Tax-wise Giving Strategies for 2025
Tax law changes set to go into effect January 1, 2026 will affect deductibility of charitable contributions for many donors.
Accelerating giving in 2025 may help some donors maximize tax deductions for contributions and ensure as much of your giving as possible can support CRLA’s work.
Given multiple funding challenges—including cuts in both state and federal funding—we’ve had to make changes to strategically decrease costs while still serving our clients.
In some areas, we’re pivoting from a single brick-and-mortar location to a satellite model, delivering legal services at libraries and other community locations. We know from our existing satellite services that this model can work well for clients.
To pivot successfully, however, we need funds we can use now to keep our services visible.
Your donation can make the difference between someone thinking CRLA has left their area and knowing CRLA remains a resource with new ways to access our legal services.
Tax-wise Giving Strategies to Consider
- Frontload charitable giving in 2025 to avoid the new “floor” (0.5% of AGI) on charitable income tax deductions for those who itemize.
- Open and fund a Donor Advised Fund in 2025 to avoid the new “floor” and allow for giving in future years.
- Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA (for donors over age 70 ½).
- Donate long term appreciated assets such as stock.
- Bunch gifts in alternating years starting in 2026 to clear the charitable deduction threshold.
We encourage you to reach out to your financial or tax advisor to determine the best strategies for you, and to contact Monica Yu, CRLA’s Vice President of Resource Development, at myu@crla.org to discuss your giving.
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Federal Tax I.D. Number 95-2428657.
You can ensure that, no matter what, our community lawyering remains a lifeline for rural Californians. Please donate by December 31 to get us to our $150,000 goal!