Between family gatherings, holiday traditions, and the demands of everyday life, the final months of the year have a way of filling up quickly.
It's also a time when many of us think about giving back. A little planning now can help ensure our charitable contributions reflect what matters most to us.
Whether you're making a charitable contribution, supporting a holiday drive, or volunteering with family and friends, there are plenty of ways to make a difference in your community. Here are a few things worth considering as you plan your year-end giving.
Artwork by Anna Mielniczuk
Six ways to approach your year-end giving
1. Start before the rush
Take a little time in early November to establish your charitable giving budget and identify the organizations you'd like to support. Having a plan in place makes it easier to respond thoughtfully to the many appeals that arrive during the holiday season.
2. Know what matters most to you
Before deciding where to give, consider the causes you care about and the impact you'd like your contributions to have. Your priorities can serve as a useful guide when evaluating the many worthwhile organizations seeking support.
3. Get to know the organizations you support
Take time to learn about an organization's mission, leadership, programs, and financial health. Annual reports, publicly available Form 990 filings, and independent evaluations can provide useful insight into its work. Look for organizations that communicate clearly about their goals, accomplishments, and challenges.
4. Don't let deadlines drive your decisions
Year-end fundraising deadlines and matching gift opportunities can provide good reasons to give, but they shouldn't replace thoughtful consideration. If an appeal catches your attention, take a moment to learn about the organization, verify any matching gift terms, and make sure its work aligns with your priorities.
5. Give yourself time to complete your gifts
Online donations, checks, stock transfers, and donor-advised fund grants don't all work on the same timeline. If you're planning to give before year-end, check the relevant deadlines and leave yourself plenty of time. Keep your donation receipts and acknowledgment letters for tax purposes.
6. Consider a longer-term commitment
A year-end contribution doesn't have to be a one-time gift. If you've found an organization whose mission and work resonate with you, consider whether ongoing support might be appropriate. Recurring donations, multi-year commitments, and opportunities to become more involved can help build lasting relationships while providing nonprofits with more predictable resources.
Why year-end giving matters
For nonprofit organizations, the final months of the year are especially important. Many rely on year-end contributions to meet annual fundraising goals and make decisions about the programs and services they'll be able to provide in the coming year.
According to the Blackbaud Institute, more than 36% of charitable revenue in 2025 was received during the fourth quarter, with December alone accounting for approximately 18% of annual giving. This concentration of contributions reflects both the December 31 tax-year deadline for many charitable gifts and the longstanding tradition of giving during the holiday season.
For many nonprofits, these final weeks of fundraising have a direct influence on the budgets, staffing, and programs they can support in the coming year.
The gap is widening
While charitable giving continues to grow in some areas, that growth isn't being experienced equally across the nonprofit sector. According to Blackbaud Institute's 2025 data, giving to large nonprofits increased approximately 11.7%, while smaller organizations experienced a decline of roughly 6.4%. Larger gifts are growing, but smaller contributions are becoming less common.
For smaller, community-based nonprofits, these trends can be especially challenging. Many depend on individual contributions to maintain their programs and have limited financial reserves to help them navigate unexpected expenses or fluctuations in funding. Without that financial cushion, even a temporary shortfall can affect staffing, services, and the communities that depend on them.
These challenges come at a time when demand for nonprofit services continues to increase. In a 2026 survey of 380 nonprofit leaders conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy, 73% reported rising demand for services, 66% expressed concern about their organization's financial stability, and 30% had reduced staff.
For donors, understanding these pressures is an important part of making informed giving decisions. Supporting organizations with strong community relationships and demonstrated impact can help sustain essential services, particularly when those organizations may not have the visibility or fundraising resources of larger institutions.
Flexible Giving
One of the most meaningful ways donors can support a nonprofit is by providing funding that allows the organization to determine where resources are needed most. Unrestricted contributions give nonprofit leaders the flexibility to sustain essential operations, respond to emerging needs, and invest in the long-term health of their organizations.
Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy reinforces the value of this approach. In its three-year study of MacKenzie Scott's unrestricted gifts, nearly 90% of nonprofit leaders reported that the funding strengthened their organization's long-term financial sustainability, while 93% said it improved their ability to achieve their mission.
While the scale of these gifts is exceptional, the underlying principle is relevant to donors at many giving levels. When you have confidence in an organization's leadership and effectiveness, providing flexible support can be an especially valuable way to contribute to its success.
The timing of a contribution can also matter. Year-end gifts help organizations assess their financial position and make informed decisions about the programs, staffing, and resources they'll need in the coming year.
Tax Considerations
Changes to federal tax law under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect in 2026, introducing several important considerations for charitable giving. Whether you're making a modest contribution or planning a more substantial gift, understanding these changes can help you make informed decisions before year-end.
Key changes include:
New deduction for non-itemizers: Taxpayers who take the standard deduction may now deduct up to $1,000 in qualifying cash contributions, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Contributions to donor-advised funds and certain other organizations are excluded.
New limitations for itemizers: Charitable deductions are generally available only for qualifying contributions exceeding 0.5% of adjusted gross income. Taxpayers in the highest federal income tax bracket also face a new limitation on the value of their deductions.
Beyond these legislative changes, strategies such as donating appreciated securities, combining multiple years of charitable contributions, or making qualified charitable distributions from an IRA may offer advantages depending on your circumstances and eligibility.
If you're considering a significant year-end contribution, we encourage you to speak with your tax or financial adviser to understand how these changes may affect your giving plans.
How Capital Good Can Help
Philanthropy is personal. The causes we support often reflect our experiences, relationships, and hopes for the communities around us. At Capital Good, we help individuals and families bring greater clarity and intention to their giving, connecting their interests with organizations and opportunities that align with what matters most to them.
Whether you're refining your year-end giving plans or exploring what a more intentional approach to philanthropy might look like, we'd love to be part of the conversation.
Let's connect before the year comes to a close.
