Thoughtful giving, steady generosity, and choosing the right tools for what matters most

Charitable giving is deeply personal, and most donors take great care to put a plan in place that reflects their values. Over time, though, circumstances change—families evolve, priorities shift, and the world around us looks different than it once did. This month’s insights are designed to help you pause, reflect, and feel confident that your charitable intentions remain clear, flexible, and well supported as you work side-by-side with the community foundation team.

Here’s what we’re sharing this month:

—Your charitable intentions deserve an occasional check-in. Once a charitable plan is established, it can be easy to assume everything will unfold exactly as intended. A simple annual review with the community foundation team can help ensure that your wishes are clearly documented, your fund arrangements remain accurate, and your giving continues to reflect what matters most to you and your family. 

—Continuing generosity during uncertain times. Periods of uncertainty naturally prompt reflection about finances and priorities, including charitable giving. The community foundation team is here to help you set the pace, structure, or focus of your giving—without losing sight of your goals and purpose. We’ll help ensure that your giving is meaningful and sustainable, even when external circumstances feel unsettled.

—Choosing the right charitable tools for your goals. The causes you care about are only part of the picture when you work with the community foundation; the type of fund you choose also shapes how your giving works over time. From donor-advised and designated funds to unrestricted and field-of-interest funds, the community foundation has something for everyone. Learn how our team adopts a “portfolio” approach to ensure that your philanthropy grows and adapts alongside your life.

As always, the community foundation is here to support you. Whether you are reviewing an existing plan, navigating uncertainty, or exploring new ways to give, our team is honored to serve as a resource and partner. Please reach out anytime—we would love to talk with you and help you feel confident about the next chapter of your giving.

—Your community foundation

THIS MONTH’S

FEATURED ARTICLES

Your charitable intentions: Plan to plan!

Many individuals and families spend a great deal of time setting up a charitable plan they feel good about. For example, they establish a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, update IRA beneficiary designations so that the fund receives the proceeds, and leave general instructions about the types of causes they want to support. Then life moves on, and the plan sits quietly in place—often for years—while the individual or family assumes everything will work exactly as intended.

The challenge is that charitable plans can outlive the paperwork. Over time, family structures change, attorneys and financial advisors retire, organizations merge or shift direction, and donors’ own priorities evolve. Even when your charitable intentions remain strong, the documents that express those intentions can become outdated without anyone noticing. This can create confusion later, especially for family members or advisors who are trying to carry out your wishes during a stressful time.

A simple way to avoid this is to treat charitable planning the way you treat other important parts of your financial life: review it periodically. That does not mean you need to overhaul your plan every year. It simply means taking a moment to confirm that what is written down still reflects what you want.

For example, if you have a donor-advised fund at the community foundation, it is a great idea to meet with our team once a year to review where things stand. We’ll go over key information such as:

–Confirming that successor advisor designations are current and that the people you named still understand and are willing to carry out your wishes

–Evaluating the idea of leaving a portion of your fund to support the community foundation’s mission following your death

–Confirming that your attorney has included the correct fund name and language in your will or trust

–If you have named your fund as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy, confirming that the fund is correctly named and that your tax and financial advisors have copies for their records

–Considering ways to get more involved with charitable giving during your lifetime, such as by including children and grandchildren in decision making

–Developing a brief statement of purpose to maintain in the community foundation’s permanent file that explains why you care about certain causes and what you hope their giving will accomplish over time

Please remember that it is our pleasure to meet with you for these check-ins! The community foundation is your home for charitable giving, and we are here for you. 

Even a brief conversation once a year can give you peace of mind and strengthen the long-term impact of your giving.

Eye on the storms: Keep giving

Uncertain times often cause people to pause and reassess. Whether the uncertainty comes from markets, employment changes, health concerns, or the general feeling that the world is unpredictable, it is natural to wonder what this means for your financial plan. For many donors, that uncertainty also raises a question about charitable giving: should I slow down, stop, or continue?

There is no single right answer, and the community foundation will never suggest that you give beyond what feels sustainable. At the same time, many donors discover that the choice is not simply “give as usual” or “stop entirely.” Often, the best approach is to adjust your plan in a way that preserves generosity while matching your current reality.

Please reach out to the team at the community foundation to evaluate strategies that are the best fit for you. For example: 

–For many people, pacing is a practical strategy. In other words, instead of making one large gift, you might spread gifts across the year or across multiple years.

–Adjusting how much you give is always an option. Some donors shift from larger one-time gifts to steady recurring gifts because it feels easier to manage. Other donors do the opposite: they make an early-year gift when they feel confident and then reassess later. 

–Some donors choose to continue supporting a core group of organizations while reducing the number of additional gifts they make. 

–Other donors focus on supporting immediate and urgent needs identified by the community foundation, and then returning to broader giving later.

For people who have established a fund at the community foundation, flexibility is often one of the biggest benefits. If you use a donor-advised fund, you can contribute when it makes sense for your situation, then recommend grants over time. If you prefer a more defined approach, other types of funds may provide the structure you want while still allowing you to respond to changing community needs.

Uncertainty can also be a moment to revisit why you give. Many donors find that charitable giving is one of the most grounding parts of their lives when things feel unsettled. Giving can be a way to stay connected to the community, reinforce values, and help stabilize organizations that serve people who are struggling. For that reason, some donors choose to continue giving even if they adjust the pace or the focus.

The community foundation is here to help you think through these choices without pressure. We can help you evaluate options that fit your goals, connect you with information about community needs, and support you in building a plan that feels both meaningful and sustainable. If you are feeling uncertain, reach out. Often, a brief conversation can clarify what generosity can look like in this season—and help you feel confident about your next step.

What type of fund, or funds, is right for you?

At the community foundation, we know that charitable giving is deeply personal—and that choosing the right tools matters just as much as choosing the causes you care about. 

Whether you are considering establishing your first fund with the community foundation or considering adding another fund to complement the ones you already have, it can be helpful to step back and look at how different options support different goals. 

Donor-advised fund 

Donor-advised funds are one of the most popular “baseline” charitable giving tools because they make it simple to support a wide range of nonprofits while maintaining a clear, organized approach to philanthropy. With a donor-advised fund, you can make contributions of cash, stock, or other property at your convenience, and these gifts are eligible for a charitable tax deduction in the year of the gift. Separately, the donor-advised fund allows you to recommend grants to your favorite IRS-qualified charities over time. You can select a name for your donor-advised fund and, if you choose, limit how much personal information is shared with recipient organizations.

Designated fund

Perhaps you are instead (or also) focused on making a lasting impact on a single organization that has played an important role in your life. In that case, a designated fund may be the right addition to your charitable portfolio. A designated fund provides ongoing, predictable support to a specific nonprofit—either through regular distributions or grants made as needed. Because the community foundation provides stewardship of the fund’s assets, a designated fund offers stability and continuity for the organization it benefits. This type of fund can be especially helpful if you want to “bunch” multiple years of giving into a single year for tax purposes while ensuring continued support for a favorite charity over time. Plus, if you are age 70 ½ or older, a designated fund (unlike a donor-advised fund) can receive Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA. 

Unrestricted fund or field-of-interest fund

Some donors are drawn to a different approach: addressing the community’s most pressing needs, both now and in the future, while relying on professional insight to guide that work. For these donors, an unrestricted fund offers powerful flexibility. Unrestricted funds allow the community foundation to direct resources where they are needed most as circumstances change—whether that means responding to a crisis, supporting emerging opportunities, or addressing long-term challenges. These funds play a critical role in the community’s ability to adapt and thrive, and they create a legacy of giving that remains relevant for generations. A field-of-interest is similar to an unrestricted fund, except that you can name a specific area of need, such as the arts, education, or emergency assistance, to receive support from the fund. If you are age 70 ½ or older, remember that both unrestricted and field-of-interest funds are eligible recipients of Qualified Charitable Distributions.

Adopt a portfolio approach

Many donors choose to establish more than one type of fund over time, building a thoughtful and diversified approach to philanthropy that reflects both their values and their evolving priorities. 

Wherever you are along your charitable giving journey, the community foundation is here to help. It is our privilege to partner with you, provide guidance, and support your generosity in ways that strengthen the community we all care about. Please reach out anytime—we would love to talk with you.

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Keeping your tax advisors informed, a checklist for the new year, and life insurance as a charitable giving tool

Happy New Year from the community foundation! 

Here we are in 2026! We are grateful to work with so many individuals, families, and businesses to support the causes you care about and make our whole community a better place. We look forward to the year ahead! 

As always, we’re happy to share what’s trending across the charitable giving world. Whether you established a fund at the community foundation years ago or recently, or you’re thinking about doing so this year, we are here for you. 

—New tax laws effective in 2026 could significantly influence how charitable giving fits into your overall financial plan. The community foundation team is happy to share information about key changes, including new deduction thresholds, limits for high-income donors, incentives for non-itemizers, and expanded opportunities for retirees. Consider sharing our updates with your tax advisors while also keeping the community foundation in the loop. We stand ready to assist! 

—A new year is the perfect time to bring intention and clarity to your charitable giving. Lean on the community foundation’s checklist of three simple steps to help you reflect on past giving, understand how new tax laws may affect you, and set meaningful goals for the year ahead. You won’t regret getting an early start, and our team is here to help. 

—Life insurance can be a powerful but often overlooked tool for achieving your charitable and legacy goals. The community foundation is happy to work with you and your advisors to evaluate life insurance strategies to complement your donor-advised fund and other giving vehicles as part of your well-rounded charitable plan.

Thank you for allowing us to serve as your home for charitable giving! We’d welcome a conversation about your goals for charitable giving in 2026 and beyond. Getting a jump on the planning process is a great way to start a new year off on the right foot.  

–Your community foundation

THIS MONTH’S

FEATURED ARTICLES

Charitable tax law changes for 2026: Keeping your tax advisors in the loop

At the community foundation, we are honored to serve as your home for charitable giving. Whether you support a wide range of charitable organizations in our community and across the country, focus your giving on a few favorite local causes, collaborate with the community foundation to invest in our region’s greatest needs, or all of the above, we are here for you!

A new year presents an excellent opportunity to check in on your charitable giving priorities. This is the case every year, but it is especially important in 2026 not only because of the crucial priorities to improve our community’s quality of life, but also because of a few new tax laws that may impact charitable giving strategies for some people.

Here are the changes that you’ll want to be aware of, and, most importantly, share with your tax advisors as soon as possible to determine how these changes might impact your situation. Forward this article to your tax advisors, or print it and take it to your next meeting.   

New threshold to itemize charitable deductions

One of the most significant shifts affects individual taxpayers who itemize their income tax deductions. Beginning this tax year, charitable contributions will only be deductible to the extent that they exceed 0.5% of a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income. In practical terms, this means that a portion of charitable giving will no longer generate a tax benefit. For example, a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income of $200,000 will see no deduction for the first $1,000 of charitable contributions made in a year. Only donations above that amount will be eligible for deduction, subject to existing percentage-of-income limits. This new rule functions much like a deductible in an insurance policy, raising the effective threshold for receiving a tax benefit and reducing the immediate incentive for smaller annual gifts among itemizers.

Limitation on itemized charitable deductions for high-income taxpayers

High-income taxpayers will face an additional limitation through a new cap on the value of itemized charitable deductions. Even if a donor is in the highest federal income tax bracket, the tax benefit of a charitable deduction will be limited to 35 percent of the contribution. As a result, taxpayers in the 37 percent bracket will no longer be able to offset their income at their full marginal rate when making charitable gifts. 

Good news for the 60% cap

Another important change provides greater certainty for donors who make substantial cash contributions. The long-standing rule allowing cash gifts to qualified public charities to be deducted up to 60 percent of adjusted gross income has been made permanent. After satisfying the new 0.5% AGI floor, donors may continue to deduct cash contributions up to this level, while non-cash gifts or contributions to certain types of organizations remain subject to lower percentage limits. This permanence preserves a relatively generous framework for major philanthropy even as other rules become more restrictive.

New incentive for non-itemizers

The new rules introduce an incentive for taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. Beginning with the 2026 tax year, individuals who claim the standard deduction will be allowed to take a limited charitable deduction above the line, meaning it reduces income before adjusted gross income is calculated. Single filers may deduct up to $1,000, while married couples filing jointly may deduct up to $2,000, provided the contributions are made in cash. This deduction is available in addition to the standard deduction and represents a meaningful expansion of tax benefits for charitable giving among non-itemizers, many of whom have received no tax benefit for donations in recent years. Note, however, that gifts to donor-advised funds are not eligible for this deduction, and neither are noncash gifts. This is unfortunate because both gifts to donor-advised funds and gifts of highly appreciated assets are useful tools that incentivize charitable giving.

QCDs may be even more useful

Retirees and older taxpayers will also see an important adjustment through an increase in the Qualified Charitable Distribution limit. Beginning in 2026, the annual amount that can be transferred directly from an individual retirement account to a qualified charity will increase, allowing taxpayers age 70 ½ and older to direct more funds to charitable causes without including those distributions in taxable income. Because Qualified Charitable Distributions can also count toward required minimum distributions, this higher limit enhances a tax-efficient giving strategy that is unaffected by itemized deduction limits, adjusted gross income floors, or caps on deduction value.

Limitations on corporate charitable deductions

Corporate donors are not exempt from the new framework. Starting in 2026, corporations may deduct charitable contributions only to the extent that those contributions exceed 1 percent of taxable income. Contributions below that threshold will not generate a current-year deduction, although amounts that exceed applicable limits may be carried forward to future tax years. This new floor is likely to influence corporate giving strategies, particularly for businesses that make consistent but relatively modest charitable contributions. The existing 10% cap on corporate charitable deductions remains in place. 

Again, we strongly encourage you to forward this information to your tax advisors. Please loop us into the conversation so that we can work alongside your attorney, financial advisor, and CPA to ensure that you’re set up to meet your charitable goals for 2026 through strategies that also align with your tax, financial, and estate planning objectives. Whether you cc us on an email, ask your advisor to get in touch with us directly, or pull everyone together on a quick call or Zoom, we are here for you and look forward to the conversation! 

Get started now: Your 2026 charitable giving checklist

Many people approach a new year with a genuine desire to be more intentional about their charitable giving. They know they want to make a difference, align their generosity with their values, and perhaps even involve their families—but they are often unsure where to begin. The combination of busy lives, changing tax laws, and an ever-growing number of worthy causes can make getting started feel overwhelming. The good news is that taking a few simple, thoughtful actions at the beginning of the year can bring clarity and confidence to your giving. 

Here are three first steps to inspire you:

Consider reviewing your 2025 charitable contributions with the team at the community foundation. 

Looking back at last year’s giving can be surprisingly helpful, especially when guided by professionals who understand both philanthropy and the local community. The community foundation can help you see the real-world impact of your gifts, identify patterns in your giving, and highlight opportunities you may not have considered. This review also creates a natural bridge to planning your 2026 support, whether that means refining your focus, adjusting gift amounts, or exploring new charitable vehicles. Just as important, it allows you to begin thinking strategically about future years, helping ensure that your generosity grows in a way that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible about whether and how the new tax laws might impact your situation. 

Charitable giving is closely connected to tax and estate planning, and early conversations can help you make informed decisions before the year gets too far along. This is also an ideal time to revisit your estate plan and beneficiary designations. Many donors choose to include a gift to their donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation in their wills, trusts, or beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance policies, creating a lasting legacy that reflects their values. Coordinating these updates with your tax advisor and the community foundation can ensure your charitable intentions are clearly documented, tax-efficient, and aligned with your overall financial and estate planning goals.

Set goals for your charitable involvement in 2026. 

Rather than giving reactively, goal-setting allows you to be proactive and intentional about how you engage with the causes you care about. The community foundation can help you explore new and emerging charities, learn more about pressing needs in the community, and connect with organizations that align with your interests. Together, you and our team can create a plan for timing gifts throughout the year, whether through recurring contributions, single large gifts early in the year to help a favorite charity leap ahead, or strategic gifts of highly appreciated or complex assets. This approach not only makes giving more manageable but also helps ensure your generosity has the greatest possible impact.

As you look ahead, remember that you do not have to navigate charitable planning on your own. The community foundation is here to serve as a trusted partner—whether you are just getting started, refining an existing plan, or thinking about the legacy you want to leave for future generations. We invite you to reach out anytime to ask questions, explore ideas, or take the next step in your giving journey. We are honored to help you turn your charitable intentions into meaningful, lasting impact.

Underappreciated and overlooked: Why life insurance matters to charitable giving

Even in an era when term life insurance policies may appear to dominate, many people still hold whole life, variable life, or universal life insurance policies. In many cases, when the original need for a policy goes away (e.g., children become independent or other assets have increased to fill risk gaps), a policyholder may be left wondering what to do with the policy. 

Before cashing in a policy, it’s worth knowing that life insurance can play a meaningful and often overlooked role in charitable giving. A common approach is naming a charity as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, either in full or in part. This strategy enables a donor to make a significant future gift at a relatively modest current cost of the annual premiums, particularly when the policy is already in force. For someone who has established a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, this method may align well with estate planning goals because the death benefit passes directly to the fund outside of probate and may help reduce the taxable value of the estate.

Another way insurance policies are used in philanthropy is through the donation of an existing policy to the community foundation or other charitable organization. In this case, actual ownership of the policy is transferred to the charity, which then becomes both the owner and beneficiary. The donor may be eligible for an income tax deduction equal to the policy’s fair market value, generally based on its “interpolated terminal reserve” plus unearned premium, subject to applicable limitations. If the policy still requires premium payments, donors can continue funding those payments through additional tax-deductible contributions to the community foundation or other charity, effectively converting future premium dollars into charitable gifts.

Finally, donors can use insurance creatively in more advanced charitable planning strategies. For example, a donor may purchase a new policy specifically for charitable purposes, often using annual contributions to fund premiums over time, or combine insurance with vehicles such as charitable trusts or donor-advised funds to enhance long-term giving impact. In some cases, insurance helps replace wealth passed to charity so heirs are not financially disadvantaged, allowing donors to balance philanthropic intent with family goals. Through these approaches, insurance policies offer flexibility, leverage, and tax efficiency, making them a valuable tool in a well-rounded charitable giving plan.

If you are interested in learning more about how your life insurance policies can help you achieve your charitable goals, we encourage you to consult your financial advisor about the details and then reach out to the team at the community foundation. In particular, we are happy to help evaluate how life insurance gifts might fit alongside–or integrated with–other giving vehicles, such as donor-advised funds and legacy funds. We are here for you! 

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Countdown to 2026, QCDs and unrestricted giving, and “no kids” charitable planning

Hello from the community foundation! 

Thank you for the opportunity to work together! It is our honor to celebrate and recognize the conclusion of another year full of stories and examples of people like you who make a difference every day in our community through your advocacy, volunteerism, and financial support of our community’s charities. 

As we reflect on 2025, we’re sharing three insights that have resonated with many charitable individuals and families, many of whom have established a fund at the community foundation or are in the process of doing so right now! 

—It’s not over until it’s over, and we’re taking this opportunity to share practical year-end reminders, especially considering that, for taxpayers who itemize deductions, 2025 may be the best tax environment to maximize your charitable giving by donating appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund. And of course, if you are over the age of 70 ½, don’t forget to consider QCDs from IRAs as you check your beneficiary designations. The community foundation is here to help! 

—Unrestricted gifts are a powerful way for you and other donors to invest in long-term support for ever-evolving community needs. As a permanent, flexible, and trusted institution, the community foundation is here to help you evaluate how unrestricted gifts might be the perfect complement to your portfolio of giving, alongside your donor-advised fund and legacy gift, for example. QCDs are a particularly important way to support an unrestricted fund if you are 70 ½ or older.

—People who don’t have children often embrace intentional planning about their legacies and are statistically more likely to include charities in their estate plans. If you’re one of these people, reach out to the community foundation. We’ll help you set up charitable giving strategies to express your identity, integrate philanthropy into your estate and financial plans, and involve your extended family or younger relatives along your journey.

Whatever causes you support and wherever your charitable interests lie, the community is here for you. We are honored to serve as your home for charitable giving to help you organize your support for favorite charities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people who live in this wonderful place we call home. We wish you all the best for the season! 

–Your community foundation

Countdown to 2026: 10 tips for charitable giving

At the community foundation, we are honored to work with you and so many other families, individuals, and businesses to help organize your charitable giving and support favorite charities that make a difference in our community. As the year winds down, keep these 10 tips in mind:

–Remember that 2025 is a pivotal year for charitable planning. With more stringent charitable deduction limitations taking effect in 2026 under new tax laws, this year may offer a favorable tax environment for your giving depending on your personal situation. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible.

–Work with your tax advisors to evaluate the benefits of “bunching” multiple years of charitable gifts into 2025. By front-loading contributions—especially into your donor-advised fund at the community foundation—you may be able to exceed the standard deduction this year and maximize your tax benefits.

–Use your donor-advised fund to simplify year-end giving. You can make one tax-deductible contribution now, receive the deduction in 2025, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, even throughout 2026 and beyond.

–Give appreciated stock instead of cash. Donating long-term appreciated securities to your fund at the community foundation may eliminate capital gains tax and in turn increase your charitable impact. Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible so that these gifts can be processed well before the end of the year.

–Explore giving from your IRA if you’re 70½ or older. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can reduce taxable income and, if applicable, satisfy required minimum distributions—to the tune of $108,000 per taxpayer in 2025. IRS rules allow you to make QCDs to a wide variety of funds at the community foundation (but not to your donor-advised fund).

–Check to see whether you’ve met your charitable goals for 2025. Don’t wait until late December to review your plan. Our team can help you think through options for this year and begin to coordinate more complex gifts for next year.

–Support the community overall by making gifts to the community foundation’s special funds or operations. 2025 has been a tough year for many people in our community, and our team can help you support families in crisis both now and in the future.

–Review your beneficiary designations. Naming your donor-advised fund or another community foundation fund as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account can create meaningful future gifts while reducing the tax burden on heirs.

–Avoid last-minute surprises. Gifts of complex assets—such as real estate or closely-held stock—require additional steps and a lot of lead time, so contact the community foundation early if you’re considering these options. Even if it is too late to complete these gifts in 2025, start working with the community foundation on options for 2026 gifts.

–Above all, lean on the community foundation team! We are here to help you explore the most tax-efficient ways to meet your charitable goals, whether you’re planning year-end gifts, updating a legacy plan, or thinking ahead to the changes coming in 2026.

It is our honor to work with you! Thank you for the opportunity. We look forward to supporting your charitable goals this year and for many years to come. 

Unrestricted giving, QCDs, and why they matter for your philanthropy

As someone who cares deeply about our community, you already understand how important charitable giving is to improving the quality of life. Every year, Americans give nearly 2% of our nation’s GDP to charitable causes—a remarkable level of generosity that supports more than a million nonprofits across the country. At the same time, trust has become one of the most important factors donors consider when deciding where to give. We are honored that so many of you place your confidence in the community foundation to steward your philanthropy with care and integrity.

The community foundation is your home for charitable giving, no matter what causes you support. Simultaneously, we are committed to understanding the needs of our community and sharing that information with you and other donors to help ensure that charitable dollars are invested where they can do the greatest good. Some needs are urgent, such as immediate assistance in response to a crisis. Other needs are long-term, such as building educational opportunities, strengthening health and human services, or expanding economic stability. Because the community’s needs evolve over time, the community foundation is focused on identifying what matters most at any given moment and helping you ensure that your generosity has a meaningful impact both immediately and across generations.

For donors aged 70½ and older, one of the most effective and tax-savvy charitable giving tools available is the Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD. A QCD allows you to direct up to $108,000 in 2025 from your IRA to a qualified public charity—bypassing taxable income. If you are already taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), a QCD will count toward that amount without increasing your adjusted gross income, which can be especially helpful for managing tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and other income-related considerations.

QCDs cannot be directed to donor-advised funds. So, many donors choose to use their donor-advised fund to support their favorite charities through regular annual gifts, and then use their QCDs to support an unrestricted fund at the community foundation. An unrestricted fund enables the community foundation’s board and staff to deploy dollars toward the most pressing and emerging needs right here at home. It is one of the most powerful ways to support your community, both now and in the future.

Be sure to talk with your tax advisors about whether a QCD fits into your 2025 charitable giving plans. Looking ahead, with new tax laws taking effect in 2026, QCDs may become even more valuable, so be sure to discuss next year’s opportunities, too.

No matter which tools you use—your donor-advised fund, a QCD to an unrestricted fund, or other giving strategies—the community foundation is here to support you. Please reach out anytime. We are honored to partner with you to ensure your generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in the community we all love.

No kids? Three calls-to-action for charitable planning

Many people without children wonder how their legacy will take shape. Rather than focusing on biological heirs, they often find freedom to channel their resources, time, and values toward the broader community. Indeed, Americans over age 50 without children are more than four times as likely as parents to have a charitable estate plan. If you fall into this group—or advise family members who do—take a moment to consider adopting an intentional philanthropic strategy.

The community foundation is happy to help. Reach out anytime for a conversation! Here are three themes we’ll consider as we begin our dialogue:

Treat charitable giving as an expression of identity. For people without children, the causes they champion often become extensions of their values and impact. A fund at the community foundation can bear the name of its donors or something else entirely to represent the priorities of its founders. Examples of fund names include “Smith Family Fund,” “Sally Smith and Joe Brown Foundation Fund,” “Building Stronger Communities Fund,” “Animal Welfare Innovation Fund,” or anything else meaningful to the donors who create it. The choice is yours!  

Integrate charitable planning into estate planning. People who do not have children often have greater flexibility in determining how their wealth will create lasting meaning and impact beyond their lifetimes. By integrating charitable planning into their estate and financial strategies, they can direct resources toward causes that reflect their values and ensure their legacy benefits the broader community. Without the need to provide for heirs, charitable planning offers a thoughtful way to give purpose to accumulated assets and make a difference for future generations. We will discuss ways to involve your estate planning advisors in structuring charitable plans with the community foundation’s help. 

Branch out to extended family. Without the generational handoff of children, people without children might have flexibility most donors don’t. This can mean involving nieces, nephews, other younger relatives, or community members in the philanthropic journey, building a multi-year giving plan, or shifting giving based on changing community needs. Remember, when you establish a donor-advised fund at the community foundation, you can name successor advisors to take your place in recommending charities to receive distributions. 

Whether or not you have children, the community foundation is a sounding board and resource every step of the way. Please reach out to learn more about how we can help you and your family build a charitable plan that is tailored to both your personal and family goals, as well as your goals for making a difference in the causes you care about. 

Addressing urgent community needs and tax law changes, deductibility tips, and abundant giving through donor-advised funds

Hello from the community foundation! 

The days are getting shorter, and the end of the year is approaching quickly. The team at the community foundation is here to help you carry out your charitable giving plans to make a big difference in 2025. In that spirit, we are sharing insights on three topics that are relevant to many donors and fund holders right now, as well as to individuals and families who are considering establishing a fund at the community foundation this year.

—The community foundation is here to help you make a difference right now, just as the community foundation has been in the past and will be for generations to come. As our region’s home for charitable giving, the community foundation and its donors respond to community priorities and urgent needs, whether triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs, a natural disaster, or economic factors. Learn how 2025 is an especially important year to respond to these needs.

—What’s the difference between tax-deductible and tax-exempt? What does “501(c)(3)” mean exactly? The community foundation is happy to answer these and other questions about the overall framework for charitable giving rules and help you create a punch list of items to discuss with your tax advisors. Especially for year-end giving, it’s crucial to pay attention to deductibility rules.

—Donor-advised funds provide tremendous flexibility for families and individuals and are an important source of funds when times get tough for people in need. If you’ve not yet considered how your donor-advised fund helps you do even more for the community you love, now is the time to discover its multi-faceted uses and benefits.

What’s more, November 12 through 18 marks National Community Foundation Week, a special time to celebrate the impact that people like you—our donors, fund holders, and community partners—make possible. Community foundations across the country, including ours, exist to strengthen local philanthropy and connect generous individuals, families, and businesses with the causes that matter most to them. More than 800 community foundations nationwide serve as trusted stewards of charitable resources, offering donor-advised funds, legacy planning expertise, and deep knowledge of local needs and opportunities. During Community Foundation Week, we’re proud to celebrate our shared commitment to making a difference—together. We invite you to connect with our team to explore how your charitable giving can be both meaningful and effective, creating lasting impact right here in our community.

Thank you, as always, for the opportunity to work together. If you’ve already established a fund at the community foundation, thank you! If you are considering doing so, please reach out! We would love to help you get that set up in plenty of time to take advantage of year-end giving benefits and do a lot of good for the causes you care about. 

–Your community foundation

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FEATURED ARTICLES

Year-end dynamics: Tax law changes and increasing community needs 

You are likely aware that many families in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs, a natural disaster, or economic factors, the community foundation is committed to working alongside you to structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in our region.

Here are a few examples of how our team can help:

Real-time identification of needs. The team at the community foundation has its finger on the pulse of which organizations specifically are helping families in crisis. As federal employees and contractors grapple with missing income, and federal benefits become uncertain for families in need, charities in our community can be stretched thin attempting to meet the rising demand for food, rent, and utility assistance. The community foundation knows where dollars are most needed and how those dollars translate into immediate impact.

Offering fast, flexible charitable solutions. Donors who have already established donor-advised funds at the community foundation can use those vehicles to provide support to charities on the front lines of emergency assistance in our community. The community foundation makes it fast and easy for grants to flow out of donor-advised funds to qualified and vetted organizations that are doing the work on the ground.

Leverage important timing. The urgency of community needs in late 2025 coincides with an important window of opportunity for donors who itemize their income tax deductions. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), limits on charitable deductions will tighten beginning in 2026. That means donors who can “front-load” contributions—such as by giving more this year through establishing or adding to a donor-advised fund—can maximize both their tax benefits and their impact.

Plan for the future. Unfortunately, community crises are not unusual. The community foundation can help donors strengthen our community’s ability to respond to urgent needs, regardless of when and why they occur. For this reason, many donors not only give to their favorite charities through donor-advised funds, but they also use their donor-advised funds to give to the community foundation’s dedicated response funds to ensure that dollars are in place to support people in need the moment the next crisis hits.

At the community foundation, we encourage you to reach out anytime. At this moment, though, when urgent needs and tax opportunities are occurring simultaneously, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. It is our honor to work with you and your fellow donors who care so deeply about our community.

Tax-deductible, tax-exempt, and need-to-know nuances

As year-end approaches, your thoughts might naturally turn to charitable giving—both as a way to support favorite causes and to make the most of available tax benefits. Recent changes in the tax laws have caused many donors to reflect on their own understanding of the rules for deductibility, starting with a very fundamental question about what the IRS considers deductible—and what falls outside that category.

Here’s a quick three-point refresher:

–In general, contributions are eligible for the most favorable tax deduction when they are made to organizations that have received tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. So-called “public charities” with 501(c)(3) status must operate exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, scientific, or similar purposes. Gifts to these organizations are eligible for a deduction if you itemize deductions on your income tax return.

–Beyond 501(c)(3) public charities, there are other types of organizations that do important community work but are not eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Civic groups, social welfare organizations, and neighborhood associations—while vital to the community—are usually classified under different IRS categories, such as Section 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6). Gifts to these organizations are typically not deductible, even though they serve valuable purposes.

–It’s also important to keep in mind that “nonprofit” and “tax-exempt” do not always mean the same thing. Nonprofit status is a matter of state law, while federal tax-exempt status requires specific IRS approval. “Tax-exempt” means that the organization itself does not pay taxes. Only a subset of tax-exempt nonprofits qualify to receive deductible contributions.

Sounds complicated, right? It is! The good news is that your community foundation is here to help. Our team works with charitable organizations every day and can help you confirm which gifts are eligible for a deduction and which are not. More importantly, we can help you make sure that your giving—whether or not it qualifies for a deduction—makes the greatest possible impact in the areas you care about most.

At the end of the day, while the tax deduction can be an added bonus, what matters most is the good your generosity accomplishes. As you plan your year-end giving, please reach out to our team. We’re here to help you give confidently, wisely, and in a way that makes a lasting difference in the community you love.

Donor-advised funds: Bunching, abundance, and flexibility 

Many people establish a donor-advised fund at the community foundation to simplify their giving, stay organized, and even engage the next generation in philanthropy. And, for some families, 2025 is the year when the donor-advised fund takes on an even bigger role in aligning charitable giving goals with changing tax laws. And even families who are not impacted by changing tax laws are beginning to view their donor-advised fund with more admiration for the variety and abundance of purposes it can serve. Let’s take a look: 

–Evaluate “bunching” in 2025. If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, you might have heard that things are changing in 2026 when both a floor and a cap on itemized charitable deductions kick in. This means 2025 offers a unique opportunity to “front-load” or “bunch” charitable contributions into your donor-advised fund before the tax landscape shifts. By making a larger contribution in 2025—perhaps representing two or three years of anticipated giving—you can maximize your tax deduction under the current rules while continuing to recommend grants to charities in 2026 and beyond. 

–Organize your giving. Your donor-advised fund at the community foundation already serves as a useful hub to organize your giving. You make tax-deductible contributions of cash or appreciated stock, and then recommend grants to your favorite organizations over time. With this in mind, make sure your fund is the center of your charitable activity—not a side account. In other words, consider making all of your charitable contributions through your donor-advised fund to streamline recordkeeping and tracking of your annual giving footprint.

–Adopt a portfolio approach. Alongside your donor-advised fund, you can establish a designated or field-of-interest fund to complement your charitable giving strategies. A designated fund supports a specific charity for the long term, while a field-of-interest fund focuses on an area of community need, guided by the community foundation’s deep local knowledge. If you are over age 70½, your IRA’s Qualified Charitable Distributions can go directly to these funds—reducing taxable income while supporting the causes you care about.

–Establish a legacy. Of course, you can include your charitable funds in your estate plan. Many people name donor-advised funds or other community foundation funds as beneficiaries in their wills, trusts, or retirement accounts. Retirement plans such as traditional IRAs, for example, can be tax-efficient assets to give to your fund through your estate because the gift bypasses income and estate tax.

As you begin to view your donor-advised fund in a new light, remember that the community foundation team is here to help you make the most of it, whether that means exploring how to “bunch your giving” in 2025, creating complementary funds, or planning your charitable legacy. We are honored to work together to ensure that your philanthropy continues to make a lasting difference in our community, today and for years to come.

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Balancing immediate and long-term community needs, six tips for year end, and reasons to celebrate donor-advised funds

Hello from the community foundation! 

We hope you enjoyed the final days of summer. The team at the community foundation certainly appreciated hearing from so many of you over the last few months as you spent time with family and friends and the conversations turned to charitable giving. It was a busy mid-year as donors and their tax advisors scrambled to understand the new tax laws against a backdrop of increasing community needs.

Here’s what’s trending at the community foundation:

–Many families spend time over the holidays focusing on their charitable giving priorities. If your family is among them, now is a good time to consider how both long-term and short-term planning can be important components of a comprehensive philanthropic strategy. The community foundation can help! 

–The questions keep coming–thank you! We appreciate many donors asking our team to explain just the basics of the new tax laws, with a particular focus on what might impact charitable giving plans through the remainder of 2025. Our team is happy to provide a quick overview.

–Donor-advised funds are just one of many vehicles available through the community foundation to help you structure your charitable giving and support the causes you care about. With national DAF Day scheduled for October 9, this is a great time to review the many reasons to consider establishing your donor-advised fund at the community foundation. 

We’re honored to work with so many individuals, families, and businesses to make a difference in the causes you care about. Thank you for the opportunity to work together. As always, please reach out anytime! 

–Your community foundation

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Balancing immediate and long-term support for your favorite community causes

by Staff Name, Director of Charitable Giving

At the community foundation, we’re committed to working with individuals, families, and businesses to help make a difference in the causes you care about. Indeed, many people have at least a general idea of the community impact they’d like to achieve when they first establish a fund. If you’ve already established a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, or if you are considering doing so, you might have a list of charities and priorities as your focus. 

Our team can certainly help you achieve your charitable goals, including giving to charities you’ve supported for years, as well as introducing you to new initiatives and programs that fall within your areas of interest. Identifying recipients and goals for impact is certainly important in your philanthropy plan. 

Here’s another question that’s important to answer: How long would you like your charitable dollars to be at work? The team at the community foundation is equipped to help you with this component of your giving, too. Here are six questions we’ll consider when establishing your charitable giving plan and corresponding fund structure:

–Are the causes and issues that matter most to you likely to represent short-term, immediate community needs, or community needs that will be important for generations?

–Would you like your children, grandchildren, or other loved ones to help guide your charitable fund in the future?

–Would you like to see and experience the results of your giving now, or are you more focused on establishing something lasting beyond your lifetime?

–Are tax savings, estate planning goals, or retirement income needs part of what you’d like your charitable plan to support?

–If you’re interested in both immediate impact and long-term legacy, what portion of your charitable fund would you like to see spent down versus preserved in perpetuity?

–When you think about your charitable impact—whether in five years or fifty—what would make you feel your fund or funds at the community foundation accomplished their purpose?

As we work together to consider these questions, the community foundation team is happy to offer suggested reading to help inform your decision-making process about the benefits of each type of structure, or a hybrid. 

Many donors choose to combine strategies as they work with the community foundation to build a portfolio of charitable giving vehicles to accomplish all aspects of their philanthropy goals. Here is an example:

–A donor-advised fund to organize annual giving to favorite charities, including taking advantage of “bunching” techniques to front-load contributions to take advantage of itemizing charitable deductions.

–A designated fund to support a specific favorite charity in perpetuity, ensuring that charitable funds will be preserved even if the charity falls on hard times.

–Annual gifts to the community foundation’s endowment fund so that critical issues can be addressed in perpetuity as the community’s needs change over time. 

–Beneficiary designations on traditional IRAs and other qualified retirement plans naming both the donor-advised fund and the community foundation’s endowment fund to receive the proceeds.

Please reach out anytime. The community foundation team is here to talk with you about your favorite charities, your philanthropy values, and your goals for impact. Together, we can create a charitable giving plan that reflects your vision, whether that means lasting forever, making a difference right now, or both.

Six tips for your year-end game plan

by Staff Name, Director of Charitable Giving

With only a few months left in 2025, it is important to evaluate your philanthropy sooner rather than later. Recently-passed tax laws may throw a curveball into the financial planning strategies you’ve set in motion with your advisors. 

Here are six tips to help you and your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor evaluate whether adjustments to your charitable plan might be in order. Of course, the team at the community foundation would be honored to join your meeting for the charitable giving conversation. There are so many ways we can help! 

Check out the new estate tax exemption.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) extended or “made permanent” many favorable tax provisions, notably the elevated estate tax exemption. In technical terms, under the new law, the 2025 estate tax exemption is $13.99 million for single filers and $27.98 million married filing jointly. In 2026, these numbers increase to $15 million and $30 million respectively. You may recall that the higher exemption was originally scheduled to sunset at the end of this year, which would have caused a lot more estates to be subject to tax. This, in turn, prompted many people to lean on charitable gifts in their wills and trusts to blunt the impact of estate taxes.

Keep planning!

If you are a high net worth individual, even though the estate tax exemption is staying high, this is no time to become complacent. Although no one knows what future tax legislation might look like, we all know that there will be tax legislation in the future. Today’s tax advantages will not be tomorrow’s tax advantages. Continue to talk with the community foundation and your advisors about your charitable giving plans so you are ready to make adjustments when the laws change again.

Consider not making a change.

Above all, remember that financial motivations are not the top reason people support charities. That is certainly our experience at the community foundation. So, if you were among the people who adjusted estate plans in anticipation of the lower estate tax exemption, consider retaining the larger bequest to your fund at the community foundation or other charities. You’ll be doing a lot of good! 

2025 is important if you itemize deductions on your income tax return. 

If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, 2025 presents a window of opportunity! This is because the OBBBA increases the standard deduction in 2025. This is also because your itemized charitable deductions will be subject to a “floor” and cap starting in 2026. A technique called “bunching” could allow you to make big contributions to your donor-advised fund at the community foundation in 2025 so that you can benefit from itemizing your deductions. In turn, over the coming years, you can use your donor-advised fund to support your favorite charities.   

Stick to the basics.

Sure, a lot is changing, but a lot isn’t! Appreciated stock is still likely to be a much more tax-savvy gift to charity than cash, and it’s important to keep this top of mind. In addition, IRAs remain a powerful charitable planning tool. For instance, when you name a fund at the community foundation as the beneficiary of an IRA, the gift avoids estate tax and income tax, both of which can hit your heirs hard. 

Know the opportunities if you are 70 ½ or older.

If you are 70 ½ or older, the Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”) is a great way to transfer up to $108,000 (2025’s per taxpayer limit) income-tax free to a qualified charity, including some types of funds at the community foundation. 

Please reach out to the community foundation team. We’re honored to be your first call on all things charitable giving! 

Donor-advised funds: So much to celebrate

by Staff Name, Director of Charitable Giving

Over the years, our team has talked with a lot of people who are surprised to learn that they can set up such a wide variety of charitable giving vehicles at the community foundation, including legacy gifts as well as lifetime giving vehicles such as donor-advised funds. What’s more, some people who have already established a donor-advised fund at a national financial institution don’t realize that they could have set up that donor-advised fund at the community foundation. 

Establishing a donor-advised fund is a terrific first step toward establishing a comprehensive charitable giving plan. And October is a particularly good time to evaluate the role of a donor-advised fund as part of your philanthropic strategy. That’s because October 9 is DAF Day 2025, a national celebration of donor-advised funds and the impact they make in communities everywhere. 

If you already have a donor-advised fund at a national financial institution, the good news is that it’s never too late to transfer the fund to the community foundation. You’ll be glad to know that donor-advised funds at the community foundation can carry the same tax and administrative advantages as those at national firms, including:

–Online account access and simple grant request processes

–Consolidated tax reporting and full back-office administration

–Useful as a tool for “bunching” by front-loading several years of charitable giving into a single tax year to exceed the standard deduction threshold

–Dollars in the fund support favorite charities over time, enabling strategic giving

Here’s where a donor-advised fund at the community foundation really stands out:

–Personal guidance and deep community knowledge of staff members who live and work in our region

–Close relationships with nonprofit leaders and organizations across many fields

–Tailored advice, local insights, and opportunities to collaborate with others who share donors’ interests

–Administrative fees support the community foundation’s operations, which in turn help sustain and expand services for donors and the community

If you haven't yet set up a donor-advised fund at the community foundation, we would welcome the opportunity to serve you! Here, your fund will be managed with the highest level of care, grounded in a true understanding of community needs, and supported by professionals who are committed not only to your goals but also to the health and vibrancy of our region. Together, we can make sure your charitable assets accomplish exactly what you intend—whether that means making an immediate difference, planning for the future, or both.

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

When to call us, philanthropy for young adults, and why it’s not about the tax deduction

Hello from the community foundation! 

We’re honored to work with so many individuals, families, and businesses to make a difference in the causes you care about. Philanthropy isn’t just about wealth—it’s about values, habits, and improving the quality of life in our community. This philosophy guides the community foundation’s work with donors across generations. We hope you enjoy this month’s insights and tips. As always, please reach out anytime! 

–You know the community foundation is a terrific resource for all things related to charitable giving. Still, sometimes it is hard to know exactly when to reach out to our team. We’re happy to share five of the many reasons you should contact the community foundation. We love hearing from you!  

–If you’re a young adult, or the parent or grandparent of a young adult, the community foundation can offer a variety of ways to get involved in the community. Making charitable giving part of the plan at an early age can be easy and very rewarding. Learn how to get motivated, get started, and get connected.

–It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of tax planning, especially during periods of significant change to the rules. Remember, though, that for most people, financial motivations are not the primary driver of charitable giving. At the community foundation, we are honored to experience first hand–every single day–overwhelming evidence that donors like you truly want to make a difference. 

Thank you for the opportunity to work together! We wish you a happy start to the fall season! 

–Your community foundation

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Lean on us: Five reasons to call the community foundation

In an economic and legislative environment full of unpredictability, we encourage you to tap the knowledgeable team at the community foundation–perhaps even more than you have in the past. 

If you’ve already established a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, you’re familiar with many of the ways we make charitable giving easy, flexible, and effective so that you can achieve your goals for improving the quality of life in our community as well as fulfilling your own estate planning and financial objectives. 

Not quite sure when to reach out to the community foundation? If any of these situations applies to you, drop us an email or give us a call! 

You promised yourself in 2024 that you’ll never again get caught in a year-end crunch.

The last few months of the year are always hectic with holiday activities. When you layer on the added stress of tax planning and completing the charitable giving plans you set back in January, you might tip the scales from hectic to chaos! The community foundation can help organize your year-end charitable giving early so that it achieves both your financial and your philanthropic goals.  

You’re concerned about recent drops in funding to local charities, but you’re not quite sure about what you can do to help.

The community foundation is our region’s home for charitable giving. That means we’ve got a finger on the pulse of our community’s needs and the nonprofits that are addressing them. Our team can provide information about program cuts that have left people in our community vulnerable and share ideas and recommendations for how you can help fill the gaps. 

Your tax advisor has suggested that 2025 is an important year to increase your charitable donations, but you don’t want your gifts to favorite charities to suddenly spike and then drop again.

For the small percentage of people who itemize deductions on their individual income tax returns, 2025 may indeed present opportunities. The community foundation is happy to work with you and your tax advisors to structure gifts to a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation to ensure that you’re leveraging tax advantages while also maintaining consistent support year after year for the causes you care about. 

You’re thinking about selling commercial property or private business interests and you’ve heard that charitable gifts can be an effective component of the transaction if structured correctly. 

Many people do not realize until it’s too late that they can give real estate or closely-held stock to a fund at the community foundation well in advance of a future sale and achieve significant tax benefits while also setting aside charitable dollars to make a positive difference in the community either immediately or across generations. Before you and your advisors put any pen to paper on the disposition of real estate or private business interests, please reach out!  

You’re updating your estate plan and want to leave money to charity, but you’re not exactly sure what charity.

Please reach out to the community foundation anytime you are updating your estate plan or related financial documents, such as beneficiary designations on IRAs, life insurance policies, or retirement accounts. Our team is happy to work with your advisors to deploy the community foundation’s flexible tools to round out your estate plan and make sure you’re exploring the tax benefits of using various types of assets to fund your charitable intentions. 

Whatever your charitable giving situation, we are here for you! Whether you’ve already started a fund at the community foundation or you’re considering getting involved, we look forward to our conversation! 

Philanthropy is for everyone: Three tips for young adults

“Philanthropy” may sound like something reserved for wealthy, “mature” adults, but that’s not at all the case. At the community foundation, we work with individuals of every generation, from young adults to retirees and everyone in between.

Young adults in particular are getting involved in the community in ways that look a little different from prior generations. Research shows that Generation Z and Millennials tend to be more focused on issues than specific charities. Not surprisingly, a tech-forward approach to all aspects of philanthropy is common among members of these generations, including engaging with favorite causes on social media and making donations online. What’s more, a 2024 study indicates that for younger generations, volunteering and donating are strongly tied to civic participation.

If you’re a parent or grandparent of young adults, or if you’re a young adult yourself, you’ll be glad to know that the community foundation can help. Here are three suggestions. 

Make it a family affair.

The community foundation works with families to build charitable giving plans that involve all generations to achieve overall philanthropic priorities as well as coordinating with families’ advisors to achieve tax planning (subscription required) objectives. For example, a multi-generational philanthropy can include donor-advised funds, legacy plans that include IRA beneficiary designations to establish an endowment, and strategic use of Qualified Charitable Distributions for family members who are 70 ½ or older.   

Make a point to start early.

Many young adults are establishing charitable giving practices early in their careers. For example, it’s not uncommon now for new hires to name a charity, such as a fund at the community foundation, as the contingent beneficiary of an employer-sponsored retirement plan. In addition, starting in 2026, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions can still take a tax deduction for charitable gifts up to $1000 for single filers and $2000 for joint filers. This can be a great way for younger generations to support the causes they care about. Although the deduction only applies to cash gifts and does not include gifts to donor-advised funds, it’s nonetheless a notable perk. The community foundation is happy to serve as a sounding board for ways to leverage this opportunity to make a difference.   

Make new connections.

The community foundation can help young people get connected with peer networks who share an interest in getting involved in the community. For example, our team is happy to serve as the back office for establishing what’s known as a “giving circle,” which is a type of fund that allows donors to pool resources with peers to make a bigger impact than they could achieve alone. Giving circles also provide an outstanding hands-on learning experience in philanthropy, especially because the community foundation provides education and resources about grantmaking, local needs, and nonprofit leadership. 

The community foundation is honored to serve as our region’s home for charitable giving across generations. We look forward to working with you and your family to support your favorite charities and achieve meaningful outcomes in our community. 

Tax deduction? What tax deduction?

Despite–or perhaps in light of–the recent whirlwind of commentary about new federal laws and the implications for the charitable deduction and charitable giving, it is really important keep in mind that for most individuals, the decision to give is driven by deeply personal factors–such as compassion, moral obligation, empathy, or a belief in a cause—rather than financial incentives. 

Indeed, altruism and emotional resonance, not tax breaks, are at the heart of philanthropic motivation. While tax incentives can influence giving, they typically play a supporting role—not a leading one. Psychological and social drivers are deeply powerful motivators for giving that tax considerations cannot match. 

That’s why we have always loved this article from the Greater Good Science Center and what it stands for, including our favorite points:

Generosity is truly human.

Generous behavior isn’t merely a social construct—it’s embedded in our evolutionary makeup. Researchers have found that species ranging from bees and chimpanzees to bats exhibit “prosocial” behaviors, suggesting that generosity evolved to enhance survival. In humans, acts of generosity light up the brain's reward pathways—similar to pleasurable experiences like eating or intimacy—highlighting that generosity is inherently satisfying. 

Philanthropy benefits both the giver and the receiver.

Engaging in generous acts delivers tangible psychological and even physical benefits. Volunteering and offering support—whether time, goods, or emotional aid—have been linked to increased well-being, higher self-esteem, and even delayed mortality, particularly among older adults. Furthermore, many studies reported greater happiness when spending resources on others compared to oneself.

Charitable values can be nurtured. 

It’s especially good news that acts of philanthropy are influenced by a blend of personal and social factors. Certainly empathy, humility, and moral values play a role. What’s more, cultural norms, expectations of reciprocity, and strong social networks motivate generosity, too. Unsurprisingly, people are more inclined to come to the aid of specific individuals rather than abstract causes, and generosity tends to be “contagious”—spreading through social groups and communities.

If you love supporting your favorite causes no matter what’s going on with the tax laws, you are in good company! At the community foundation, we are honored to work with hundreds of families and individuals whose giving is anchored in genuine concern for others. This in turn helps create sustainable long-term positive impact in the community we all love.

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Opportunities under the OBBBA, supporting education, and charitable succession planning

Hello from the community foundation! 

Before we share the latest news and updates, we’d like to offer two observations:

First, it is our honor to work with so many families and businesses to structure and implement your charitable giving plans. What’s perhaps most rewarding to the team at the community foundation is the overwhelming sentiment among our donors that no matter what happens with the tax laws over the years, you are committed to making a difference by supporting the causes you love. Although tax benefits of charitable giving ebb and flow, your support for our community and the charities you love remains steadfast. Your generosity continues to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives here. Thank you! 

Second, August is National Make-A-Will month, which means it’s the perfect time–before the fall gets busy–to review your estate plans with your attorney and our team at the community foundation to ensure your philanthropic intentions are up to date. Even a quick check-in now can maximize the impact of your legacy and help ensure that your wishes are clearly carried out to support the causes you care about for generations to come.

Now, let’s get to it! Here’s what’s trending at the community foundation:

–2025 is shaping up to be an important year for charitable giving from a tax planning perspective. That’s because the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, includes several provisions taking effect this year and next year that could influence the timing and structure of your donations. Learn how the community foundation can work with you and your advisors to navigate these opportunities. 

–Back to school is upon us, and this means education is on the minds of many. If you’ve established a scholarship fund at the community foundation, or if you’re considering it, please reach out to the community foundation team. We can help structure charitable support for students’ education in ways that go well beyond scholarships to help support academic and personal success.

–If you are a business owner, the concept of succession planning is nothing new. But succession planning isn’t just for business owners–it’s also important for leaving a charitable legacy. The team at the community foundation can help capture your intentions, and we make it easy to involve your family members so that the causes you care about are supported for generations to come. 

Thanks so much for all you do for our community. We look forward to talking with you soon about how you can deepen your involvement with your favorite charities. Our team is here to help.

–Your community foundation

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Navigating new laws: Opportunities for 2025

It’s more important than ever to stay informed about how changes in the tax law may affect your charitable giving. The recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) creates challenges as well as opportunities for structuring your philanthropy. We encourage you to reach out to your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to evaluate how the changes in the law impact your own situation.

As always, the community foundation is happy to work side-by-side with you and your tax advisors to build a plan for 2025 and beyond that not only supports your plans to make a difference in the community, but also addresses the rule changes under the OBBBA.

To help you along this journey, we’ve provided the checklist below of issues to discuss with your advisors.

Evaluate whether “bunching” may be right for you.

The OBBBA increases the 2025 standard deduction to $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. The higher standard deduction will likely impact tax-motivated charitable giving, even with the expected uptick in the number of itemizers thanks to the OBBBA’s state and local tax deduction allowances (subscriptions required to the Wall Street Journal). There are important exceptions and nuances to consider, which you’ll want to discuss with your advisors. For example, if you are 65 or older, you’re eligible to receive an additional $6,000 “bonus” deduction—but it begins to phase out if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $75,000.

Based on the increases to the standard deduction, you may want to talk with your tax advisors about “bunching” charitable gifts for 2025 using a donor-advised fund at the community foundation. Through this technique, you can make several years’ worth of charitable contributions in a single year to exceed the standard deduction threshold, thereby maximizing tax benefits in that year. Over the following years, your donor-advised fund can distribute grants to charities over time according to your wishes. 

Here are more reasons you might want to talk with your advisors about front-loading charitable contributions in 2025: In 2026, a new provision under the OBBBA takes effect that allows you to take a deduction for charitable gifts only to the extent that your giving exceeds 0.5% of your AGI. What’s more, if you’re in the highest tax bracket–37%--you can still only deduct charitable contributions at the 35% rate. 

The upshot here is that you and your tax advisors may decide that 2025 is the year to bunch charitable contributions to maximize tax savings. 

Get familiar with the deduction for non-itemizers, coming next year. 

If you don’t itemize your deductions, you’ll be glad to know that starting in the 2026 tax year you can claim a deduction for cash gifts to qualifying public charities—up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Excluded from this new provision are gifts to donor‑advised funds and non‑cash gifts, which is unfortunate because those vehicles are popular, convenient, and tax-effective. Still, keep in mind the new deduction, and, if you’re encouraging your adult children to get involved in philanthropy, make sure they are aware of this deduction. It could be particularly helpful for young people because many young people do not yet itemize.  

If you are over 70 ½, review the benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions.

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) enables individuals aged 70 ½ or older to donate up to $108,000 per year (as of 2025) directly from an IRA to eligible charities, and in the process exclude the donated amount from taxable income altogether–rather than relying on an itemized deduction. QCDs may be especially advantageous after the OBBBA’s significant increase to the standard deduction because QCDs provide a direct tax benefit regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction. Indeed, using a QCD to fulfill required minimum distributions (RMDs) can lower your adjusted gross income, potentially reducing taxes on Social Security income and Medicare surtaxes, and helping you sidestep the new floors and caps on itemized charitable deductions imposed by the OBBBA starting in 2026.

The community foundation is happy to collaborate with you and your tax advisor as you explore ways to achieve your philanthropic goals under the new laws. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Back to school: Expanding support for education

It’s time for back-to-school planning! If education is on your mind, you’re in good company. Charitable giving to education rose in 2024 to more than $58 billion! If education and related causes are important to you, the community foundation can help you explore a variety of meaningful ways to make an impact. Here are three ideas to inspire a deeper discussion:

Explore options for expanding student support

In many cases, donors set up a scholarship or other type of fund to support a particular educational institution, and then set it on autopilot. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but you might be missing an opportunity to make a deeper impact. The community foundation team is happy to facilitate a dialogue with you and the school to structure your funding–whether through a scholarship or other types of support–to fill gaps in student need. For example, if you’d like to support students pursuing a college degree beyond simply scholarship dollars, the community foundation can help identify needs for dollars to increase faculty salaries, purchase lab equipment, or pay an on-campus counselor to help students acclimate to college life. 

Investigate opportunities to improve the quality of education itself

Many donors are concerned that high school graduates are ill-prepared for post-secondary education, whether that’s a traditional four-year college, community college, or trade school. The community foundation can help you address this gap with your charitable dollars. For example, you could establish a fund to support teachers, which in turn helps improve student success. Indeed, teachers are often considered the single most important in-school factor for student success. Charitable funding that enhances teacher training, mentorship, and ongoing professional development creates ripple effects across classrooms and generations of students.

Find your education “niche”

By establishing a field-of-interest fund at the community foundation, you can work with the community foundation team to identify specific parameters within education that you’d like to fund. For example, you may  be interested in supporting local grassroots programs offering tutoring and mentorship. Or, you may decide to direct your charitable dollars to quality early childhood programs, which have been shown to yield high returns on investments in education. The community foundation can help you identify an area of focus. Going forward, our team leverages the community foundation’s deep knowledge and research to identify high-impact opportunities, helping to ensure your generosity makes the greatest difference within your area of interest.

Please reach out to our team anytime! As students head back to school and education is top of mind, the community foundation is here to make sure your giving is impactful, focused, and in line with your philanthropic goals. 

Succession planning: It’s not just for businesses

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.

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!

The team at the community foundation is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.

Studying up on board service, finding purpose in retirement, and the latest on tax legislation

Hello from the community foundation! 

Thank you for the opportunity to work together! Even in a year like 2025, we’re honored to help philanthropy in our community celebrate big and little victories as we all work together to improve the quality of life in the community we love.

A bright spot in the world of charitable giving is that philanthropy in the United States reached a significant milestone in 2024, with individuals, bequests, foundations, and corporations contributing an estimated $592.50 billion to charitable causes. That’s according to the recently-released Giving USA report, citing a 6.3% increase in current dollars from the previous year, or a 3.3% increase when adjusted for inflation. 

As always, we’re happy to offer insights into trends and issues that shape the way you carry out your charitable giving priorities:

–-Many philanthropic individuals serve on the board of directors of a charity–and in many cases more than one! Learn about the factors you may want to consider before you say yes to a board invitation. As always, the community foundation is here as a resource and sounding board.

–Finding purpose is often a top priority for retirees. Carrying out your purpose requires not only planning your time, but also thoughtfully considering how to allocate financial resources, including how you might leave a legacy. The community foundation can help. 

–Tax laws remain a topic of conversation, including in conversations about charitable giving. Check out the latest updates and learn how changes might impact the way you approach philanthropy. Our team is here to help! 

Whether you’ve established a fund at the community foundation, given to an existing fund, or are just beginning to get involved, thank you for all you do to help charitable giving in our region stay strong! 

–Your community foundation

THIS MONTH’S

TRENDING TOPICS

More than meetings: Considerations for joining a board

by Staff Name, Director of Charitable Giving

If you’ve served on a charity’s board of directors, you know that the role demands much more than simply showing up for meetings. Charities benefit from board members’ active engagement, strategic oversight, and a deep commitment to the organization's mission. Indeed, board members are fiduciaries who are responsible for guiding the nonprofit’s culture, ensuring sound governance, providing financial stewardship, and acting as ambassadors and advocates in the community. Beyond legal duties, they are expected to help secure resources, oversee leadership, and contribute to the charity’s long-term sustainability and impact.

If this sounds like a lot, it’s because it is! Before you make the leap to join a charity’s board, please consider reaching out to our team. The community foundation can serve as an invaluable resource to support your decision-making process. Our professionals know a lot about local charities, including in-depth information about programs, impact, leadership, financial stability, and reputation. We’re happy to provide an impartial assessment of the charity’s governance practices, evaluate alignment with your values, and fill you in on the current needs or challenges the board is facing. 

Thorough due diligence is crucial, not only to ensure that the board position would be a good fit for your skills, interests, and availability, but also to avoid potential legal pitfalls and liabilities that could stand in the way of your ability to carry out your fiduciary duties. Our team can provide a high-level review of these duties, including:

• A duty of loyalty to prioritize the charity’s interests and avoid conflict;

• A duty of compliance to adhere to the nonprofit's mission and legal requirements; and

• A duty to “manage accounts,” which means overseeing financial stability and accountability 

These duties translate into real responsibilities for strategic planning, fundraising, financial oversight, and executive evaluation. 

Please reach out anytime. It is our honor to help you make a difference in the community we all love, whether that’s through charitable giving, board service, volunteering, or advocacy. The community foundation is your home for philanthropy in all of its many forms. 

Advancing your purpose: Considerations for a philanthropic retirement

by Staff Name, Director of Charitable Giving

If you’ve recently retired, you may still be figuring out the ideal balance of activities. If you’ve been retired for several years, you might still be trying to figure it out! Time and again, research shows us that finding purpose is an essential component of a happy and satisfying retirement. Consider the following: 

• A large-scale, longitudinal study used data from 13,770 older adults, finding that those with a higher sense of purpose at baseline were significantly less likely to develop unhealthy behaviors.

• Other research used a nationally representative panel of over 8,000 American adults and determined that, contrary to some beliefs, retirement can actually increase a person's sense of purpose. 

• A cross-sectional study analyzed data from nearly 2,000 adults and found that sense of purpose was significantly associated with lower depression and anxiety in both retirees and non-retirees. 

Indeed, retirement offers a unique opportunity for individuals to rediscover their sense of purpose beyond the confines of a traditional career. The community foundation’s team and charitable tools can play a pivotal role in this journey. Here’s how:

Check in on tax planning

For starters, the community foundation team can work with you and your tax advisors to be sure your charitable giving is reflected in your estate and financial plan to achieve the impact you’re seeking. Among other issues, we’ll help you and your advisors explore whether itemizing your tax deductions in certain years might save you money. You can “bunch” charitable donations into your donor-advised fund in higher-income years to exceed the itemization threshold, then support your favorite causes steadily over time from that fund. If you’re 70 ½ or older, we’ll also help evaluate whether tax-free transfers directly from your IRA—up to $108,000 (in 2025)—to a designated, unrestricted, or field-of-interest fund at the community foundation would be an effective planning technique for your situation. 

Involve the next generation

Many retirees have more time to include family members in their personal charitable giving activities. The community foundation team can work alongside you and your estate planning advisors to name children or grandchildren as advisors or successor advisors to your donor-advised fund and invite them to participate in site visits and educational events. This is a great way to strengthen family bonds while building a legacy of generosity across generations. Our team can help you identify ways to include children and grandchildren in site visits to favorite charities and participate in education sessions about community needs and the nonprofits that are making a difference for people who live in our region. 

Build a legacy

Many people update their estate plans just after they retire. As you work with your tax and estate planning advisors, consider incorporating a gift in your estate plan that will allow your charitable legacy to live on for generations. For example, many people name a fund at the community foundation as the beneficiary of their IRAs because of the significant tax advantages when compared with leaving the IRAs to heirs. The community foundation is happy to work with you and your advisors to establish a special fund to receive assets from your estate, whether from an IRA or other type of estate gift. The fund can be structured as a permanent endowment to address the community’s greatest needs far into the future, or even support the community foundation’s operations to ensure that philanthropy and stewardship continue to thrive for generations to come. You can also name your donor-advised fund as an estate beneficiary, and your children and grandchildren can serve as advisors to the fund so that they, in turn, can carry on the spirit of charitable giving in the family’s name. 

We look forward to working with you throughout your retirement years to ensure that your community dreams are fulfilled through the power of charitable giving. Please reach out anytime.