You are likely aware that many families in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs, a natural disaster, or economic factors, IECF is committed to helping you structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in our region.
Here are a few examples of how our team can help:
Real-time identification of needs. The team at IECF has its finger on the pulse of which organizations are helping families in crisis. As federal employees and contractors grapple with missing income, and federal benefits become uncertain for families in need, charities in our community can be stretched thin attempting to meet the rising demand for food, rent, and utility assistance. IECF knows where dollars are most needed and how those dollars translate into immediate impact.
Offering fast and flexible charitable solutions. If you have already established a donor-advised fund at IECF, or if you are considering doing so, you can use it to provide support to charities on the front lines of emergency assistance in our community. IECF makes it fast and easy for grants to flow out of donor-advised funds to qualified and vetted organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
Leverage important timing. The urgency of community needs in late 2025 coincides with an important window of opportunity for people who itemize their income tax deductions. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), limits on charitable deductions will tighten beginning in 2026. That means it may be advantageous to certain donors to “front-load” or “bunch” contributions—such as by giving more this year through establishing or adding to a donor-advised fund—to maximize both tax benefits and impact.
Plan for the future. Unfortunately, community crises are not unusual. IECF works with you and other donors and fund holders to strengthen our community’s ability to respond to urgent needs, regardless of when and why they occur. For this reason, many donors not only give to their favorite charities through donor-advised funds, but they also use their donor-advised funds to give to IECF’s dedicated response funds to ensure that dollars are in place to support people in need the moment the next crisis hits.
At IECF, we encourage you to reach out anytime. At this moment, though, when urgent needs and tax opportunities are occurring simultaneously, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. It is our honor to work with you and your fellow donors who care so deeply about our community.
Please reach out to our Charitable Giving Team anytime. Stay up to date on all the good work we’re doing through the power of philanthropy – sign up for our eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters, today.
The team at IECF is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you help your clients build their charitable plans and pursue their philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.
