The approach of the end of the year means end-of-year tax planning, which for many includes finalizing annual charitable contributions. This presents an opportunity for nonprofits to engage donors and help them complete their gifts by December 31.

Here are some reminders and tips for nonprofits to enhance donor stewardship and fundraising efforts at year end:

Both cash and appreciated securities should be considered for gifts.

For those who are itemizing charitable deductions, cash gifts to public charities or charitable vehicles such as donor-advised funds (DAFs), charitable gift annuities and private foundations can be deducted up to 100% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

Gifts of marketable securities can be deducted up to 60% of AGI, as determined by the fair market value of the securities when donated. Though the maximum deduction is lower, donors can avoid the 20% long-term capital gains tax and the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) if applicable.

To-Do: Plan to connect with consistent annual donors who have not yet made their gift.

Qualified charitable distributions (QCDS) can be used to meet required minimum distributions (RMDS).

Donors who are at least 70 ½  in 2022 can make a qualified charitable distribution of up to $100,000 from their IRA to a qualified charity to satisfy the requirement.

The four requirements for a QCD are:

1. Donor must be at least 70 ½ years of age at the time the QCD is made.
2. The QCD must come from a Traditional or Inherited IRA.
3. The distribution must go directly from the IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity.
4. The receiving charity must provide a letter stating no goods or services were received in exchange for the contribution.

To count towards the RMD, the funds must be distributed out of the IRA by the donor’s RMD deadline which is typically December 31.

To-Do: Check against your donor database for donors who meet the age criteria for a QCD or who previously made a QCD and schedule outreach to remind them of this option.

Grants from DAFs can present opportunities for stewardship – and other gifts.

Many donors will make last-minute gifts to DAFs at year’s end, an easy way to maximize their charitable deductions for the year. One reason a donor may choose to make gifts using a DAF is the ability to make them anonymously. However, as a result, many nonprofits receiving grants from DAFs are unaware of the underlying donor’s identity.

This can be an issue for some donors, particularly if they welcome acknowledgment from the organizations whose causes they support through their DAF, and especially if the acknowledgment speaks to the impact of their gift. Much like bequests, encouraging donors to identify themselves when making a grant recommendation creates an opportunity to deepen the donor’s connection to your organization, which can lead to conversations about ways to enhance their support.

To-do: Update communications and templates to create reminders and forms for notifications of DAF grant recommendations, similar to those for notifications of inclusion of your organization in their will.

Additions to charitable remainder unitrusts (CRUTS) are as easy as an outright gift.

Donors can make an addition of cash or appreciated securities to an existing CRUT in a similar fashion to making an outright gift to charity. There is no additional trust documentation required, and the donor can simply direct the additional assets to the trust after obtaining the appropriate transfer instructions. Donors can claim a charitable deduction depending on the asset transferred and will also receive a prorated distribution from the trust based on the increased market value and the number of days between the date of the gift and the end of the year. The additional gift will also be included in the valuation of the trust as of the next valuation date, which could lead to an increased unitrust distribution amount to trust beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries can also choose to use their year-end distribution from a charitable trust to make a gift to charity or make an addition to the charitable unitrust of the trust’s distribution, often with minimal administrative effort.

To-do:  Connect with trust donors who give regularly or who have sizable trust distributions and offer this convenient option to support a program or focus-area they care about.

Year-end charitable giving may require early action.

For charitable contributions to be tax deductible for the year, contributions must be made by December 31. To avoid missing that deadline, donors should plan to initiate their gifts with enough time to allow for administrative and operational processes, particularly when transferring non-cash assets including securities.

Here are a few reminders:

• The date of the donation is recorded as the date the money is received via wire or the postmark date on a mailed check.
• Contributions made by credit card will be recorded in the tax year the charge is made, not the year the charge is paid.
• Depending on the type of asset, transfers of securities can take three to four weeks for completion. The type of asset also determines the gift date.
• December 1 is the recommended date to initiate gifts of securities, wire transfers or QCDs.

To-do: To avoid last minute emergencies due to vacation or holiday schedules, update asset delivery instructions and timelines and circulate to all internal stakeholders who may have donor contact.