Make 2026 your most impactful year of giving yet

As we enter the new year, it's the perfect time to set intentions for your giving journey. For a truly rewarding philanthropic experience this year, go beyond transactional giving to deeply engage with the causes you care about. Here’s how to make 2026 your most impactful year of giving by elevating your relationship with nonprofits from donor to true philanthropic partner. 

The partnership approach: Beyond transactional giving 

The most impactful donor-nonprofit relationships are built on genuine partnerships, not just transactions. While financial support provides an essential foundation, donors who contribute in additional ways create connections that benefit everyone involved: the donor, the organization, and the communities they serve together.

This holistic approach to philanthropy is often called the "three Ts": Time, Talent, and Treasure. Donors can volunteer their hours (Time), share their unique skills and expertise (Talent), and make monetary or material donations (Treasure). When you bring all three to your giving, you move beyond financial generosity to building enduring relationships that create lasting change. 

Start with the foundation: Strategic treasure giving 

Treasure encompasses all financial and material gifts, from cash and appreciated securities to real estate, art, and other valuable assets. With such an array of gifts to work with, giving treasure can sometimes feel complicated or overwhelming. This is where a Vanguard Charitable donor-advised fund (DAF) becomes your most powerful tool. A DAF isn't just a tax-efficient giving vehicle. It serves as a command center, providing the essential infrastructure you need to be the kind of donor that nonprofits dream of working with—strategic, engaged, reliable, and deeply committed to shared success.

For simple or complex gifts: Whether you're making a straightforward cash contribution or donating appreciated stocks, private equity, LLC interests, or other complex assets, a DAF simplifies the process. Many smaller nonprofits lack the resources to manage complicated asset liquidations, which can delay or prevent acceptance of valuable gifts. Your DAF handles this complexity, ensuring your contributions reach the causes you care about while maximizing your tax benefits.

For meaningful partnerships: When donors give with a DAF, nonprofits receive consistent, well-managed support of the grant. This relieves administrative burden and frees up nonprofits to focus on what they do best, creating change. Thanks to the flexibility of a DAF, donors are uniquely equipped to provide nonprofits with reliable financial assistance that enables them to plan strategically and deliver mission-critical programming where it is needed most.

Deepen engagement through time and talent 

With your financial giving streamlined through a DAF, you can focus on the direct engagement that transforms donors into partners. 

Time: The power of showing up

Whether you're collecting and distributing basic needs items, serving meals at a community kitchen, or volunteering for religious organizations, hands-on involvement gives you a deeper understanding of a nonprofit's mission. You see your charitable dollars at work in real time and form authentic relationships with staff, fellow volunteers, and the communities being served. These connections help you determine if the nonprofit's goals align with your own values and charitable giving plans. 

Our 2025 Why Giving Matters report explored this powerful connection between engagement and impact. The research found that as Vanguard Charitable donors became more involved with their favorite causes, their support naturally extended beyond monetary gifts.* This engagement creates a virtuous cycle: involvement deepens commitment, and commitment inspires greater involvement.

Talent: Sharing your expertise

Your professional expertise, specialized knowledge, and unique skills are incredibly valuable assets for nonprofits. Skills-based volunteering, such as building a website, providing pro bono legal guidance, or planning a fundraising event, allows you to make an outsized impact in areas where organizations need it most. 

Board membership plays a particularly significant role in creating positive change with lasting impact. According to a 2024 Bank of America study** of ultra-high-net-worth donors, 14% of younger donors (aged 21 to 43) sit on boards, while 10% of older donors (aged 44 or older) serve in these leadership positions. 

Board service combines governance expertise with strategic philanthropy, helping shape an organization's long-term vision and sustainability. Furthermore, board members and skilled volunteers often have the deepest insights into where an organization needs financial support most. The flexibility of a DAF allows you to respond quickly to those needs, strengthening your ability to serve as a true strategic partner.