Women have the power to make a significant impact through charitable giving. By carefully planning and researching your donations, you can ensure that your money is being used effectively to support the causes you care about most while using tax savings to stretch you charitable dollars even further. 

When planning charitable giving, the first step is to identify your priorities. What causes are you most passionate about? Are there any specific organizations or programs that you would like to support? Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your donations, you can start researching different organizations and programs that align with your priorities.

When researching organizations, it is important to look at their track record, transparency, and effectiveness. Another important consideration when planning charitable giving is to diversify your donations. This means spreading your money across various organizations and causes rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. This can help mitigate the risk of your donations not having the impact you hoped for and also allows you to support a broader range of causes.

Tax considerations of charitable giving

Charitable contributions come with many tax rules that can be difficult to navigate. To ensure you are making the most of your donations, it’s best to consult a professional who can help you understand how these rules apply to your situation. In general, if you choose to itemize your deductions on your tax return, you can deduct gifts made to eligible charities in the same year they were given.

A smart way to give charitably is donating long-term appreciated stocks or mutual funds instead of cash. This approach provides a double tax benefit. First, you can deduct the fair value of the stock as an itemized deduction. Second, you can avoid paying taxes on the realized gains that would have been incurred if you sold the appreciated shares. This is because the charitable organization will sell the shares, and the donor will not be taxed.

The key to successful charitable giving is researching and planning your donations carefully. By identifying your priorities and research organizations, you can ensure that your money is making the most significant impact possible. If you’re interested in charitable donations and the potential tax benefits, contact us today to learn more.