Charitable tax deductions, explained

Is my donation deductible at all?

• Only gifts to organizations with deductible status qualify — most 501(c)(3)s. Check the “Donations tax-deductible”badge on the organization's profile here.
• Gifts to individuals, political campaigns, and most 501(c)(4)s are not deductible.
• You must itemize deductions to claim them — with the standard deduction you can't.

How much can I deduct?

• Cash gifts to public charities: generally up to 60% of your adjusted gross income.
• Appreciated stock or property: generally up to 30% of AGI, at fair market value — and you avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation.
• Amounts above the limits carry forward for up to five years.

Paperwork the IRS expects

• Under $250: a bank record or receipt is enough.
• $250 and up: a written acknowledgment from the charity, including its EIN — keep the EIN from the profile page with your records.
• Non-cash gifts over $500 need Form 8283; over $5,000 usually need an appraisal.
• Nothing in return: if you received dinner or merch, deduct only the excess.

Smart-giving tools

• Donor-advised funds (DAFs): deduct now, grant over time — useful for “bunching” gifts into one itemizing year.
• QCDs: donors 70½+ can give up to about $108,000 a year (the limit adjusts for inflation) directly from an IRA, excluded from taxable income even without itemizing.
• Employer matching often doubles a gift — ask HR; they'll want the EIN too.

This is general information, not tax advice — rules shift and situations differ, so confirm specifics with a tax professional.