Partner with CFGV to Make an Impact Locally
Many people establish a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at CFGV to simplify their giving, stay organized, and even engage the next generation in philanthropy. And, for some families, 2025 is the year when the DAF takes on an even bigger role in aligning charitable giving goals with changing tax laws. Even families who are not impacted by changing tax laws are beginning to view their DAF with more admiration for the variety and abundance of purposes it can serve. Let’s take a look:
Evaluate "Bunching" in 2025
If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, you might have heard that things are changing in 2026 when both a floor and a cap on itemized charitable deductions kick in. We’ve written about it on our blog and there are lots of other stories out there like this one with concrete examples. This means 2025 offers a unique opportunity to “front-load” or “bunch” charitable contributions into your DAF before the tax landscape shifts. By making a larger contribution in 2025—perhaps representing two or three years of anticipated giving—you can maximize your tax deduction under the current rules while continuing to recommend grants to charities in 2026 and beyond. If you haven’t opened a DAF at CFGV yet, reach out to CFGV’s Director of Philanthropy, Jessica Wurtz, to start the process.
Organize Your Giving
If you have one, your DAF at CFGV already serves as a useful hub to organize your giving. You make tax-deductible contributions of cash or appreciated stock, and then recommend grants to your favorite organizations over time. With this in mind, make sure your fund is the center of your charitable activity—not a side account. In other words, consider making all of your charitable contributions through your DAF to streamline recordkeeping and tracking of your annual giving footprint. Our Fund Portal offers an easy hub to check your balance, view grants and donations, print fund statements, recommend grants, and more. If you need help accessing your Fund Portal, email support@cfgv.org or 970-641-8837.
Adopt a Portfolio Approach
Alongside your DAF, you can establish a designated or field-of-interest fund at CFGV to expand your charitable giving portfolio. A designated fund supports a specific charity for the long term, while a field-of-interest fund focuses on an area of community need, guided by CFGV’s deep local knowledge. If you are over age 70½, your IRA’s Qualified Charitable Distributions can go directly to field-of-interest and designated funds (but not your DAF), potentially reducing your taxable income while supporting the causes you care about.
Year-End Giving Deadlines
Certain types of transactions take longer to go through. If you plan to use an IRA Distribution or Qualified Charitable Distribution this year, you must initiate it on or before 12/1/2025. Gifts of Publicly Traded Securities & Mutual Funds must be initiated on or before 12/15/2025. For a full list of year-end giving deadlines, consult our calendar.
Establish a Legacy
Driving around the Gunnison Valley, you see the legacy of so many families who have lived here and cared for this community over the last hundred-plus years in our open spaces. Have you thought about what you want your family’s legacy to be? Many people name DAFs or other CFGV funds as beneficiaries in their wills, trusts, or retirement accounts. Retirement plans such as traditional IRAs, for example, can be tax-efficient assets to give to your fund through your estate because the gift bypasses income and estate tax.
As you begin to view your DAF in a new light, remember that your CFGV team is here to help you make the most of it, whether that means exploring how to “bunch your giving” in 2025, creating complementary funds, or planning your charitable legacy. We are honored to work together to ensure that your philanthropy continues to make a lasting difference in our community, today and for years to come.
The team at CFGV is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives for making a difference in the community. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.
Simplified Summary
Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley offers many types of funds. Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are the most flexible option and work best for a lot of people. They allow you to “bunch” your giving during a windfall year. They make it easier to stay organized. We encourage you to manage all your giving through your DAF.
Sometimes a DAF isn’t the best choice. CFGV can help you decide what the best option is for your situation. A DAF or other fund can also be a good way to leave a legacy for you and your family in the Gunnison Valley that will extend for generations.
Depending on what type of gift you plan to use, there are specific deadlines. Gifts from IRAs and gifts of securities or mutual funds need to be made a few weeks before the end of the year. Check our calendar for full details.
