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Reading roundup: What’s worth a skim to stay up to date on charitable planning

9/7/2026

 
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The Community Foundation team is happy to keep an eye out for what’s trending in the field of charitable planning, especially developments that impact your work with your charitable clients and how those clients tap into tools and resources at the Community Foundation.

Check out the nine articles that have caught our attention recently.

Generous tech

Tech millionaires are turning to donor-advised funds to save on taxes while giving to charity
–CNBC

A wave of newly wealthy tech employees is using donor-advised funds to contribute appreciated company stock, potentially avoiding capital gains taxes, securing charitable deductions, and giving themselves time to decide which nonprofits to support. The trend is a good reminder for advisors that IPOs and other liquidity events can create significant charitable opportunities—and that the best results often come when charitable planning begins before the transaction. This is why it is crucial to reach out to the Community Foundation team when clients start talking about an exit, even if the exit is years away.

Philanthropy beyond DAFs

Philanthropic Planning Is Wealth Management's Next Competitive Frontier, Beyond DAFs
–InvestmentNews

Donor-advised funds are important tools, but they are not the whole philanthropic toolbox. This article explores why high-net-worth clients increasingly expect wealth advisors to help them consider a broader range of charitable structures and how that expertise can help advisors strengthen relationships not only with clients, but also with the next generation. Remember, the Community Foundation offers a wide range of fund types and charitable planning structures to help your clients establish a lifetime and legacy giving plan tailored to their financial and charitable goals.

Donor-advised fund insights

Five Core Truths About Donor-Advised Funds
–WealthManagement.com

This article takes on some common misconceptions about donor-advised funds, highlighting their usefulness for coordinating charitable giving and facilitating complex gifts, their significant grantmaking to charities, and their increasingly important role in charitable and succession planning. For advisors, the takeaway is that donor-advised funds have become an increasingly important part of the philanthropic landscape—and understanding how they actually work can help clients make better charitable planning decisions. And of course, the Community Foundation offers donor-advised funds as part of its broad menu of charitable giving vehicles. 

Even more donor-advised fund insights

Donor-Advised Fund Strategies For 2026
–Financial Advisor Magazine

This article looks at donor-advised funds through a 2026 planning lens, including how advisors can use donor-advised funds as part of broader tax and charitable strategies rather than simply as repositories for year-end gifts. The bigger opportunity is to help clients coordinate the timing, assets, and ultimate purpose of their charitable giving with the rest of their financial plans. The Community Foundation team plays an important role at the table to help you help your clients navigate the charitable and tax components of charitable giving.
Big givers

Chickens, Pigs Could Be Big Winners From AI’s $300 Billion Philanthropy Wave
–Forbes

The AI boom is creating a new class of young, newly wealthy donors—and potentially an enormous new pool of charitable capital. This fascinating article explores how some of these donors are gravitating toward measurable, evidence-driven causes such as farm-animal welfare, illustrating both how sudden wealth can reshape philanthropy and why advisors working with newly wealthy clients have an opportunity to help turn rapidly created fortunes into intentional charitable plans. The Community Foundation’s deep knowledge of local needs and nonprofits is an invaluable resource to you and your clients whether they are younger, older, newly wealthy, or well-established. 
More big giving

Most Billionaires Practice ‘Slow Philanthropy.’ MacKenzie Scott Is a Major Exception
–Fortune

Why do people with enormous charitable capacity sometimes give relatively little of their wealth away each year? This article explores “slow philanthropy” and contrasts it with MacKenzie Scott’s faster, trust-based approach to giving. It raises an interesting issue for advisors: Sometimes effective charitable planning is not only about choosing the right structure or maximizing tax benefits, but also about helping clients feel comfortable actually putting charitable resources to work. The Community Foundation is happy to serve as your sounding board to develop a charitable plan that is designed to achieve the community impact a particular client envisions. 

Celebrating a life of giving

Dolly Parton’s Other Legacy: A Fortune Given Away, Dollar by Dollar
–New York Times

Dolly Parton’s philanthropy was unusually practical and personal, directing her wealth toward needs she understood firsthand—from childhood literacy and disaster relief in Tennessee to wildlife conservation and COVID-19 vaccine research. Her approach emphasized simple, direct action, and trust in recipients—all of which are inspirational and aspirational to our Community Foundation team and the advisors and donors we work with! 

IRS has its eyes on assets

IRS Eyes Charitable Donation Abuse in New Audits, Tax Pros Say
–Bloomberg Law

The IRS is taking a closer look at charitable contributions of hard-to-value assets, including privately held business interests and art, with tax professionals reporting particular scrutiny of valuation, qualified appraisals, and substantiation requirements. For advisors, this is an important reminder that complex charitable gifts require careful planning and documentation—and that bringing the Community Foundation into the conversation early can help address the charitable side of the transaction before the client takes action.

Exits and opportunities

How Advanced Charitable Exit Planning Drives AUM Growth
–Financial Advisor Magazine

Business exits can be important charitable planning moments, particularly when advisors raise the subject before a transaction is already underway. This article explores how strategies involving charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, and gifts of business interests can help address a business owner's tax and philanthropic objectives while also helping advisors deepen relationships and potentially retain more assets under management after the sale. As always, reach out to the Community Foundation as early as possible! 

The checkbook (cringe) lives on!

Retirees Over 70½ Can Send $111,000 a Year From an IRA to Charity Tax-Free. The Average One Donates From Checking Instead.
–24/7 Wall St.


Many charitably inclined retirees are still giving from their checking accounts even though a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) may offer a more tax-efficient route for eligible IRA owners. The article is a useful reminder that advisors can add value simply by asking
how a client is making charitable gifts: Sometimes changing the asset or account used to make the same gift can produce a very different tax result. As always, the Community Foundation can help your clients explore eligible ways to make QCD gifts, including, where appropriate, gifts to designated, field-of-interest, and unrestricted funds. Remember that QCDs cannot be made to donor-advised funds.


What’s the takeaway here? As you skim these articles, or even just the headlines, a pattern emerges pretty quickly! Charitable planning opportunities are showing up everywhere—from newly minted tech wealth and business exits to retirement accounts, complex assets, and the rapidly evolving world of donor-advised funds. Just as important, the articles reinforce that good charitable planning is about more than finding a tax break or selecting a giving vehicle; it is about helping clients make thoughtful decisions about what to give, when to give it, and what they hope their generosity will accomplish. 


The Community Foundation team is here as a sounding board whenever those conversations arise. Please reach out anytime!


What happens if your client wants to give government securities to charity?

9/7/2026

 
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Every day, the Community Foundation works with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors to help clients support the charities and causes they care about. Often, those conversations involve gifts of appreciated noncash assets—and this is great because of the potential tax benefits. Appreciated stock may be the first noncash asset that comes to mind, but a client’s portfolio can include many other types of investments that deserve a closer look when charitable giving is part of the plan.

Government securities are a good example. Although clients may think of these investments as a single asset category, “government securities” actually encompasses a surprisingly broad range of holdings, including Treasury bills (T-bills), Treasury notes, Treasury bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), Series EE and Series I savings bonds, and securities issued by federal agencies and government-sponsored enterprises.

Why does that matter for charitable planning? It matters because not all government securities are created equal where charitable giving is concerned. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

—Government securities can differ significantly in how they generate income, whether they are marketable or transferable, how they are valued, and how their interest or appreciation is taxed. As a result, a charitable strategy that works for one type of government security may not work for another. And even when a government security can be transferred directly to charity, the tax results may be quite different from those associated with the more familiar gift of appreciated stock.

—This dynamic is especially striking when comparing marketable Treasury securities, which may be transferable to charity, with savings bonds, which present very different transfer and income tax issues and may be more interesting in estate planning than as lifetime charitable gifts.
 

—Marketable Treasury securities may be used for charitable giving, but advisors will want to look carefully at the particular security before recommending a strategy. Transfer and charitable acceptance considerations come into play, as do valuation and tax considerations. The security’s holding period, basis, fair market value, and the character of its return can all be relevant because Treasury securities may generate interest or original issue discount rather than the long-term capital appreciation that makes gifts of highly appreciated stock such a familiar charitable planning technique.

—Savings bonds present an even more distinctive situation. Unlike appreciated stock, savings bonds generally are not well suited to a straightforward lifetime charitable gift because transferring the bonds may trigger recognition of previously deferred interest.. Series EE and Series I savings bonds accumulate interest that is subject to federal income tax, and many owners defer reporting that interest until the bonds are redeemed or mature. If a client simply cashes in savings bonds during life and then contributes the proceeds to charity, the client generally recognizes the accumulated interest. In other words, the strategy does not offer the same tax advantage that may be available when a client contributes appreciated publicly traded stock directly to charity. 

—This does not mean savings bonds should be ignored in charitable planning. Quite the opposite: They may be especially interesting in the overall context of a client’s estate plan. This is because accumulated interest on savings bonds can constitute income in respect of a decedent, or IRD. That means leaving savings bonds to individual beneficiaries can carry an income tax consequence in addition to transferring the underlying asset. That IRD characteristic can make savings bonds worth considering in charitable estate planning because a qualified charitable organization generally is not subject to federal income tax on income it receives in furtherance of its exempt purposes. For a client who has held savings bonds for many years, this creates a good reason to identify those assets during the estate planning process and consider whether they may be better suited for charitable purposes than other assets the client intends to leave to family members.

The larger lesson is one advisors encounter frequently in charitable planning: The asset matters! Two investments that look similar on a client’s balance sheet can produce very different tax and charitable planning results.

For all of these reasons and more, the Community Foundation team welcomes a call early in the process. If your client owns Treasury securities, savings bonds, or other noncash assets and has charitable intentions, please reach out before the client takes action. We are happy to work alongside you to explore whether the asset can be accepted, how a potential gift might be structured, and how the Community Foundation can help your client achieve charitable goals while you and the client’s other advisors address the legal, tax, and financial considerations. 

Thank you for the opportunity to help you serve your clients!

​

Estate planning: Go beyond the thirteen magic words

9/7/2026

 
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In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution supporting the designation of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, observed each October. You’ve likely heard of this, and you may know that October 19 through 25 is the week in 2026. Chances are, though, you’ve not recently (or ever) looked at the actual resolution. The preamble outlines several reasons why estate planning deserves this annual spotlight.

​Here are three worth noting:

—“Whereas careful estate planning can greatly assist Americans in preserving assets built over a lifetime for the benefit of family, heirs, or charities.”

—“Whereas estate planning involves many considerations, including safekeeping of important documents, documentation of assets, operation of law in the various States, preparation of legal instruments, insurance, availability of trust arrangements, charitable giving, inter vivos care of the benefactor, and other important factors.”

—“Whereas alternatives to disposition of assets after death, such as planned gift-giving, may accomplish a benefactor’s goal of providing for his or her family and favorite charities.”

What’s especially noteworthy is the intentional inclusion of charitable giving throughout the resolution. For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good time to remind yourself to ask each client a question that can open an important dialogue sometimes overlooked in the estate planning process: 

“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?” 

Sounds simple, right? It’s just thirteen words. Still, advisors may not address charitable giving as consistently or thoroughly as clients would like, according to the 2026 TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation, which surveyed high-net-worth clients and wealth advisors, trust and estate attorneys, accountants, and other tax professionals. 

Here’s what stands out in the findings:

—80% of HNW clients agreed that advisors have an obligation to engage them in conversations about charitable activity. 

—93% of clients who discussed philanthropy with advisors considered the advisor's role important. 

—While 99% were satisfied overall, only 61% reported being very satisfied with charitable planning discussions. 

The key takeaway: There’s room to go deeper! Keep in mind that even clients who have never thought of themselves as philanthropists may welcome the opportunity to fully discuss and structure their charitable intentions beyond their lifetimes, such as through a charitable bequest to a favorite organization or a fund at the community foundation, or by naming a charity as the beneficiary of retirement assets. Raising the subject in more than a cursory way can also lead to broader conversations about family, values, getting the next generation involved, and legacy—conversations that deepen your understanding of what matters to your clients. 

So ask the thirteen-word question—“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”—but don’t stop there. If the client answers “yes,” listen closely to what they say. A smart next step in the conversation is to suggest that you involve the Community Foundation team as a sounding board. Our experienced professionals are here to help you and your client review giving vehicles and approaches that align with the client’s intentions while you continue to guide the overall legal, tax, and financial planning.

The team at the Community Foundation wants to be your first call whenever the subject of charitable giving arises with a client. Indeed, five of our favorite words to hear from tax and estate planning advisors are “Could you help us with …” We look forward to hearing from you!

​

Beyond the will: Why “estate planning” matters and what to do about it

9/7/2026

 
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If August’s Make-A-Will Month feels like it was just yesterday, you may be wondering whether National Estate Planning Awareness Week from October 19 through 25 is simply another opportunity to deliver the same message. Fortunately, there is an important distinction—and one that can make October especially useful for you and other nonprofits. A will is only one component of a complete estate plan. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, bank and brokerage accounts, real estate, and other assets may pass outside a will altogether through beneficiary designations or because they are titled jointly or in the name of a trust. Estate planning gives donors an opportunity to think more broadly about how best to use their assets to support the people and causes they care about.

That makes National Estate Planning Awareness Week a natural opportunity to build on—not repeat—the conversations you may have started during Make-A-Will Month. Instead of simply reminding supporters to create or update a will, October gives you a chance to encourage them to look at the bigger picture and consider whether their estate plans fully reflect the people and causes they care about.

You do not need a sophisticated planned giving program—or even a dedicated planned giving staff member—to participate. A few simple, well-timed communications can introduce the idea of legacy giving to donors who may never have considered it before, while also reminding longtime supporters to make sure their charitable plans are up to date.

Keep the message focused on mission rather than technical details. Help donors imagine how a gift made through their estate could extend the impact of the generosity they demonstrate today, and encourage them to work with their professional advisors to determine the approach that is right for them.

Here is a simple five-point plan for making the most of National Estate Planning Awareness Week:

Put legacy giving in front of your donors.

Start with the basics. Send an email or include a short article in your October newsletter reminding donors that an estate plan can provide for both the people and the causes they care about. This is also an opportunity to broaden the conversation beyond wills by mentioning that charitable gifts can come through trusts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other assets with beneficiary designations. You do not need to explain how each option works. Simply let supporters know that your organization welcomes legacy gifts.

Make sure donors can find legacy giving information on your website.

Take a few minutes to look at your website from a donor’s perspective. Is there an easy-to-find page explaining that donors can support your organization through their estate plans? If not, National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good reason to add one. Include the appropriate organization name and contact information so donors and their advisors know whom to contact with questions.

Tell a story about the future.

Planned giving is ultimately about impact, not estate planning documents. Use a social media post, donor story, or newsletter feature to illustrate what a legacy gift could make possible. Connect tomorrow’s gift to today’s mission: What could a donor help sustain, protect, expand, or accomplish for the next generation?

Invite donors to tell you about their plans.

Some of your most loyal supporters may already have included your organization in their estate plans without telling you. Give them an easy opportunity to let you know. The invitation can be simple: “If you have included our organization in your estate plan, we’d be honored to hear from you so we can thank you and better understand your wishes.” You may discover legacy donors you did not know you had.

Make legacy giving an ongoing conversation.

Do not let the subject disappear when Estate Planning Awareness Week ends. Look for natural opportunities throughout the year to mention legacy giving alongside other ways donors support your mission. Repetition does not have to mean repeating the same message. Make-A-Will Month might focus on creating or updating a will; Estate Planning Awareness Week can emphasize the broader plan; another communication might focus on beneficiary designations or the long-term impact of a legacy gift. Together, these messages can gradually make planned giving a familiar part of the way your organization talks about philanthropy.

And remember that you do not need to become an estate planning expert yourself. Your role is to open the door to the conversation, not to provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Your Community Foundation can be a sounding board as you become more comfortable talking about legacy giving, encounter questions about charitable giving vehicles, or think about ways to incorporate planned giving naturally into your organization’s ongoing donor communications.

Please reach out anytime to the team at the Community Foundation! We are honored to work alongside the nonprofit organizations making such a difference in our region. Thank you for all you do!

​

Message to donors: Go big—and don’t go home!

9/7/2026

 
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“It seems like the more I give the more I get, and that is the way it is supposed to go in life.”

--Dolly Parton

Isn’t it wonderful when donors live by that motto? Even if you’re quite certain your donors enjoy giving to your organization, you’ll still likely be hit with waves of uncertainty from time to time. For instance, a capital campaign, milestone anniversary, major facility project, or other special initiative can create an exciting opportunity to invite your most committed donors to make unusually significant gifts. But it can also create an uncomfortable question for fundraising teams: If we ask a donor to give big now, are we jeopardizing the annual—and perhaps even planned—gifts we hope they'll make later?

It's a legitimate concern, particularly as donors navigate a changing tax environment. With the higher standard deduction making it harder for some taxpayers to realize an income tax benefit from charitable gifts in any single year, donors and their advisors may increasingly consider savvy tax planning strategies such as "bunching" multiple years of charitable contributions into one tax year. This can make giving patterns look different from the steady annual gifts nonprofits have traditionally encouraged. 

The answer isn't to shy away from transformational asks. Instead, think of a major gift as one part of a donor’s long-term relationship with your organization—not the finish line. 
Here are four ways to do it.

Talk about the donor's whole giving picture—not just the campaign.

When you're seeking a significant campaign gift, it is tempting to focus every conversation on the immediate goal: the new building, endowment initiative, anniversary campaign, or other pressing priority.

But your most engaged donors likely care about more than a project. Ask how they envision supporting your mission over the next several years. What programs matter most to them? What do they hope their philanthropy accomplishes? Is creating a legacy important to them?

Those questions can open the door to a broader conversation about annual, campaign, and planned giving. Some donors might make substantial campaign commitments while maintaining annual support, for example. Others might decide that a particularly large current gift means annual giving needs to look different for a few years—but also make commitments through their estate plans.
There isn't one correct combination. The important thing is to have the conversation.

Don't mistake a change in giving pattern for a change in commitment.

Tax considerations may influence the timing, amount, and type of charitable gifts donors make. For example, a donor who historically wrote a check every December might instead combine several years of giving into a larger contribution in a single year, potentially using appreciated assets or a donor-advised fund. That means your stewardship systems need to be ready to accommodate these opportunities. 

Another example is a loyal donor who pauses giving for a calendar year. Are they no longer interested in supporting your mission? Or perhaps they simply have funded several years of charitable giving at once. Make sure your development team understands the donor's intentions and records them appropriately so that an intentional change in giving strategy doesn't accidentally trigger a "lapsed donor" communication.

Most importantly, don't let a pause in gifts become a pause in the relationship. Continue sharing impact, expressing appreciation, inviting participation, and keeping donors connected to your work.

Keep planned giving in the conversation—even after a very large gift.

One of the easiest mistakes to make after receiving a major campaign gift is assuming you've already asked enough of the donor. Planned giving doesn't have to be another immediate ask. Instead, it can be part of an ongoing conversation about what the donor wants their philanthropy to accomplish over a lifetime and beyond.

A donor who makes a significant campaign gift today may also be an excellent legacy giving candidate, whether they name your organization as a beneficiary of an IRA, include a charitable provision in an estate plan, establish an endowment, or explore another planned giving strategy with their tax, legal, and financial advisors.

Indeed, a major campaign gift may signal something important: This donor cares deeply about your mission. That's a reason to continue the relationship, not retreat from it.

Think lifetime relationship, not individual transaction.

Campaign fundraising naturally creates urgency. There are goals to meet, deadlines approaching, and perhaps a very large thermometer somewhere that everyone would like to see reach the top. Your donors, however, aren't campaign transactions.

The strongest fundraising strategy considers how annual giving, major giving, and planned giving fit together across a donor's lifetime. Ask boldly when the opportunity warrants it, but accompany those asks with thoughtful conversations about the donor's broader goals. And after the campaign gift arrives, keep stewarding, listening, and talking about the future.

A big gift today doesn't have to diminish support tomorrow. Handled thoughtfully, it can become another chapter in a much longer story of generosity. Please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime. We are happy to be a sounding board! 

​

Charitable giving: Plan while you can!

9/7/2026

 
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Let’s face it—aging is inevitable. Whether you are 20, 40, 60, or 80, the reality is that every day you are getting older! And the population as a whole is getting older, too. The share of Americans aged 65 and older grew from 12.4% in 2004 to roughly 18%, with projections estimating that roughly one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030. What’s more, in the United States 37% of extended families of older adults include an older relative with dementia.

Against this backdrop, many families have conversations about wills, trusts, financial accounts, health care wishes, and other aspects of planning for the future. Charitable intentions deserve a place in those conversations, too, and, unfortunately, in many cases charitable intentions are overlooked.

No matter how old you are, it’s wise to consider your long-term charitable giving plans. Perhaps you have supported the same organizations for decades and want that support to continue. Maybe there is a particular cause you hope your family will continue to champion. Or perhaps you simply want a portion of your estate to remain in the community, available to address needs and opportunities that may arise long after your lifetime.

Talking about those wishes now—and putting an appropriate structure around them—can reduce uncertainty later. Here are a few reasons to do so:

Reduce the gray areas in the event of future cognitive decline.

Planning ahead becomes particularly important as we age. Over time, health circumstances can change, and some people experience changes in memory or decision-making capacity. Families may also find themselves taking a greater role in helping manage a loved one's financial affairs. That can create difficult gray areas when charitable intentions have not been clearly discussed or documented.
Imagine, for example, that a parent who has supported a particular organization for 30 years wants to make a significant gift later in life. Is the gift consistent with a long-standing charitable intention? Is it a new idea? Do family members understand why the organization is so important? If questions about capacity or outside influence have also emerged, even a perfectly legitimate charitable gift can become complicated.

Provide valuable context that will be essential later.

A documented charitable plan can help family members and advisors understand not only where you want charitable dollars to go, but why. Depending on your goals, that might include establishing a fund at the community foundation during your lifetime, documenting plans for a future charitable fund, including charitable provisions in your estate plan, or involving family members in giving while you can experience that philanthropy together.

Leave room for changes.

Planning ahead does not mean locking yourself into charitable decisions you can never change. Your interests may evolve. Organizations change. New community needs emerge. Your financial circumstances may change, too. Instead, the goal is clarity. By discussing your charitable intentions while you can fully participate in the conversation, you create a foundation that you, your family, and your advisors can build upon. You can revisit the plan as circumstances change and make adjustments when appropriate.

This can be especially meaningful when family members are included in conversations with the community foundation team. Conversations about charitable giving offer an opportunity to talk about much more than money. They can help children and grandchildren understand the experiences and values that shaped your generosity—and give them an opportunity to share what matters to them as well.

Plan early to avoid sticky situations in the first place. 

In some cases, financial institutions and professional advisors must follow certain procedures when questions arise about unusual transactions, diminished capacity, or possible financial exploitation. But even though there are important legal and financial safeguards designed to protect older adults from exploitation and undue influence, it’s much better to plan ahead and reduce the likelihood that your family will need to navigate those issues in the first place. Ideally, your family will not be trying to determine your charitable intentions for the first time after those questions arise. One of the most valuable things you can do is start the conversation early.

Reach out to the Community Foundation!

At any stage of your life, the Community Foundation team can help you explore questions such as: What do you want your giving to accomplish? Which organizations or causes are most important to you? Would you like your children or grandchildren involved? Should your charitable plan continue after your lifetime? And how much flexibility would you like your plan to have as organizations and community needs change? The answers can help you and your estate planning and tax advisors determine how charitable giving fits into your broader estate and financial plans—and help avoid challenges in the future. 

Planning ahead cannot eliminate every question the future may bring. But it can reduce the gray areas—and give the people you trust a much clearer roadmap for honoring the charitable intentions that matter to you.

​

Estate planning: More than just a will

9/7/2026

 
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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.

A “big” inheritance may not be all financial

8/13/2026

 
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Welcome to the Great Wealth Transfer! This much-cited era, happening right now, is reportedly the time when trillions of dollars will pass from one generation to the next over the coming decades in various forms, ranging from cash and stock to real estate and business interests.

Understandably, most conversations and commentary about this transfer focus on the assets themselves. Who will inherit the family business? What will happen to the investment portfolio? How should the estate plan be structured? Naturally, those are important questions! But many families are beginning to ask something deeper: "What values do we want to pass along, too?"

A recent Kiplinger article exploring the Great Wealth Transfer makes the point that the strongest family legacies are built not simply by transferring assets, but by intentionally passing along values of generosity through shared charitable experiences and conversations. It encourages families to involve younger generations in philanthropy early, making giving a collaborative, multigenerational experience rather than a one-time financial transaction. 

For many people, philanthropy is one of those values. If you’re among them, here’s food for thought:

—A charitable legacy isn't simply about the gifts that are made after you're gone. It's also about helping your children and grandchildren understand why giving has been important throughout your life. In many ways, the conversations, traditions, and shared decisions surrounding philanthropy can become just as meaningful as the financial inheritance itself. 

—Now is a great time to begin mapping out your legacy if you’ve not done so already. For starters, August is widely recognized as Make-A-Will Month, in large part because the downtime of late summer offers a perfect window to address open estate planning issues.

—According to the latest Giving USA report, charitable bequests totaled more than $62 billion in 2025, increasing nearly 20% over the previous year. Bequests were the fastest-growing source of charitable giving, underscoring how important estate gifts have become to nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. 

—A charitable bequest can be surprisingly simple. You might leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to your donor-advised fund, or designate another type of charitable fund at the Community Foundation, to continue supporting the organizations and community priorities that matter most to you.

—For example, by naming your children or other loved ones as successor advisors of your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, you're inviting them to continue the family's tradition of generosity by recommending grants to the organizations and causes they believe will make a difference. This opportunity is itself a meaningful inheritance! 

—For individuals and couples with especially large estates, charitable planning also may reduce the federal estate tax ultimately borne by the estate, helping preserve more of the remaining assets for heirs. This consideration applies to relatively few families because the federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per individual in 2026, but when it does apply, it really matters because gifts and bequests to qualified charities generally are deductible in determining the taxable estate. Your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor can help determine whether estate tax planning is relevant to your particular circumstances. 

—Even when estate taxes are not a concern, a charitable bequest can still become one of the most meaningful gifts you make. You may, of course, provide for family members while also supporting the causes and organizations that have mattered throughout your life.

Estate plans are designed to transfer wealth. A charitable legacy has the power to transfer something even more lasting. The Community Foundation would be honored to work with you and your estate planning advisors to arrange charitable bequests, establish a donor-advised or other charitable fund, and build a legacy your family can continue long into the future.

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From success to significance: Opportunities after a major financial milestone

8/13/2026

 
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Life’s big milestones cover a lot of ground! Some are deeply personal, such as welcoming a grandchild, retiring after a long career, or celebrating a significant birthday. Other milestones are financial: selling a business, receiving an inheritance, exercising stock options, selling a valuable piece of real estate, or realizing a financial gain following an initial public offering involving stock you’ve owned for years.

Whether financial or personal, major milestone moments often bring a sense of accomplishment. They can also bring something else: an opportunity to pause and reflect—and be smart about the next big move. For many people, that's when the questions start changing. At some point along the way, instead of asking themselves, "What's my next big thing?" they shift to "What matters most?" and "What kind of impact do I want to leave behind?" That's one reason so many charitable conversations begin after a significant financial event, which is why significant financial events often lead to high-profile philanthropy announcements, as recently occurred in connection with the sale of the Seattle Seahawks. 

Many people in this situation find they have the time and flexibility to think more intentionally about the causes, organizations, and communities that have shaped their lives—especially now that they have the financial resources to act on their intentions. Some want to express gratitude for opportunities they've received. Others hope to create opportunities for future generations or honor family members. Still others simply want to make sure the success they've enjoyed continues benefiting others for years to come.

As you look ahead in your life and anticipate big milestones, consider taking steps early so that you’re prepared to implement a philanthropy plan. For example, here are a few things you can do even years before a significant liquidity event:

—Consider establishing a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation so you can get familiar with the mechanics and the resources available at the Community Foundation. You’ll be able to set aside charitable dollars while taking the time to thoughtfully consider which organizations you would like to support over the months and years ahead, especially following a financial transaction.

—In addition to your donor-advised fund, you might also want to establish one or more designated funds to provide lasting support for the specific organizations you care about. These funds can provide support during your lifetime or receive an estate gift under your will or trust.  

—Some people also establish a field-of-interest fund at the Community Foundation as part of their charitable giving “portfolio” to address particular community needs, as well as unrestricted funds that allow the community foundation to respond to the area's greatest opportunities for generations to come.

Remember, in the case of private business interests, from a capital gains perspective, you may be far better off establishing charitable arrangements well before a transaction is underway. Please consult your tax advisors and the community foundation team as you think about an exit plan for your closely held business. Of course, if you’ve recently experienced a liquidity event and haven’t yet established a charitable plan, it is not too late!   
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Whether you’ve already experienced a significant financial event—or expect one in the future—we'd love to talk. The community foundation can help you explore charitable options that reflect your values, support the causes you care about, and create a legacy that extends far beyond a single moment of success.

Early birds, “bunching,” and planning for year-end

8/13/2026

 
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When “back to school” enters your vocabulary, you know the rest of the year will go by in a flash! That’s why it’s important to check in on your charitable goals for 2026 before fall gets into full swing. Otherwise, you may find yourself scrambling to synchronize tax planning, financial planning, and gifts to favorite nonprofits. 

In particular, a technique called “bunching” is important to consider as you get a jump on your year-end charitable giving plans.

Even just a few years ago, not many people had heard of “bunching.” That’s because the standard deduction (which itself has an interesting history) under the Internal Revenue Code’s income tax rules was much lower than it is now. Many donors easily met the criteria to itemize deductions—including their charitable contributions—on their income tax returns. That changed after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 significantly increased the standard deduction starting in 2018. 

Further changes to the charitable deduction rules under 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased the complexity of charitable deduction thresholds because the new law, effective for 2026, imposes a 0.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI) floor for itemized charitable deductions and, for taxpayers in the highest tax bracket, a 35% cap on the tax benefit of those deductions. All of this means that thoughtful charitable planning is more important than ever.

What you need to know is that "bunching" charitable gifts may be useful to you, and it’s something you ought to discuss with your tax and financial advisors as soon as you can. The essence of bunching is that, rather than making similar-sized charitable donations every year, you would combine two or more years of charitable gifts up front into a single tax year. The reason this is useful is because by concentrating gifts into one year, you may be able to accumulate enough deductions to make itemizing more beneficial than claiming the standard deduction and achieve a greater tax benefit than you would by making smaller annual gifts and taking the standard deduction. 

A donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation makes bunching especially attractive. For example, you can contribute several years' worth of charitable gifts to your donor-advised fund this year, generally be eligible to claim an income tax deduction for the current year, subject to applicable limitations, and then recommend grants to your favorite nonprofits over several future years. This allows your favorite organizations to continue receiving steady support while simultaneously maximizing your own tax benefits.  

Remember, too, that your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation accepts appreciated securities, which may provide additional tax advantages in the right circumstances. That’s because you may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the highly appreciated stock you contribute to your donor-advised fund. 

The takeaway here is that now is the time to begin conversations with your tax and financial advisors about bunching and about your charitable plans in general. Please loop in the Community Foundation team! We are honored to serve as a sounding board as you carry out your charitable wishes. The community foundation is your home for charitable giving, and we always welcome a conversation! 

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Keeping score: Simple tips for tracking planned giving activities

8/13/2026

 
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Naturally, your organization understands the importance of planned giving. But, if you are like many organizations, figuring out a way to track it and measure success leaves you scratching your head. 
That's understandable. Unlike an annual campaign, planned giving is built on relationships that often develop over many years. A donor may first express interest today but not finalize an estate gift until years later. That long timeline can make it difficult to know whether your efforts are paying off.
The good news is that you don't have to wait decades to measure success. Instead of focusing only on completed bequests, begin tracking the activities that lead to future legacy gifts—which will also generate plenty of annual giving along the way!

Here are a few best practices to consider.

Document “meaningful conversations,” not just commitments and gifts received

One of the best indicators of a healthy planned giving program is the number of meaningful conversations your team is having with donors about legacy giving. Ask yourselves, “Did this conversation make it more likely that this donor will include our organization in their estate plan?” Every discussion represents an opportunity to better understand a donor's goals, while also planting the seeds for a future gift and securing lifetime gifts.

Celebrate documented intentions

When a donor informs your organization that they have included you in their estate plan—or signs a letter of intent—celebrate that milestone. Tracking these commitments helps you understand how your legacy program is growing long before gifts are ultimately realized.

Focus on stewardship activities

Activity drives results! And the work doesn't end when a donor makes a legacy commitment. You can generate ongoing meaningful conversations through in-person meetings (even if just 10 minutes!), phone calls, invitations to special events, and even super warm email exchanges that move the relationship forward. 

Check your marketing materials

Successful planned giving programs are supported throughout the organization and across the team. Review your website each year to ensure legacy giving information is easy to find. Include planned giving stories in newsletters and annual reports. Add brief legacy giving messages to event materials, email signatures, and social media throughout the year. Small, consistent reminders help normalize conversations about charitable bequests.

Set activity goals you can achieve—and also challenge you

You don't need dozens of metrics to get started. Even setting goals for one or two types of metrics—most importantly, meaningful conversations—can provide valuable insight into your progress from year to year. Again, the activity will drive results! Over time, multiple conversations with a donor, even if brief, stand a good chance of paying off in the long run. Imagine what could happen if everyone on your team held meaningful conversations with a wide range of donors throughout the year—and appropriately introduced legacy giving during those conversations.

Keep it simple!

We cannot stress this enough! If you are spending so much time tracking and reporting that it is eating into precious time available for proactive meaningful conversations with donors, something is wrong. It is not a badge of honor to show your board a rocket-scientist-level tracking plan for stewardship, planned giving, and legacy giving, or any type of giving, for that matter. Measure what matters, and what matters are activities that build relationships.
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The bottom line is that what gets measured gets managed. By establishing a few simple tracking systems today, your organization can build accountability, celebrate progress, and create a stronger planned giving program that will benefit your mission for generations to come. 

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Engaging Millennials, Gen Z, and planned giving: Get an early start

8/13/2026

 
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If you are like many nonprofit organizations, your fundraising strategies—especially those focused on planned giving—are likely oriented to Baby Boomers and Generation X. And that makes sense, considering that these generations currently control the largest share of charitable wealth and account for most major gifts, making them the most productive audiences for near-term fundraising efforts. 
Against this backdrop, though, keep in mind that younger generations are becoming increasingly important for long-term growth. Here’s why:

As Millennials accumulate wealth and Gen Z advances through its early working years, these younger donors are increasingly embracing strategic philanthropy, with many prioritizing purpose-driven giving, recurring donations, donor-advised funds, and charitable organizations that demonstrate transparency, measurable impact, and authentic engagement.

Generation Z—generally defined as people born between 1997 and 2012—is the first true generation of digital natives. They tend to value authenticity, social impact, transparency, and mobile-first communication and, importantly, they expect nonprofit organizations to demonstrate measurable results rather than simply make broad mission claims.

So, given the unique nature of this generation, how should you address planned giving with these donors and potential donors? Or should you at all? Yes, you should! Here are factors to keep in mind as you build a planned giving strategy to engage younger generations.

Activate Millennials to give now and later

According to the Bloomerang 2026 Giving Signals Report, Millennials have become one of the most active and strategically important donor segments. Three out of four Millennials say they plan to increase their charitable giving this year, 80% expect to support at least one new nonprofit, and 42% have already used a donor-advised fund or another tax-advantaged giving vehicle. In other words, younger donors aren't simply "donors of the future." They're giving now. This means it’s a good idea to double down on annual giving messages to Millennials while also incorporating legacy and planned giving messages.

Focus on the people

Just because younger generations are “on social media” doesn’t mean they’ll be drawn into your mission because you push a flashy social media campaign or redesign your gala. The foundation of strong fundraising—both lifetime and legacy giving—is still about building authentic relationships that can grow over decades.

Go light on the “resume” 

Younger donors want to know exactly what difference their gift will make. Instead of leading with your organization's longevity or annual budget, explain how a contribution changes lives. Concrete examples consistently outperform broad mission statements when it comes to motivating younger donors.

Invite participation—not only donations

Gen Z and Millennials want to feel connected to a cause, not simply asked to fund it. Volunteer opportunities, advocacy campaigns, behind-the-scenes experiences, and opportunities to interact with beneficiaries or program staff can help younger supporters build a lasting connection with your mission.

Show them where the money goes

Transparency matters. Younger donors expect organizations to communicate outcomes, report impact, and explain how gifts are being used. Regular updates, photos, stories, and measurable results help build confidence and trust.

Make it easy!

Your donation process should be mobile-friendly, simple, and free of unnecessary obstacles. Complicated forms, confusing navigation, or unexpected fees create friction that can discourage younger donors before they complete a gift. 

Think beyond annual giving

As Millennials accumulate wealth and Gen Z begins entering its peak earning years, many are already thinking strategically about philanthropy. Donor-advised funds, recurring giving, appreciated assets, and long-term charitable planning are becoming part of how younger generations approach generosity—not just how older donors do. Planting the seed of a future legacy gift doesn't require asking a 30-year-old to rewrite a will. It simply means introducing the idea that your organization hopes to be part of their philanthropic journey for decades to come.

Engage the whole family

Younger generations want to participate in family philanthropy rather than simply inherit it. Indeed, many expect to direct substantial resources toward charitable causes and want to be actively involved in those decisions.
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Here’s the bottom line: Organizations that start building relationships with younger generations now will pave the way for both annual giving and planned giving. As always, please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime! We are happy to serve as a sounding board for engaging younger generations, whether your organization has established an endowment or reserve fund at the community foundation, or whether you’d simply like to learn more about how the Community Foundation can support your capacity to receive complex and planned gifts. We look forward to a conversation!

Make-A-Will Month: A timely opportunity to grow legacy gifts

8/13/2026

 
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August is widely recognized as Make-A-Will Month, making it an ideal time for nonprofit organizations to encourage donors to think not only about how they give today, but also about the legacy they hope to leave tomorrow.

For many organizations, planned giving can feel intimidating. Staff members often worry that discussing estate gifts requires technical legal knowledge or that only the wealthiest donors would be interested. In reality, neither is true.

Most charitable bequests are surprisingly straightforward, and many of the strongest planned giving programs begin with nothing more than a timely reminder that supporters can include a favorite nonprofit in their will or trust.

And the timing couldn't be better!

The much-discussed Great Wealth Transfer is already underway, with trillions of dollars expected to pass from one generation to the next over the coming decades. Unfortunately, though, this phenomenon isn’t going to be an automatic ATM machine for your fundraising efforts. Indeed, a recent Harris Poll highlighted by The NonProfit Times suggests that while trillions of dollars are expected to transfer between generations, relatively few older Americans currently view philanthropy as a primary purpose for their wealth—underscoring the importance of nonprofits engaging donors in legacy giving conversations before wealth changes hands.

Much of the public conversation about the Great Wealth Transfer focuses on who will inherit businesses, investment portfolios, and real estate. Still, many families are asking a different question: "What values do we want to pass along as well?" That's where nonprofit organizations have an important opportunity.

Rather than talking exclusively about tax benefits or estate planning techniques, consider inviting donors to think about the values they hope to leave behind. A charitable bequest is about much more than transferring assets. It is an opportunity to tell future generations, "This cause mattered to me, and I hope it continues to matter to our family." That message often resonates far more deeply than discussions about financial planning alone.

What’s more, the latest Giving USA report underscores why these conversations matter. Charitable bequests reached more than $62 billion in 2025, increasing nearly 20% in current dollars over the previous year and representing the fastest-growing source of giving. For nonprofits, that trend is an encouraging reminder that legacy gifts continue to play an increasingly important role in sustaining missions for generations to come.

So how can your organization make the most of Make-A-Will Month? A great place to start is by making legacy giving a little more visible, such as:

—Consider adding a simple page to your website explaining that supporters can remember your organization through a will or trust, or by naming the organization as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or other financial account. Focus also on the lasting difference these gifts can make. If you already have a page on your website, this is a good time to review the content to be sure it is concise, as well as practical and inspiring.

—Share stories alongside statistics. When you highlight a donor who established a legacy gift, don't focus primarily on the size of the future contribution. Tell the story behind the decision. What inspired the donor? Why was your mission important to them? These personal stories help other supporters imagine their own legacy.

—Give donors permission to have the conversation. Many people simply don't realize that nonprofits welcome estate gifts of every size. A sentence in your newsletter, annual report, website, or donor communications may be all it takes: "If our mission has been meaningful to you, we'd be honored if you would consider including our organization in your estate plans." Sometimes the invitation itself is the most important step.

—Remember that planned giving is about relationships. The best legacy gifts rarely result from a single solicitation. Instead, they grow naturally from years of trust, stewardship, and shared commitment to a mission. Donors who have volunteered, served on boards, made annual gifts, or supported special campaigns are often excellent candidates for conversations about the future because they already believe deeply in your work.

—Reach out to the Community Foundation for support with complex gifts. When a donor expresses interest in making a legacy gift involving a complex asset, such as an interest in a privately held business, or is considering a complex structure such as a charitable remainder trust, please reach out. We are happy to help you work through the nuances of these types of gifts. In many cases, it may make sense for the donor to establish a fund at the Community Foundation to receive the complex gifts, and the fund in turn supports your organization. 

The bottom line is that Make-A-Will Month isn't simply about encouraging people to sign legal documents. It's about helping donors think intentionally about the legacy they hope to leave to ensure that your organization’s mission stays strong for generations to come. 

P.S. A quick note about pending legislation

8/13/2026

 
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The Community Foundation team appreciates that so many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors recommend to clients age 70 ½ and older that they take advantage of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from traditional IRAs. Your client can direct a QCD to a designated fund, field-of-interest fund, scholarship fund, or unrestricted fund at the community foundation, or even directly to support the community foundation’s overall mission and work.  

Because QCDs are so useful, we’ve got our eyes on pending legislation that might expand the ways your clients can use them. Specifically, Congress continues to consider two bipartisan charitable giving bills: the Charity Parity Act, which would permit QCDs directly from employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, in addition to traditional IRAs, and the IRA Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act, which would extend QCD eligibility to donor-advised funds. Neither proposal has advanced beyond committee, but both are still active and of course could be very useful to expand charitable giving options if enacted. 

We will keep you posted! 

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Worth a read: Moving from charitable transactions to charitable strategy

8/13/2026

 
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Worth a read: Moving from charitable transactions to charitable strategy
At the Community Foundation, our team keeps an eye out for helpful sources and reading material to help you more easily stay up-to-date on trends and techniques for advising your charitable clients.

Four recent articles make a common point: the most effective charitable planning rarely happens in response to a single tax event. Instead, it grows out of ongoing conversations about a client's values, family, financial goals, and legacy.

How to Turn Wealthy Clients' Charitable Giving Into a Cohesive Plan
–Kiplinger

This article encourages advisors to move beyond treating charitable gifts as one-off transactions and instead help clients develop a coordinated philanthropic strategy across tax planning, estate planning, wealth transfer, and family dynamics. 

When Clients Ask About Their Tax Bill, the Answer Might Be Philanthropy
–Advisor Perspectives


The focus of this article is that major tax events—such as business sales, retirement plan distributions, or highly appreciated assets—often create ideal opportunities to discuss charitable giving. Even though the transactional elements might spark a conversation, substantive charitable planning goes far beyond a single transaction and is most effective when it becomes part of a broader financial planning conversation.

Purpose-Driven Wealth Starts with Asking the Right "Why"
–InvestmentNews


This article outlines why technical expertise is important, but meaningful planning begins by understanding what clients hope to accomplish with their wealth. That’s why advisors should add deeper questions about values, purpose, and legacy, which naturally leads to conversations about intentional charitable planning and stronger long-term client relationships.

The High-Net-Worth Want Philanthropy Guidance
–Financial Advisor Magazine

The article reports that high-net-worth clients increasingly expect their financial advisors to provide philanthropic guidance as part of comprehensive wealth planning. In other words, this creates a big opportunity for advisors who are proactively talking about charitable giving with their clients.

If you skim these articles you will see immediately that a pattern is emerging! Clients don't simply want to save taxes—they want their wealth to reflect what matters most to them. The team at the community foundation is here as a sounding board to help you begin charitable planning conversations early. Please reach out anytime!

Bunching charitable gifts, year-end, and getting ahead

8/13/2026

 
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​For many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, the last weeks of summer mark the beginning of year-end planning season. As clients return from vacations and turn their attention to tax and financial planning, it's an ideal time to revisit charitable giving strategies that could be important to help clients achieve their 2026 planning objectives.A popular strategy that deserves special attention in year-end planning is "bunching" charitable contributions. The bunching concept became widely discussed when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 substantially increased the standard deduction for calculating income tax. According to important historical data, this change caused many taxpayers who previously itemized deductions to begin claiming the standard deduction instead because their annual charitable gifts and other deductible expenses were no longer sufficient to exceed the standard deduction threshold.

Since the beginning of 2026, charitable planning has become even more nuanced. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added a new limitation under Internal Revenue Code Section 170 requiring that itemized charitable deductions must generally exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income before a deduction is available. In addition, Section 68 now effectively limits the tax benefit of itemized deductions for taxpayers in the highest marginal income tax bracket to 35%. These two new provisions are sometimes called the “floor” and the “cap.” Although in many cases charitable giving remains highly tax-efficient, these changes make proactive planning increasingly important.

So, what is “bunching”? And why is it so useful under current tax law? Here’s how it works:

—Rather than making charitable gifts in roughly equal amounts each year, a client may benefit from consolidating two or more years of planned charitable contributions up front into a single tax year. 

—By concentrating, or “bunching,” donations into one year, the client may be better positioned to itemize deductions in that year while claiming the standard deduction in subsequent years, potentially producing greater cumulative tax savings over time.

For many of your clients, a donor-advised fund at the community foundation serves as an effective vehicle for implementing a bunching strategy. That’s because a client can make a single, larger contribution to the donor-advised fund, generally claim the charitable deduction in the year of the contribution under Internal Revenue Code Section 170(a), and then recommend grants to favorite charities now and in future years. In short, the timing of the income tax deduction is separated from the timing of charitable distributions, allowing the client’s favorite nonprofits to continue receiving consistent annual support.

As year-end approaches, many clients will naturally ask whether they should “bunch,” or accelerate, charitable gifts before December 31. Advisors who raise the bunching conversation now—and coordinate early with the Community Foundation team—can help clients evaluate whether this strategy aligns with both their philanthropic objectives and their broader financial plans and then implement the strategy without rushing through it.

Bunching is not the only technique to be aware of well before year-end! Here are two additional important reminders for your client conversations:

—Remember that charitable planning opportunities are typically even more attractive when appreciated securities are involved. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 170(e)(1)(A), a client who contributes long-term appreciated publicly traded securities to a public charity, including a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, generally may deduct the property's fair market value (subject to the applicable adjusted gross income limitations) while avoiding recognition of the built-in capital gain that otherwise would result from a sale. This is usually a much better tax outcome than giving cash.

—Note that Qualified Charitable Distributions allow IRA owners age 70 ½ or older to give directly to charity tax-free—up to the 2026 annual limit of $111,000—even before required minimum distributions begin, potentially lowering adjusted gross income and reducing taxes on Social Security benefits and Medicare premiums. For a subset of your clients, this is important in light of the charitable deduction limitations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

The Community Foundation is honored to work alongside you and other advisors all year long to help structure charitable gifts in a way that advances your clients' philanthropic goals while making the planning process as seamless as possible. Reach out anytime to get a jump on year-end planning! 

Highs and lows: Reminding clients about stock gifts

8/13/2026

 
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As an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, you’re well aware that your clients are typically better off from a tax perspective if they donate to charity by giving appreciated stock held for more than one year instead of writing a check. That’s because the client’s charitable deduction is calculated based on the stock’s fair market value, and the charity (unlike your client) can sell the stock without triggering capital gains tax. Indeed, many of your clients regularly give appreciated stock to their donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation. 

So what happens when one of these clients starts asking questions about what’s on their tax return? For instance: 

"Wait a minute. I distinctly remember that my stock was worth $81.95 per share when the market closed on the day I transferred 100 shares to the Community Foundation to add to my donor-advised fund. But my tax return is showing a deduction amount less than $8,195. Is that a mistake?"

It's a great question, and of course you know the answer! When a client contributes publicly traded securities to a fund at the Community Foundation—or directly to another public charity—the amount of the charitable deduction is indeed based on the fair market value of the asset at the time of the gift under Internal Revenue Code Section 170 and Treasury Regulation § 1.170A-1(c). For publicly traded securities, however, "fair market value" is not ordinarily the closing price. Instead, the IRS valuation rule generally uses the average between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the date of the contribution. This methodology appears in Treasury Regulation § 20.2031-2(b)(1), outlining the IRS’s longstanding valuation rules.

Here's a simple example.

Suppose a client transfers shares to a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation on August 20. On that date:

  • High price: $82.40
  • Low price: $79.60
  • Closing price: $81.95

Many clients understandably assume their deduction will be based on the $81.95 closing price. Under the applicable valuation rules, however, the value generally used is the average of the high and low prices:

($82.40 + $79.60) ÷ 2 = $81.00 per share

The difference may be relatively small in many cases, but for larger gifts—or during periods of market volatility—it can become meaningful.

And again, yes, you know this! But many clients do not. That’s why it’s a good idea to remind a client about this rule when they’re making gifts of appreciated stock. It is also important to remember that determining the valuation date itself may involve additional analysis. The relevant date is generally the date the gift is considered complete for federal tax purposes, which may differ depending on how the securities are transferred and when control passes to the charitable organization. Because of these nuances, it's wise to coordinate closely with the community foundation whenever timing is critical, such as at year end.

Fortunately, the Community Foundation works with gifts of appreciated securities every day and can help facilitate smooth transfers. Especially as the fall planning season approaches, clients often focus on maximizing charitable deductions while avoiding capital gains tax on appreciated investments. Being prepared to explain why the deduction is based on the average of the day's high and low—not simply the closing price—can be a helpful component of client conversations. 

Please reach out to the Community Foundation team anytime, and especially when a client is getting ready to transfer stock. We will keep an eye out for it and make sure the processing goes smoothly. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you to serve your clients! 


Worthwhile watchfulness: Working with aging donors

7/2/2026

 
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Many nonprofit organizations are fortunate to be surrounded by long-time supporters whose generosity has sustained the mission for years, and sometimes decades. These donors often remain deeply committed to the causes they care about well into their later years. As the donor population ages, however, nonprofit professionals increasingly find themselves navigating situations that require both sensitivity and caution.

Most interactions with older donors are straightforward and positive. But occasionally, a donor's behavior, requests, or circumstances may raise concerns about cognitive decline, undue influence, financial exploitation, or simply a misunderstanding about charitable intentions. Of course, you and other nonprofit staff are not expected to diagnose medical conditions or serve as financial advisors. Still, because fundraisers often develop trusted, long-term relationships with donors, you may be among the first people to notice that something seems different.

Here are five signs that may warrant a thoughtful pause and a closer look.

1. The donor seems unusually confused about previous gifts or commitments

A donor who suddenly cannot remember making recent gifts, repeatedly asks the same questions, or appears confused about longstanding charitable arrangements may be experiencing challenges that deserve attention.

Of course, everyone occasionally forgets details. The key is whether the behavior represents a noticeable change from the donor's normal pattern. If so, it may be wise to slow the conversation, provide written summaries for the donor and for your files, and encourage the donor to review decisions with a donor’s trusted family members or legal advisors when appropriate.

2. Grant recommendations or gift requests are dramatically different from past behavior

People's interests evolve, and donors certainly have the right to support new causes. However, a sudden and dramatic shift in giving priorities can sometimes be a signal that additional questions are warranted.

For example, a donor who has supported local education initiatives for decades may unexpectedly request a large gift to an unfamiliar national disease research organization they recently encountered through a phone solicitation, email, or direct-mail campaign. While the gift may be entirely legitimate, nonprofit professionals should feel comfortable asking open-ended questions to ensure the donor understands the mission of the organization they wish to support and how the gift aligns with their goals. 

3. A new individual is speaking for the donor or directing decisions

Family members, caregivers, and advisors often play appropriate and important roles in supporting older adults. At the same time, nonprofit staff should pay attention when a previously independent donor is suddenly accompanied by someone who insists on controlling conversations, answering questions on the donor's behalf, or directing charitable decisions.

The presence of a helper is not itself a concern. What matters is whether the donor appears comfortable, informed, and genuinely engaged in the decision-making process. When possible, organizations should make reasonable efforts to hear directly from the donor and confirm that charitable decisions reflect the donor's wishes, and then prepare appropriate documentation.

4. The donor mentions suspicious financial activity or unusual solicitations

Older adults are frequently targeted by scams, fraudulent charities, deceptive sweepstakes, and aggressive fundraising tactics. During conversations, donors may mention receiving constant requests for money, confusing invoices, urgent appeals, or pressure from unfamiliar organizations.

These comments often provide an opportunity for education and support. Certainly nonprofit staff should avoid giving legal or financial advice, but if you are faced with this situation, you can encourage donors to discuss concerns with trusted family members, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, or representatives of the Community Foundation. Helping donors access reliable resources can be an important form of stewardship.

5. Important documentation has not been reviewed in many years

Beneficiary designations, estate plans, powers of attorney, and charitable provisions often remain untouched for years, even as circumstances change. Aging donors may assume that documents signed long ago still accurately reflect their wishes.

A gentle reminder to review charitable plans periodically can help donors ensure that their intentions remain current and clearly documented. This is particularly important when donor-advised funds, endowment gifts, planned gifts, or other long-term charitable arrangements are involved.

So what can you do?

The best course of action is to prepare yourself well before any red flags appear. Encouraging donors to introduce you to their advisors and other family members early in the relationship gives you plenty of time to build natural connections with the people they trust. Those relationships can be invaluable if concerns later arise. 

Of course, you will approach any situation with an aging donor with empathy and respect. Most older donors remain fully capable of making thoughtful charitable decisions and should be treated accordingly. At the same time, organizations understandably feel obligated to exercise good judgment when circumstances raise questions. If you are already encountering red flag situations and you don’t have a connection with trusted people in a donor’s life, consult your colleagues and potentially even your organization’s legal advisors.

The bottom line is that this is a very tricky area where donor stewardship, situational awareness, and confidentiality considerations overlap. Being prepared ahead of time is well worth your attention.  

Checking in on your charitable plan

7/2/2026

 
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"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!  

Closer to home: Steps to move your donor-advised fund to the Community Foundation

7/2/2026

 
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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!

Worth a read

7/2/2026

 
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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. 

IPOs and charitable clients: Three scenarios for impact

7/2/2026

 
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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.

Charitable Tax Law Changes for 2026: Keeping Your Tax Advisors in the Loop

1/28/2026

 
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​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!
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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!

Make-A-Will Month: Opportunities to Grow Your Endowment

8/21/2025

 
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Every August, National Make-A-Will Month highlights the importance of planning for the future. For charitable organizations, it presents a unique and timely opportunity to engage donors in meaningful conversations about leaving a lasting legacy through their wills and other estate planning documents. Beyond encouraging supporters to complete or update their estate plans, National Make-A-Will Month gives you a ready-made platform to discuss how legacy gifts and contributions to your endowment can sustain mission-driven work for generations to come.

Here are a few ideas to inspire your donor communications during this month and beyond:

Remind donors that an estate plan is important.
Never assume that your donors have their estate plans in good shape. Indeed, many people know they should have a will or a trust but postpone getting it done. With estate planning already top of mind thanks to widespread Make-A-Will Month awareness campaigns, your donors may be more receptive to considering how charitable gifts, including to your organization, can become part of their legacy. Consider Make-A-Will Month as a sort of “bridge” between donors’ good intentions and taking action, benefiting both the donor and your organization.

Start a conversation about legacy giving
Even though you and your team know how important it is to at least briefly mention planned giving in nearly every donor conversation, discussions about leaving a legacy still can sometimes feel uncomfortable. Make-A-Will Month is a ready-made ice breaker, so it’s easier for you to introduce the topic without awkwardness. You can normalize the idea of including charitable gifts in a will, which in turn empowers donors to think about the impact they’d like to make long after they’re gone. The upshot here is that every single donor communication this month is an opportunity to open the door for a legacy discussion.

Shine a light on endowment gifts
Make-A-Will Month is a perfect time to educate your donors about the benefits of supporting your endowment. Indeed, endowments are often built with assets received from bequests in a donors’ wills or trusts, via beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance, or more complex gifts such as charitable remainder trusts. While estate planning is on your donors’ minds, reinforce the importance of your organization’s endowment to fund essential programs year after year. By connecting the themes of estate planning and lasting impact, you’ll be able to illustrate how a bequest to your organization can make a difference for generations to come.
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As always, whether it’s Make-A-Will Month or any other time of the year, please reach out to the Community Foundation. We are happy to serve as a resource as you develop strategies to deepen donor relationships. We’ll help you evaluate strategies for reaching out thoughtfully during Make-A-Will Month so you can tap this opportunity to expand trust and connection with your donors, paving the way for the future of your mission. 

Succession Planning: It's Not Just For Businesses

8/21/2025

 
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​Many people think of succession planning as something only relevant to businesses or nonprofits. However, it's equally important when considering the legacy you want to leave through philanthropy—including being intentional about what happens to your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation after you're gone. The Community Foundation team can help structure provisions for your donor-advised fund to engage your family, tap the Community Foundation’s expertise, or a combination of both so that your donor-advised fund can become a multi-generational legacy that reflects your values.

Here are three considerations as you consider your “charitable succession plan”:

Leave a legacy
One of the most powerful ways to extend your impact is by leaving a portion of your estate to charity - such as by naming your donor-advised fund as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account. This strategy delivers considerable tax advantages and enables your philanthropic dollars to be thoughtfully distributed in accordance with your values. Remember, IRAs left to the Community Foundation avoid not only the income tax that would hit your heirs, but also removes the assets from your taxable estate for estate tax purposes.

Lean on the Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is honored to serve as a trusted partner for many individuals and families. Our team can work with you and your advisors to enlist the Community Foundation’s expertise to make grants from your donor-advised fund according to your values and charitable intentions following your death. We can also work with you and your advisors to incorporate the ability for your children and grandchildren to serve as advisors to the donor-advised fund following your death, including taking advantage of the Community Foundation’s educational programs to help your children and grandchildren learn how to be effective philanthropists.

Capture your intentions
The Community Foundation team is happy to work with you to document and formalize your charitable wishes. We’ll help you articulate your priorities and outline how you envision your fund making a difference across generations, whether that means supporting specific organizations, issue areas, urgent community needs, or a combination of priorities. By helping you capture your intentions in writing and then following your wishes, the Community Foundation acts as a steward to safeguard your philanthropic goals and help ensure that the causes you care about continue to receive support for years to come.
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We look forward to talking about succession planning for your donor-advised fund. The Community Foundation is honored to help you secure your charitable legacy and involve your loved ones in meaningful giving. Thank you for the opportunity!
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