Tax tips to keep you on your toes
Charitable deductions and the vehicles that generate them continue to land on the IRS’s radar.
Beyond the standard deduction
Tax deductibility of donations has changed with the times, and another piece of in-process legislation, if passed, would again reward charitable-minded tax filers who do not itemize, at least for tax years 2023 and 2024.
Turmoil in banking and technology: Optimism for charitable giving?
Your philanthropic clients may seek your advice on how the recent events in the banking world could impact their approach this year to charitable giving. We’re sharing three factors to keep in mind as you counsel charitable individuals and families.
Giving a business to charity: Stack the odds in your client’s favor
Despite recent reports of a 55% decline in charitable giving by the top 50 U.S. donors in 2022, high profile giving by donors associated with well-known businesses has maintained its place in the limelight, even amid recent market volatility and tenacious concerns about inflation and … More →
Hidden no more: Designated funds and field-of-interest funds
Most attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors are well-aware of donor-advised funds and the reasons behind their popularity. Especially when a donor-advised fund is established at YouthBridge Community Foundation, this vehicle is an excellent way for your clients to organize their charitable giving and get even more connected to the causes they care about.
Disaster giving: Perspectives for your clients
Both the recent one-year anniversary of the start of the Ukraine conflict and the earthquake that has devastated Turkey and Syria are causing more and more people to explore ways they can help. In an era of abundant giving methods and (sadly) potential fraud, YouthBridge Community Foundation is a source of reliability and expediency to help your clients act on their charitable instincts.
In case you missed it: Three tax tips worth smiling about
Nonprofits and other exempt entities are often left out of discussions when new tax incentives are proposed in Congress, primarily (and logically) because these organizations don’t pay tax. Fortunately, nonprofits are not left out of a recently enhanced tax provision known as the 179D deduction, which is intended to encourage incorporating energy efficiency measures into new or renovated buildings.
Valuable conversations: Why it’s smart to talk with your clients about charitable giving
January is a good time to start helping your clients plan for their annual giving. With the year-end flurry of donations still fresh in many clients’ minds, you may discover that clients will welcome your suggestion to make 2023 the year to get organized early, particularly as economic headwinds make planning especially important.
It just keeps getting better: Why charitable gift annuities are having a moment
Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) are becoming more attractive to philanthropists, making this planned giving vehicle a good fit for your clients who like the idea of an up-front tax deduction, a steady lifetime income stream, and a remainder gift to charity.
Celebrating the new Legacy IRA and a boost for QCDs
Congress passed the much-anticipated, $1.65 trillion-dollar omnibus spending bill known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (“CAA”) on December 23, 2022, followed by President Biden signing the Act into law on December 29, 2022. At more than 4,000 pages, the Act includes a wide range of provisions that impact multiple sectors.
Five of 2022’s most-asked questions about Qualified Charitable Distributions
Qualified Charitable Distributions, or “QCDs,” are becoming a very popular financial and charitable planning tool. At the same time, QCDs are growing as the source of more and more confusion.
So long, 2022: Important charitable tax planning reminders as the year winds down
Now is the time to share important reminders with your clients about year-end gifts. Time is indeed of the essence!
How NFTs are connecting makers, investors and donors with causes they love
As if advisors didn’t have enough financial acronyms to explain to their clients—DAF, RMD, IPO and ETF come to mind—along comes NFT to stir the multi-letter madness further. Even under the shadow of recent turmoil in the cryptocurrency marketplace, “non-fungible tokens,” or “NFTs,” are still creating quite a buzz.
Strong year-end giving in a bear market: Donor-advised funds come in handy
Giving appreciated stock to charitable organizations is certainly a highly-effective tax strategy. During years when highly-appreciated stock is in short supply, however, implementing this strategy may be easier said than done.
It’s a big deal: Answering clients’ questions about GivingTuesday
Among the many client questions you and other attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors can be prepared to answer as year-end approaches is, “What is Giving Tuesday? And why the hashtag that often precedes it in print or online?”
Adopt a “donor beware” attitude when clients make non-marketable gifts
Market declines and inflation have made 2022 a more challenging year for some clients to fulfill their traditional giving objectives or early-year gifting intentions. With annual inflation hovering at 8% (and no relief in sight) and liquidity perhaps less than ideal, cash may be hard … More →
Counseling your clients about nonprofits: The good, the bad, and the big leaps
The nonprofit sector accounts for more than 12 million jobs in the United States, and job growth in the nonprofit sector in recent years has outpaced job growth in the private sector. As an advisor, you are more likely than ever to represent clients who hold executive positions at nonprofits, serve in key roles on nonprofit boards of directors, or do business with nonprofit organizations.
Disaster philanthropy: Your clients and the important role of individual philanthropy
Sadly, your philanthropic clients have likely grown accustomed to making charitable donations to support disaster relief. Individual donations provide critical resources to help communities recover from the many disasters–weather, fire, humanitarian, disease, war–that occur each year.
Hanging in there: Charitable giving in a challenging economy
Three messages worth sharing with your philanthropic clients as bear market conditions hang on into the fourth quarter.
The “i’s” have it: Two key topics for client meetings
Inflation, interest rates, income tax, and the IRS are ever-present topics during discussions with your clients. Right now, there’s a lot to talk about, especially related to charitable giving. Let’s look at two examples of hot topics that may take a front seat in your client conversations this fall as you are helping your clients consider their options for structuring charitable giving and philanthropic legacies in the current economic environment.