The holidays are a joyful and busy time, which is why now is a great time to be thinking about your year-end charitable planning.

Below are some tips to consider for your 2025 giving, and some key deadlines to keep in mind to avoid the last-minute rush. Acting early will ensure you achieve your goals with intention for the causes that matter most to you.

Consulting your tax and financial advisors should also be part of your year-end planning.

Important Dates for Year-End Giving

• Recommended deadline to initiate IRA/QCD contributions
• Recommended deadline to initiate electronic mutual fund gift transfers
• Recommended deadline to initiate gifts of personal property (coins, collections, etc.) for donation

• Recommended deadline to initiate ACH and electronic stock transfers

• Last day to get a USPS postmark for mailed gifts
• Deadline for credit card donations

Contributions of Cash

Online

To make a contribution by credit card, visit ConserveMC.org/donate

Completed online transactions qualify through Wednesday, December 31.

ACH Transfer

Donation transfers from your bank or money market account generally clear in three days, but can take longer at the end of the year. These transfers from your bank or money market account are an option on our online donation form, or you can contact TLC directly for transfer instructions. ACH transfers should be initiated by Friday, December 26 to be received in 2025.

Drop Off at Our Office

To drop off cash or check gifts at our office in Woodstock, please call 815-337-9502 so we can ensure someone will be there to welcome you!

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

For those 70½ and older who are looking to take advantage of the amazing benefits of using an IRA to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), such gifts are considered to be made when the distribution from the IRA leaves the account, not on the day it is initiated. Therefore, please initiate your requests by Monday, December 1st to ensure checks are received by the charity and cashed before year end.

For 2025, the QCD maximum is $108,000/individual or $215,000/couple.

If you have check-writing privileges on your IRA, the normal postmark date rule does not apply, because the funds must leave the custodial account by your IRA administrator’s last business day of the year for the distribution to count against your 2025 RMD.

Learn more about 2025 IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions here.

Contributions of Stock and Mutual Funds

Electronic transfers of stock, mutual funds, and other securities are eligible for deduction upon the occurrence of their actual transfer from the donor to the charity’s custody, not upon the time of a transfer’s request. Please be aware of stock market schedules and recognize that some mutual funds may take up to 2-3 weeks for transfer. To ensure a transfer is initiated well in advance to work within the rules of your account administrator, plan to initiate mutual fund transfers by Monday, December 1st, and stock transfers by Friday, December 26th, to ensure your gifts arrive as desired. Contact Lisa Haderlein at 815-337-9502 x103 or lhaderlein@conservemc.org for transfer instructions.

Contributions of Personal Property (Coins, Collections, Etc.)

Inquiries for gifts of personal property like coins, collections and other tangible assets should be initiated by Monday, December 1, to allow ample time for appropriate due diligence, including, but not limited to, appraisals and other assessments.

We encourage you to consult your tax and financial advisors as part of your year-end planning, and hope these reminders serve as a helpful guide.

Some useful information about giving to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County:

• Our FEIN number is 36-3727476
• Our mailing address is: 4622 Dean Street, Woodstock, IL 60098
• Our office phone number is: 815-337-9502

Thank you!

Thank you for everything you do to preserve land for life in McHenry County! Please contact us if you have any questions.

www.ConserveMC.org

815-337-9502