Why you shouldn’t wait to give

By Jean Moran / Board member & Development Committee chair

Do you tend to do your charitable giving in the final weeks of the year? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, an estimated one-third of all annual giving happens in December—and 10 percent happens in the last three days of the year.

Just as gifts of all sizes matter, there’s no wrong time to give. But what if more of us gave earlier in the year? Consider what it would mean for the nonprofits you support to know they have that support now. Consider how it could grow your strengths as a giver to make your gifts proactively, before being asked.

After all, the urgent issues our community’s nonprofits work on don’t come and go with the seasons; they need support 365 days a year. The earlier you give, the sooner your gifts can make an impact—and the better the nonprofits that receive them can plan ahead. That includes planning on how to make the most of their fundraising resources throughout the year: an early gift is a way of encouraging a nonprofit to go out and reach new people about their mission so they can inspire others to join you. And if you really want nonprofits to know they can count on your sustained support, consider setting up a monthly giving plan to spread your contribution throughout the year. For a change so easy to make, it can mean a world of difference to the nonprofits you believe in.

For donors who enjoy the benefits of the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, giving early is more important this year than ever before. With recent changes to the program, donors who make gifts and apply by the end of June will be added to the credit waitlist—but after that the waitlist will end, and no more applications will be accepted until the new program is launched at some time in the future. We recommend all gifts be made by June 15 to allow time for processing applications by the June 30 deadline this year. If you want to learn more about these updates, don’t hesitate to contact our staff.

Jean and her family

And if you’re over the age of 73, making a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA early in the year is a wise move because your gift can count toward your required minimum distribution without adding to your year’s adjusted gross income.

No matter who you are, when you start your giving process earlier, you give yourself more time to make a meaningful gift. Instead of letting the end-of-year fundraising letters pile up on the kitchen table, imagine sitting down at that table to talk about generosity with your partner, your children, or anyone else who is part of your giving? You might discover new ways to build on the philanthropy you’ve been practicing each December. You might even discover great nonprofits that don’t have the same resources as their bigger or more established peers for giving-season outreach. I call that a win-win!

The Quad Cities Community Foundation has the perfect tool for these kinds of conversations and this kind of exploration. Your Generosity Guidebook is full of questions and exercises to help you articulate your values and charitable interests and deepen your philanthropy. It’s been a helpful tool for my family. You can get the guide here.

At the end of the day, my message isn’t just about giving early—it’s about giving in ways that are smart, intentional, and as generous as possible. We’re here all year to help you do just that, but why not reach out today?