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Charitable giving is a crucial piece to any holistic and thoughtful approach to tax planning or wealth transfer strategy. If you haven’t yet considered the benefits of a giving vehicle that maximizes the tax benefits of giving, it’s time to discover more about donor-advised funds. 

Discover how Vanguard Charitable is supporting estate planning and how your clients can take advantage of our offerings. 

We’ll be sharing more at the Hawaii Tax Institute Conference on November 2-6, 2025. We look forward to meeting you there.

Review charitable causes you care about 

In autumn, many people slow down from the busy excitement of summer, reconnect with loved ones, and take stock of what really matters. If this is the case for you, then this is also the perfect time to ask yourself, “What’s my why?” when it comes to your charitable giving. 

How do you want to make an impact with your charitable giving? What charitable causes are you interested in? What charitable causes have you already given to? What charitable causes do you care about that haven’t yet received your support? As you craft your plan in the fall, there’s still time to support your favorite organizations before the new year. 

You can also take time to consider new opportunities and causes to support. Perhaps as you gather with family or friends, they’ll introduce you to a new challenge that you’d like to help solve with your financial support. As you consider your full philanthropic plan, you can discover charities you want to give to this year or even beyond. 

Autumn may also be your calm before the whirlwind that is the holiday season. If you’re sitting down to plan gifts for people before the new year but coming up short on what to give someone, giving to a charity in their honor could be the ideal present. If you grant with Vanguard Charitable, we make it easy to recommend a grant in honor of someone else. 

Look back on the events of the past year 

Perhaps you had a giving plan at the beginning of the year. However, throughout the year, unexpected events can occur that may influence how you approach your giving. 

If a primary goal of your charitable planning is to make the greatest impact and provide support where it’s needed most, then reviewing the events of the past year in the fall can ensure you are a responsive giver that makes informed decisions about your philanthropy. 

For example, natural disasters cause billions of dollars in damage and leave those affected in need of support long after the media has moved on to another headline. In addition to natural disasters, other events in the year such as disruptions in the market, elections, humanitarian crises, and other major incidents can create competitions for funds. Keeping an eye on the bigger picture when planning means that your charitable giving goes where and when it is needed most. 

As we approach the end of the year, you may discover that you can make a larger impact by adjusting the plan you’d originally set earlier in the year. As our latest report, Why Giving Matters: Responsive giving at donor-advised funds spurs greater total giving, shows, a Vanguard Charitable donor-advised fund (DAF) enables you to give responsively without disrupting your typical giving. 

Conclusion: Now’s the time for charitable planning 

While you don’t need the perfect charitable wealth plan on January 1st, don’t wait until the last month of the year to craft your year’s charitable giving strategy. Now that’s it fall, make the most of gathering with your loved ones. Sip on your favorite autumnal drink and get to work on a holistic giving plan to carry you through the rest of the year and possibly beyond. 

Are you ready to meet your philanthropic goals with Vanguard Charitable? Get started today!