The Monday Money Brief

October 26, 2026

Charitable giving can do more than support causes you care about. When structured correctly, it can become part of your tax, investment, and estate planning strategy.

Start with your cash flow. Set an annual giving target instead of making random donations throughout the year. For example, if you want to give $6,000 annually, build $500 per month into your Money Map. This makes generosity intentional without disrupting other financial priorities.

Next, consider what you give. If you own appreciated stocks or investments, donating the asset directly to an eligible charity may allow you to avoid realizing the capital gain while potentially qualifying for a charitable deduction, subject to IRS rules.

Timing matters too. Because charitable contributions generally only reduce federal taxable income when you itemize deductions, consider “bunching” multiple years of planned donations into one year. A donor-advised fund can help with this strategy by allowing you to make a larger contribution now and recommend grants to charities over time.

Finally, keep records. Document donations, receipts, asset values, and eligible organizations before tax season arrives.

The strategy is simple: decide how much, choose what to give, determine when to give, and document it.

Generosity is the goal. Good planning simply helps your generosity work more efficiently.

Keep navigating your financial future!