Give Tax-Smart All Year
Cash, Stock, Donor Advised Funds (DAF), IRA Gifts
FAQs, Smart-Giving, Timing, End of Year Considerations
At Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, we’re grateful to be your local hunger-relief partner, helping ensure your year-round and year-end giving directly supports families right here in our community.
Tax-Wise Giving FAQs
Supporting Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County
Yes. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Your donation counts in the year it is made.
- Online and credit card gifts must be completed by December 31.
- Checks must be postmarked by December 31.
- Gifts of stock or other assets must be transferred to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County by year-end.
Yes. Donating long-term appreciated stocks or mutual funds directly to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County may offer significant tax advantages. In many cases, donors can deduct the full fair market value of the asset and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation.
> Learn more about giving stock: Explore non-cash giving options
A Donor Advised Fund allows you to recommend grants to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County from an account you’ve already funded. Many donors use DAFs to:
• Receive a tax deduction in the year they contribute to the fund
• Support nonprofits over time
• Simplify their charitable giving
> Recommend a grant through your DAF: Explore non-cash giving options
Yes. If you are 70½ or older, you may be eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA directly to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. QCDs can satisfy all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution and are excluded from taxable income.
> Learn how to make an IRA charitable gift: Explore non-cash giving options
Yes. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County provides written acknowledgment for all eligible donations. The IRS requires written acknowledgment for gifts of $250 or more.
We recommend keeping:
• Your donation receipt or acknowledgment letter
• Bank or credit card statements
• Documentation for non-cash gifts, such as stock transfers
These records help ensure your generosity is fully recognized at tax time.
Yes. A tax or financial advisor can help you determine the most effective way to support Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County while aligning with your overall financial goals.
Tax-Wise Giving Timeline
Jan – Mar: Plan
- Review last year’s giving and save receipts.
- Talk with your advisor about tax-smart giving options.
- Consider the timing of stock, DAFs (Donor Advised Fund), or IRA gifts.
Jul – Sep: Adjust
- Check progress and update your giving plan.
- Consider bundling gifts for itemized deductions.
- Explore IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (for donors aged 70½+).
Apr – Jun: Give Strategically
- Donate appreciated stock to maximize tax benefits.
- Fund or give through a DAF (Donor Advised Fund).
- Set up recurring gifts.
Oct – Dec: Maximize Impact
- Complete gifts by year-end for tax deductibility.
- Use tax efficient assets during the holidays.
- Confirm donation acknowledgments.
“Hunger is something that no family, no individual, should ever confront. We are proud to be a small part of Second Harvest’s work to help with one of the most basic needs a person can have. We are grateful for this opportunity!”
– Shelly and Marty Hernandez, local donors and advocates
Three Tips for Year-End Giving
If you’d like to make the most of current tax advantages while supporting local hunger relief, here are three effective strategies.
1. Bunch multiple years’ gifts into a Donor-Advised Fund. “Bunch” your 2026 giving to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County with 2025 contributions before year-end to pre-fund several years of giving while deductions are still at 37% and before the 0.5% “floor” goes into effect. You’ll get the full tax deduction now, while spreading out grants to your favorite charities over time, and benefiting from the larger standard deduction in those later years. When you donate appreciated securities to Second Harvest, you can reduce taxes while helping provide healthy food for families across Santa Cruz County. Learn more about Donor-Advised Funds
2. Consider a gift of appreciated stock or mutual funds. If you have stocks or other publicly traded securities that are worth more than what you paid for them, donating these to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County at the end of the year removes your tax liability from the stock sale and can increase your giving power to Second Harvest by up to 30% compared to selling the stock and giving cash. This strategy also offers a chance to rebalance your portfolio. By contributing appreciated or concentrated holdings—like stock from a longtime employer—you can turn personal investments into community impact while optimizing your portfolio’s health. Stock transfer timelines can vary by provider but must be received by December 31 for the 2025 tax year. Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County can accept marketable securities of any kind. We recommend initiating year-end by December 20. Learn more about how to transfer stocks or mutual funds to Second Harvest
3. Use your required IRA distribution for giving, skip the taxes. If you are age 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $108,000 tax-free from your traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) directly to a charity. If you are 73 or older, the tax-free transfer counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). While you can’t fund your DAF with a QCD, these tax-free rollovers can benefit Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County’s grantmaking funds. Please initiate your IRA gift by December 15th. Learn more about Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA
We’re your partner in giving. At Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, we’re here to help you make the most of your charitable goals, so your generosity has the greatest possible impact on hunger relief in Santa Cruz County. We’re always happy to support your planning.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax advisors about your specific situation; we’re happy to partner with them.
Our tax ID number is 77-0326685.