Giving Season Central

Navigating Year-End Giving with a Donor-Advised Fund: Deadlines, Guidelines and More

THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE YEAR have always been an ideal time to both reflect on our past and plan for our future. During this time, Americans give even more generously. We call this period Giving Season.

This past year, the challenges that tested our collective resilience also revealed the depth of our compassion. Many responded quickly to emergent needs and honored longstanding philanthropic commitments using a donor-advised fund (DAF). As you continue to support communities in diverse ways during Giving Season, a DAF offers a flexible and tax-efficient giving tool to carry out your philanthropy.

We have designed this page as a resource for your year-end giving. Here you’ll find contribution deadlines, grant recommendation guidelines and other Giving Season resources. We’re here to help you streamline your year-end generosity so you can spend time and energy on what matters most—deciding where and how to give.

Contribution Deadlines

Refer to these important dates to ensure that your contributions—of any type—are received by December 31. Following these guidelines will help to ensure that National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) receives your contributions by December 31 for treatment as a 2023 gift.

Most assets require the submission of a Contribution Agreement, which may be completed online via the donor portal.

 

DEADLINEWHAT TO DO
Credit CardSubmit by 11:59pm ET on
December 31
Log in to the donor portal and click Contribute With Credit Card. Once processed, all donations are irrevocable.
CheckMust be postmarked by
December 30* if using USPS

Must be received by
3pm ET on December 29 if using any non-USPS mail carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
Submit a check made payable to “National Philanthropic Trust.” Note the DAF name and account number in the memo section.
Money WireInitiate transfer by
December 22

Must be received by
December 29
Submit a Contribution Agreement to NPT, then submit a transfer request to the financial institution holding the funds. Find wire instructions here.
Stocks, Bonds and ETFs*Initiate transfer by
December 21

Must be received by
December 29
Submit a Contribution Agreement to NPT, then submit a transfer request to the financial institution holding the assets. Find transfer instructions here.
Mutual Funds*Initiate transfer by
November 29

Must be received by
December 29
Submit a Contribution Agreement to NPT, then submit a transfer request to the financial institution holding the fund(s). Find transfer instructions here.
Special Securities, Real Estate and Closely Held StockInitiate due diligence ASAP; must be received by December 29.Contact NPT at (888) 878-7900 for assistance.
CryptocurrencyMust be received by
December 31.
Submit documentation by December 20.
Stock CertificatesMust be postmarked by
December 30 if using USPS.
Contact NPT at (888) 878-7900 for assistance.

 

* For gifts of stock, bonds, ETFs or mutual funds, please note that the external custodian currently holding the assets may require that you submit a Letter of Instruction to initiate the transfer of the assets; if so, please present originals of the completed Letter of Instruction to the external custodian and not to NPT.

Grant Guidelines

Many of your favorite charities will be making their year-end appeals soon. Follow these deadlines to ensure that your support will be counted this year.

 

DEADLINEWHAT TO DO
For NPT to review, approve and send the grant payments in 2023, we ask that you:Enter grant recommendation by 11:59pm ET on Monday, December 18.

Approved grants will be mailed on or before Friday, December 29.
Enter your grant recommendation in your donor portal.
If you hope to have your grant recommendation approved in 2023 with grant payments sent early in 2024, we ask that you:Enter grant recommendation by 11:59pm ET on Friday, December 22.

Grants approved in 2023 will be mailed on or before January 4, 2024.
Enter your grant recommendation in your donor portal.
NPT's Extended Year-End Hours

To support your year-end giving, National Philanthropic Trust will offer extended hours starting November 1:

Monday–Friday:  8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET

These hours will be in effect through year-end, except on the following special days:

Dec 25: CLOSED

Jan. 1: CLOSED

Additional evening and weekend hours are available by appointment. Please contact us at (888) 878-7900 or npt@nptrust.org with any questions or to schedule an appointment. This season and always, we are proud to be your partner in giving.

Take Action

Use a DAF to make the most of Giving Season.

Essentials of Year-End Giving offers resources, tips and insights for philanthropy at this busy time of year.
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There's still time to open a new DAF before the year is over; learn how.
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Current donors can use our convenient donor portal to recommend a grant or schedule future grants.
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