Showing Your Love: Year-End Giving and Gifting Strategies
As the holidays approach, many of us look for ways to express gratitude and generosity through charitable giving and thoughtful gifts to the people we love. November 15, National Philanthropy Day, is the perfect reminder to pause and reflect on how your values can guide both.
Whether you’re supporting a cause close to your heart or helping a loved one plan for the future, a little planning now can make your year-end giving more meaningful and potentially more tax-efficient.
Give to the Causes You Care About Most
The final weeks of the year are critical for many nonprofit organizations. It’s when they receive the majority of their annual donations and when you can make a big impact.
Beyond helping others, year-end charitable gifts made by December 31 may also provide valuable tax benefits.
Ways to give with impact:
Donate appreciated assets. Consider gifts of stocks or other securities for potential tax advantages. You can avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation and deduct the full fair market value of the gift if you itemize deductions.
Use a donor-advised fund. Streamline your giving this year and plan for the future. A donor-advised fund lets you make contributions, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to your favorite charities over time.
Give in someone’s honor. A donation made in a loved one’s name can be a meaningful, personal gift.
Support local causes. Community shelters, food banks, and environmental programs often need extra support this time of year.
Tip: Make your gifts early to ensure they’re processed before year-end and to give nonprofits time to plan their holiday outreach.
Gift to the People You Love
This season, think about gifts that reflect your values and create lasting connections. The most memorable gifts often have purpose and heart behind them.
Ideas to inspire:
Give experiences, not just things. Concert tickets, travel, or shared activities create memories that last.
Choose gifts that give back. Support artisans, small businesses, or products that benefit a charitable cause.
Create a giving tradition. Encourage family members to choose a cause together and make a group donation.
These gestures combine thoughtfulness and impact, perfect for a season centered on gratitude and generosity.
Give the Gift of Education: 529 Gifting
One of the most lasting gifts you can give is the gift of education. A 529 college savings plan lets you invest in a child’s or grandchild’s future in a tax-advantaged way.
Why consider it now:
Contributions may qualify for state tax benefits.
You can “superfund” a 529 plan by contributing up to five years’ worth of gifts at once, free from federal gift tax.
Many plan providers make contributing to a plan simple with online tools and printable gift certificates, ideal for the holidays.
A 529 contribution is more than a financial gift. It’s a lasting expression of love and belief in the next generation.
Coordinate Your Giving and Gifting
The most effective giving plans are intentional and balanced. Setting a clear strategy can help you feel confident that your generosity supports both your financial goals and the people and causes that matter most.
A few ideas to connect the two:
Host a family “giving night” to choose charities together.
Make a charitable donation in honor of each person on your gift list.
Pair a personal gift with a note about why you support a particular cause.
When you align your giving with your values, each act, whether charitable or personal, becomes a reflection of love, purpose, and financial wisdom.
The Heart of It All
Whether you’re giving to a cause, contributing to a 529 plan, or choosing gifts that carry meaning, every act of generosity makes a difference. This season, show your love to the people and the causes that make your world brighter.
At Parkshore Wealth Management, with locations in Granite Bay and Folsom, California, and in Lehi and Logan, Utah, we help clients identify tax-advantaged ways to give to family and their favorite causes as part of their ongoing financial planning and investment management.
If you’d like to explore how charitable giving, 529 contributions, or family gifting fit into your financial picture, schedule a complimentary, 15-minute chat with a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisor to discuss your personal situation.
This material was written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) derived from sources believed to be accurate. This information should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice.
Parkshore Wealth Management is a family-owned, independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor with offices in Granite Bay and Folsom, CA, and Lehi and Logan, UT. We partner with financially responsible individuals and families who are eager to take positive steps that will allow them to use their money to build the life they desire. The firm is led by Harold Anderson, CFP®, and Daniel Andersen, CFP®, both members of NAPFA, the country’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors.