Modern generosity from business to the breakfast table
IN THIS EMAIL
Nothing is certain but resurrection and taxes
“The biggest check we ever wrote to the IRS”
Generosity in the news
Family giving strategies that actually work
Nothing is Certain but Resurrection and Taxes
Several years ago I started attending an Anglican church, my first encounter with a liturgical Christian tradition. One thing I appreciate is the emphasis on Easter as a season of feasting—after 40 days of Lenten fasting, Easter is not just a one-day event, but a 50-day celebration of God's lavish gifts of grace and new life. Easter Sunday was last week, but the celebration is still underway.
That’s why I find it funny when Easter season overlaps with tax season. We give because Christ gave, and then we tell the IRS exactly how much.
I think it’s great that the U.S. government incentivizes generosity with the charitable tax deduction. I also think it’s great when Christians use these tax deductions to maximize how they channel God’s resources into his work around the world.
This week is an opportunity for us to reflect on the numbers and strategies behind our giving and, at the same time, on the reason we give at all.
With that in mind, I encourage you to reacquaint yourself with the changes coming for your charitable tax deductions in 2026. On one hand, it’s trite to bring this up. On the other, when some of these changes may actually reduce the tax incentives to give, this Easter season is the best time to plan your 2026 giving in a way that honors your call to wise stewardship and honors the sacrifice of Christ who dwelt among us and died so we may live.
Happy Easter from our team at The Signatry! May you find ways to keep feasting with friends and family to celebrate God’s generosity and our living hope.
Speaking of tax season, if you anticipate writing a big check to the IRS in the next few years, make sure you understand early how charitable giving can fit in.
Steve French, The Signatry’s CEO and President, found his way to the donor advised fund space by way of business success, business failure, a beloved maternal health ministry, and a huge missed opportunity.
“Soon after we sold the business, I discovered there were things I could have done to reduce our tax burden and increase our charitable capability.
... At first, I was angry. But it really drove me to make it my mission to talk to people, so they don’t make the same mistake I made.”
Steve French – President & CEO of The Signatry
If you are in a similar position, with a business sale on the horizon and a heart to make an even greater difference in the world, the solution Steve eventually found could be right for you.
“How do you discern between privilege and blessing?”
Two important questions from a recent Q&A in Christianity Today—and two wise answers that encourage us to focus on some slightly different questions instead.
Inflation, and the events associated with it, is rarely kind to charitable giving trends. Climbing oil prices are no exception.
To get a sense of how the latest oil price increase may affect the nonprofits we support, FreeWill’s CEO posted a quick video overview of how the 1973-74 oil embargo affected giving habits.
Unsurprisingly, charitable giving weakened in real terms; but perhaps surprisingly, it remained nominally stable. Of course, that’s still an overall decrease in the resources nonprofits have to work with.
Beyond increasing the size of your gifts, National Philanthropic Trust suggests you can help out by considering more unrestricted gifts; redirecting some donations to smaller, harder-hit organizations; encouraging friends and family to start giving; and volunteering your time.
Family Giving Strategies that Actually Work
Family foundations that have “genuinely changed their communities” use many of the same strategies, regardless of their cause area or asset size.
In a series on effective family giving, reporter Ade Adeniji shares what these successful foundations have in common. Even if your family doesn’t have a multi-million-dollar foundation with its own board and tax ID, the “certain kind of discipline” he describes can help your family build an effective, resilient generosity strategy that appeals to all generations.
For example:
Cut something. If you learn more about the problem you’re trying to solve, you might need to change course on the solution you’re funding. Humility is key.
Establish multi-generational governance. You may have to scale family decision-making based on the number and ages of your family members, but the key is to collaborate.
Build real relationships with nonprofits. That includes making time for conversations, asking good questions, and maybe even participating in work on the ground.
(Re)Align your giving with your values—often. Maybe your values shift over time. More likely, your income, investments, assets, and needs fluctuate over time. Check in regularly to see if your giving can adjust to match these changes.
This does not constitute nor does The Signatry provide legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. You should consult professional advisors concerning the legal, tax, or financial consequences of your charitable activities.
