By Brandon Miller –
The holidays are a natural time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the people and communities that make life richer. It’s also the perfect moment to align your generosity with your financial plan, supporting causes you care about while making smart use of current tax opportunities. This year, being mindful and grateful can go hand in hand with being strategic. Here’s how.
Gratitude and giving are deeply connected. When you give thoughtfully—whether that means donating to a favorite local nonprofit, supporting a community program, or funding a cause that honors someone you love—you’re extending the season’s spirit in a way that lasts well beyond December.
Your gift doesn’t have to be large to make an impact. It can be volunteering your time, making a donation in someone’s name, or contributing appreciated stock to a qualified charity. What matters is that it reflects your values and helps build the kind of community you want to live in.
Take a moment to list the organizations that have touched your life or that you’ve seen make a difference in your community. These could be local food banks, LGTBQ+ services, or animal rescues. Supporting nearby causes strengthens your local ecosystem—and allows you to see your impact firsthand.
If you’re part of a workplace that encourages philanthropy, consider amplifying your giving through matching programs or team drives. It’s a meaningful way to connect colleagues around a shared spirit of generosity.
While the heart leads your giving, a little strategy can make your generosity go further. Current tax laws still offer favorable treatment for charitable contributions, but those rules are scheduled to change in 2026, making this a great year to plan ahead.
Here are a few points to keep in mind for 2025:
There are bigger deductions now.
If you itemize, cash gifts to qualified public charities are now deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). That limit is up from the prior 50% level.
“Bunching” can boost benefits.
For itemizers, consider combining two years’ worth of charitable gifts into 2025 to maximize deductions before the rules shift.
Consider a donor-advised fund.
If you’re planning a large contribution but want to take your time deciding which organizations to support, you can contribute to a donor-advised fund this year and distribute grants over time.
Benefit from qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).
If you’re over 70½, you can donate directly from your IRA—reducing taxable income while supporting a cause you love.
Be aware of upcoming 2026 changes.
For itemizers, beginning in 2026, only the portion of your charitable giving that exceeds 0.5% of your AGI will be tax deductible. For non-itemizers, you’ll be able to deduct up to $1,000 (single filers) or $2,000 (married filing jointly) for qualified cash donations. For itemizers in the top tax bracket, the tax benefit of deductions will be capped at 35% of the amount instead of the full marginal rate (previously 37%).
The takeaway: if charitable giving is part of your financial plan, acting before year-end 2025 could mean a larger deduction and greater flexibility.
At Brio, we believe money’s greatest purpose is to bring more meaning, joy, and connection into your life. The holidays are a reminder that giving is not just a financial decision; it’s a reflection of what you value most.
So, this season, consider how you can be both mindful and grateful: give intentionally, support what speaks to your heart, and make sure your generosity works as hard for your community as it does for your financial plan. If you’d like to explore strategies for year-end charitable giving or learn how upcoming tax changes may affect you, Brio can help you make a plan that feels both purposeful and practical.
This material presented by Brio Financial Group (“Brio”) is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Facts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Brio cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. This information may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those discussed. No investor should assume future performance will be profitable or equal the previous reflected performance. Any reference to an index is included for illustrative purposes only, as an index is not a security in which an investment can be made. They are unmanaged vehicles that serve as market indicators and do not account for the deduction of management fees and/or transaction costs generally associated with investable products. The S&P 500 Total Return Index represents U.S. stock returns. This includes 500 leading companies in the U.S. and is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities, where dividends are reinvested. The holdings and performance of Brio client accounts may vary widely from those of the presented indices. Brio does not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Brio and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Brio Financial Group unless a client service agreement is in place.
Brandon Miller, CFP®, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals. For more information: https://www.briofg.com/
Money Matters
Published on November 20, 2025
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