2024 Tax Rules and Tips for Easier, Cost-Effective Charitable Giving
At a time when so many people need help, there are many benefits — tax and philanthropic — to giving back.
Even if you've just completed your 2024 taxes, you might not be thinking about taxes for next year yet. But now is the time to take stock if you plan to deduct donations on your 2025 tax return.
Do you make spontaneous charitable gifts throughout the year? Or do you hold off to take advantage of year-end matches? Do you set fixed multi-year charitable goals?
No matter how you choose to give, there are many worthy causes and people needing support. With some careful planning now, you can maximize the impact of your charitable giving for others and yourself.
Deciding which charities to support is the first step and no easy task. But if you care about making a better world for children, the choice is simple.
For nearly eight decades, UNICEF's global reach and holistic approach have helped save and improve more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. UNICEF addresses the root causes of issues children face using time-tested, innovative strategies for strengthening the systems they rely upon. UNICEF delivers vital services, including health care, education, water sanitation, nutrition and much more.
When you donate to UNICEF USA, the U.S. 501(c)(3) that supports UNICEF’s programs, you help make a lasting difference for children in 195 countries around the world. With an expert's advice and some careful planning your support for children goes further.
Charitable contributions may be deductible if certain requirements are met — annual standard deduction and charitable contribution limits among them. Equally important: ensuring that the charity you wish to support appears in the IRS' tax exempt organization search tool. You will find UNICEF USA on that list, along with other qualified organizations.
The IRS also offers an online tax assistant (ITA) tool that answers common questions about rules governing charitable contributions. The ITA is helpful as a starting point for understanding basic tax rules and requirements.
However, complex situations still require consultation with a tax professional or direct contact with the IRS. A financial advisor can also develop a tax-efficient strategy to maximize your charitable donations and impact.
How to make charitable giving work for you:
Of course, effective giving goes beyond knowing the rules. With guidance from an accountant and financial advisor, you may be able to optimize your charitable impact and tax benefits with these strategies:
- Bunch your donations
- Explore donor-advised funds (DAFs)
- Donate stocks and bonds
- Tap your IRA
- Evaluate overall impact of your support
- Seek professional advice
UNICEF USA's planned giving team can also provide assistance if you wish to explore making UNICEF USA part of your estate planning strategy.
Contact UNICEF USA planned giving by filling out this form, calling (866) 486-4233 or sending an email to LegacyGifts@unicefusa.org
For long-term planning, UNICEF USA offers a downloadable estate planning tool kit for:
- Setting family goals and creating a plan
- Lessening tax burdens
- Using trusts to support you, your family and loved ones.
- Keeping a digital record of important information with everything organized in one place
- Easily updating records
More on DAFs
DAFs are a flexible and tax-efficient way to make donations to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Think of a donor-advised fund as an investment account dedicated to charitable giving. You can contribute cash, stocks, bonds and other appreciated assets. Contributions typically qualify for a tax deduction in the year they’re made, but you can choose to allocate those donations over several years.
The sponsoring organization, which handles the investment and distribution details, simplifies the process for donors. Another benefit of DAFs: your contributions, which are invested, can grow tax-free.
Many financial institutions, including Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard, offer DAFs. In fact, current clients who already have DAF accounts with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable and others can make a designation directly from UNICEF USA's donor-advised fund page. Fees and minimums vary by institution, so clarify these upfront.
Learn more about supporting UNICEF USA via a donor-advised fund.
Support children's happiness through tax-deductible donations
Giving to UNICEF USA is the most effective way to make lasting change for children. If you have kids of your own, it's also a great way to nurture their future happiness and generosity. Research from Fidelity Charitable shows that 45 percent of individuals raised with strong giving traditions go on to donate $5,000 or more annually as adults. They also report being happier.
Every day, UNICEF works hard around the world — in some of the toughest places — to help protect and uplift children. By donating to UNICEF USA, you can be there every step of the way, helping too.
Help UNICEF create a more equitable world for every child. Please donate today.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
