Holiday Giving Guide: Stock Donations, DAFs, and Other Smart Ways to Give

Beyond Cash: Smart Ways to Give This Holiday Season

When most people think about charitable giving, they imagine writing a check or entering a card number. Donors may also consider securities, donor-advised funds, IRA distributions, workplace programs, beneficiary designations, or other assets.

This guide explains the questions to ask before using one of those methods. It does not promise a deduction, a particular tax result, or acceptance of an asset.

This article is general educational information, not tax, legal, investment, or financial advice. Rules and provider requirements change. Consult qualified professionals and confirm the Foundation's current acceptance process before acting.

Stock and Securities Donations

Donating an eligible appreciated security directly can produce a different result than selling it and donating the proceeds. The tax treatment depends on the type of asset, holding period, valuation rules, deduction limitations, and the donor's circumstances.

Before initiating a transfer:

Ask the Foundation whether it can accept the specific asset.
Obtain the current receiving instructions.
Ask the brokerage what forms and lead time it requires.
Confirm how the gift will be identified so the Foundation can acknowledge it.
Ask an adviser about valuation, substantiation, and reporting.

Do not send an unidentified security or assume that every stock, fund, bond, privately held interest, or restricted asset can be accepted. Start with Stock and Securities.

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

A donor-advised fund is administered by a sponsoring organization. A donor contributes assets to the sponsor and may later recommend grants, subject to the sponsor's control, policies, due diligence, and legal obligations.

Important distinctions:

A contribution to the sponsoring organization is separate from a later recommendation to support the Foundation.
The sponsoring organization decides whether and when a grant is approved.
Anonymous recognition, succession, investment options, fees, minimums, and eligible recipients vary by sponsor.
The Foundation does not control the sponsor's processing time or tax documentation.

Use the sponsor's portal to search for the Foundation and confirm the exact legal entity before recommending a grant. Review Donor-Advised Funds.

IRA Charitable Rollover (QCDs)

Some eligible IRA owners may be able to request a qualified charitable distribution directly from an IRA custodian to an eligible charity. The donor's age, account, annual limit, required-minimum-distribution treatment, recipient eligibility, and reporting obligations must be confirmed under current law.

Ask the custodian to explain:

Whether the donor and account are eligible.
How the payment must be issued.
What identifying information the Foundation will receive.
What processing time applies.
What records the custodian and donor must retain.

The Foundation can provide organizational information and acknowledge an identified gift. It cannot determine a donor's eligibility or tax treatment. Review IRA Charitable Gifts.

Employer Matching Programs

Some employers match eligible charitable gifts or make grants based on verified volunteer service. The employer or its platform controls eligibility, match ratios, minimums, maximums, deadlines, and documentation.

How to check:

Contact your HR or benefits department
Review your employee benefits portal
Confirm that the Foundation is currently eligible in the employer's system
Submit the required receipt or verification request
Track the request separately from the original contribution

Review Employer Matching and Workplace Giving.

Planned Giving: Creating a Legacy

People may include a charitable organization in a will, trust, beneficiary designation, retirement plan, life-insurance arrangement, or other estate document. The correct structure and wording depend on the donor's jurisdiction, family plan, assets, and professional advice.

Before naming the Foundation:

Confirm its current legal name and organizational information.
Decide whether the gift is unrestricted or connected to a charitable purpose.
Ask an attorney whether restrictions are workable and durable.
Review beneficiary forms and estate documents with the appropriate professionals.
Tell the Foundation only if and when the donor wants the organization to know.

The Foundation can help you begin a confidential conversation about a future gift. Review Planned and Legacy Giving.

Gifts of Real Estate

Real estate gifts can involve title, debt, environmental conditions, carrying costs, appraisal, marketability, restrictions, and significant legal and tax obligations. The Foundation has not published a standing commitment to accept real estate.

Do not transfer a deed or incur appraisal costs on the assumption that a property will be accepted. First submit the property type, location, ownership, debt, restrictions, intended timing, and available documentation through the Contact page. Any potential gift requires Foundation review and independent professional advice.

Corporate and Business Giving

Companies can consider direct grants, matching gifts, workplace campaigns, employee volunteering, sponsorship proposals, or in-kind support. Tax treatment varies by entity, expense, benefit received, asset type, and jurisdiction.

The Foundation must confirm that a proposed product, service, inventory item, sponsorship, or partnership fits a documented charitable need. Review Corporate Partners before proposing a program.

How to Get Started

Choose the charitable purpose you want to support.
Review the Foundation page for the relevant giving method.
Confirm acceptance before transferring a noncash asset.
Obtain advice from the professionals responsible for your tax, legal, investment, or estate plan.
Keep the provider's records and the Foundation's acknowledgment.

This Holiday Season

The best giving method is the one that fits the donor's intent, financial plan, provider requirements, and the Foundation's confirmed ability to use the gift responsibly.

Explore all giving options →