By Jeff Newburn, Certified Financial Planner® and Treasurer of THRIVEtoday

THRIVEtoday is a non-profit ministry, and as such we rely heavily on the generous donations of others, especially those who have been blessed by our ministry.  Might God be putting this on your heart?This time of year, many of us consider year-end giving.  As you pray about this, here are some things you may want to consider.

Cash Donations

The economic consequences of COVID-19 have been very different for different people.  For some, they have lost their jobs or their pay has been cut, and are suffering greatly.  However, for others who are blessed with being able to keep their income the same, their finances have actually improved.  We are traveling less, vacationing less, eating out less.  Many people are observing that their savings have gone up in this season.  If this is the case with you, might God lead you to share some of your blessings with THRIVEtoday?

Giving Appreciated Stock

In spite of many challenges with the economy, the stock market has not only fully recovered from the bear market this spring, but has actually gone on to set new records this fall.  Some people own appreciated stock.  If you sell appreciated stock and give the proceeds to THRIVEtoday, you have to pay taxes on the gain.  However, if you donate the appreciated stock, you do not have to pay taxes on the gain, but you can still deduce the full market value.

Giving Directly from Your IRA

If you are 70 ½ or more, you are eligible to donate to a charity directly from your taxable retirement account through what is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution.  With the recent tax changes, the standard deduction for a married couple over 65 in 2020 is $26,100.  Many people who previously had itemized  and deducted their charitable contributions are now taking the standard deduction.  If you meet the age criteria above, then you don’t have to pay any taxes on the disbursement from your retirement account when it is sent to charity.  You may contact the custodian of your retirement account as ask them how you might this is.

Inheritance

Did you receive an inheritance this year?  Some people have given part of their inheritance to THRIVEtoday in honor of their loved one.  If you have an interest in exploring options of how you might target a donation to have a significant impact on our organization, please contact us.

Bunched Giving

Finally, some people are using a technique called bunched giving.  Here is how it works: If you have some savings, a windfall or appreciated stock, you can donate a large amount to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).  You can deduct up to 60% of your Adjusted Gross Income in a single year in charitable contributions.  With a donor-advised fund, the donor gives the money to the DAF and receives a tax deduction in that year, and then can advise the fund which charities to give the money to.  They may take a large deduction against their taxable income in one year, then give out of the DAF for two to four years and take the standard deduction.  This may offer significant tax savings.

If you would like to learn more about these ideas or others, please contact me at jeff@thrivetoday.org.  I would be happy to chat with you.