Giving Tuesday is just around the corner, marking a time when individuals and families worldwide come together to support causes close to their hearts. For many, it’s also a crucial part of year-end tax planning, as donations made before December 31 can reduce taxable income and provide financial benefits alongside the joy of giving. Whether you’re supporting your church, ministries, or other charitable organizations, ensuring your contributions align with your financial goals and values is key. Here are a few tips to make your giving both effective and efficient.
1. Make Informed Giving Decisions
Before making a donation, research the charities you support. Resources like Charity Navigator and GuideStar can provide valuable insights into how organizations use their funds, ensuring your dollars make the most impact.
2. Tax-Smart Strategies for Charitable Giving
Consider these tax-efficient ways to maximize the benefits of your generosity:
Gift Appreciated Stock or Other Assets
Donating appreciated assets, like stocks or cryptocurrency, can be a smart strategy:
- Erase capital gains: By gifting appreciated assets instead of selling them, you avoid paying capital gains taxes. Many charities, including churches, are equipped to accept and liquidate these assets, but some are not. Make sure you ask ahead of time so you aren’t left scrambling for an alternative solution. If your chosen church or charity is not equipped to handle this kind of transaction, consider a Donor Advised Fund (more on this below) as they are typically designed to facilitate this.
- Reestablish your cost basis in a stock you like, or diversify to one you prefer: Donating these appreciated assets can also allow you to re-establish your cost basis in the same asset (or buy a new one), reducing future tax liability. For example, let’s say several years ago you paid $2,000 for a stock that is worth $10,000 today. If you sold that stock, you would realize $8,000 of capital gains, possibly owing tax on that amount. Instead of giving $10,000 cash to your charity, you could gift the stock instead. Now you have $10,000 of cash (that you didn’t donate) to buy the stock back with a new cost basis of $10,000. Voila! Your taxable capital gains are gone, your chosen charity has the donation you wanted to give, and you have the same position in your chosen stock.
- Tip - Prioritize long-term gains: If possible, use assets held for over a year to qualify for maximum tax benefits. Assets with short-term gains (held less than one year) do not get the same favorable treatment.
Leverage a Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to:
- Contribute cash or assets for an immediate tax deduction, potentially front-loading your giving in order to tactically reduce taxes in a more advantageous year.
- Distribute funds to charities over time, offering flexibility and control.
- Create a lasting impact with planned, strategic giving.
For more information on Donor Advised Funds, check out our primer here.
Qualified Charitable Distributions for Those Over 70½
If you’re over age 70½, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are a powerful giving tool. These direct transfers from an IRA to a qualified charity:
- Satisfy Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
- Are excluded from taxable income, even if you don’t itemize deductions. To say it another way, even if you take the standard deduction each year, using a QCD can reduce your taxable income, allowing you to give more, save more, or some of both.
Closing Thoughts
Giving is more than a financial strategy—it’s a reflection of values and priorities. Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and few experiences rival the fulfillment of giving to others in need.
At Provista Wealth Advisors, we specialize in helping clients integrate philanthropy into their financial plans. If you have questions or want to learn more about strategic charitable giving or philanthropy, reach out to your advisor. Give generously. Give wisely. And let the joy of giving fill your season.
Optimize your giving today. Visit Provista Wealth Advisors to learn more.