Advanced tax strategy for charitable giving
Charitable giving,
structured for the tax code.
Learn how donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, qualified charitable distributions and appreciated-stock gifts actually work — then talk to a financial planner who specializes in charitable financial planning.
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2 areas of focus
Giving vehicles and Tax & estate strategy.
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Where do you want to start?
Donor-advised funds
What a DAF is, how it's taxed and how to use one well.
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Charitable remainder & lead trusts
Trust structures that split income and giving — for income now or wealth transfer later.
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Qualified charitable distributions
Giving directly from an IRA — and how it interacts with required minimum distributions.
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Appreciated stock & securities gifts
Donating stock instead of cash — and why it can beat selling first.
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Charitable bunching
Grouping years of giving into one tax year to clear the itemization threshold.
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Private foundations
Starting and running a family foundation, and how it compares to a DAF.
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Legacy & estate giving
Giving through a will, trust or beneficiary designation.
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Who we help
Wherever you’re starting from.
Retirees & pre-retirees with IRAs
to turn required withdrawals into tax-smart charitable giving
High-net-worth donors
a coordinated, tax-efficient giving strategy across several charities
Business owners before a sale
to reduce capital gains tax ahead of a liquidity event using charitable giving
Investors with appreciated stock
a way to give meaningfully without triggering capital gains tax
Families planning a legacy
to pass on wealth and values together, with a charitable component
Year-end tax planners
to lower this year's tax bill before the filing deadline
Philanthropic families choosing a vehicle
to decide between a private foundation and a donor-advised fund
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account: you contribute, generally take an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants out to the charities of your choice over time. It's a flexible alternative to writing checks one at a time or starting a private foundation.
How does a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) work?
A qualified charitable distribution sends money directly from your IRA to a qualifying charity, where it can count toward a required minimum distribution without being added to your taxable income — subject to age, dollar and timing rules that change, so confirm the current ones with your CPA.
Is a donor-advised fund the same as a private foundation?
No. A DAF is generally simpler and faster to set up, with fewer administrative and reporting burdens, while a private foundation gives you more control (your own board, your own investments, potentially paid family involvement) at the cost of more paperwork, excise taxes and public reporting. Many families use both.
Can donating appreciated stock avoid capital gains tax?
Often, yes: giving stock you've held more than a year directly to a qualified charity can let you deduct its fair market value while avoiding the capital gains tax a sale would have triggered — but the deduction and gain rules depend on your specific holdings and income, so confirm the details with a CPA before you transfer anything.
What is 'bunching' charitable donations?
Bunching means combining several years of planned giving into a single tax year — often through a donor-advised fund — so your itemized deductions clear the standard deduction threshold that year, then taking the standard deduction in the years between. Whether it helps depends on your own numbers.
Who typically uses a charitable remainder trust?
People who hold a highly appreciated asset (stock, a business, real estate) and want to convert it into an income stream without an immediate capital-gains hit, while directing what's left to charity later. It's a complex, irrevocable structure best designed with a planner and an estate attorney together.
Is anything on this site tax or legal advice?
No. Charitable Financial Planning is an educational site and referral directory, not tax, legal or investment advice. Tax law around charitable giving changes and every situation is different — confirm any strategy with your own CPA or estate planning attorney before acting on it.