How to make your charitable contributions go further

Giving to charity is now easier than ever — especially during the holidays. Whether writing a check, opting to “round up” at the register or simply clicking a “donate” button, you can quickly make a donation and be on your way. But after a few minutes, that good-deed feeling fades, and you may be left wondering if your contribution made a significant impact. What if you could make your giving reach more people this year? 

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Here are five tips to maximize your giving, just in time for the holidays. 

1. Find matching opportunities. Many charities have annual fundraising campaigns with mega donors who match contributions — sometimes as much as 3:1 — received during specified time frames. Check to see if your favorite causes have similar opportunities that could double or even triple your impact, and help the organizations reach their goals. Employers often offer matching programs, too, which can make a big difference to nonprofits. You can even start a program in which you supply the funds for a future matching challenge.
   
2. Make it a family affair. The holidays offer a rare opportunity to get the whole family together, and it’s the perfect time to get your kids and grandkids involved in giving. One idea is to create a “giving budget” to donate to charity. Each child then suggests a cause to help everyone decide where and how to distribute the “budget.” Actual dollars can then be given for the holidays — and even matched by grown-ups; the possibilities are limitless. Looking for more family-friendly giving ideas?  Foundation Source’s The Secret to Joyful Giving guide can help. 

3. Formalize your giving. If you don’t have a charitable vehicle but have been giving consistently and expect to give more in the future, several options are available to ensure your gifts are more organized, strategic and tax efficient. You can diversify and expand your giving with vehicles like a private foundation or a donor-advised fund that will earmark assets for charitable purposes and potentially provide meaningful tax benefits. Private foundations offer flexibility, control and other unique advantages that support creative and entrepreneurial philanthropy. Donor-advised funds provide advantages like anonymity and higher tax deductions. You can also incorporate your philanthropic objectives into your will or estate plan and explore planned giving and trusts.
   
4. Don’t forget Uncle Sam. Coordinating your charitable contributions with your tax strategy, estate planning and investment management could result in better outcomes — across all disciplines — and ensure that you get beneficial tax deductions, which in turn allows you to give more. With charitable vehicles like private foundations and donor-advised funds, you can maximize your tax savings and may be able to claim a same-year tax deduction.

5. Know your minimums. If you have a charitable vehicle with a minimum distribution requirement, make sure you know what it is and how much you have left to disburse so your assets are used for charitable purposes and not penalties. For example, private foundations are required to annually distribute at least 5% of the previous year’s average net assets. Qualifying distributions from the foundation include grants to public charities, administrative expenses and certain costs related to carrying out the foundation’s charitable purpose, such as a building, computers, and office furniture. 

Hannah Shaw Grove has spent three decades studying and working with high-net-worth families, family offices and their closest advisors on achieving their wealth management priorities. She is the chief marketing officer at Foundation Source, the nation’s largest provider of support services to private foundations. The firm works in partnership with financial and legal advisors as well as directly with individuals and families.

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