Effective December 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service has changed how it defines the official postmark date, which could impact the timing of when checks mailed to nonprofits “count” for IRS charitable deduction purposes. All of this adds up to an important opportunity to remind clients about the benefits of giving to their favorite charities in ways other than writing a check.
In the nonprofit world, many donors continue to write checks for their giving vehicles. However, checks introduce potential challenges for both donors and charities, including not only mailing delays, but also processing costs and security risks.
Here are three ways your clients can move away from writing checks to support favorite charitable causes:
Use a donor-advised fund
Suggest that your client organize charitable giving through a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. This offers a more streamlined and intentional alternative to writing checks. A donor-advised fund allows a client to consolidate philanthropy in one place, make a single contribution (or a series of contributions), and then recommend grants to charities over time. This approach reduces paperwork, simplifies recordkeeping, and creates a clear structure for giving that can evolve with the client’s priorities.
Give appreciated stock
Another area where advisors can add significant value is by reminding clients to look beyond cash when making charitable gifts. For example, many clients hold highly appreciated stock. Donating appreciated securities directly to a donor-advised fund or other qualified charity can be far more tax-efficient. When structured properly, the client may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation while still receiving a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the asset. This often results in a larger gift to charity at a lower after-tax cost to the donor, a result that aligns perfectly with both philanthropic and financial planning goals.
Give online
If your client prefers to continue to give directly to favorite charities, remind the client that giving online is faster, ensuring that a donation is received and credited immediately without the delays, loss risks, or processing uncertainties. Online gifts also create a clear digital record with automatic receipts, making it easier for clients (and you!) to substantiate charitable contributions for tax purposes. For charities, online giving reduces administrative costs and allows staff to focus more resources on mission-driven work rather than manual check processing.
By gently reminding clients about alternatives to check-writing, you are helping them make the most of their giving. As always, the Community Foundation is here to assist wealth managers, accountants, attorneys, and financial advisors as you advise your philanthropic clients.
The Community Foundation team is happy to help you structure charitable giving tools and plans to achieve your clients’ philanthropic goals—whether through beneficiary designations or any other type of charitable giving vehicle. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are here for you!
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.
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Questions?
