If you’re thinking that, consider this: Charitable giving ideas for year-end

As the end of the year approaches, you may be thinking about your charitable giving alongside other financial and tax planning decisions. And with new charitable deduction rules taking effect in 2026, it’s especially important to think about not just how much you want to give, but also when and how you give.

A recent CNBC article about year-end tax strategies is a timely reminder to review your financial picture before December 31. Charitable giving can be an important part of that process, especially when you match your goals with the right assets and giving strategies.

Here are five examples of how a simple change in approach might help your gift go farther for the causes you love. (Want even more? We’ve got 12 easy ways to make year-end giving more impactful. More on that below!)

If you’re thinking, “I want to give to charity, but I usually take the standard deduction,” consider making a qualifying cash gift.

Here’s some good news for donors who don’t itemize. Starting this year, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to qualified charities ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly), even if you take the standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for joint filers in 2026). Gifts to donor-advised funds don’t qualify for this particular deduction, but we can help you find eligible charitable organizations and giving opportunities that match your interests.

If you’re thinking, “I’d like to make a significant charitable gift, but I’m not sure which organizations to support yet,” consider a donor-advised fund.

A donor-advised fund lets you give now and decide later. Make a tax-deductible contribution by December 31, receive the deduction for 2026, then recommend grants to your favorite nonprofits during 2027 and beyond.

This can be especially useful if you’ve had an unusually high-income year, or if you’re thinking about “bunching” several years of giving into one. Under the new rule, if you itemize, you can deduct only the portion of your charitable gifts above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income. Bunching through a donor-advised fund can help you clear that floor and exceed the standard deduction.

Kitsap Community Foundation can set up a donor-advised fund efficiently and at no cost, and depending on the size of the fund, your assets may continue to be managed by your existing financial advisor. Already have a fund with us? Year-end is a great time to recommend grants to the causes you care about.

If you’re thinking, “I want to make a gift, but I don’t want to sell my investments,” consider giving appreciated stock.

Did you know that gifting appreciated stock or other long-term assets can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to give? Rather than selling shares and donating the proceeds, you can transfer the stock directly to a charitable fund at Kitsap Community Foundation. Depending on your circumstances, that may let you avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciation, potentially avoid other tax consequences of selling, and receive a charitable deduction for the fair market value.

Love the stock and don’t want to part with it? Ask your advisor about a charitable swap: give the appreciated shares, then use cash to buy them back. Your portfolio stays the same, but the capital gain disappears.

If you’re thinking, “I have to take money out of my IRA anyway,” consider a qualified charitable distribution.

If you’re 70½ or older, you can give up to $111,000 this year directly from your IRA to qualified charities through a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD. A QCD is generally excluded from taxable income and can count toward your required minimum distribution. Keeping your income lower can protect other tax benefits, and can even help keep your Medicare Part B premiums lower.

QCDs can’t be made to donor-advised funds, but we can help you explore other eligible funds and giving options. One timing tip: contact your IRA custodian by the end of November so your 2026 QCD arrives before December 31.

If you’re thinking, “I want my charitable giving to continue long after I’m gone,” consider a gift through your estate plan.

You don’t have to make a substantial gift during your lifetime to create a lasting legacy. You might name Kitsap Community Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) and direct the gift to a particular fund, include a charitable bequest in your will or trust, or establish an endowment to support a favorite cause over time. Retirement accounts are an especially smart choice, because heirs pay income taxes on that money, but charities don’t.

Don’t have a will yet? You can create one for free through our partner at FreeWill.com, a gift to you and your family from Kitsap Community Foundation. And while you’re at it, take a few minutes to double-check your beneficiary designations. They take legal precedence over what’s written in a will, and they’re easy to forget.

Looking for more ways to give? We’ve got 12!

These five ideas are just the start. Our Easy Ways to Make Year-End Giving More Impactful page walks through 12 tax-smart strategies, including a few you may not have heard of:

• Gifting cash from the sale of depreciated securities

• Combining a gift and a sale when you rebalance your portfolio

• Contributing appreciated real estate while you continue using it

• Making a charitable bargain sale

  
  

Your personal finances, charitable interests, and long-term goals will determine which approaches make the most sense, and there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Whether you’re making a modest annual gift, considering a gift of appreciated assets, or planning a charitable legacy, there may be ways to structure your giving that support both your financial goals and the causes you care about.

One last reminder: charitable contributions received by December 31 qualify for 2026 tax deductions. Non-cash gifts can take several weeks to process, so we encourage you to start early.

We’re here to help you explore the options that best fit your goals. Reach out at info@kitsapfoundation.org or (360) 698-3622, and together with your tax, legal, and financial advisors, we can help turn your intentions into a thoughtful plan.