DONOR PORTAL
Year End Giving
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s the ideal time to reflect on the causes you care about and make plans to support them. Your year-end gift can make a significant difference in your community and beyond. December accounts for close to 30% of all charitable giving!
At the Greater Cabarrus Foundation (GCF), we are here to help you give in ways that align with your values and create lasting change. We are ready to answer any questions and help you make a meaningful impact through thoughtful and effective giving.
7 Key Considerations for Thoughtful Year-End Giving
We’ve outlined key considerations to help you plan your giving strategically, maximize your impact, and optimize your tax benefits.
1. Clarify Your Giving Goals
Think about the causes and organizations that matter most to you7. Decide if you are interested in immediate impact or building a legacy for future generations. Now is the time to shape your charitable giving to align with your aspirations, whether you want to address urgent needs today or create a fund that supports your passions in perpetuity9.
2. Understand Your Fund Options
The GCF offers many ways to give:
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Donate towards one of our existing funds: There are 16 funds housed at the Greater Cabarrus Foundation that accept online donations through our giving portal.
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Donor-Advised Fund (DAF): Allows you to make a charitable contribution now, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to your favorite organizations over time. A DAF can be set up in one meeting.
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Specific Focus Funds: Consider establishing a scholarship, Designated Fund, or a field-of-interest fund to address issues like education, arts, or the environment.
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Designated Funds are a vehicle for accepting Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs. Donors select the nonprofit beneficiaries when they establish the fund. Designated Funds can also be set up in one meeting.
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3. Maximize Your Tax Benefits: "Bunch" Your Giving
With a higher standard deduction, fewer taxpayers are itemizing. You can maximize your itemized deduction by “bunching” multiple years’ worth of giving into a single tax year, often into a Donor-Advised Fund. This strategy allows you to:
- Exceed the standard deduction threshold, allowing you to itemize.
- Plan for long-term giving while optimizing your tax benefits.
- Claim a deduction for the contribution now while making grant distributions to nonprofits later.
4. Think Beyond Cash: Give Appreciated Stock
Cash isn’t the only way to make a difference. Gifts of appreciated securities (stock) or other assets often provide greater tax advantages than donating cash.
- By donating long-term appreciated stock to GCF, you can avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated value while receiving a deduction for the fair-market value of the gift.
- You may automatically increase your gift and your tax deduction compared to selling the stock and donating the after-tax proceeds.
- Note: Please consult your tax advisor regarding deduction limits for stock donations.
5. Consider Your Long-Term Legacy
Have you thought about including charitable giving in your estate plan27? Creating a legacy gift ensures that the causes you care about will continue to thrive for generations. We can work with you and your advisors to establish an enduring legacy that reflects your values, maximizes your charitable giving, and minimizes your tax impact.
6. Give Now - Decide Later
If you are planning for a charitable tax deduction this year but are undecided about which nonprofits to support, opening a Donor-Advised Fund at the Greater Cabarrus Foundation allows you to claim the deduction now and make distributions in the future.
7. Create a Giving Plan
The Greater Cabarrus Foundation can help you create a comprehensive giving plan to think strategically about how and what organizations you support. This ensures your donations make the greatest impact while maximizing tax advantages.
Your Partner in Philanthropy: The GCF Advantage
Working with the Greater Cabarrus Foundation makes your giving more effective and less burdensome.
- Local Expertise: You gain access to our extensive knowledge about the local nonprofit community and the broad charitable needs of our region.
- Administrative Ease: A Donor-Advised Fund operates like a private foundation but without the administrative burden and expense.
- Due Diligence: We perform due diligence on every grant that goes out from GCF, ensuring your funds are going to qualified nonprofits. This allows you to stay informed about the impact your giving will have on the future of our community.
Important 2025 Year-End Giving Deadlines
To ensure your philanthropic plan is executed in time for the 2025 tax year, please reach out to us as soon as possible and note the following hard deadlines:
We thank you for placing your trust in us and partnering for a better tomorrow. We are here and ready to assist as your partner in philanthropy.
Contact Us
Robbie Furr – Director of Development
Phone: 704-707-3228 
Email: robbie@greatercabarrusfoundation.org 
Visit: greatercabarrusfoundation.org
