Corporate giving, what your CPA needs to know, and building your charitable plan
Greetings from [ABC Charity]!
It’s tax time, and we know many of you are gathering information for your CPA. Despite the somewhat stressful nature of tax season, we love hearing from so many donors as you are reflecting on your giving last year and making plans to support [ABC Charity] in 2026. We’re happy to share insights that may help your conversation with your tax advisors and also serve as general guidance as you look ahead to the coming months.
–If you’re a business owner or executive who supports [ABC Charity], recent changes to the tax law may affect how your company structures charitable gifts. We are happy to highlight a few planning ideas to discuss with your CPA or tax advisor, ensuring your business’s generosity remains both impactful and well-structured in the years ahead.
–Women are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping charitable giving within families and communities. Learn how women’s philanthropy is evolving—including discovering a few ideas for engaging multiple generations in supporting [ABC Charity]’s mission.
–This tax season looks a little different than usual thanks to several new charitable giving rules that took effect in 2026. We are happy to provide four key reminders to discuss with your CPA to ensure your charitable plans continue to align with both your financial goals and your support for [ABC Charity].
Thank you for all you do to keep our mission strong! We appreciate your support!
–Your friends at [ABC Charity]
THIS MONTH’S
FEATURED ARTICLES
Corporate giving in a changing tax landscape: Tips for business owners and executives
Many people who support [ABC Charity] are also business leaders—owners, executives, and decision-makers who think carefully about how both their personal and corporate resources can support [ABC Charity] and other causes that matter to our community’s quality of life.
On January 1, 2026, the tax rules for corporate charitable deductions changed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The new law introduced a 1% taxable income “floor” that corporations must exceed before any charitable contributions become deductible. This means that routine or modest corporate gifts may not generate a tax benefit if total contributions do not exceed the 1% threshold. At the same time, the pre-existing 10% “cap” on corporate charitable deductions remains in place, so companies will need to navigate both limitations together, complicating their giving strategies.
If you are a business leader impacted by these changes, now is the time to check in with your tax advisors. The good news is that charitable giving can remain an effective part of a company’s broader financial and community engagement strategy. The key is simply to stay informed and proactive.
Here are three points to keep in mind as you plan your company’s support of [ABC Charity] and other causes.
Consider how your company structures its support
If your business regularly supports [ABC Charity], it may be helpful to talk with your tax advisors about the structure of those contributions.
In some cases, companies make straightforward charitable donations that qualify for the corporate charitable deduction. In other situations—such as event sponsorships or marketing partnerships—payments may be structured differently depending on the business benefits involved.
Your advisors can help determine the most appropriate approach based on your company’s goals and the applicable tax rules.
Consider “bunching” strategies
Timing has become even more important under the new laws. Your tax advisor may recommend that your company consider accelerating or grouping charitable gifts into particular years to maximize deductions. This strategy—sometimes called “bunching” contributions—can help ensure that charitable gifts continue to produce meaningful tax benefits even with the new 1% floor.
For business owners who give both personally and through their companies, coordinating those strategies can be especially important.
Explore sponsorships and strategic partnerships
Another area worth discussing with your advisors is the role of long-term corporate sponsorships or marketing partnerships with charitable organizations.
Many companies find that supporting community organizations can serve multiple goals at once—strengthening community impact while also raising visibility for the business. Depending on how these arrangements are structured, they may be treated differently for tax purposes than traditional charitable gifts.
Your tax advisor can help determine what approach best aligns with your company’s financial and philanthropic priorities.
Tax rules will always evolve. What does not change is the importance of corporate support for the work of [ABC Charity] and other organizations that help our community stay strong. At [ABC Charity], we are deeply grateful for the businesses and business leaders who continue to invest in the work we do together. As you plan for the years ahead, we encourage you to stay in conversation with your tax and financial advisors to ensure your charitable support is structured in the most effective way possible.
And as always, thank you for being part of the community that makes this work possible.
Women and giving: Opportunities for multi-generational impact
March is Women’s History Month, and it’s a great time to check in on the increasing role of women in philanthropy. At [ABC Charity], we are honored to work with women across multiple generations, such as:
–A retired executive supporting [ABC Charity]’s mission with gifts from an IRA
–A business leader who is building a culture of giving in the workplace and including [ABC Charity] in a long-term strategy
–A young adult who is learning about community impact by attending [ABC Charity] events with her parents
And many, many more!
Women’s growing control over wealth is fueling transformative potential to reshape philanthropy. According to research-based analysis published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, over the next decade, trillions of dollars will transfer to women through inheritance, earnings, and outliving male partners in heterosexual couples.
What’s more, research from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, including Women Give 2024: 20 Years of Gender & Giving Trends, supports what many are seeing firsthand: women are increasingly leading charitable decisions within their families. Sometimes this shift happens gradually—a daughter becomes more involved in conversations about family giving, or a spouse who once deferred decisions begins shaping philanthropic priorities more directly. In other cases, the transition is sudden and deeply personal, such as after the death of a spouse or parent, when a woman assumes sole responsibility for stewarding both financial assets and charitable intent.
You’re likely familiar with high-profile examples such as MacKenzie Scott and Melinda Gates. But the trend is much more widespread than just a few big names. Indeed, women often give more generously, more broadly, and more collaboratively than men. Notably, the ways women approach philanthropy differ significantly from men’s, especially with respect to motivations such as empathy, personal priorities, and firsthand involvement.
As women step more fully into philanthropic leadership, thoughtful planning can help ensure that their giving remains impactful and sustainable. Here are three ways [ABC Charity] often partners with women and families to implement philanthropic intentions:
Getting the whole family involved
Many women choose to involve children and grandchildren in their charitable giving decisions as an opportunity to share values and learn together about community needs and how [ABC Charity] plays a role in addressing them. At [ABC Charity], we encourage you to invite other family members to attend our events and learn about our work.
Focusing on the long term
For donors who intend to support [ABC Charity] because of the impact it can make over several years or even decades, working with a tax advisor on a charitable giving plan is essential. For example, donors age 70 ½ or older can support [ABC Charity] through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA. Furthermore, naming [ABC Charity] as an IRA beneficiary can extend support well beyond the donor’s lifetime.
Strengthening specific aspects of [ABC Charity]’s mission
Some women dedicate years of service to [ABC Charity], and we are so grateful! In these cases, we often work side by side with the donor to plan current and future charitable gifts to meet not only immediate needs such as staffing or infrastructure, but also dependable annual support for generations to come.
Women’s philanthropy continues to shape our community—and [ABC Charity] itself—in profound and positive ways. Aligning generosity with long-term purpose is powerful. [ABC Charity] is here for women and here for everyone. Thank you for your support!
Why 2026 is different: Four tax-time reminders
It’s tax season, which means it’s a terrific time to ensure that your charitable giving goals are on track. At [ABC Charity], we enjoy tax time conversations about how our mission fits into your overall charitable giving plan. Even if a professional prepares your income tax return, it’s useful to quickly review a few basic rules about charitable planning, especially in light of key tax law changes effective on January 1, 2026.
Here are four items to discuss with (and forward to!) your CPA.
New rules for itemizing charitable deductions
As in prior years, charitable contributions are deductible only if you itemize your deductions. If your total itemized deductions do not exceed the standard deduction, your charitable gifts will not generate an additional tax benefit (with one exception discussed below).
What’s new for 2026 is a threshold for itemizers: charitable deductions are allowed only to the extent they exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income. In practical terms, this functions like a deductible. If your AGI is $200,000, for example, the first $1,000 of charitable contributions will not be deductible. Only amounts above that level are eligible, subject to existing percentage-of-income limits. For some people, this change may make it more appealing to “bundle” or “bunch” contributions into a single year so that total giving comfortably exceeds both the standard deduction and the new AGI floor.
In addition, beginning in 2026, the value of itemized charitable deductions is capped at a 35% rate. So, even if you are in the 37% federal bracket, your charitable deduction will not offset income at your full marginal rate. While philanthropy is rarely motivated solely by taxes, this adjustment may influence the timing, structure, or asset selection for major gifts. Coordinating early with your tax advisors can help you evaluate the most efficient approach.
Finally, in a bit of good news, the long-standing rule allowing cash gifts to [ABC Charity] and other qualified public charities to be deducted up to 60% of AGI has been made permanent (after clearing the new 0.5% AGI floor). Gifts of appreciated assets—such as stock or real estate—are generally deductible up to 30% of AGI.
New deduction for non-itemizers
Beginning in 2026, even if you do not itemize deductions on your tax return, you may claim an above-the-line charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers or up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, for cash gifts to qualifying charities, including [ABC Charity]. Because this deduction reduces income before AGI is calculated, it can provide a meaningful benefit. It does not apply to non-cash gifts, and certain types of funds—such as donor-advised funds—are not eligible for this particular deduction. Even so, this new rule creates planning opportunities for many households that previously saw no tax impact from their annual giving. Keep this in mind for young adult children who do not yet itemize and who would like to start getting involved in charitable giving.
Document your charitable deductions
Not surprisingly, documentation rules remain in place. Gifts over $250 require a written acknowledgment from the charity, which [ABC Charity] provides. Non-cash gifts valued at $500 or more require IRS Form 8283, and qualified appraisals are required for donations over $5,000, such as closely held stock or real estate.
If you are age 70 ½ or older, consider gifts from your IRAs
Qualified Charitable Distributions may be even more valuable under the new tax rules. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can use a QCD to direct funds from your IRA to qualified charities, such as [ABC Charity]. The 2026 annual limit is $111,000 per taxpayer, allowing you to transfer significant amounts to charity without including the distribution in taxable income. QCDs can also satisfy required minimum distributions if you’ve reached the age where those apply. Importantly, QCDs are not affected by the new itemized deduction floor or deduction caps, making them an especially efficient strategy for many retirees.
The charitable tax rules have always required thoughtful planning. In 2026, that planning is simply more nuanced. We encourage you to forward this summary to your CPA or bring it to your next meeting. We are so honored that [ABC Charity] is included in your philanthropic goals!
This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial advice. We encourage donors to consult their professional advisors when considering charitable gifts.