Year-End Giving: Making a List, Checking It Twice
“Legacy is a word that evokes deep emotional response from me because I think about its connection with the past and with the future,” Cindy Albert Link ’76 said when asked about why she chose an Annual Giving Legacy (AGL) gift to have an impact in supporting future Princetonians.
With new charitable giving tax laws taking effect in 2026, now is a smart time to think about your own legacy as you make your end-of-year charitable gifts list.
New laws for 2026: Think about giving in 2025!
New tax laws that take effect in 2026 benefit philanthropic non-itemizers but reduce the tax benefits of charitable contributions by itemizers. These laws include:
- a reinstated deduction allows non-itemizers to deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to public charities
- a new minimum amount before itemizers can deduct charitable donations (0.5% of AGI)
- new limits on deductions for itemizers in the top tax 37% bracket
Princetonians who itemize may wish to make their charitable contributions by Dec. 25, 2025, to avoid the impending limits on deductibility for gifts after Jan. 1, 2026. And yes, annual gifts or AGL gifts made July 1-Dec. 31, 2025, will count for 2026 Reunions.
Recently, Princeton’s 1746 Society hosted “One Big Beautiful Tax Bill — Highlights, Changes and Implications for Individuals and Exempt Organizations,” a webinar that focused on the implications of the new tax law for individuals and nonprofits, including how it might affect:
- financial and estate planning
- business planning
- charitable giving
The webinar was presented by Jennifer Jordan McCall ’78 P10 P11 P13 P14, co-leader of both the Private Wealth and the Litigation — Trusts, Estates and High Net Worth teams of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Please enjoy this recording of the webinar if you missed it or would like to rewatch it.
Plan now for gifts this year or next
As you make your charitable giving lists, please keep in mind the many ways to give to Princeton. Each helps support the values of the University, including scholarly excellence, truth-seeking research and the importance of a liberal arts education.
Some of these ways include:
- gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate that reduce income taxes
- charitable remainder trusts and gift annuities that provide you with an income for life
- a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA, if you are over age 70 1/2, that decreases your taxable income whether or not you itemize
Additionally, the Annual Giving Legacy gift is a way to make a significant gift to Annual Giving while providing for yourself and/or your beneficiaries. The Annual Giving Legacy Program allows you to earn AG major reunion class credit for life income gifts of $100,000 or more ($54,000 if funded from an IRA), starting with the 50th Reunion.
Some Princetonians eligible to make AGL gifts will be invited to an informational webinar this October:
- Oct. 16, 3 p.m. ET: Class of 1971
- Oct. 30, 3 p.m. ET: Class of 1976
If you are considering any of these gifts in your plans for 2025 or 2026, we thank you for your generosity and invite you to call our Gift Planning team to help turn your wishes into action.
Contact the Gift Planning team at 609-258-6318 or email GiftPlanning@princeton.edu.
The information presented is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult your own professional advisors to discuss your specific situation.