Your Giving Strategy deserves the same attention as your investment strategy

Tax planning and tax filing are not the same thing – and for generous people, that distinction matters more than most realize.

Filing your return in October simply means you had more time to gather the numbers from last year. But your planning for this year? That starts now. And the earlier you start, the more options you have.

The giving decisions you make in the spring and summer – funding your Giving Fundopens in a new tab, reviewing your portfolio for appreciated assets, thinking through your charitable goals – are the ones that give you the most flexibility when the fourth quarter arrives. Waiting until fall to think about your giving strategy is like waiting until December to think about your budget. The decisions are harder and the options are fewer.

Whether 2026 is shaping up to be a high-income year or you’re still watching how things unfold, now is the right time to put a few key moves on your radar. Here’s where to start.

1. You can probably still itemize – and that changes everything

Many high-net-worth givers don’t face the same “itemize vs. standard deduction” tradeoff that affects average earners. If your charitable giving alone exceeds the standard deduction threshold ($30,000 for married couples in 2026), plus mortgage interest and other deductions, you’re almost certainly better off itemizing. That means every dollar you give strategically works harder for you. The question isn’t whether to itemize – it’s whether your giving strategy is optimized for the return.

2. Appreciated stock is still one of the best tools – if you hold it

Gifting publicly traded appreciated securities directly to your NCF Giving Fund remains one of the cleanest and most efficient giving strategies available. You avoid capital gains entirely and receive a fair-market-value charitable deduction.

The AGI limit for appreciated securities and other non-cash assets is 30% of your adjusted gross income, with a 5-year carryforward for any excess. If you’re heavily invested in public equities, this conversation is worth having with your advisor before year-end.

3.  Private equity and business interests: Asset-based giving at its best

If a significant portion of your wealth is in privately held companies, real estate, or private equity. These assets can’t be gifted with a click – but they can often be given in ways that unlock significant charitable and tax benefits.

Contributing a partial interest in a business, gifting real estate into a charitable structure, or working with NCF’s gift planning team to structure a gift of private equity – all of these allow you to give from the assets that have grown the most, rather than liquidating first.

The total AGI limit for charitable deductions is 60% of AGI for cash and 30% for appreciated non-cash assets, with carryforward provisions. The right structure depends entirely on your specific situation. This is exactly where NCF’s charitable planning expertise adds the most value.

Want to learn more about how non-cash giving works? NCF has resources to walk you through it.

4.  Consider a mid-gear giving fund contribution for maximum flexibility

If you don’t already have a Giving Fund (donor-advised fund) at NCF, the window between April and your October filing is an ideal time to fund one. You take the charitable deduction in the year of the contribution, then recommend grants to your favorite ministries and nonprofits on your own timeline.

It gives you tax certainty now and giving flexibility later. For high-income earners, a larger-than-usual contribution this year can also serve as a smart bunching strategy if your income is elevated.

Want to explore what’s possible for your specific situation? Reach out to our NCF North Texas team – we’d love to connect you with right people. Contact us at northtexas@ncfgiving.comopens in a new tab.