Giving Season: Ways to Make a Bigger Impact Before Year-End

As the year winds down, many people start thinking about how to give back — to support causes they care about, help family, or make a difference in their community.

Giving can be one of the most meaningful parts of a financial plan. It’s a chance to connect what you have with what matters most. And with a little foresight, your generosity can often go further — for both the recipient and you.

Here are a few ways to make the most of your giving this season.

1. Give with Intention, Not Impulse

The best charitable plans start with clarity. Before you write a check or click “donate,” take a step back to think about why you’re giving and what kind of impact you want to make.

That might mean focusing on one or two organizations that align with your values, instead of scattering small gifts across many. Or it might mean supporting a local ministry, school, or nonprofit here in the Phoenix area where you can see the difference your support makes.

Intentional giving isn’t about the dollar amount — it’s about alignment between your values and your resources.

2. Consider Appreciated Assets Instead of Cash

If you hold investments that have gone up in value — like stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds — donating them directly to charity can often be more tax-efficient than giving cash.

By donating appreciated assets, you can typically avoid capital gains taxes on the growth while still deducting the fair market value (if you itemize). The charity receives the full amount, and more of your resources go toward impact instead of taxes.

This strategy can be especially useful for retirees doing year-end charitable planning or rebalancing portfolios as part of their overall retirement strategy.

3. Use a Donor-Advised Fund for Flexibility

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) can be a great tool if you want to make a charitable gift before December 31 but need more time to decide which organizations to support.

You receive the deduction in the year you contribute, but you can grant the funds to charities later. Many families find this approach fits well with their values-based financial planning because it allows them togive strategically and involve their children or grandchildren in the process.

Donor-advised funds can also simplify recordkeeping and make it easier to support multiple charities through a single platform.

4. Remember Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

For retirees age 70½ and older, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can be one of the most tax-efficient giving strategies available.

A QCD allows you to donate up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. The distribution counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) but is excluded from taxable income.

This can be a powerful tool for those who want to reduce taxable income while supporting charitable causes they care about — particularly if they no longer itemize deductions.

5. Connect Your Giving to Your Purpose

The most meaningful generosity often comes from a sense of calling, not obligation. Over the years, I’ve seen clients light up when their giving aligns with their faith, values, and sense of stewardship.

That’s one reason I pursued the Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) designation — to help individuals and families integrate biblical stewardship principles into modern financial planning without losing sight of personal goals and responsibilities.

When giving is woven into your overall financial plan — whether through regular charitable gifts, legacy planning, or family discussions about generosity — it transforms from a year-end task into an ongoing expression of purpose.

Bringing It All Together

As you think about giving this year, remember that generosity and good planning can go hand in hand.

Whether you’re supporting a local nonprofit, setting up a donor-advised fund, or exploring charitable strategies within your retirement plan, the goal is to give with both heart and wisdom.

Generosity is most powerful when it’s intentional.‍

Schedule a short Discovery Call with Stillwater Financial Planning to explore how values-based, fee-only financial planning can help you align your giving with your greater purpose — this season and beyond.

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This is not an offer to buy or sell securities. No investment process is free of risk and there is no guarantee that the investment process described herein will be profitable. Investors may lose all of their investments. Past performance is not indicative of current or future performance and is not a guarantee.

Investment advice offered through IHT Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor.