Countdown to 2026: Important tips & dates for end of year giving
Nine tips for end of year giving
At the Santa Fe Community Foundation, we are honored to work with you and so many other families, individuals, and businesses to help organize your charitable giving and support favorite nonprofits across New Mexico. As the year winds down, keep these nine tips in mind:
- Remember that 2025 is a pivotal year for charitable planning.
With more stringent charitable deduction limitations taking effect in 2026 under new tax laws, this year may offer a favorable tax environment for your giving depending on your personal situation. - Consider “bundling” multiple years of charitable gifts into 2025.
By front-loading contributions — especially into your Donor Advised Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation — you may be able to exceed the standard deduction this year and maximize your tax benefits. - Use your Donor Advised Fund to simplify year-end giving.
You can make one tax-deductible contribution now, receive the deduction in 2025, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time, even throughout 2026 and beyond. - Give appreciated stock instead of cash.
Donating long-term appreciated securities to a fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation may eliminate capital gains tax and in turn increase your charitable impact. - Deepen your local impact.
Consider supporting the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s work with and for northern New Mexico communities by contributing to our Community Leadership Fund. - Review your beneficiary designations.
Naming a fund at the Santa Fe Community as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account can create meaningful future gifts while reducing the tax burden on heirs. Explore our funds here. - Avoid last-minute surprises.
Gifts of complex assets — such as real estate or closely-held stock — require additional steps and a lot of lead time, so contact the community foundation early if you’re considering these options. Even if it is too late to complete these gifts in 2025, start working with us on options for 2026 gifts. - Think beyond year-end giving.
Charitable planning can include legacy gifts, long-term community investments, and strategies that align your values with lasting impact. - Above all, lean on our team!
We're here to help you maximize your charitable impact in the most tax-efficient ways, whether you’re planning year-end gifts, updating a legacy plan, or thinking ahead to the changes coming in 2026.
Important dates
2025 donation deadlines
To ensure your gifts qualify for a charitable income tax deduction in the 2025 tax year, please keep these important dates in mind:
- Gifts of appreciated stock should be made by this Friday, December 19
- Wire transfers of cash must be initiated no later than Friday, December 26
- Checks hand delivered to our office or sent via carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL must be physically received at SFCF on or before Wednesday, December 31
- Credit card gifts made by phone may be made until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 31
- Checks sent via the U.S. Postal Service to SFCF must be postmarked on or before Wednesday, December 31.
Holiday office closures
Please note that the Santa Fe Community Foundation office will be closed on:
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Thursday, December 25, 2025
- Thursday, January 1, 2026
We will be open Friday, December 26 and Monday, December 29 through Wednesday, December 31 to assist with your 2025 year-end giving.
Contact us
Our team is honored to support you with your 2025 contributions. Please reach out to us for assistance.
- Email: giving@santafecf.org
- Phone: 505.988.9715
- Physical address: 501 Halona Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504
Endowments: Building Forever Support for Our Region
We believe generosity can last a lifetime — and far beyond. Endowments make that possible. From wildfire recovery to sustaining the arts, community members share how these funds ensure our region is ready for today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.
Q&A with Elizabeth Rice
SFCF fund advisor Elizabeth Rice's commitment to philanthropy began early, shaped by her mother’s unwavering dedication to service. Today, after almost 50 years in Santa Fe, she continues to invest in the region she calls home by supporting education and systems change.
Believing in Every Student: Ina Sussman-Miller's Enduring Impact
Ina Sussman Miller’s life was guided by a strong belief in the power of education. Born in Brooklyn and later making her home in Albuquerque, she spent decades helping young people find opportunities to learn and succeed. Through the Sussman Miller Educational Assistance Fund, her legacy continues to support students across New Mexico and beyond. The following Q&A is shared by a close friend who accompanied Ina in her philanthropic work.
