Donor Knowledge Hub
Yes, you are a philanthropist!
“Philanthropist” is a big word that often conjures up images of the ultra-wealthy making big donations to charities, especially when people like Bill Gates have been in the headlines lately. But the...
Comparing two scenarios: Why the step-up in basis matters
As you’ve watched the news about potential tax reform, a principle known as the “step-up in basis” might have caught your attention. Over the years, from time to time, draft legislation has proposed...
QCDs: Soon there may be more to love
If you are 70 ½ and older, by now you’ve likely heard about a charitable giving tool called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”), allowing you to direct a distribution from your IRA to an...
Uncertain times: FAQs about charitable giving
Economic turbulence, inflation concerns, and a general sense of financial instability have made 2025 very challenging for a lot of people. As you consider how to support your favorite charities this...
Make a plan–and make your favorite charities part of it
At some point during your adult life, you’ve likely realized that it would be wise to put in place a will, trust, and powers of attorney, as well as undertake at least a basic level of financial...
Crisis giving: Proceed with caution, but do proceed!
It’s a natural human response to want to help in a crisis–even though it’s hard for many people to ask for help. Indeed, Stanford social psychologist Xuan Zhao notes that people generally...
Many happy returns: How to help your kids celebrate charitable giving
If you’ve ever considered wrapping charitable giving into a child’s birthday party, you are not alone! Lots of parents are encouraging their kids to have guests bring gifts to charity instead of...
Giving later and now: Make an impact even before your legacy gift
According to the 2023 Giving USA Report released in June 2024, charitable bequests, totalling nearly $43 billion, are up 4.8% over the previous year, keeping pace with inflation. This extraordinary...
“Thanks, but …”: The hidden cost of small gifts to your favorite charities
Your favorite charities are grateful for your support over the years. Whether you make your gifts outright or support charities using a donor-advised or other type of fund at IECF, every gift makes...
Just the facts: Five tax time reminders for charitable giving
Tax time is a great reason to review the basics! At IECF, our goal is to help make the tax aspects of your charitable giving as easy and effective as possible. If you’ve already established a...
