If you support multiple charities, do so by donating appreciated securities to a donor-advised fund. Many community foundations and most major financial firms offer such funds to the public.
Say you give $20,000 worth of appreciated securities held more than one year to a donor-advised fund. You’ll get an immediate income tax deduction of $20,000.
Then you can request that $2,000 be given to your alma mater, $1,000 to an animal shelter, $500 to an organization sponsoring cancer research, and so on. The foundation will check to make sure you’ve specified bona fide charities and make the donations you suggest.
You’ll get a deduction when your securities go into the donor-advised fund, no matter how long it takes to distribute money to charity. In addition, you’ll have to go through the required paperwork only once, when you contribute appreciated securities to the donor-advised fund.
