Tax Law Changes and Increasing Community Needs
You are likely aware that many families in our community are struggling, and you may be wondering how you can help most effectively. Whether increased community needs are triggered by a government shutdown that disrupts paychecks, services, and community programs; a natural disaster; or economic factors, CFGV is committed to helping you structure charitable giving plans that make a real difference in the lives of people in Gunnison County.
Here are a Few Examples of How Our Team Can Help
Real-Time Identification of Needs
Your team at CFGV has its finger on the pulse of which organizations are helping families in crisis. As federal employees and contractors grappled with missing income over the last 7 weeks and federal benefits become uncertain for families in need, nonprofits in our community stepped into leadership roles to plan for and adapt to changing needs on the ground with the full support of community members. In particular, we applaud Gunnison Country Food Pantry and Mountain Roots Food Project for quickly stepping in to expand services in a time of increased need and celebrate the many community members who gave their time, food, or money to fill the gap in November. If you’re ever unsure about where your giving can meet urgent needs or have the most impact, our staff is always happy to play “philanthropic matchmaker.”
The Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce recently organized “Take a Turkey to Work Day” to encourage individuals and businesses to help make sure that the Gunnison Country Food Pantry has enough turkeys available for the holiday. CFGV and Law of the Rockies were among the participants. You can find more photos from other participating businesses and organizations on the Chamber’s Facebook page.
CFGV Offers Fast and Flexible Charitable Solutions
If you have already established a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at CFGV, or if you are considering doing so, you can use it to provide support to nonprofits on the front lines of emergency assistance in our community. CFGV staff members make it fast and easy for grants to flow out of DAFs to qualified and vetted local organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
Leverage Important Timing
The urgency of community needs in late 2025 coincides with an important window of opportunity for people who itemize their income tax deductions. As we’ve written about before, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), limits on charitable deductions will tighten beginning in 2026. That means it may be advantageous to certain donors to “front-load” or “bunch” contributions—such as by giving more this year through establishing or adding to a DAF. This could maximize both your tax benefits and community impact.
Plan for the Future
Unfortunately, community crises are not unusual. CFGV works with you and other donors and fund holders to strengthen our community’s resilience. Our programs, from Community Grants, the STEP Program, and the Giving Connection to our collaborative work with public and private entities across Gunnison County supports the community’s ability to respond to urgent needs, regardless of when and why they occur. For this reason, many donors not only give to their favorite charities through DAFs, but they also use them to give to CFGV funds to ensure that dollars are in place to support people in need the moment the next crisis hits.
At CFGV, we encourage you to reach out anytime. At this moment, though, when urgent needs and tax opportunities are occurring simultaneously, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. It is our honor to work with you and your fellow donors who care so deeply about our community.
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
Many families in Gunnison County are struggling right now. There are lots of different reasons times are hard. No matter the reason, CFGV can help you make a difference for people in the Gunnison Valley.
Your team at CFGV is in close contact with local nonprofits and government agencies working to help local families. We can connect you with organizations doing important work so you can volunteer or give. We have different types of funds that can help you set aside money now that you can give when needs are urgent. There may be ways to save on your taxes if you give more in 2025. We can help you think about your options.
Our team is available any time you want to partner to make a difference. If you’ve been thinking about doing something for a while, now is a great time to give. Contact us to talk about your goals.
