2026 Year End Giving Guide

The end of the year brings opportunities for togetherness and comfort, and many of us are thinking about how to give back to our communities. Whether it’s by donating to a local non-profit on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1), volunteering with organizations we care about, or thinking ahead for the upcoming tax season, philanthropy is for everyone. We are happy to help you explore charitable giving options and discuss ongoing and emerging needs in our region.

• Credit card transactions for online donations must be processed by 11:59pm on December 31.
• Checks must be postmarked by USPS on or before December 31.
• FEDEX or UPS deliveries must be received in-hand by staff on or before December 31.
• Initiate gifts of stock or IRA distributions in early December to ensure they are received before the end of the year.
• For those with a Donor Advised Fund at HAF+WRCF, we must receive your grant recommendations by December 7, 2026, to ensure they are mailed before the end of the year. Recommendations received after December 7, 2026 will not be mailed until January.

• Take time to revisit your personal and family goals and priorities for charitable giving. What impact do you hope to have, and is it the same as in past years, or has it changed? What do you feel most passionate about and where would you like to have an impact?
• Next, plan your budget and timeline. Will you make several smaller gifts, or fewer larger ones? Committing to a multi-year gift is a great way to offer stabilizing support to organizations in uncertain times.
• If the timing isn’t right for a contribution from your current assets, consider if a planned gift, such as naming a charitable beneficiary on retirement or other accounts, or leaving a charitable bequest in your will or trust, is right for you. Our staff is available to help if you’re unsure where to begin or need to review your charitable beneficiaries.

• Strengthen your connection with organizations you support by learning about their current needs and long-term goals. Research nonprofit websites and local news or contact organizations you support to ask what is needed most.
• Sign up for newsletters, attend events, and follow local organizations on social media to stay up to date on current projects and priorities.
• You can also contact HAF+WRCF for help learning about specific community needs, or for a list of HAF+WRCF funds you can give to in support of broad community needs.

• Several federal changes related to charitable giving went into effect for 2026, including a provision that allows non-itemizers to deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 married filing jointly) and establish a new floor for charitable deductions for itemizers.
• Contact your financial or tax advisor to discuss whether a gift of appreciated stock or a charitable distribution from your IRA could benefit your personal financial situation.
• Initiate stock gifts by early December at the latest to ensure they are processed before the end of the year. If you aren’t sure how to make a gift of stock, we can help with simple instructions.
• Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) limits for 2026 are $111,000 per individual for those 70 ½ or older. While QCDs cannot be added to a Donor Advised Fund, they can be used to donate to any non-donor advised fund held at HAF+WRCF, ordirectly to any qualified public charity.
• Consider a Donor Advised Fund to make multiple years’ worth of charitable contributions at once, to be granted out on your timeline. Many financial institutions, as well as HAF+WRCF, offer Donor Advised Funds.

While there are many things to think about when making a charitable gift, the most important decision is the one you’ve already made—to give back to your community in the first place, whatever that might look like. HAF+WRCF staff are here to help you explore your philanthropic goals, demystify gift options and strategies, and help connect with local needs. Contact our Donor Services Team via phone at (707) 324-3501 or email at donorservices@hafoundation.org for more information.

This information is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Always consult with your own tax, legal or accounting advisors.

—