In this season of gratitude, our thoughts turn to the many blessings in our lives. Knowing everything is a gift from God, how can we return it with joy?
The Catholic Foundation offers you an opportunity to turn your gratitude into generosity. Through the Foundation, you can support the causes closest to your heart while also taking advantage of tax-wise giving strategies that align with both your Catholic faith and your financial goals.
Looking ahead, new tax laws expected in 2026 may impact charitable giving. Planning now allows you to maximize your impact while your current benefits remain in place.
By donating cash, appreciated securities, giving through your IRA, or recommending a grant to the Catholic Foundation from your donor-advised fund, you can create an enduring legacy that supports your favorite Catholic parish, cemetery, school, or ministry — while also receiving valuable tax benefits.
Ways to Give That Offer Tax Benefits
Five Ways for Planning Your Charitable Gifts
As you begin planning your charitable gifts for the end of the year, there are several options to consider. Common end-of-year gifts include:
1. Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
If you are 70½ years of age or older, the IRA Rollover is a terrific way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals while making a meaningful charitable gift. Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to the Foundation, and you may designate your gift for a particular endowment, to establish a new endowment, or to provide unrestricted support for the Foundation's work. You will save on taxes and your gift lives forever helping your chosen organization fulfill its mission.
2. Appreciated Stock
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to the Foundation. You may designate that gift to be used to build up an existing endowment, establish a new endowment, or to provide unrestricted support to the Foundation.
3. Donor Advised Funds (DAF) or Charitable Gift Accounts
The Catholic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and may accept gifts from your donor advised fund (DAF) or charitable gift accounts.
4. Cash Contributions
Donors may make a cash gift online or by check. You may designate your gift as unrestricted support for the work of the Catholic Foundation, to establish a new endowment, or build upon an endowment of your choosing. You can mail a check on December 31st and, even if the check is not received and cashed by the Catholic Foundation until after the new year, the IRS will allow you to take a deduction in the year the check was postmarked. Keep this in mind for year-end tax planning!
5. Arrange a Planned Gift
While you are meeting with your financial advisor, accountant or estate planning attorney on end-of-year gifts, you may wish to take the opportunity to also discuss planned giving or legacy giving.
By making a planned gift, you can leave a lasting legacy through the Catholic Foundation to benefit the Foundation's work or to establish a permanent endowment for a Catholic parish, cemetery, school or ministry that is important to you. A permanent endowment provides annual support to the ministries you love forever. A planned gift is a meaningful gift, made either during your lifetime or at death, as part of your overall financial and/or estate planning, which costs you nothing during your lifetime and will carry on your tradition of philanthropy aligned with your Catholic faith.
With a planned gift designated for the Catholic Foundation, you can:
- Name an endowment fund(s) of your choice in your will.
- Designate and donate stocks and investment accounts.
- Make a significant gift with retirement plan assets such as IRAs and 401(k)s.
The Catholic Foundation can help you get started at any time. Our team is here to help you. Contact us to learn more or to receive a free Estate Planning Guide. This guide will assist you as you begin the process of planning for your future. It can be a valuable tool that will help you gather information. It will also help you think about how to use your estate plan to provide for your loved ones and support the Catholic causes you care about.