Safeguarding the Yuba: A Guide to Tax-Smart Giving that Makes a Difference
At the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), we’re dedicated to uniting and inspiring the community of the Yuba River watershed to protect and restore this natural treasure. It’s thanks to people like you that we continue to make strides in conservation, education, and community engagement.
For our supporters who want to learn more about making a difference for SYRCL and the Yuba watershed, we’re excited to introduce you to our Tax-Smart Giving Guide — a resource for thoughtful and impactful giving that goes beyond traditional cash donations (Though, we still deeply appreciate cash gifts). Additional details are located on SYRCL’s Ways to Give webpage.
Also, below we’ve shared some insights from Schwab Charitable about how the changes in the 2026 tax code may impact taxpayers’ timing and strategies for charitable giving.
Giving Stocks or Appreciated Assets
Donating stocks or other appreciated assets is a forward-thinking way to contribute. By giving in this way, you can significantly fuel our efforts without reducing your cash on hand. When you donate assets that you’ve held for more than a year, you may benefit from a double tax advantage: you could potentially avoid paying capital gains tax and enjoy a charitable deduction for the full market value of your donation. This kind of foresight supports a sustainable future for the Yuba River watershed and SYRCL.
IRA Gifts through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you are 70½ or older, you have the unique opportunity to make a significant impact through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). Currently, you can give up to $108,000 per person per year directly from your IRA to nonprofits like SYRCL—exclusively tax-free. This not only fulfills part of your required minimum distributions but also provides potential tax advantages because the distribution does not count as taxable income. It’s a smart way to care for your favorite causes while managing your retirement assets effectively.
Grants from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a strategic charitable giving account that allows you to support SYRCL at your discretion. You can recommend grants from your DAF to SYRCL, enabling continued support to our programs over time. DAFs provide flexibility in your charitable gift planning, allowing for a systematic way to realize long-term giving goals with immediate tax benefits.
Each of these giving methods offers distinct benefits over cash donations, enabling you to maximize your donation’s impact. While cash is always appreciated, these are various avenues to give that might offer you enhanced tax benefits and provide SYRCL with stronger financial support (please consult with your financial advisor to discuss further).
Below, we’ll share how the upcoming tax laws might also affect your gift planning.
Charitable Giving & Tax Law Changes in 2026
The professionals at Schwab Charitable and DAFgiving360 have shared some insights about the 2026 tax changes and their implications for how people give to charities, including planning for their 2025 year-end gifts.
Here are 5 key take-aways SYRCL donors may want to consider. Please note there are distinct takeaways for people who itemize on their tax return and for people who don’t. As always, please consult with your financial or tax advisor:
Key Messages for SYRCL Donors
1. Give Early to Maximize Your Tax Benefits if You Itemize: Starting in 2026, high-income donors will see their charitable deduction value capped at 35% (down from 37%).
Action: Consider making large gifts to SYRCL before the end of 2025 to lock in the higher deduction rate.
🟢 “Front-loading your support for clean water and wild rivers can also front-load your tax savings.”
2. Bunch Your Gifts to Clear the New Deduction Floor: In 2026, itemized charitable deductions will only apply if your total donations exceed 0.5% of your AGI.
Action: Combine multiple years of giving into one to surpass the threshold and maximize your impact.
🟢 “Bunching your donations helps you meet the new threshold and sustain SYRCL’s work for years to come.”
3. Use Non-Cash Assets to Give More Strategically: Donating appreciated stock, life insurance, or other assets can help exceed the AGI floor and avoid capital gains tax.
Action: Explore giving appreciated assets to SYRCL to unlock more value for both you and the watershed.
🟢 “Your stock can protect the Yuba River—without triggering capital gains.”
4. Standard Deduction Takers Can Still Give and Save: Starting in 2026, non-itemizers can deduct up to $1,000 (single) or $2,000 (joint) for cash gifts to operating charities.
Action: Even if you don’t itemize, your cash gift to SYRCL can reduce your tax bill.
🟢 “Every donor counts—every dollar helps protect our rivers and forests.”
5. Donor-Advised Funds Remain a Powerful Tool: While DAF contributions don’t qualify for the new universal deduction (relevant for non-itemizers), they still offer strategic flexibility and long-term planning benefits.
Action: Use your DAF to bunch gifts, plan legacy giving, or recommend grants to SYRCL. You may want to frontload your DAF in 2025 to take advantage of a more favorable tax-deductible rate (see #1 above).
🟢 “Your DAF can be a river of support—flowing steadily toward conservation.”
References
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