Unlock the full value of charitable contributions with one of the tax code's most underused tools.

Quick Tax Tip
With Art Werner
CPE Today

What if you could give more, support your favorite causes for years to come, and still walk away with a sizable tax deduction—all in one smart move?

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That’s the opportunity donor-advised funds (DAFs) present, and the latest Quick Tax Tip brings clarity to a concept many donors and advisors overlook.

“A donor-advised fund, by itself, is a charity,” Werner explains. “But the contribution we make to it is deductible within IRS limits—and what’s really nice is you can lump your giving up front and spread it out over time.”

For donors who no longer itemize due to the increased standard deduction post-TCJA, this opens the door to reclaiming lost tax benefits. Instead of giving $5,000 a year and missing out on deductions, you could contribute $50,000 in one year to a DAF—claim your deduction—then direct that money to charities over a decade.