Your Resource for Year-End Giving
The end of the year can be hectic, but it’s also a time to reflect on what’s important, and to give to the organizations and causes you think make the world a better place. NPT’s donor-advised funds can help you streamline your generosity. We handle the administration so you can spend time and energy on what matters most—deciding where and how to give.
On this page, you will find tips to help you make the most of your NPT DAF this season:
- Take Note of Contribution Deadlines. Learn how and when to contribute various types of assets so that they will be tax-deductible in 2019.
- Review Grant Deadlines. Find information on when to recommend grants to ensure that they arrive to your favorite charities by the end of the year.
- Give Online to Save Time. NPT now supports credit card contributions through our online donor portal. You can give directly with a credit card with a minimum donation of $1,000, making funds immediately available for grantmaking.
For guidance on how to focus your philanthropy, explore these resources:
- Learn the Essentials of Year-End Giving. Download our handbook for Giving Season, which offers an overview of tips for a seamless giving experience in these final months.
- Create a Giving Mission. Looking to narrow your charitable focus? We put together a guide to help you determine what you want your philanthropy to accomplish.
- Explore Impact Investing. NPT’s new thematic impact investment portfolios help donors align their DAF investment strategy with their philanthropic values.
- Gain Insight into DAF Capabilities. Our DAF Insights for Advisors blog series explores advanced strategies for donor-advised funds, and offers tips on having philanthropic conversations to narrow down the best charitable strategies for you.
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 2019 gift.
| WHAT TO DO | DEADLINE | |
|---|---|---|
| Check | Submit a check made payable to “National Philanthropic Trust” along with your Contribution Agreement. Note the name of your DAF in the memo section. | Must be postmarked by December 31 if using USPS Must be received by December 31 if using any non-USPS mail carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) |
| Credit Card | Log in to DonorView and click the Contribute With Credit Card button. Once processed, all donations are irrevocable. | Submit by December 31 |
| Money Wire | Submit a transfer request to the financial institution. Find wire instructions here. | Initiate transfer by December 26 Must be received by December 31 |
| Stock | Submit a Letter of Authorization to the firm holding the stock, and send a copy to NPT along with your Contribution Agreement. For details see here. | Initiate transfer by December 23 Must be received by December 31 |
| Stock Certificates | Mail physical certificate and stock or bond power with medallion guarantee separately, along with your Contribution Agreement. | Must be postmarked by December 31 if using USPS Must be received by December 31 if using any non-USPS mail carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) |
| Bonds | Submit a Letter of Authorization to the firm holding the stock, and send a copy to NPT along with your Contribution Agreement. For details see here. | Initiate transfer by December 23 Must be received by December 31 |
| Mutual Funds | Contact NPT as soon as possible at (888) 878-7900, and NPT will coordinate with the mutual fund company. Processing this type of asset can take 4-6 weeks to complete. | Initiate transfer by November 29 Must be received by December 31 |
| Special Securities, Real Estate and Closely Held Stock | Contact NPT at (888) 878-7900 for assistance. | Initiate due diligence as early as possible Must be received by December 31 |
Charity begins at home but should not end there.
—Sir Francis Bacon
Need a reminder about what your DAF allows you to do? Check out our quick guide: Can I Use My DAF For That?
Grant Deadlines
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. Before granting, review our Tips for Managing Your Charitable Giving to be clear on your DAF giving strategy.
| WHAT TO DO | DEADLINE | |
|---|---|---|
| To give NPT sufficient time to review your grant recommendation, make a determination by year-end and send approved grant payments in 2019: | Enter your grant recommendation in your online donor portal following these instructions, or email or fax a completed Grant Recommendation form to NPT. | Enter grant recommendation by 5pm on December 23. If approved, grants will be mailed on or before December 31. |
| To give NPT sufficient time to review your grant recommendation, make a determination by 2019 year-end and send approved grant payments early in 2020: | Enter your grant recommendation in your online donor portal following these instructions, or email or fax a completed Grant Recommendation form to NPT. | Enter grant recommendation by 5pm on December 25. Grant determinations will be made in 2019, and—if approved—mailed on or before January 3, 2020. |
Notes on Tax Strategy
- A distribution from your IRA to a DAF does not count as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—but you may be able to use a designated fund for the same benefit. Learn more about charitable rollovers.
- The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the size of the standard deduction, which may affect your ability to itemize your charitable gifts. If you would like to itemize in 2019, consider making a larger gift to your DAF this year, and granting out the funds over the next several years—a practice called “bundling.”
- The most tax-advantageous charitable contributions don’t necessarily come from a checkbook. If you have appreciated securities, complex or illiquid assets that you’re interested in donating, contact one of our Regional Directors for guidance.
For tips on tax-efficient uses of your DAF, visit our Tax Advantages page.
Extended Year-End Hours
To support your year-end giving, we are pleased to extend our hours starting Monday, November 25th:
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET
These hours will be in effect through December 31st, except on the following special days:
Nov. 28: CLOSED
Nov. 29: 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
Dec. 24: 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
Dec. 25: 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.
