How to Build Your 2026 Charitable Game Plan
Turn your generosity into a strategy that lasts all year.
Most people plan their finances. The most impactful givers plan their philanthropy.
Before the ball drops on 2025, take time to map out your charitable giving strategy for the year ahead. With a little foresight, your 2026 generosity can make a bigger difference for both your community and your tax picture.
Here’s a simple roadmap to get started:
Step 1: Assess Your 2025 Giving
Look back before you look forward.
Which gifts felt the most meaningful this year?
Which donations aligned with your values—or didn’t?
Did you take full advantage of available tax benefits (cash vs. appreciated assets, bundling gifts, donor advised funds)?
Were there causes or nonprofits you wanted to support but didn’t get around to?
Pro tip: Pull your charitable receipts or giving summary now so your 2025 impact is crystal clear.
Step 2: Define Your 2026 Focus Areas
Your giving is most powerful when it’s guided by vision.
Ask yourself:
What local or global issues move your heart most right now?
Where do you want to see lasting change over the next 3–5 years?
What does “impact” look like to you—helping youth? Beautifying your town? Strengthening families?
When you focus your giving, you multiply its effect
Step 3: Choose the Right Giving Vehicle
Different strategies fit different goals:
Donor Advised Fund (DAF): Gives you flexibility to give when and where you choose, with tax advantages up front. This could be an ideal strategy for year end giving if you have any sort of windfall profits or sale of larger assets.
Legacy Fund, Scholarship Fund, or Endowment: Ideal for building a long-term family or memorial fund that sustains impact for generations.
Business or Corporate Fund: Aligns company culture with community impact and employee engagement. A meaningful aspect of helping employees feel their work matters in the larger scope of community.
Not sure which is right? That’s what we’re here for.
We’ll help you match your financial and philanthropic goals to the most effective structure. We work with your financial planner, CPA, or attorney to ensure the process is a seamless for you as possible.
Step 4: Align with Your Financial Plan
Charitable strategy isn’t separate from financial strategy: it’s part of it.
Before you finalize your 2026 giving plan, loop in your CPA, estate planner, or financial advisor. Together, we’ll make sure your generosity is both heartfelt and financially smart.
Step 5: Put It on the Calendar
Commit your giving milestones to writing: quarterly or annual fund reviews, DAF contributions, or cause-focused months. When you plan giving like you plan investments, you see better results.
Ready to turn your generosity into a 2026 game plan?
Let’s talk about how to make your giving count, strategically and with lasting impact.
Want to print of your own 2026 Giving Roadmap? Click here to grab the PDF!
Schedule a confidential conversation with the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia.
