As the year 2019 really gets rolling, you already may be looking at your resolutions in the rear-view mirror. If so, you aren’t alone. According to Forbes magazine, of the 40% of Americans who make resolutions every year, only 8% end the year achieving those goals. But for all the individuals out there who resolved to be more charitable, but have yet to take steps to that end, we’re here to help you keep your goals.
If you have ever worked for or with a philanthropic organization, you are well aware that the calendar from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve should just say, “BUSY.” And for good reason. According to the M+R 2018 Benchmark Study, 31% of annual giving is made in December with 12% of all annual giving happening in the last three days of the year. With all that charitable giving, there are a lot of financial advisors, fundraisers and gift processors burning the midnight oil to get every penny counted before January 1.
Giving Tuesday began in 2012 as a chance to step back from the commercial consumerism that claims so much of the focus this time of year and turn our attention to philanthropic opportunities. According to the NonProfit Times, gifts to charities hit a record $274 Million on Giving Tuesday a year ago and every indication shows that 2018 should be another record-breaking year.
Hurricane season is upon us and it’s a terrible reminder that Mother Nature can destroy property, communities and lives in an instant. The country recently watched in horror as Hurricane Florence tore through the Eastern Seaboard. Ranked just behind Hurricane Harvey in the level of rainfall, Florence has left many families in the Carolinas, Maryland and along the Northeastern Seaboard reeling.
An often-cited philanthropic goal among charitable-minded individuals is to develop a lasting impact that will live on after they are gone. Whether that means instilling in your children and grandchildren a tradition of giving, or developing a means of perpetual giving to continue your charitable habits after your time on Earth has passed, having the ability to make a financial difference and creating a legacy of giving can easily be accomplished by starting a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have been the fastest growing philanthropic vehicle for the past five years. One of the main reasons for their popularity is their ease of use. Many advisors describe DAFs to their clients as philanthropic savings accounts. Once the assets are given, the tax deduction can be made right away and the fund holds the charitable gift until the donor recommends grants to qualified charities.