For many people, the weeks leading up to tax deadlines tend to bring charitable giving into sharper focus. You may have finalized contributions, gathered documentation, or had conversations with your CPA about how your philanthropy fits into your overall financial plan.
After the deadline has passed, it’s tempting to move on and not revisit these decisions until later in the year. But the weeks immediately following filing your tax return are actually one of the best times to take a step back and reflect—while the details are still fresh.
Here are common regrets and how the community foundation can help for the 2026 tax year and beyond.
1. Giving cash instead of appreciated assets
Many donors regret using cash or credit cards to make large donations instead of gifting appreciated assets (such as stocks, mutual funds, or real estate) held for more than one year.
The regret: Selling assets to donate the cash results in paying capital gains tax on the profit.
The better move: By donating the assets directly to your fund at the community foundation or to another qualified charity, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and deduct the full fair market value if you itemize.
2. Missing out on “bunching” to surpass the standard deduction
The standard deduction was increased under the 2017 changes to the tax laws and has stayed high ever since. This can cause missed opportunities for charitable deductions.
The regret: Spreading donations evenly across the years and not exceeding the standard deduction threshold.
The better move: "Bunching" multiple years of donations into a single tax year by using a donor-advised fund at the community foundation to exceed the standard deduction and claim a tax deduction for that year. Then, you recommend distributions in future years to the charities you care about.
3. Overlooking IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
The regret: Missing the opportunity to give directly from an IRA after age 70½, which could have satisfied required minimum distributions (RMDs) without increasing your taxable income.
The better move: Use a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to donate directly from your IRA to a qualified charity, reducing taxable income while supporting causes you care about. You can direct your QCD to an endowment at the community foundation—helping create a permanent source of support for the community for generations to come.
