If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether you’re giving to the “right” organizations, you are not alone. This is where the Wayne County Foundation can help.

One of the most valuable roles the Foundation plays is serving as a trusted, knowledgeable partner in your philanthropy. Our team works closely with nonprofit organizations across the region and maintains a deep understanding of the issues shaping our community. This allows us to provide more than just options; we can offer context. For example, if you’re interested in supporting a particular cause, we can share insight into how that issue is affecting our community right now, which organizations are actively addressing it, and where additional support could make a meaningful difference.

In addition to offering perspective, the Foundation can also assist with due diligence. While many organizations are doing excellent work, it’s natural to want reassurance that your gifts are being used effectively and in alignment with your intentions. Our team can help review organizations’ missions, programs, and governance practices, and provide guidance based on our experience working with nonprofits of all sizes and focus areas. This can be especially helpful if you are considering supporting an organization that is new to you or responding to a timely or urgent need.

For many donors, this combination of insight and due diligence leads to greater confidence, not just in individual gifts, but in their overall approach to philanthropy.

Just as importantly, working with the Foundation can help you step back and think more strategically about your giving. Rather than approaching each donation as a separate decision, you may find it helpful to consider how your gifts fit together over time. Are there certain causes you’d like to prioritize? Would you like to balance immediate needs with long-term impact? Are there opportunities to involve your family in the process?

These are the types of conversations the Wayne County Foundation is here to support. Whether you prefer to remain hands-on in selecting organizations or would like help narrowing your focus, our team can tailor our approach to fit your preferences and goals.

The result is not a rigid plan, but a more confident and informed path forward.

Philanthropy is personal, and there is no single “right” way to give. But having a trusted partner can make the process feel more manageable and more meaningful. The Foundation is honored to work alongside you, helping ensure that your generosity is guided by both your values and a clear understanding of how to make the greatest impact.

After the deadline has passed, it’s tempting to move on and not revisit these decisions until later in the year. But the weeks immediately following filing your tax return are actually one of the best times to take a step back and reflect while the details are still fresh. This is especially important in 2026 because so many tax laws have changed.

If you experienced any surprises this tax season, that’s especially worth discussing. Often, small adjustments made early in the year, rather than in December, can lead to better outcomes both financially and philanthropically. 

Here are common regrets and how the Wayne County Foundation can help for the 2026 tax year and beyond. 

Giving cash instead of appreciated assets

Many donors regret using cash or credit cards to make large donations instead of gifting appreciated assets (such as stocks, mutual funds, or real estate) held for more than one year. 

The regret: Selling assets to donate the cash results in paying capital gains tax on the profit.

The better move: By donating the asset directly to your fund at the Foundation or to another qualified charity, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and deduct the full fair market value if you itemize. 

Missing out on “bunching” to surpass the standard deduction

The standard deduction was increased under 2017 changes to the tax laws and has stayed high ever since. This can cause missed opportunities for charitable deductions.

The regret: Spreading donations evenly across the years and not exceeding the standard deduction threshold.

The better move: “Bunching” multiple years of donations into a single tax year by using a donor advised fund at the Foundation to exceed the standard deduction and claim a tax deduction for that year. 

Pro tip: Planning around tax rules is especially important for 2026 and future tax years because not only is the standard deduction still high, but also charitable deductions are now subject to a 0.5% “floor” and a 35% cap. Be sure to talk with your tax advisors early in the year to structure a plan that will work best for you.

Lack of proper documentation 

Sadly, many donors fail to keep adequate records, leading to potential deductions being disallowed by the IRS. 

The mistake: Failing to get written acknowledgment from the charity for donations over $250, or not having a bank record for smaller cash gifts.

The problem: Without documentation, even genuine donations can be disallowed upon audit. 

Honorable mentions

Beyond the “big three,” donors also report regrets such as:

• Overlooking IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). Taxpayers 70½ or older forget they can directly donate to charity from their IRAs, which can help satisfy RMD obligations without increasing their taxable income. (Note that changes may be coming that could allow you to use QCDs to fund your donor advised fund at the Wayne County Foundation. Currently, QCDs can fund other types of funds at the Foundation, but not donor advised funds.)  
• Donating to non-qualified entities. Giving to organizations that are not 501(c)(3) nonprofits, meaning that these donations are not tax-deductible. Working with the experienced team at the Foundation can help you avoid this pitfall. 
• Overvaluing non-cash donations. Inflating the value of donated goods (such as clothing or used cars) rather than using their fair market value (thrift store value). This could come back to bite you in an audit!

Hoping to avoid tax season remorse next year? Please reach out to the team at the Wayne County Foundation. We want to be your first call on all matters of charitable giving. Whether you established a fund at the Foundation years ago, recently became a fund holder, or are considering doing so this year, we are here for you!

That dynamic is especially relevant as many are watching the markets closely this spring. Even the possibility of a downturn can influence financial decisions, including charitable giving. It is natural to feel more cautious. At the same time, history shows that community needs often increase during challenging economic periods, making it all the more important to stay engaged in philanthropy.

As you think about your charitable giving this year, this may be a good moment to step back and consider not only where you give, but also how you structure your giving for long-term impact. In particular, it is important for donors and fund holders to consider expanding their portfolio of giving to include giving to the Wayne County Foundation itself.

This can take several forms, each of which plays a meaningful role.

Operating support

Some donors choose to support the Foundation’s operations across generations. This type of support helps ensure that the foundation can continue serving as a trusted resource connecting donors to causes, responding to emerging needs, and stewarding charitable funds with care and expertise well into the future. It is an investment not only in today’s giving, but also in the long-term strength of the philanthropic infrastructure in our community.

Support for grant programs

Other donors focus on increasing the Foundation’s grantmaking resources so that more money can flow from the Foundation to nonprofits that are helping those in need, especially when times are tough. Contributions to unrestricted or broadly focused funds allow the Foundation to respond quickly and thoughtfully to the most pressing challenges facing our region. During periods of economic strain, this flexibility can be especially powerful, enabling support to reach the people and organizations that need it most, at the moment it matters most.

A hybrid approach

In many cases, donors adopt a dual strategy of continuing to support favorite organizations directly or through the Wayne County Foundation’s grant programs while also allocating a portion of their giving to the Foundation itself. This approach can help balance personal philanthropic interests with broader community impact, creating a more resilient and adaptable giving strategy.

The Foundation’s unique role is what makes any or all of these approaches so effective. As a perpetual institution governed by a local board of directors, the Foundation is designed to serve the community not just today, but across generations. Our team maintains deep knowledge of local needs, works closely with nonprofit partners, and is positioned to deploy resources where they can do the greatest good over time.

Especially in moments when the future feels uncertain, expanding your portfolio of giving in this way can provide an added layer of confidence. You can continue supporting the causes you care about while also strengthening the Foundation’s ability to lead, respond, and make a difference, now and in the years ahead.

We are honored to work alongside you as you consider how your philanthropy can support both immediate needs and lasting impact for our entire community.

Here’s a case study to illustrate a scenario similar to what you might experience in your own practice.

When Mark and Elaine come into your office to update their estate and financial plans, retirement is only part of the future picture they’d like to discuss. At 66 and 64, they are financially secure, but the larger question is the future of the family business. After three decades of ownership, they are beginning to explore selling the business within the next few years.

The first part of your conversation is very familiar: income projections, portfolio sustainability, and how the family business’s corporate structure could evolve to allow Mark and Elaine to step back from day-to-day operations. If you are their financial advisor or CPA, you might run the models, stress-test assumptions, and outline what taxes and retirement could look like if a liquidity event occurs. If you are their estate planning attorney, you might review the company’s legal structure and emergency transition plans. 

In any case, you know the numbers are strong. A sale would more than fund Mark and Elaine’s lifetime needs. But as your conversation deepens, a more complex issue surfaces: what does succession look like? Not just operationally, but reputationally and relationally?

“Our two adult children are not active in the business,” says Mark. “A third-party sale is inevitable, and we are fine with that financially, but it’s a gut punch emotionally.” A concerned expression crosses Mark’s face as he considers his feelings about a sale to non-family members. “The company’s name carries a lot of weight in the community,” he says. “For years, the business has been closely associated with the family’s identity and local impact. So what happens to that identity if we sell?” Mark wonders aloud.

Elaine’s concern is more inward-facing. “I really want our children to stay aligned after a liquidity event. For so many years, company events and trips have been where we’ve all gathered. I hate to think of that ‘glue’ disappearing in an instant.” Elaine says she has seen other families fracture after a business sale. “They barely see each other anymore,” she remarks.

This is where you introduce a broader planning lens. You validate that a business sale is not only a financial event, but it’s also deeply personal and public at the same time. “How the family positions itself before, during, and after that transition can shape both community legitimacy and internal unity for decades,” you say. “So you both are spot on with your concerns.”

You suggest that philanthropy, structured intentionally before a sale, can serve as a bridge. What you mean is that Mark and Elaine could explore the option to transfer shares in the business to a donor advised fund at the Wayne County Foundation, well in advance of any potential transaction. Then, when the business is sold, a portion of the proceeds lands in the donor advised fund.

The tax advantages of the transaction are meaningful. By donating a portion of closely held stock before a legally binding sale process begins, Mark and Elaine are eligible for an income tax deduction, subject to AGI limitations, based on the stock’s fair market value at the time of the gift. Later, when the business is sold, the proceeds on the shares held by the donor advised fund are not subject to capital gains tax.

Still, you emphasize that tax efficiency is only one layer.

Creating a donor advised fund before the sale allows the family, working together, to articulate a charitable mission while the business is still operating. It signals continuity: although ownership may change, the family’s commitment to the community does not.

You suggest to Mark and Elaine that the Foundation team join the next meeting. Of course, you remain responsible for facilitating the transaction and coordinating with other advisors. But the Wayne County Foundation’s philanthropic advisors can facilitate conversations that go beyond the corporate, legal, financial, and tax aspects, leading a dialogue focused on questions that will shape the family’s philanthropy plan, such as:

• What causes reflect the values that built the business?
• How should the family’s name be represented post-sale?
• What governance structure will guide the next generation’s involvement?

You also share with Mark and Elaine that the Foundation can host structured family meetings, provide community needs assessments, and introduce best practices for multigenerational philanthropy. Importantly, this gives the children a meaningful role before liquidity occurs. Instead of simply awaiting proceeds, they begin working together to recommend grants, evaluate impact, and represent the family publicly.

In effect, philanthropy becomes a training ground for shared decision-making without the operational risk of running a company.

Mark and Elaine love this suggestion. “Let’s do it,” Elaine says. “This plan makes us feel like a future sale is less like an ending and more like a pivot.” 

Mark and Elaine’s situation is one of many examples of cases where a family business may eventually change hands. But through an intentional philanthropic structure designed in coordination with the Foundation, the family’s influence, values, and unity continue. Please reach out to our team anytime. It is our pleasure to help you serve your charitable clients through all stages of their lives.

In two recent rulings, the underlying message is consistent: Courts and the IRS continue to apply the technical requirements governing charitable deductions with precision. Your clients’ good intentions are not enough. 

Strict substantiation: A familiar but critical reminder

Gibson v. Commissionerserves as yet another reminder that it is crucial for your clients to substantiate their charitable deductions. Time and again, both the IRS and the Tax Court have disallowed a taxpayer’s deduction because rules were not followed. In Gibson, a married couple claimed nearly $194,000 in noncash charitable contributions related to donated personal property. The court did not dispute that tangible items were transferred to a charitable organization. Instead, the deduction failed because the taxpayers did not satisfy the detailed substantiation requirements—specifically, contemporaneous written acknowledgments and qualified appraisal standards.

No matter how strong a client’s desire to make a difference through charitable donations, technical compliance drives deductibility. Form 8283 thresholds, appraisal rules, and acknowledgment language are not administrative formalities; they are statutory requirements. The Gibson case provides a practical example to share with clients who may be inclined to “drop off” significant in-kind gifts without first consulting their advisory team. 

Here’s the key takeaway: Even though you as an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor may fully understand the importance of following the rules, you still need to remind your clients regularly. You don’t want a client to ask, “Why didn’t you tell us?” when they learn the hard way that they should have kept better records. 

Exempt status is not forever

The lesson in Milk Saving Starving Children Foundation v. Commissioner is that if you say you’ve got milk, you’d better have milk! In Milk, the Tax Court upheld the IRS’s revocation of 501(c)(3) status for an organization that failed to operate exclusively for charitable purposes and conferred impermissible private benefits. The organization’s stated mission, to distribute milk, was in fact charitable. Over time, though, its operations drifted away from distributing milk to operating a coffee shop and hosting a golf tournament. 

Here’s why we’re sharing this case:

• The Tax Court’s written opinion in Milk provides a terrific overview of the legal principles behind one of the cornerstones of tax-exempt status: a charity’s ongoing activities must further its exempt purposes. As you bring new attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors into your practice, the Milk case is simply terrific for training purposes. 
• As it applies to your client work, remember the Milk case when a client expresses interest in supporting a lesser-known or newly formed organization. Please reach out to the Foundation in these instances, as our team can provide insight on any charitable organization, whether well-established or new, and offer safeguards through field of interest funds and other vehicles.

Thank you for the opportunity to work together to serve your charitable clients! Our goal, as always, is to serve as a practical resource, helping you ensure that your clients’ charitable intentions are fulfilled with clarity, compliance, and confidence.

March is an especially good time to reflect on the evolving role of women in philanthropy because it’s Women’s History Month. Increasingly, women are leading charitable decisions in their families, especially as more women are serving as primary financial decision-makers, according to Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Women Give 2024: 20 Years of Gender & Giving Trends. 

Many scenarios are driving this change, including:

• In many families, as the study indicates, a leadership shift happens gradually. For example, a daughter becomes more engaged over the years in conversations about the family’s charitable giving. Or a spouse who once deferred philanthropic decisions begins to shape priorities more directly. 
• In other cases, according to the research, the transition is sudden and deeply personal, often following the death of a spouse or parent, when a woman assumes sole responsibility for stewarding both financial assets and charitable intent.
• In many cases, women are building wealth through their own careers or entrepreneurial ventures and bringing a deeply personal approach to philanthropy. For example, a business owner who has grown a successful company may establish giving priorities that reflect her values, lived experiences, and the communities that supported her along the way.
• Other women are emerging as philanthropic leaders through professional success in fields such as medicine, law, technology, or finance. As primary earners, they are proactively shaping charitable strategies—often seeking to align their giving with both personal passions and measurable community impact.
• A growing number of next-generation women are also creating wealth earlier in life and choosing to engage in philanthropy sooner. Whether through startups, investments, or leadership roles, they are not only contributing financially but also bringing fresh perspectives, collaborative approaches, and a strong desire to see tangible results from their giving.

Here are four examples of how your awareness of these trends can play out in your day-to-day practice:

Help your clients give through thick and thin.

According to the Women Give 2024 study, over the past two decades, single women experienced a smaller decline in charitable participation than single men, and their average giving amounts held steadier or increased in certain contexts (e.g., secular causes during COVID-19). Be aware of this trend as you represent single women; it may be a priority for them to continue giving even when times are tough. The Foundation can help you develop a charitable giving plan to enable women-led philanthropy to continue through life’s ups and downs.

Discuss national trends and local needs. 

According to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, for the first time, between 2022 and 2023, giving to women’s and girls’ organizations surpassed 2% of overall charitable giving. This represents over $11 billion going to women’s and girls’ organizations each year. Note, however, that when adjusted for inflation, the amount actually declined between 2021 and 2023. This trend is worth mentioning to clients, especially with the help of the Foundation team to share parallel local trends and opportunities to make an impact.

Ask about all forms of philanthropy.

According to the 2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households, 43% of affluent households volunteered in 2024, up from 37% in 2022. Volunteers tend to give more and support causes more deeply, a pattern often stronger among women. Be sure to ask your female clients about causes they support both financially and through volunteerism. 

Tailor advice for single women.

Research shows that participation trends vary by household type, with single women maintaining more consistent giving patterns over long periods. Pay particular attention to building thoughtful charitable giving plans for single-woman households. The Wayne County Foundation can help maximize both impact and financial planning goals as you serve these clients.

As is the case when you are working with any charitable client, our team is honored to be your partner. Whether your client is establishing a new structure, building a comprehensive strategy around an existing donor-advised or other type of fund, or navigating inherited philanthropic responsibilities, we are here to help ensure their giving reflects both enduring legacy and evolving purpose.

Becky has a long history of servant leadership expressed through volunteerism, board service, and financial support. Having contributed to well over 15 nonprofits — including Every Child Can Read, Reid Health and the Reid Foundation, Girl Scouts, Tri Kappa, A Better Way/Genesis, and Richmond Civic Theatre, among many others — her commitment and dedication have left a lasting mark across the sector. Becky, along with her family, also established the Jimmy Miller Fund, a donor advised fund at the Wayne County Foundation, created to honor her brother’s life and carry forward his legacy of inclusion and joy. Becky was nominated by Every Child Can Read.

Lee Ann spent much of her professional career working in the School of Education at Indiana University East, where she made an impact on thousands of students. Today, she volunteers nearly 20 hours each week at the Richmond Friends School, nurturing early literacy through books and singing in the pre-k and kindergarten classrooms at Trueblood Preschool. From empowering individuals with disabilities by volunteering with the Independent Living Center of Eastern Indiana to teaching adults how to read with the Wayne County Literacy Coalition, it’s clear that Lee Ann has changed countless lives in our community for the better. Lee Ann was nominated by Richmond Friends School.

The selection committee reviewed an outstanding group of candidates, but Becky and Lee Ann rose to the top for the meaningful and lasting difference they have made in Wayne County’s philanthropic and nonprofit community.

“We are honored to recognize Becky and Lee Ann for the remarkable impact they have made in our community,” said Rebecca Gilliam, Executive Director of the Wayne County Foundation. “Their unwavering commitment to service, generosity, and compassion truly embodies the spirit of these awards, and we look forward to celebrating them alongside the community this summer.”

Every Child Can Read and Richmond Friends School will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted grant from the Foundation in honor of their nominees.

The Wayne County Foundation will host a special celebration in honor of Becky and Lee Ann at the annual Summer Celebration later this year. This event will provide an opportunity for the community to come together and recognize their outstanding efforts in making Wayne County a better place for all.

Since 1979, the Wayne County Foundation has existed to foster and encourage private philanthropic giving, to enhance the spirit of community, and to improve the quality of life in the Wayne County, Indiana, area now and for future generations.

Most of us can think of something we fully intend to do someday. Organize the photos. Update the estate plan. Have that family meeting. Reboot the exercise routine. Charitable planning often falls into that same category.

We hear from many generous people who care deeply about their community and fully intend to “do more” with their philanthropy. But life is busy. The calendar fills up. Markets fluctuate. Family and business priorities shift. It can feel easier to wait for the perfect moment when things feel calmer, clearer, or more certain.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. And it is not a sign of indifference. More often, it reflects uncertainty. You may wonder:

• Am I giving to the right organizations?
• Am I committing too much too soon?
• What if my priorities change?
• What if I want to involve my children later?

When every decision feels permanent, it is natural to pause. The Wayne County Foundation can help you shift gears from intention to action. Here are three principles that guide our work with donors in this situation.

Take it one step at a time

One of the most helpful mental shifts is to think of charitable planning as a multi-step process rather than a single, all-or-nothing decision. In many cases, a tax planning need takes precedence because of concrete deadlines and tax year considerations. Our team understands! That’s why we are happy to help you establish a donor advised fund, for example, to meet an immediate tax planning need. With that time-sensitive box checked, we’ll move on to discussing how you’d like to deploy the fund’s resources, involve family members in the decision-making process, and adjust your giving as your interests evolve.

Keep it simple

Sometimes the hardest part of giving is not generosity, it’s decision fatigue.

You might be asking yourself, “Where should I give?” Often, that’s not the best question to ask right out of the gate, especially if you are new to philanthropy. The team at the Foundation can help you work through key threshold questions including:

• As I look back on my charitable giving, what areas of focus seem to jump out? 
• What specific charities have I supported over the years? 
• Why have I supported those charities?
• Is there anything about my areas of focus that I’d like to change going forward?

As we explore these questions together, our team can provide research on local nonprofits, share insights about community needs, and facilitate family conversations about values and priorities. 

Adopt long-term thinking

Community change does not happen overnight. You may find that your charitable intentions include not only providing annual support to favorite charities, but also making a meaningful difference over many years or even many decades that extend well beyond your lifetime. 

The team at the Foundation can help you structure not only a donor advised fund to help organize your annual giving, but also other types of funds and a legacy plan. Many families, for example, complement their donor advised fund by also establishing a field of interest fund to support a particular cause with built-in flexibility as community needs change. Similarly, a designated fund can provide long-term support to specific organizations, and an unrestricted fund allows you to leverage the Foundation’s deep expertise and perpetual structure to address emerging community priorities for generations to come. You can name one or more of these funds as a beneficiary in your estate plan, whether through a gift in your will or trust or through a beneficiary designation on an IRA.

The bottom line is that the Foundation is here for you along your entire charitable giving journey. We’ll work together to build and implement your philanthropy plan brick by brick over the years to come, involving your tax advisors and family members at key junctures and always ensuring that your charitable intentions, even as they evolve over time, are fulfilled.

It’s tax season, which means it’s a terrific time to ensure that your charitable giving goals are on track. If you’ve already established a fund at the Wayne County Foundation, please reach out to discuss your charitable priorities for 2026 and beyond. If you’ve not yet established a fund but are considering doing so, we hope you’ll reach out, too!

Even if a professional prepares your income tax return, it’s useful to quickly review a few basic rules to pave the way for the conversation about charitable planning, especially in light of key tax law changes effective on January 1, 2026. 

Here are four items to discuss with (and forward to!) your CPA.

New rules for itemizing charitable deductions

As in prior years, charitable contributions are deductible only if you itemize your deductions. If your total itemized deductions do not exceed the standard deduction, your charitable gifts will not generate an additional tax benefit (with one exception discussed below). 

What’s new for 2026 is a threshold for itemizers: charitable deductions are allowed only to the extent they exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income. In practical terms, this functions like a deductible. If your AGI is $200,000, for example, the first $1,000 of charitable contributions will not be deductible. Only amounts above that level are eligible, subject to existing percentage-of-income limits. For some people, this change may make it more appealing to “bundle” or “bunch” contributions into a single year, such as through a donor advised fund at the Foundation, so that total giving comfortably exceeds both the standard deduction and the new AGI floor.

In addition, beginning in 2026, the value of itemized charitable deductions is capped at a 35% rate. So, even if you are in the 37% federal bracket, your charitable deduction will not offset income at your full marginal rate. While philanthropy is rarely motivated solely by taxes, this adjustment may influence the timing, structure, or asset selection for major gifts. Coordinating early with both your tax advisors and the Foundation team can help you evaluate the most efficient approach.

Finally, in a bit of good news, the long-standing rule allowing cash gifts to qualified public charities (such as your fund at the Foundation) to be deducted up to 60% of AGI has been made permanent (after clearing the new 0.5% AGI floor). Gifts of appreciated assets, such as stock or real estate, are generally deductible up to 30% of AGI. 

New deduction for non-itemizers

Beginning in 2026, even if you do not itemize deductions on your tax return, you may claim an above-the-line charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers or up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, for cash gifts to qualifying charities. Because this deduction reduces income before AGI is calculated, it can provide a meaningful benefit. It does not apply to non-cash gifts, and certain types of funds, such as donor advised funds, are not eligible for this particular deduction. Even so, this new rule creates planning opportunities for many households that previously saw no tax impact from their annual giving. Keep this in mind for young adult children who do not yet itemize and who would like to start getting involved in charitable giving.

Document your charitable deductions

Not surprisingly, documentation rules remain in place. Gifts over $250 require a written acknowledgment from the charity. (The Foundation provides this for gifts into a fund or to the Foundation itself.) Non-cash gifts valued at $500 or more require IRS Form 8283, and qualified appraisals are required for donations over $5,000, such as closely held stock or real estate. 

If you organize your giving through a donor advised fund at the Foundation, you might consider structuring your annual giving so that you receive a single tax receipt for your annual contribution of cash, stock, or other assets to the fund. Your CPA won’t need separate receipts for each grant the fund distributes to your favorite charities. Many donors find this consolidated recordkeeping especially helpful at tax time. 

If you are age 70 ½ or older, consider gifts from your IRAs

Qualified Charitable Distributions may be even more valuable under the new tax rules. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can use a QCD to direct funds from your IRA to certain types of charitable funds at the Foundation and other public charities. The 2026 annual limit is $111,000 per taxpayer, allowing you to transfer significant amounts to charity without including the distribution in taxable income. QCDs can also satisfy required minimum distributions if you’ve reached the age where those apply. 

Importantly, QCDs are not affected by the new itemized deduction floor or deduction caps, making them an especially efficient strategy for many retirees. As a reminder, QCDs cannot be directed to donor advised funds, but they can support designated, field of interest, or unrestricted funds at the Foundation.

The charitable tax rules have always required thoughtful planning. In 2026, that planning is simply more nuanced. We encourage you to forward this summary to your CPA or bring it to your next meeting. When you do, please keep us in the loop. It is our honor to work alongside your tax, legal, and financial advisors to help structure your giving in a way that aligns with both your philanthropic goals and your overall financial plan.

March is Women’s History Month, and it’s a great time to check in on the increasing role of women in philanthropy. At the Wayne County Foundation, we are honored to work with women across multiple generations.

A prime example of women in philanthropy is the Women’s Fund of the Wayne County Foundation. The flexible structure of the Women’s Fund is designed to give credibility to women’s philanthropy and women’s challenges, assure sustainability, maximize community impact and ensure grantee success. The Women’s Fund has given more than $400,000 in grants to causes that support women and girls.

Women’s growing control over wealth is fueling transformative potential to reshape philanthropy. According to research-based analysis published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, over the next decade, trillions of dollars will transfer to women through inheritance, earnings, and outliving male partners in heterosexual couples. 

What’s more, research from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, including Women Give 2024: 20 Years of Gender & Giving Trends, supports what many are seeing firsthand: women are increasingly leading charitable decisions within their families. Sometimes this shift happens gradually; a daughter becomes more involved in conversations about family giving, or a spouse who once deferred decisions begins shaping philanthropic priorities more directly. In other cases, the transition is sudden and deeply personal, such as after the death of a spouse or parent, when a woman assumes sole responsibility for stewarding both financial assets and charitable intent.

You’re likely familiar with high-profile examples such as MacKenzie Scott and Melinda Gates. But the trend is much more widespread than just a few big names. Indeed, women often give more generously, more broadly, and more collaboratively than men. Notably, the ways women approach philanthropy differ significantly from men’s, especially with respect to motivations such as empathy, personal priorities, and firsthand involvement.  

As women step more fully into philanthropic leadership, thoughtful planning can help ensure that their giving remains impactful and sustainable. Here are three ways the Wayne County Foundation often partners with women and families to implement philanthropic intentions:

Creating a family philanthropy vehicle
A donor advised fund at the Foundation can provide a flexible structure for collaborative giving. Many women choose to involve children or grandchildren as co-advisors, turning grantmaking into an opportunity to share values and learn together about community needs. These funds can be established with tax-efficient assets, such as appreciated stock or other complex assets, helping maximize both impact and stewardship.

Focusing on a cause for the long term
For donors who feel called to support a particular issue, such as education, healthcare, the arts, emergency assistance, or another area of personal significance, a field-of-interest fund can provide both focus and flexibility. For donors age 70 ½ or older, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to certain types of funds at the Foundation (excluding donor advised funds) from an IRA may offer an efficient way to support charitable priorities during life. Furthermore, naming a donor advised fund as an IRA beneficiary can extend that support well beyond the donor’s lifetime.

Strengthening a favorite organization
Some women dedicate years of service to a specific nonprofit. In these cases, strategic planning can ensure that commitment endures. Grants can address immediate needs such as staffing or infrastructure, while a designated fund (an eligible recipient of a QCD) can provide dependable annual support for generations to come.

Women’s philanthropy continues to shape our communities in profound ways. Whether leadership transitions happen gradually or through life-changing events, the opportunity to align generosity with long-term purpose is powerful. 

As always, the Foundation is here for women and here for everyone. It is our honor to support your philanthropy, helping ensure it reflects both an enduring legacy and evolving purpose. We look forward to our next conversation!