End-of-Year Giving Opportunities
Year-end donations help UNICEF protect the rights of children globally — and may offer tax benefits for donors.
As the year comes to a close, many individuals, groups and corporations consider charitable giving. Year-end giving to UNICEF supports lifesaving programs, from emergency relief to education and health care, while potentially offering end-of-year tax benefits for the donor.
Why year-end giving matters
The holiday season and the wrapping up of another year are a time of reflection for many, inspiring generosity and giving back.
Year-end giving is crucial for UNICEF and the children around the world who benefit from its work. UNICEF, like many nonprofit organizations, receives a significant portion of its annual donations during the last few months of the year. These funds are critical to help UNICEF keep delivering lifesaving aid to children in emergencies and to sustain essential long-term services such as health care, education, access to safe water and nutrition support.
For donors, year-end giving can result in tax deductions for donations made before Dec. 31, offering a financial incentive on top of the emotional satisfaction of supporting a great cause and helping children in need.
Many employers match employee donations, especially at year-end, allowing a single gift to have double the impact.
Many employers match employee donations, especially at year-end, allowing a single gift to have double the impact.
UNICEF USA, a UNICEF National Committee that works to secure crucial financial support and government funding for UNICEF — while also educating the American public and rallying their support for children — campaigns for year-end donations to benefit UNICEF's programs that help keep children healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Tax benefits of year-end giving
When it comes time to file taxes, year-end charitable donations could reduce taxable income for donors, as long as itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction threshold. Certain gifts, like stocks, securities and planned giving, can offer additional financial advantages for donors.
UNICEF USA recommends consulting a financial advisor for specific guidance on maximizing the tax benefits of year-end giving.
Ways to give and maximize impact for children
One-time donations
A single contribution can make a huge difference in children’s lives. One-time donations — like those contributed at year-end — are unrestricted, meaning they are not tied to a specific country or program. This allows UNICEF to leverage its many decades of experience and established partnerships and processes to direct resources whenever and wherever they are needed most.
Unrestricted funds are the most impactful type of donation for UNICEF.
Monthly giving
With a monthly gift, donors provide consistent, reliable financial support for programs that save and protect children year-round. From essential vaccines and lifesaving treatment for severe acute malnutrition to innovative solutions for water scarcity and getting children back in classrooms, monthly gifts help UNICEF maintain critical ongoing support so that children not only survive, but thrive.
Planned and non-cash gifts
In addition to one-time donations and monthly giving, other options for donating to UNICEF include:
- donating stocks or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA
- leveraging a donor-advised fund (DAF), a tax-efficient way to manage charitable donations
- legacy giving through charitable gift annuities or Plan My Legacy programs
These options can provide additional tax advantages while ensuring long-term impact.
Related: 2025 Tax Rules and Tips for Easier, Cost-Effective Charitable Giving
Your end-of-year giving in action
End-of-year donations to UNICEF are leveraged to help children around the world who need it most. Here are just some of the important interventions for children that year-end donations could help support:
- Emergency response — meeting urgent needs of children living through conflicts and other crises
- Education — creating safe spaces for children to learn, providing learning materials and facilitating teacher training programs
- Health — improving access to essential health services, especially in remote and other hard-to-reach areas
- Child protection — safeguarding children from violence, exploitation and abuse
Make a difference today
Each end-of-year gift, big or small, can make a difference for children in need. UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary contributions from public and private sector donors to fund its work around the world — work that creates lasting, measurable impact.
