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AUTHOR: Howard Schwartz on 3/04/2026

Donating to charity used to be simple. Not anymore. I am reaching out for opinions on the most efficient way to donate in 2026. I have identified several ways to donate but can’t decide on the best approach.

The most direct way is to write a check which would be deductible; $2,000 for a married couple or $1,000 for a single taxpayer who takes the standard deduction. Itemizers can deduct up to 35% of AGI (I think).

The next approach is a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) which allows those of us 70 1/2 or older to have our traditional IRA custodian send the donation directly to a charity. This has two advantages; it reduces your minimum distribution and is not taxable if done properly. The limit is $111,000.

Next is donating appreciated securities directly to a charity or to a Donor Advised Fund. The advantage here is that the appreciation is not taxed.

Please comment on my list. I hope I did not miss anything. But if I did, mention it so we can all benefit from the wisdom of the crowd.