5 Tips to Maximize Charitable Giving

Make a tax-wise gift to Dartmouth in 2021 and plan ahead.

Graphics 5 tips to maximize charitable giving

While nobody can say for certain what tax changes 2022 will bring, some of the philanthropy-friendly provisions of the CARES Act passed by Congress in 2020 will expire at the end of this year—so now is the time to make the most of your gift to Dartmouth and save on your 2021 tax bill: 

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1. Take advantage of the charitable deduction for non-itemizers 


The CARES Act allows you to deduct charitable cash gifts of up to $300 for individuals, and up to $600 for those filing jointly whether you itemize your deductions or not. This is only for cash gifts, not gifts of stocks or other assets.

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2. Donate appreciated assets instead of cash 

Consider donating appreciated securities, such as publicly-traded stocks or mutual funds, instead of cash. You avoid paying capital gains taxes when you donate appreciated assets. 

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3. Direct a qualified charitable distribution to Dartmouth 

When you turn 72—or if you turned 70½ before 2020—you must make a minimum taxable withdrawal annually from your retirement account. You can make a gift to Dartmouth as part of your required minimum distribution and donate up to $100,000 annually without your gift qualifying as taxable income. 

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4. Make Dartmouth a beneficiary of your 401(k) 

You can add Dartmouth to the list of beneficiaries of your retirement plans at work and direct a percentage to the College. It’s painless and easy. You can also add Dartmouth as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy without any out-of-pocket expenses.  

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5. Leave a gift for Dartmouth as part of your estate planning 

With families gathering for the holidays, this is a great time to revisit or begin thinking about your estate planning. Your legacy gift can be a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. A bequest allows you to give to Dartmouth without overextending yourself in case you need funds for long-term care or other unexpected expenses.  

 

Questions about how you can make a gift to help today’s students? Email the Dartmouth College Fund or call 1-800-228-1769.

Want to learn more about a legacy gift to support tomorrow’s students? Email the Gift Planning Office or call 1-800-451-4067.

 

 

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