Donate Today or Donate Tomorrow?
If you’re thinking about making a meaningful gift, timing matters. While some donors prefer to give during their lifetime, others plan to leave a gift through their estate. Deciding whether to donate today or donate tomorrow depends on your financial goals, tax situation, and the kind of impact you want to have — now and in the future.
There are many ways to make an impact and the timing of which comes down to your goals. From a financial perspective, you can give today for immediate impact and tax benefits versus providing for bequests through your estate, enabling long-term planning and flexibility and legacy.
Under both scenarios, there are a number of strategies available to enhance your impact today and/or in the future:
Using appreciated securities to give now
Charitable giving using life insurance
Naming a charity in your will or as a beneficiary of you registered accounts
Maximizing tax credits during high-income years or at death
Initiating a Donor Advised Fund
Involving your family in charitable decisions while you’re alive
Come visit our resources on Charitable Giving for more information.
There’s no one right answer — only the plan that best reflects your goals, your capacity to give, and the legacy you would like to create.
We can help you weigh the pros and cons of giving now or later, explore strategies that fit your financial picture, and ensure your generosity creates the impact you envision — today, tomorrow, and beyond.
