Smart Ways to Support Causes You Care About in 2026

Charitable giving is one of the most meaningful ways to support the causes and communities that matter most to you. In 2026, it can also be one of the smartest. Many people think of giving as simply writing a check, but today’s tax laws offer a range of strategies that can help you do more good while also creating financial advantages for you and your family. For those who feel connected to the places that shaped them — including institutions like Stony Brook University — tools such as donor‑advised funds, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and charitable remainder trusts can make it easier to give to the causes you care about in a tax‑efficient, future‑focused way.

To help make sense of what’s new and what’s most helpful for Stony Brook alumni and friends, we turned to David Hungerford, a retirement planning specialist and wealth advisor with Black Oak Group/Equitable Advisors. He shared straightforward, practical ways to make your charitable giving work harder in 2026, both for the causes you care about and for your long‑term financial plans.

How to Navigate the New Universal Charitable Deduction in 2026

Under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill, most households will take the standard deduction in 2026 — $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $16,000 for single filers. Because of this, their charitable gifts won’t provide additional tax benefits unless their itemized deductions rise above those thresholds.

But this year brings two important changes:

• A new $6,000 senior bonus deduction is available for individuals age 65 and older, though higher incomes can reduce or eliminate this amount.
• A universal charitable deduction lets non‑itemizers deduct up to $1,000 (single) or $2,000 (married filing jointly) in cash gifts made directly to public charities.

For many donors — especially retirees and middle‑income households — this creates a simple way to contribute to the causes they care about while still receiving a meaningful tax benefit.

Why Giving Appreciated Stock Can Be Smarter Than Giving Cash

Most people default to writing a check or making a credit card gift when they want to contribute to a charity, but donating appreciated stock can often be a more tax‑efficient choice. When you donate stock that has grown in value, you avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation, and the charity receives the full value of the asset. By contrast, cash gifts only provide a tax benefit if you itemize, and under the new rules, many households simply won’t. That means a cash gift may not offer a tax advantage, even though the generosity is the same. For donors who want their gift to go further — especially those invested in places like the Stony Brook Foundation — appreciated stock can be a simple way to maximize impact without increasing the cost of the gift.

How Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) Can Make Giving Easier for Those 70.5+

For many retirees, a QCD is one of the simplest and most tax‑efficient ways to support a cause they care about, including Stony Brook. Once you reach the age where you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA, you can choose to send part of that distribution directly to a qualified charity. When you do, that amount is excluded from your taxable income, even if you don’t itemize.

This means the money goes directly from your IRA to charity without ever becoming taxable income for you. For example, someone who needs to take $50,000 in RMDs and directs $10,000 of it to charity can reduce taxable income, lower Medicare premiums and potentially qualify for other tax benefits tied to income levels. And because Stony Brook provides the required acknowledgment letter automatically, the process is straightforward for donors and their accountants.

For many retirees, a QCD is simply an easier, smarter way to give — redirecting future taxable income to the causes that matter most to them and their loved ones.

Donor‑Advised Funds and Beneficiary Designations: Flexible Ways to Give Over Time

If you’re not yet eligible for QCDs, a donor‑advised fund (DAF) offers another straightforward, tax‑efficient option for your charitable giving. A DAF allows you to contribute appreciated assets, such as stock, real estate or business interests, and avoid the capital gains tax you’d owe if you sold them yourself. You receive an immediate tax deduction in the year you fund the DAF, even if you plan to make charitable gifts gradually over several years. This can help some donors “bundle” contributions into one year to exceed the standard deduction, while still giving to Stony Brook annually in a way that fits their budget and planning. Because the assets can be invested inside the DAF, the fund may even grow over time, creating more charitable impact.

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts (CRUTs): A Giving Strategy That Also Provides Income

For donors with highly appreciated assets who also want reliable income in retirement, a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) can be a powerful tool. With a CRUT, you transfer appreciated property, such as long‑held stock or real estate, into a trust that you control as trustee. The trust then pays you (and, if desired, your spouse) a fixed percentage of its value, which is updated each year, for life. Because the asset is donated to the trust, you avoid immediate capital gains tax, and you receive a charitable deduction based on the future value that will eventually go to Stony Brook or another charity. For some donors, this creates a meaningful stream of steady income while also reducing taxable gains and strengthening the missions they care about. It’s a strategy that can turn a highly appreciated asset into both long‑term financial security and long‑term philanthropic impact.

Aligning Your Giving With What Matters Most

At the end of the day, the most meaningful giving starts with your values — the people, places and experiences that shaped who you are. Whether you’re using tools like QCDs, donor‑advised funds or charitable trusts, each option is simply a way to support the institutions and communities that matter most to you. For many alumni and friends, Stony Brook is one of those places, a source of opportunity, discovery and connection that continues to make a difference in the world.

If you’re thinking about how to align your long‑term financial planning with your philanthropic goals, our Gift Planning team is here to help you explore the approaches that fit your situation and the impact you want to make. They can walk you through options, answer questions and help you use these tools in a way that makes a lasting difference for both your and Stony Brook’s future.

__________________________________________________________

More about our expert David Hungerford

David L. Hungerford Sr., ChFC, CLU, AIF, CPFA retired from the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander. In 1978, he entered the financial industry and is a specialist in all aspects of retirement planning. He is a partner in The Black Oak Group.

As a veteran himself, Hungerford supports the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University. He is deeply committed to giving back to those who have served, drawing on his own experience in the military. As a dedicated ambassador and advocate, he champions access to high‑quality care, resources and opportunities that strengthen the lives of veterans and their families.