Smart Ways to Give Before 2025 Ends

Make a Big Impact With a Future Gift

You can finish this year strong with a gift that maximizes your charitable impact at WQED and that may reduce your taxes. Review the recent tax law changes below and consider how they might affect your giving in 2025:

Change: New floor for itemizers
Starting with the 2026 tax year, you will need to give at least 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) to claim a charitable deduction.
What it means for you: Consider maximizing your giving in 2025 before this new threshold takes effect.

Change: New limit for top earners
Currently, top earners get a 37-cent tax benefit for every dollar deducted. Starting in 2026, that drops to 35 cents.
What it means for you: If you are in the highest tax bracket, consider giving more this year for greater tax savings.

Change: Higher standard deduction made permanent and will be indexed for inflation
For 2025, the deduction will be $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. If you are 65 or older, you may qualify for a bonus deduction of up to $6,000, although it begins to phase out at higher income levels.
What it means for you: Even if you do not itemize, you may still benefit if you give appreciated stock, real estate or, if you are 70½ or older, from your IRA.

Change: Deduction limit for cash gifts made permanent
What it means for you: You can still deduct cash gifts of up to 60% of your AGI. Consider a blended gift strategy that combines cash and non-cash assets to maximize your tax benefits as well as your impact.

Great Year-End Gift Ideas This Year (and Beyond)

Make an Immediate Difference

Support WQED with a cash gift via check or online. Your gift may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. Unsure of whether your gift is tax-deductible? Contact your financial advisor or tax consultant.

Important note: If sending by mail, your envelope must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before Dec. 31 for your donation to qualify this year.

Use Appreciated Stock

Donating appreciated stock that you have owned for longer than one year allows you to qualify for an income tax deduction and eliminate any tax on the appreciation.

Important note: If the stock is electronically transferred to us, the gift date is the day the stock enters our account, not the date you ask your broker to make the transfer.

Recommend a Grant From Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

If you are ready to make an impact in 2025 with your DAF, consider recommending a grant (or recurring grants) to support WQED.

Important note: You qualify for an income tax deduction only when you contribute funds to an existing DAF. Through your grant recommendation, however, you get the satisfaction of making a difference at WQED before the year ends.

Make a Gift From Your IRA

If you are 70½ or older, you can give any amount up to $108,000 from your IRA directly to WQED. You will not pay income taxes on the transfer. This gift can also count toward your required minimum distributions.

Important note: Your IRA administrator must transfer the funds by Dec. 31. If you have check-writing features on your IRA, your check must clear your account by Dec. 31 to count toward your required minimum distribution for the calendar year.

Receive Income For Life

Charitable gift annuity rates are currently the highest they have been in almost two decades—but that could change. Why not take advantage of the higher rates by creating a gift annuity before 2025 ends?

Important note: Begin the process early to ensure completion by year-end. Contact us today for assistance.

You Can End 2025 on a High Note

For guidance on the best ways to leave a legacy at WQED as we approach the end of the year, reach out to Sonya Dietz, Chief of Staff, at (412) 622-1317 or sdietz@wqed.org. We are happy to help ensure that you realize the greatest benefit for your kindness.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to WQED a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I hereby give $x.xx to WQED Multimedia, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, incorporated in Pennsylvania with its headquarters at 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to WQED or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to WQED as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to WQED as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and WQED where you agree to make a gift to WQED and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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