support several favorite local nonprofits, and our team is happy to discuss both these organizations and new organizations that might have caught your attention. Many donors find that this deeper connection to the local community—and to professionals who understand it—becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of their giving. The upshot here is that any donor-advised fund can help you organize and simplify your charitable giving. By moving your fund to the Community Foundation, you also gain a local partner committed to helping you make a lasting difference close to home. If you'd like to explore whether a transfer makes sense for you, the Community Foundation team would be delighted to start the conversation!  The Community Foundation team keeps an eye on trends, research, legislative developments, and thought leadership at the intersection of charitable planning, estate planning, and wealth management. Here are three recent articles we think are especially relevant for attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors serving charitable clients.
Charitable planning beats AI? In the article "Why Charitable Efforts Are the Advisor's Edge in an AI-Driven World" appearing in Financial Advisor Magazine, the author suggests that charitable planning may become an increasingly significant way for advisors to differentiate themselves as artificial intelligence automates more traditional planning and investment functions. The article argues that conversations about philanthropy, legacy, and personal values create opportunities for advisors to build deeper client relationships in ways that technology cannot easily replicate, reinforcing the advisor's role as a trusted counselor rather than simply a technical expert. Donor-advised funds continue to grow... In Financial Advisor Magazine's article "Making Sense of the DAF Surge: Five Things Financial Advisors Should Know," the author takes a look at the continued growth of donor-advised funds and the factors driving their popularity. Among the key takeaways are that donor-advised funds simplify charitable giving, allow donors to separate the timing of tax deductions from grantmaking decisions, and facilitate gifts of appreciated assets. The article also notes that many clients increasingly expect charitable planning to be integrated into broader wealth management conversations, making familiarity with donor-advised fund strategies an important competency for advisors. and that is good news for charities. The article "DAF Fundraising Report: Nonprofit Takeaways" on Candid’s website highlights findings showing that donor-advised fund donors are often highly engaged philanthropists who give repeatedly and frequently make larger charitable gifts over time. The report encourages nonprofits to strengthen relationships with donor-advised fund donors, improve stewardship efforts, and make it easier for donors to recommend grants through their charitable giving accounts. This article is useful to advisors because it connects the dots among donors, donor-advised funds, and nonprofit organizations. What’s the takeaway? Remember that the Community Foundation can provide a wide range of solutions for your clients’ charitable giving needs, including donor-advised funds, legacy planning, information about community needs and nonprofits, and ways to involve family members in philanthropy. We are here to support you as you serve your clients. Please reach out anytime.  If you keep an eye on initial public offerings, it’s been an exciting few weeks, especially if your clients are involved. As you work with clients who may hold stock that’s going public, or if your clients are considering investing in companies involved in IPOs, be sure to look at all angles of the client’s financial and estate plan that may be impacted—including charitable planning.
Indeed, recent headlines are a reminder that initial public offerings can create significant charitable planning opportunities. For example, CNBC’s article on SpaceX millionaires and wealth management, The Wall Street Journal’s “Tech’s Next IPO Wave Promises a Charitable Windfall,” and Business Insider’s coverage of newly wealthy SpaceX employees all point to the same theme: Liquidity events can quickly turn founders, executives, early employees, and investors into high-net-worth charitable clients. Of course, for attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, the key is to bring up the topic of charitable planning as early as possible—ideally before shares are sold and before clients make irrevocable tax, investment, or estate planning decisions. You may be curious about how IPOs and charitable planning might come together for your clients and how the Community Foundation can help! Consider three scenarios for inspiration: Scenario 1: Founder or executive with highly appreciated stock A founder or executive approaching an IPO may be holding shares with very low basis and significant expected appreciation. Depending on timing, restrictions, and tax rules, contributing a portion of appreciated shares to a fund at the Community Foundation may help your client support charitable goals while potentially reducing exposure to capital gains tax. A donor-advised fund, field-of-interest fund, or designated fund, for example, can allow the client to create a long-term charitable strategy while maintaining flexibility after the IPO dust settles. Scenario 2: Employee with a sudden wealth event As recent SpaceX coverage illustrates, IPOs can create thousands of newly wealthy employees who may never have needed sophisticated charitable planning before. These clients may be juggling concentrated stock positions, tax liabilities, estate planning needs, and family conversations about wealth. A donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation can provide a simple, organized way to set aside charitable dollars in a high-income year and then recommend grants over time as the client becomes more intentional about giving. This strategy is called “bunching.” Scenario 3: Investor or family seeking legacy and multigenerational community impact Some clients who benefit from IPO activity may already have significant wealth and want to use the liquidity event to formalize a philanthropic legacy. These clients may be good candidates for multiple charitable funds, such as a donor-advised fund for flexible family grantmaking, a scholarship fund to support education, and an unrestricted or field-of-interest fund to address changing community needs over time. The Community Foundation can work alongside you and your client’s full advisory team to align tax planning, family goals, and charitable impact. Finally, and importantly, what’s the common thread across all three scenarios? Timing. Once an IPO, sale, or lock-up expiration is underway, some planning options may be limited. Advisors who ask charitable questions and loop in the team at the Community Foundation early can help clients turn a major financial event into meaningful support for the causes they care about. Please reach out to our team to discuss clients’ charitable opportunities related to IPOs, appreciated stock, business interests, other complex assets—and anything else related to philanthropy. The Community Foundation is here for you! It is our honor to be your first call on matters of charitable giving.  Many people approach a new year with a genuine desire to be more intentional about their charitable giving. They know they want to make a difference, align their generosity with their values, and perhaps even involve their families - but they are often unsure where to begin. The combination of busy lives, changing tax laws, and an ever-growing number of worthy causes can make getting started feel overwhelming. The good news is that taking a few simple, thoughtful actions at the beginning of the year can bring clarity and confidence to your giving.
Here are three first steps to inspire you: Consider reviewing your 2025 charitable contributions with the team at the Community Foundation. Looking back at last year’s giving can be surprisingly helpful, especially when guided by professionals who understand both philanthropy and the local community. The Community Foundation can help you see the real-world impact of your gifts, identify patterns in your giving, and highlight opportunities you may not have considered. This review also creates a natural bridge to planning your 2026 support, whether that means refining your focus, adjusting gift amounts, or exploring new charitable vehicles. Just as important, it allows you to begin thinking strategically about future years, helping ensure that your generosity grows in a way that is both meaningful and sustainable. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible about whether and how the new tax laws might impact your situation. Charitable giving is closely connected to tax and estate planning, and early conversations can help you make informed decisions before the year gets too far along. This is also an ideal time to revisit your estate plan and beneficiary designations. Many donors choose to include a gift to their donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation in their wills, trusts, or beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance policies, creating a lasting legacy that reflects their values. Coordinating these updates with your tax advisor and the Community Foundation can ensure your charitable intentions are clearly documented, tax-efficient, and aligned with your overall financial and estate planning goals. Set goals for your charitable involvement in 2026. Rather than giving reactively, goal-setting allows you to be proactive and intentional about how you engage with the causes you care about. The Community Foundation can help you explore new and emerging charities, learn more about pressing needs in the community, and connect with organizations that align with your interests. Together, you and our team can create a plan for timing gifts throughout the year, whether through recurring contributions, single large gifts early in the year to help a favorite charity leap ahead, or strategic gifts of highly appreciated or complex assets. This approach not only makes giving more manageable but also helps ensure your generosity has the greatest possible impact. As you look ahead, remember that you do not have to navigate charitable planning on your own. The Community Foundation is here to serve as a trusted partner - whether you are just getting started, refining an existing plan, or thinking about the legacy you want to leave for future generations. We invite you to reach out anytime to ask questions, explore ideas, or take the next step in your giving journey. We are honored to help you turn your charitable intentions into meaningful, lasting impact.  At the Community Foundation, we are honored to serve as your home for charitable giving. Whether you support a wide range of charitable organizations in our community and across the country, focus your giving on a few favorite local causes, collaborate with the Community Foundation to invest in our region’s greatest needs, or all of the above, we are here for you!
A new year presents an excellent opportunity to check in on your charitable giving priorities. This is the case every year, but it is especially important in 2026 not only because of the crucial priorities to improve our community’s quality of life, but also because of a few new tax laws that may impact charitable giving strategies for some people. Here are the changes that you’ll want to be aware of, and, most importantly, share with your tax advisors as soon as possible to determine how these changes might impact your situation. Forward this article to your tax advisors, or print it and take it to your next meeting. New threshold to itemize charitable deductions One of the most significant shifts affects individual taxpayers who itemize their income tax deductions. Beginning this tax year, charitable contributions will only be deductible to the extent that they exceed 0.5% of a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income. In practical terms, this means that a portion of charitable giving will no longer generate a tax benefit. For example, a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income of $200,000 will see no deduction for the first $1,000 of charitable contributions made in a year. Only donations above that amount will be eligible for deduction, subject to existing percentage-of-income limits. This new rule functions much like a deductible in an insurance policy, raising the effective threshold for receiving a tax benefit and reducing the immediate incentive for smaller annual gifts among itemizers. Limitation on itemized charitable deductions for high-income taxpayers High-income taxpayers will face an additional limitation through a new cap on the value of itemized charitable deductions. Even if a donor is in the highest federal income tax bracket, the tax benefit of a charitable deduction will be limited to 35 percent of the contribution. As a result, taxpayers in the 37 percent bracket will no longer be able to offset their income at their full marginal rate when making charitable gifts. Good news for the 60% cap Another important change provides greater certainty for donors who make substantial cash contributions. The long-standing rule allowing cash gifts to qualified public charities to be deducted up to 60 percent of adjusted gross income has been made permanent. After satisfying the new 0.5% AGI floor, donors may continue to deduct cash contributions up to this level, while non-cash gifts or contributions to certain types of organizations remain subject to lower percentage limits. This permanence preserves a relatively generous framework for major philanthropy even as other rules become more restrictive. New incentive for non-itemizers The new rules introduce an incentive for taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. Beginning with the 2026 tax year, individuals who claim the standard deduction will be allowed to take a limited charitable deduction above the line, meaning it reduces income before adjusted gross income is calculated. Single filers may deduct up to $1,000, while married couples filing jointly may deduct up to $2,000, provided the contributions are made in cash. This deduction is available in addition to the standard deduction and represents a meaningful expansion of tax benefits for charitable giving among non-itemizers, many of whom have received no tax benefit for donations in recent years. Note, however, that gifts to donor-advised funds are not eligible for this deduction, and neither are noncash gifts. This is unfortunate because both gifts to donor-advised funds and gifts of highly appreciated assets are useful tools that incentivize charitable giving. QCDs may be even more useful Retirees and older taxpayers will also see an important adjustment through an increase in the Qualified Charitable Distribution limit. Beginning in 2026, the annual amount that can be transferred directly from an individual retirement account to a qualified charity will increase, allowing taxpayers age 70 ½ and older to direct more funds to charitable causes without including those distributions in taxable income. Because Qualified Charitable Distributions can also count toward required minimum distributions, this higher limit enhances a tax-efficient giving strategy that is unaffected by itemized deduction limits, adjusted gross income floors, or caps on deduction value. Limitations on corporate charitable deductions Corporate donors are not exempt from the new framework. Starting in 2026, corporations may deduct charitable contributions only to the extent that those contributions exceed 1 percent of taxable income. Contributions below that threshold will not generate a current-year deduction, although amounts that exceed applicable limits may be carried forward to future tax years. This new floor is likely to influence corporate giving strategies, particularly for businesses that make consistent but relatively modest charitable contributions. The existing 10% cap on corporate charitable deductions remains in place. Again, we strongly encourage you to forward this information to your tax advisors. Please loop us into the conversation so that we can work alongside your attorney, financial advisor, and CPA to ensure that you’re set up to meet your charitable goals for 2026 through strategies that also align with your tax, financial, and estate planning objectives. Whether you cc us on an email, ask your advisor to get in touch with us directly, or pull everyone together on a quick call or Zoom, we are here for you and look forward to the conversation!  Understandably, nonprofits often worry that donor-advised funds may delay or diminish their donors’ contributions. In reality, though, donor-advised funds can be very helpful to boost financial support for your mission. Three fundamental concepts are important to gaining a better understanding of how donor-advised funds work at the Community Foundation.
Many options are available at the Community Foundation. It’s important to note that a donor-advised fund is just one of many types of funds that an individual, family, or business can establish with the Community Foundation. You’re likely more aware of donor-advised funds than other types of funds because they are frequently covered in financial media and also because your organization might have received grants from specific donors through their donor-advised funds. Dollars in donor-advised funds are already set aside for charitable giving, and it’s very convenient for donors to use their funds to support favorite organizations–like yours. The Community Foundation encourages donors to give directly. Rest assured that the team at the Community Foundation encourages donors to give directly to their favorite charities when that’s the best strategy to achieve a donor’s estate planning, tax, and charitable goals. When that’s not a viable option, though, both the donor and the charity benefit from the donor using a donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation. Examples include cases where the donor wants to give a complex asset, such as real estate or closely-held stock, or needs to plan out several years of giving to address fluctuating income levels and tax liability. Some donors also prefer to give anonymously, and a donor-advised fund can help with that. Donor-advised funds are becoming increasingly popular. Donor-advised funds are attractive vehicles to help donors organize their giving. In turn, donor-advised fund sponsors—including community foundations—continue to channel billions of dollars in contributions annually to thousands of charities through these vehicles. When donors begin giving through a donor-advised fund, their annual support for organizations often increases significantly, underscoring donor-advised funds’ potential to deepen long-term donor engagement. The Community Foundation is always happy to provide an overview of how these vehicles work and why donors set them up in the first place. Please reach out anytime.  It’s certainly no secret that times are tough. Nonprofits in our community are facing mounting pressures as inflation drives up operating costs, pandemic-era relief funds have expired, and demand for services continues to climb. At the Community Foundation, we are honored to work with local charities that are powering through the obstacles to engage donors and keep charitable dollars flowing to support important work, all while keeping an eye on long-term prospects for legacy gifts and endowment growth. Here are strategies that are working for many charities:
Focus on financial basics Of course, during good times and bad, nonprofit organizations are encouraged to strengthen financial management practices by closely monitoring cash flow, improving transparency, and enhancing reporting to build trust and stability with stakeholders. What’s new for some organizations in 2025 is stepping up communications with donors on these fundamental topics, both in marketing strategies and in one-on-one meetings. For example, if your organization’s endowment fund is managed at the Community Foundation, it’s worth considering leaning on that as a talking point to inspire confidence among your donors. Stay innovative It’s easy to see why some organizations get caught in “hunker down” mode when times are tough. Perhaps counterintuitively, though, challenging economic conditions can often serve as inspiration for nonprofits to innovate operationally—streamlining processes, adopting new technologies, and rethinking traditional service models—to improve efficiency and impact. This is also an area where the Community Foundation can help. To streamline your ability to accept gifts of noncash assets, for example, the Community Foundation can serve as your back office to receive “alternative” donations. Cultivate current donors Taking care of your biggest fans is tried and true advice. Certainly you’ll always want to be on the lookout for new donors, but that work ought not diminish ongoing efforts to build strong relationships with your current donors. Recurring donations, for instance, not only offer nonprofits a predictable and stable funding stream, but they’re also a strong sign of donor loyalty. Indeed, recurring donors demonstrate significantly higher retention and tend to remain committed for many years compared to one-time donors. Long-term donor relationships also pave the way for meaningful conversations about legacy and endowment giving. Please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime. We are happy to be a sounding board to help your mission stay strong, in good times and in bad!  Despite–or perhaps in light of–the recent whirlwind of commentary about new federal laws and the implications for the charitable deduction and charitable giving, it is really important keep in mind that for most individuals, the decision to give is driven by deeply personal factors–such as compassion, moral obligation, empathy, or a belief in a cause—rather than financial incentives.
Indeed, altruism and emotional resonance, not tax breaks, are at the heart of philanthropic motivation. While tax incentives can influence giving, they typically play a supporting role—not a leading one. Psychological and social drivers are deeply powerful motivators for giving that tax considerations cannot match. That’s why we have always loved this article from the Greater Good Science Center and what it stands for, including our favorite points: Generosity is truly human. Generous behavior isn’t merely a social construct—it’s embedded in our evolutionary makeup. Researchers have found that species ranging from bees and chimpanzees to bats exhibit “prosocial” behaviors, suggesting that generosity evolved to enhance survival. In humans, acts of generosity light up the brain's reward pathways—similar to pleasurable experiences like eating or intimacy—highlighting that generosity is inherently satisfying. Philanthropy benefits both the giver and the receiver. Engaging in generous acts delivers tangible psychological and even physical benefits. Volunteering and offering support—whether time, goods, or emotional aid—have been linked to increased well-being, higher self-esteem, and even delayed mortality, particularly among older adults. Furthermore, many studies reported greater happiness when spending resources on others compared to oneself. Charitable values can be nurtured. It’s especially good news that acts of philanthropy are influenced by a blend of personal and social factors. Certainly empathy, humility, and moral values play a role. What’s more, cultural norms, expectations of reciprocity, and strong social networks motivate generosity, too. Unsurprisingly, people are more inclined to come to the aid of specific individuals rather than abstract causes, and generosity tends to be “contagious”—spreading through social groups and communities. If you love supporting your favorite causes no matter what’s going on with the tax laws, you are in good company! At the Community Foundation, we are honored to work with hundreds of families and individuals whose giving is anchored in genuine concern for others. This in turn helps create sustainable long-term positive impact in the community we all love.  “Philanthropy” may sound like something reserved for wealthy, “mature” adults, but that’s not at all the case. At the Community Foundation, we work with individuals of every generation, from young adults to retirees and everyone in between.
Young adults in particular are getting involved in the community in ways that look a little different from prior generations. Research shows that Generation Z and Millennials tend to be more focused on issues than specific charities. Not surprisingly, a tech-forward approach to all aspects of philanthropy is common among members of these generations, including engaging with favorite causes on social media and making donations online. What’s more, a 2024 study indicates that for younger generations, volunteering and donating are strongly tied to civic participation. If you’re a parent or grandparent of young adults, or if you’re a young adult yourself, you’ll be glad to know that the Community Foundation can help. Here are three suggestions. Make it a family affair. The Community Foundation works with families to build charitable giving plans that involve all generations to achieve overall philanthropic priorities as well as coordinating with families’ advisors to achieve tax planning (subscription required) objectives. For example, a multi-generational philanthropy can include donor-advised funds, legacy plans that include IRA beneficiary designations to establish an endowment, and strategic use of Qualified Charitable Distributions for family members who are 70 ½ or older. Make a point to start early. Many young adults are establishing charitable giving practices early in their careers. For example, it’s not uncommon now for new hires to name a charity, such as a fund at the Community Foundation, as the contingent beneficiary of an employer-sponsored retirement plan. In addition, starting in 2026, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions can still take a tax deduction for charitable gifts up to $1000 for single filers and $2000 for joint filers. This can be a great way for younger generations to support the causes they care about. Although the deduction only applies to cash gifts and does not include gifts to donor-advised funds, it’s nonetheless a notable perk. The Community Foundation is happy to serve as a sounding board for ways to leverage this opportunity to make a difference. Make new connections. The Community Foundation can help young people get connected with peer networks who share an interest in getting involved in the community. For example, our team is happy to serve as the back office for establishing what’s known as a “giving circle,” which is a type of fund that allows donors to pool resources with peers to make a bigger impact than they could achieve alone. Giving circles also provide an outstanding hands-on learning experience in philanthropy, especially because the Community Foundation provides education and resources about grantmaking, local needs, and nonprofit leadership. The Community Foundation is honored to serve as our region’s home for charitable giving across generations. We look forward to working with you and your family to support your favorite charities and achieve meaningful outcomes in our community.  In an economic and legislative environment full of unpredictability, we encourage you to tap the knowledgeable team at the Community Foundation–perhaps even more than you have in the past.
If you’ve already established a donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation, you’re familiar with many of the ways we make charitable giving easy, flexible, and effective so that you can achieve your goals for improving the quality of life in our community as well as fulfilling your own estate planning and financial objectives. Not quite sure when to reach out to the Community Foundation? If any of these situations applies to you, drop us an email or give us a call! You promised yourself in 2024 that you’ll never again get caught in a year-end crunch. The last few months of the year are always hectic with holiday activities. When you layer on the added stress of tax planning and completing the charitable giving plans you set back in January, you might tip the scales from hectic to chaos! The Community Foundation can help organize your year-end charitable giving early so that it achieves both your financial and your philanthropic goals. You’re concerned about recent drops in funding to local charities, but you’re not quite sure about what you can do to help. The Community Foundation is our region’s home for charitable giving. That means we’ve got a finger on the pulse of our community’s needs and the nonprofits that are addressing them. Our team can provide information about program cuts that have left people in our community vulnerable and share ideas and recommendations for how you can help fill the gaps. Your tax advisor has suggested that 2025 is an important year to increase your charitable donations, but you don’t want your gifts to favorite charities to suddenly spike and then drop again. For the small percentage of people who itemize deductions on their individual income tax returns, 2025 may indeed present opportunities. The Community Foundation is happy to work with you and your tax advisors to structure gifts to a donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation to ensure that you’re leveraging tax advantages while also maintaining consistent support year after year for the causes you care about. You’re thinking about selling commercial property or private business interests and you’ve heard that charitable gifts can be an effective component of the transaction if structured correctly. Many people do not realize until it’s too late that they can give real estate or closely-held stock to a fund at the Community Foundation well in advance of a future sale and achieve significant tax benefits while also setting aside charitable dollars to make a positive difference in the community either immediately or across generations. Before you and your advisors put any pen to paper on the disposition of real estate or private business interests, please reach out! You’re updating your estate plan and want to leave money to charity, but you’re not exactly sure what charity. Please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime you are updating your estate plan or related financial documents, such as beneficiary designations on IRAs, life insurance policies, or retirement accounts. Our team is happy to work with your advisors to deploy the Community Foundation’s flexible tools to round out your estate plan and make sure you’re exploring the tax benefits of using various types of assets to fund your charitable intentions. Whatever your charitable giving situation, we are here for you! Whether you’ve already started a fund at the Community Foundation or you’re considering getting involved, we look forward to our conversation!  These days, it seems as though there’s a subscription for anything you need. A recent study noted that the average consumer holds approximately 4.5 entertainment streaming subscriptions alone. With the world continuing its shift toward convenient subscription options, it makes sense that your donors are happily moving in this direction as well.
In 2023, a year when revenue from one-time online giving decreased by 5%, revenue generated from monthly giving increased by 6%. In a more recent study, revenue from monthly giving outpaced revenue from one-time giving by 10%. Monthly giving is continuing to trend as an attractive giving option for donors. Here’s why that’s good news for you: Recurring Givers are Committed If you start a subscription for a new product or service, it’s likely that you’re pretty committed, or at least believe in the product enough to subscribe for multiple months. Monthly givers are no different. A study tracking donor trends from 2018-2022 showed that nonprofits had better than average retention rates for recurring givers. Indeed, if a donor starts a recurring gift, there’s a pretty good chance they’re bought into your mission and will be around for the long haul. Recurring Givers Make it Easier to Plan With one-time donors, it’s hard to know how much they’ll give from one year to the next. Turbulent economic conditions, busy family lives, or flat out forgetting to give can always affect your bottom line giving totals. With recurring givers, you can often expect a similar amount month-to-month, helping you plan your short-term budgets and expected income. Indeed, 91% of recurring donors have their gifts set on “autopilot” by automatically charging their credit or debit cards. Recurring Givers Often Donate More Than Their Regular Gift While recurring donors are already contributing a great deal to support your mission, 50% of recurring donors also make additional gifts throughout the year. Whether through regular communications, solicitations, or year-end gifts, recurring givers are excellent candidates for major gifts, endowment gifts, planned gifts, and legacy gifts. Just because a donor has set giving on autopilot, though, it doesn’t mean the donor doesn't need cultivation. It’s actually the opposite. How are you caring for your recurring givers and building a community of some of the most faithful, committed partners to your work? And how are you optimizing your communications and training your team to bring in new recurring givers that will be around for the long haul, especially to ultimately make major gifts and leave a gift to your organization in their estate plans? The Community Foundation team is happy to help you explore ways to elevate your stewardship strategies to deepen relationships with recurring donors so that they become strong supporters for your endowment or legacy program. We look forward to a conversation!  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, after the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s changes to H.R. 1, which passed the House by a narrow margin in May.
The OBBBA, with nearly 900 pages of provisions, reshapes policy across major sectors of the U.S. economy. Included in the OBBBA are several provisions that impact philanthropy. Three major takeaways are of particular importance as the Community Foundation helps donors, fund holders, and nonprofits–as well as attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors–navigate charitable planning opportunities over the months and years ahead. (Notably, the OBBBA omits several provisions that appeared in previous versions of the legislation, such as a proposed increase to the net investment income tax on private foundations.) Insight #1: Standard Deduction Goes Higher What’s in the OBBBA? The new law makes permanent the standard deduction increases under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), increasing the standard deduction for 2025 to $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 to taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. The new law also expands the “bonus” deduction for taxpayers 65 and older through 2028. What’s more, under the new law, individuals who itemize may take charitable deductions only to the extent the charitable deductions exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income. Furthermore, taxpayers in the top bracket can only claim a 35 percent tax deduction for charitable gifts instead of the full 37 percent that would otherwise apply to their income tax rate. Note also that the final bill permanently extended the 60% of adjusted gross income contribution limitation for cash gifts made to certain qualifying charities. What does this mean for charitable giving? With even fewer taxpayers eligible to itemize, and deductions capped for high-income earners, we’re likely to see a continuation of the chilling effect on charitable giving that occurred in the wake of the TCJA. What can you do? If you regularly support charities, it’s important to continue to do so whether or not you’re benefiting from a tax deduction. Our community needs you, now more than ever. If you’re a nonprofit, or if you’re an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor who works with charitable clients, remember that people do not give to charity solely to secure a tax deduction. Keep in mind that many other factors motivate charitable giving, and philanthropy is an important priority for many families. (This article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review has stood the test of time.) Insight #2: Deduction for Non-Itemizers What’s in the OBBA? The new law includes a provision, effective after 2025, allowing non-itemizers to take a charitable deduction of $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. As has been the case in the past, gifts to donor-advised funds are not eligible. Unlike a previous (but smaller) similar provision, though, this law is not set to sunset. What does this mean for charitable giving? After the TCJA went into effect, households that itemize deductions dropped to under 10%. Parallel to this trend, the number of U.S. adults who give to charity in any given year has dropped over the last 20 years from nearly two-thirds to less than half, according to some studies. Against this backdrop, the OBBBA’s deduction for non-itemizers has the potential to re-motivate charitable giving among a significant number of households. What can you do? For everyone, now is the time to take a serious look at your charitable giving plans to support the causes you care about over the years ahead, especially if you are early in your career and not yet itemizing deductions. If you’ve already established a fund or you’re working with the Community Foundation in another way, please reach out to learn how we can help you make the most of the new tax laws, and even get your children and grandchildren involved. If you’re a nonprofit, now is the time to attract and engage brand new donors. And if you’re an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, make sure you talk about charitable giving with your clients who don’t itemize; a $1000 or $2000 deduction could be just the motivation they need to begin a journey of philanthropy. Insight#3: No Sunsetting Estate Tax Exemption What’s in the OBBA? For affluent taxpayers updating financial and estate plans, and for the attorneys, CPAs, and wealth managers advising them, the last couple of years have been a roller coaster because of the looming possibility that the TCJA’s increase to the estate tax exemption would sunset at the end of 2025. Finally, there is clarity: Under the OBBBA, the sunset will not happen. The new law makes permanent the increase in the unified credit and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption threshold. The 2025 exemption is $13.99 million for single filers and $27.98 million married filing jointly. In 2026, these numbers increase to $15 million and $30 million respectively. What does this mean for charitable giving? Purely estate tax-based incentives to give to charity continue to apply only to the ultra-wealthy, likely resulting in a continuation of the taxpayer behavior triggered by the TCJA. In other words, most people will give to charity during their lifetimes and in their estates for reasons other than a tax deduction. What can you do? There is no guarantee that the estate tax exemption will stay high forever. As families work with their tax and estate planning advisors, many are viewing the next two years as an important window to plan ahead. The upshot of the new law is that high net-worth taxpayers now have more time to thoughtfully consider estate planning strategies, including charitable giving. For nonprofit organizations, this means continuing to focus on long-term planned giving strategies is wise.  If you’ve recently retired, you may still be figuring out the ideal balance of activities. If you’ve been retired for several years, you might still be trying to figure it out! Time and again, research shows us that finding purpose is an essential component of a happy and satisfying retirement. Consider the following:
Indeed, retirement offers a unique opportunity for individuals to rediscover their sense of purpose beyond the confines of a traditional career. The Community Foundation’s team and charitable tools can play a pivotal role in this journey. Here’s how: Check in on Tax Planning For starters, the Community Foundation team can work with you and your tax advisors to be sure your charitable giving is reflected in your estate and financial plan to achieve the impact you’re seeking. Among other issues, we’ll help you and your advisors explore whether itemizing your tax deductions in certain years might save you money. You can “bunch” charitable donations into your donor-advised fund in higher-income years to exceed the itemization threshold, then support your favorite causes steadily over time from that fund. If you’re 70 ½ or older, we’ll also help evaluate whether tax-free transfers directly from your IRA - up to $108,000 in 2025 - to a designated, unrestricted, or field-of-interest fund at the Community Foundation would be an effective planning technique for your situation. Involve the Next Generation Many retirees have more time to include family members in their personal charitable giving activities. The Community Foundation team can work alongside you and your estate planning advisors to name children or grandchildren as advisors or successor advisors to your donor-advised fund and invite them to participate in site visits and educational events. This is a great way to strengthen family bonds while building a legacy of generosity across generations. Our team can help you identify ways to include children and grandchildren in site visits to favorite charities and participate in education sessions about community needs and the nonprofits that are making a difference for people who live in our region. Build a Legacy Many people update their estate plans just after they retire. As you work with your tax and estate planning advisors, consider incorporating a gift in your estate plan that will allow your charitable legacy to live on for generations. For example, many people name a fund at the Community Foundation as the beneficiary of their IRAs because of the significant tax advantages when compared with leaving the IRAs to heirs. The Community Foundation is happy to work with you and your advisors to establish a special fund to receive assets from your estate, whether from an IRA or other type of estate gift. The fund can be structured as a permanent endowment to address the community’s greatest needs far into the future, or even support the Community Foundation’s operations to ensure that philanthropy and stewardship continue to thrive for generations to come. You can also name your donor-advised fund as an estate beneficiary, and your children and grandchildren can serve as advisors to the fund so that they, in turn, can carry on the spirit of charitable giving in the family’s name. We look forward to working with you throughout your retirement years to ensure that your community dreams are fulfilled through the power of charitable giving. Please reach out anytime.  Whether you’ve supported a fund at the Community Foundation, established your own fund, or are considering whether to get involved, it’s important to know that the team at the Community Foundation keeps a watchful eye on tax law changes that could impact your plans for charitable giving.
You’ve probably seen a lot of news about the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1), which passed the House of Representatives by a narrow 215-214 vote on May 22, 2025. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it’s expected to undergo significant changes before anything becomes final. The main point to keep in mind is that nothing is set in stone yet, and it’s impossible to know exactly how these tax law changes might affect you and your charitable giving until the process is complete. Our team is happy to help you think about how you might update your charitable giving plans whether or not certain provisions in the proposed legislation are enacted into law. For example, many people include provisions in their estate plans to continue supporting the causes they championed during their lifetimes. They like the idea of leaving a legacy to improve the quality of life in our community across generations. Next time you’re considering an update to your estate plan, please reach out. The Community Foundation team is happy to work with you and your advisors to structure a legacy gift that is meaningful to both you and the community you love. Related to legacy giving, it’s important to note that although the federal estate tax applies to a relatively small percentage of taxpayers, the impact can be significant (currently the top rate is 40%). If the total value of your assets (including real estate, investments, retirement accounts, business interests, life insurance you own, and personal property) exceeds $13.99 million as an individual, or $27.98 million as a married couple, the estate tax could be an issue for you. You’re likely aware that higher estate tax exemption enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) is set to sunset at the end of this year, but under the proposed legislation, the increased exemption would become permanent. If you’re nevertheless still anticipating the possibility of a taxable estate, incorporating a gift to a fund at the Community Foundation in your estate plan can help reduce the tax’s impact. Of course, people don’t give to charity just for tax reasons. Whether or not you expect to wind up with a taxable estate, the Community Foundation can help you achieve your goals for making a difference in our community for years to come. Another provision in the proposed legislation that might have caught your attention relates to the standard deduction. The bill would maintain the higher standard deduction levels from the TCJA and even add a temporary increase through 2028. As a result, fewer taxpayers would itemize deductions, which means fewer people would be able to claim a charitable deduction (although most people don’t support charities solely to get a tax deduction). The bill also introduces a modest “above-the-line” charitable deduction for nonitemizers in the amount of $150 for individuals and $300 for joint filers. Finally, the bill would sharply raise excise taxes on the investment income of large private foundations, with rates going up from 1.39% to as much as 10% for the largest foundations. Foundations with less than $50 million in assets would not see any change. Remember that the Community Foundation offers alternatives to private foundations, including donor-advised funds, that allow you to support your favorite charities and address important local needs. So what’s next? The Senate is expected to start reviewing the bill in June, and the process could stretch into July or August as both the House and Senate work out their differences before sending the bill to President Trump for signature. We’ll keep you updated as this develops. If you have questions or want to talk about your charitable giving options, please reach out. Our team is here to help you support the causes you care about and address community needs in the most effective ways possible, no matter what happens to tax laws.  As individuals, families, and businesses get more involved in charitable giving, it’s not uncommon to become overwhelmed with all the options for supporting favorite charities. Plus, it can be hard to know what really makes a difference.
The Community Foundation is here to help make charitable giving easy, flexible, and effective. Our team loves hearing comments that often reflect pleasant surprises when people get started working with the Community Foundation to make a difference in our region’s quality of life. Here are a few examples: “We had no idea that the paperwork to set up a fund would be so straightforward. Had we known our family fund could be set up in less than an hour, we would have done it a long time ago.” “In this day and age of 1-800 numbers and online chatbots, it has been such a refreshing change to have a real life conversation with knowledgeable professionals. I know I can ask any question and get a fast and friendly response that goes above and beyond my expectations.” “We feel so good about being part of a large, diverse, local, family of giving. We love knowing that we are ‘in this together’ with other donors who are supporting their own favorite causes and it all rolls up to the collective good for our community.” These comments are heartwarming - and they are also based in reality. That’s because community foundations are designed to make charitable giving straightforward and impactful for donors by providing expert guidance, streamlined processes, and a high level of flexibility. One of the most significant ways we simplify the giving process is by handling all administrative and tax-related details. For example, when you make a single contribution of appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund to support all your annual giving, you receive a single tax receipt for the gift, regardless of how many grants are made from that fund to various nonprofits throughout the year. This eliminates the need for multiple receipts and simplifies tax reporting, making it easier for you to document deductions and keep your records organized. Additionally, the Community Foundation provides written acknowledgments for gifts and handles all necessary IRS documentation, further reducing the administrative burden on you and your family. Another key advantage is the Community Foundation’s ability to accept a wide range of assets as charitable gifts, including not only cash or marketable securities, but also complex assets such as real estate, closely-held business interests, mineral rights, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and even agricultural assets. This flexibility helps ensure that you can support your favorite causes in the most tax-efficient way possible. Whether you are considering a new gift, planning a legacy, or simply seeking advice on maximizing the impact of your philanthropy, the Community Foundation provides ongoing support and local expertise. We simplify the legwork so you can focus on the joy and meaning of giving and the positive difference you are making in the lives of others. Please reach out to the Community Foundation team anytime! The team at the Community Foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.  “Philanthropist” is a big word that often conjures up images of the ultra-wealthy making big donations to charities, especially when people like Bill Gates have been in the headlines lately. But the definition is much broader than that. Merriam-Webster defines “philanthropist” as “one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare.”
Anyone can be a philanthropist. That’s certainly the spirit behind the Community Foundation’s mission to improve quality of life in our region. People get started in philanthropy in many ways. Here are just a few:
From there, many people take the next step to get even more involved by providing financial support, including:
Along your journey, the Community Foundation team is here for you as a sounding board and a resource. Many people decide to establish a fund at the Community Foundation after several years of informal giving. A donor-advised fund in particular can be useful to organize giving to multiple charities and streamline tax reporting. For inspiration, consider the recently-released TIME100 Philanthropy 2025 which highlights a diverse array of individuals making a difference - from billionaires like MacKenzie Scott to community leaders, activists, and innovators who leverage their unique skills, platforms, and resources to drive change. This broad representation demonstrates that impactful giving is not limited to those with vast fortunes; anyone can contribute meaningfully, whether through money, time, expertise, or advocacy. Indeed, many on the list are recognized for aligning their philanthropic efforts with personal passions or areas where they can make a unique impact, such as Dolly Parton’s focus on literacy, José Andrés’ humanitarian food relief, and Billie Jean King’s advocacy for women in sports. What’s more, the rise of collective giving, strategic philanthropy, and new collaborative funding models make it easier for people to pool resources and maximize impact. Please reach out anytime, wherever you are along your philanthropic journey. The Community Foundation is here to help everyone make a difference at every level of wealth and background. The team at the Community Foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.  Over the last few weeks, our team at the Community Foundation has talked with dozens of nonprofit leaders and people who serve on charities’ boards of directors about the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1) that passed the House of Representatives by a narrow margin on May 22, 2025. Understandably, many nonprofit organizations are concerned that this legislation might impact their work.
Among many troubling elements are provisions that could affect fundraising strategies to attract annual gifts, major gifts, endowment gifts, and planned gifts. Here are three provisions that are especially important to watch. Corporate giving What’s the provision? The proposed legislation introduces a 1% “floor” on corporate charitable deductions, meaning corporations could only deduct charitable contributions that exceed 1% of their taxable income, up to the existing 10% cap. What’s the concern? This provision could discourage corporate giving, particularly for companies that typically donate less than 1% of their income, as their contributions would no longer be deductible unless they surpass that threshold. The uncertainty over whether corporations can deduct the full value of their contributions or only the amount above 1% adds further ambiguity, potentially leading to reduced corporate support for charities. Is it all bad news? Many corporations support charities through sponsorships that come out of their marketing budgets, not their charitable giving budgets. The proposed legislation does not impact a corporation’s ability to deduct marketing expenses. Private foundation giving What’s the provision? The pending bill would restructure and increase taxes on private foundations, specifically the net investment income tax. The bill replaces the previous flat rate with a graduated structure, imposing higher rates on larger foundations - up to 10% for those with assets exceeding $5 billion. What’s the concern? The proposed increase in tax liability could potentially reduce the amount of funding available for charitable grants, as private foundations may have fewer resources to distribute after accounting for the higher taxes. Additionally, increased compliance costs associated with these new tax structures could further divert funds away from charitable activities and into administrative overhead. Is it all bad news? Donor-advised funds could become an even more important source of funding if the new laws cause some donors to shift away from private foundations as their primary organizing structure for their philanthropy. In the case of donor-advised funds held at the Community Foundation, this could be good news because the Community Foundation actively works with donors to use their donor-advised funds to keep charitable dollars flowing to charities in our community. Individual giving What’s the provision? The proposed legislation affects individual giving by extending provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that were scheduled to sunset at the end of this year. Specifically, the standard deduction is slated to remain high under the proposed legislation, as is the estate tax exemption. What’s the concern? The chilling effect on charitable giving of a higher standard deduction and higher estate tax deduction is likely to continue. Is it all bad news? The bill includes a modest charitable deduction for non-itemizers, allowing up to $150 for single filers and $300 for married couples. Collectively, these changes potentially could make fundraising more challenging for charities. What’s important to keep in mind, though, is that nothing is set in stone–yet. Significant changes to the bill are likely as the Senate starts reviewing the bill in June. The process could stretch into July or August as both the House and Senate work out their differences before sending the bill to President Trump for signature. We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops. We are here for you! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  It is an understatement to say that 2025 has been rough for charitable organizations. Economic volatility, a challenging political climate, and tax reform on the horizon are major factors for many nonprofits.
Despite the harsh realities of external factors, here are three potential bright spots for your organization’s staff and board to consider as you continue the hard work of delivering on your mission. Generosity tends to endure through crisis History shows that even during economic downturns, disasters, or uncertainty, the spirit of generosity persists. Donors are motivated not just by surplus wealth but by a deep belief in the causes they support. In other words, the people who care about your organization really do care. Even in the wake of major recessions and national tragedies, nonprofits have adapted to new realities, rallied donors, and continued to raise the funds they need to carry out their missions. Keep talking to donors Certainly not all donors are affected the same way when times get tough. Some may find it hard to give due to financial constraints, while others may be less financially affected and continue giving at historical levels or even beyond. It’s important for a nonprofit’s board and staff to keep communicating with donors, avoid making assumptions about capacity or lack thereof, and stay confident and passionate about your mission and its importance to the lives of the people you serve. In other words, don’t stop asking donors for gifts, and don’t narrow the range of gifts you’re seeking. Annual giving, campaign giving, endowment giving, and planned giving all are still on the menu. Now is not the time to take a step back. Step up your own game There is no better time to get better at fundraising than during a challenging time! You and your team may look back and be glad you were forced to get more efficient, creative, and strategic about engaging donors in every aspect of giving, including endowment and legacy giving. Double down on testing new ideas on a few donors so you can “fail small” and see what works. When you see results from a particular strategy, take note! If something works during really tough times, imagine what could happen when things turn around. Please reach out to the Community Foundation team! We are happy to serve as a sounding board to help you navigate these turbulent times so that your organization can emerge stronger and better than before. Philanthropy is essential to maintaining and improving quality of life in our community, and we are all in this together. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.  Many charities and their boards of directors are evaluating strategies to grow the organization’s endowment during these challenging economic times. One way to do that is by strategically leveraging donors’ financial contributions through corporate or other matching gift programs.
You’re certainly aware that many employers will match your donor’s donation - often dollar for dollar - effectively doubling the impact without requiring the donor to give more. Sometimes an individual donor or a specific foundation will offer to match donations for a particular campaign or for a period of time. Of course, any type of match increases the total dollar amount flowing to your organization to sustain operations or grow your endowment. In addition – and a factor that charities often overlook – is that matching gifts also incentivize donors to give larger gifts because they know their contributions will be amplified. Indeed, research shows that 84% of donors are more likely to give if a match is offered, and one in three will increase their gift size when they know it will be matched. Here are two tips to attract matching gifts.
Both of these factors are important. Many donors are unaware of their eligibility for employer matching programs, so it’s a good idea to consider integrating matching gift search tools into donation forms, send targeted follow-up emails, or at least provide clear instructions on how to submit match requests. Promoting matching opportunities during key campaigns - such as endowment drives or special giving events - and combining corporate matches with major donor or board-funded matching challenges can create a sense of urgency and multiply the impact even further. Some organizations have seen campaign revenue increase by 30% or more when a matching gift offer is included. Beyond immediate fundraising gains, leveraging matching gifts deepens donor engagement and builds stronger relationships with both individual supporters and corporate partners. Donors who participate in matching programs often feel a greater sense of impact and are more likely to continue giving in the future. If you’re ready to explore how you can tap even further into matching gifts as a strategy to sustain your operating budget or grow your endowment, please reach out to the Community Foundation team. We are happy to discuss ideas for cultivating partnerships with local businesses and major donors for matching campaigns that can open new avenues for support and ramp up your organization’s visibility within the community. Making matching gifts a central part of your fundraising strategy can help unlock new revenue streams, inspire larger and more frequent gifts, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. We look forward to a conversation! This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. |
Visit Us |
Contact Us
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 10am - 4pm
Remote/Virtual Hours: Friday, 10am - 4pm Meetings by Appointment |
|
Accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®
© Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | SMS Terms & Conditions | EIN: 45-0448088