If you take the standard deduction:

Q: Will I get a tax benefit for my donations?

• • Yes! For the first time in years, beginning in 2026, you can deduct some charitable donations even if you take the standard deduction. This is called an “above-the-line” deduction.

Q: How much can I deduct?

• • Beginning in 2026, You can deduct up to:
    • $1,000 if you file as single
    • $2,000 if you’re married and filing jointly
  • This is in addition to your standard deduction

Q: What donations count toward this new donation?

• • Only direct cash donations to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization like Reach Beyond. The following donations do not qualify:
    • Donations to donor-advised funds
    • Donations to private foundations
    • Non-cash donations

If you itemize your deductions:

 Q: Will I get a tax benefit for my donations?

• • Beginning in 2026, You can only deduct donations that exceed 0.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Think of this as a “giving threshold” you must cross before getting any tax benefit.
  • If you are in the top tax bracket, there are new limits to deductions – charitable deductions will be capped at a 35% tax savings rate rather than the current 37%.

Q: Should I still donate to donor-advised funds?

• • Yes! If you itemize, donations to donor-advised funds work exactly like any other charitable donation for tax purposes. You get the deduction in the year you contribute to the fund, not when grants are made.
  • Donor-advised funds are valuable because you get the full tax benefit immediately while maintaining flexibility in how you distribute grants to charities over time.

Q: I’m calling on behalf of a corporate organization. How does this affect us?

• • Starting in 2026, corporations face a new 1% floor. Only charitable donations above 1% of taxable income qualify for tax deductions.
  • Corporations can deduct charitable donations up to a maximum of 10% of their taxable income. Carryforward rules will continue to apply for excess contributions. Donations that exceed the 10% limit can carry over to the next tax year.

If you have an IRA:

Q: What benefits are there from giving through an IRA?

• • If you have a traditional IRA, you are required to begin taking distributions when you turn 73. These are called Required Minimum Distributions (RMD). You are not required to take withdrawals from Roth IRAs.
  • Normally, traditional IRA distributions are taxable income. However, A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to send your required distribution directly to a non-profit organization like Reach Beyond, while avoiding taxes on those funds.

Q: Why doesn’t my IRA gift show as “deductible” on my receipt or year-end giving summary?

• • Funds that you contribute to your traditional IRA are not taxed at the time of that contribution. When you make Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA to an organization like Reach Beyond, that distribution is also untaxed as it leaves your IRA. This means that the funds given through a QCD are never considered part of your taxable income and cannot normally be used to reduce your tax liability through itemized deductions (since you are already receiving the tax benefit of avoiding income tax entirely).

Q: What information do I need to communicate to my IRA custodian to make sure my gift is processed promptly and accurately?

• • IRA QCDs are relatively new, and many custodians (the brokerage or investment company that manages your IRA), are still establishing best practices as far as what information is included on, or with the check. It’s important to confirm with your custodian that at least your name will be included with the check. If we at least have your name, we can either apply the gift to the same missionary or project you typically give to, or contact you to confirm how you’d like your gift designated. If you can provide extra details such as your address, phone number, email, and the name of the missionary or project you wish to support with your gift, it will greatly assist our donor services team.

Learn more by checking out these great resources from the National Christian Foundation:

Please talk to your tax advisor to see how these changes will affect you and ways you can maximize your giving in 2025 and 2026.