Year-End Giving Tips and Deadlines

November 29, 2021  

At the Community Foundation, we help you to be strategic and intentional in your charitable giving. We work to ensure that your donations make the greatest impact on the causes you care about while maximizing your tax advantages. Now is the perfect time to give. When you make a donation to the Community Foundation before or on December 31, you are making a significant impact in the community we live in. Here are 4 tips to consider in making a year-end gift.

1. Consider a gift of cash or securities

A gift of cash is a simple and easy way for you to make a gift. You will receive a charitable tax deduction that will provide you with savings on this year’s tax return.

Give Online Here! 

Gifts Made Via Check: 500 1^st St. Suite 2600 | Wausau, WI 54403
*Checks sent by US Postal Service mail can be earmarked as a 2021 contribution if postmarked by or on December 31.

A gift of your securities, including your stocks or bonds, is an easy way for you to make a gift. By making a gift of your appreciated securities, you can avoid paying capital gains tax that would otherwise be due if you sold these assets.

Please contact our Director of Finance at pam@cfoncw.org to receive instructions for making gifts of securities.

2. Bundle your Donations with a Donor Advised Fund

If you are planning for a charitable tax deduction this year but are undecided about which nonprofits to support, consider opening a Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation. You can claim a deduction for contributions to your fund now even though distributions from the fund might be made in future years.

Learn more about Donor Advised Funds here →

3. Use Your Qualified IRA Charitable Distribution

Age 70 ½? Charitable IRA Rollovers allow donors to avoid paying income taxes on their required minimum distribution while supporting their favorite causes in the community. These tax-free rollovers can benefit any public charity, although they can’t be donated to a Donor Advised Fund. You may contribute qualified charitable distributions to any of our non-Donor Advised Funds, or we can help you set up a new fund that fits your goals.

4. Let the Community Foundation do the work for you.

Working with the Community Foundation gives you access to our extensive knowledge of the local nonprofit community and the broad charitable needs of our region—so you can stay informed about the organizations you support and the effect your giving will have on the future of our community. We’re happy to discuss any options for accomplishing your charitable giving.

2021 Year-End Giving Deadlines

• Last day for 2021 grant recommendations from Donor Advised Funds: Wednesday, December 29
• New Donor Advised Funds can be established by Thursday, December 30
• Gifts sent to CFONCW must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 31
• Credit card gifts must be made before 12 midnight Friday, December 31
• Gifts of stocks must be received in CFONCW accounts by Friday, December 31

Community Foundation Holiday Schedule

Friday, December 24 – closed
Monday, December 27 – closed
Friday, December 31 – closed

All other days we will be available to serve you during regular business hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m.– Noon on Friday.