Year-End Giving Reminders

As we move into the last quarter of 2025, many donors are thinking about charitable giving and how to support nonprofits in our community and beyond. Make the most of your gifts this season with these tips and reminders.

GIFTS/GRANTS HOLIDAY TIMELINE

December 12 - Deadline to submit donor-advised fund grant recommendations for payment by December 31.
December 24 - Start stock gift transfers no later than this date to ensure receipt in 2025.
December 31 - Deadline for donations to be made in order to count as a contribution for 2025.
Sending a check? We suggest you drop it off at our office directly or give the mail service 7-10 business days to deliver.
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HOLIDAY HOURS

Please note that our offices will be closed on the following dates:

Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28
Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26
Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2
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WAYS TO GIVE

Whether you're donating to a fund or opening one of your own, by giving through the Foundation, your dollars will create opportunities for your fellow community members both now and in the future.

Support the Foundation - Gifts of any size to support The Next Century Fund, Scholarships, Black Philanthropy Initiative, The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem, or Youth Grantmakers in Action allow us to increase the impact of our grantmaking. Make a gift
Add to an Existing Fund - Did you know you can make a gift to any fund the Foundation administers? Use the search tool on our donation webpage to find the fund you're looking for. Find a fund
Create your own Fund - Establishing a charitable fund, either now or in the future through a planned gift, offers you the benefits of a long-term vehicle to manage your giving. Learn more
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MAKING GRANTS FROM YOUR DONOR-ADVISED FUND

To guarantee delivery of donor-advised grants to nonprofits by December 31, please submit grant recommendations by December 12. For assistance with logging in or recommending a grant, contact donorhelp@wsfoundation.org.

STOCK GIFTS

Sometimes we receive stock gifts with no donor information attached. To ensure your gift is quickly and accurately credited to your fund, please let us know the gift is coming ahead of time. Contact giving@wsfoundation.org with the stock name and number of shares. Note: mutual fund shares may require longer processing time.

OTHER GIVING OPTIONS

Please check with your tax advisor to determine if these strategies may benefit you, then reach out to a member of our Development and Donor Engagement team for more information.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) – contact us if you are over age 70 ½ and wish to use this giving tool to support Foundation initiatives or other funds for organizations and causes you care about. Note: you can direct QCDs from your IRA to many types of funds at the Foundation; however, per IRS guidelines, QCDs cannot be directed to donor-advised funds.
Appreciated Non-Cash Assets – contribute appreciated securities to increase tax savings and generally avoid paying capital gains. Even in a challenging market, stock values may still exceed your cost basis.
Add to your Donor-Advised Fund – some donors choose to bundle their giving; this means donating two- or three-years’ worth of gifts at one time, claiming the charitable deduction that year, and then waiting that period of time to donate again.
Support the Foundation with an Annual Gift – If you'd like to help the Foundation meet emerging challenges and opportunities in Forsyth County, you can support the Next Century Fund with a credit card donation or by using the "Recommend a Transfer" option in the donor portal.