Give Smarter Before Year-End: A Few Strategies to Consider

As the year winds down, many of our supporters start thinking about both their charitable giving and their tax planning. The good news: with a little strategy, the two can work together. Here's a refresher on a few options worth discussing with your advisor.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

A reminder for our IRA-holding friends age 70½ and older: you can direct up to $111,000 in 2026 straight from your IRA to Avian Haven, tax-free. It's one of the most efficient ways to give, especially if you take an Required Minimum Distribution each year. (See our blog post for the full breakdown.)

Gifts of Appreciated Stock

If you own stock or mutual fund shares that have grown in value, donating them directly — rather than selling and giving cash — lets you avoid capital gains tax while still claiming a charitable deduction for the full fair market value (if you itemize).

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Already have a DAF? A grant recommendation to Avian Haven is one of the simplest ways to support our work. Don't have one yet? A DAF lets you make a charitable contribution now, take the tax deduction in that year, and decide later which organizations to support.

"Bunching" Your Donations

If your itemized deductions typically fall just under the standard deduction threshold, consider combining multiple years of giving into a single tax year (often through a DAF) to exceed that threshold and maximize your deduction — then give smaller amounts, or none, in the years between.

Vehicle Donations

Have a car, truck, or boat you no longer need? You can donate it directly to Avian Haven through our vehicle donation program — it's picked up for free, and the proceeds support our work, with a tax deduction available to you.

Start here: careasy.org/avian-haven

Gifts That Cost You Nothing Today

A bequest in your will or a beneficiary designation on a retirement account or life insurance policy allows you to support Avian Haven's future work without affecting your finances now. Ask us about our Wings Forward Legacy Circle for more on these options.

👉 With gifts like DAF, stock, QCDs, and vehicles, we recommend you take action by December 1st to guarantee that it will be deductible on 2026 taxes.

Why it matters to the birds

However you choose to give, your support helps ensure that when someone finds an injured eagle or an orphaned songbird, Avian Haven has the resources — and the trained hands — ready to help.

Let's talk strategy.

Every donor's situation is different, and we're not tax advisors — but we're glad to be a resource as you and your financial or tax professional map out your year-end giving plan.

More info on non-cash giving can be found here on our website.

With gratitude and feathers,

Paula & The Avian Haven Team

Paula Crossfield, Director of Communications and Development
📧 paula@avianhaven.org | 📞 917-297-9458
🗓️ Schedule a call: calendly.com/paula-avianhaven/30min