Author: Linda Paulson

How To Maximize Your End-of-Year Giving: Donor Advised Funds

Posted on by Linda Paulson

29% of all giving to non-profits happens in December.  Why?  Because savvy donors give before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve to make sure that they can deduct their gift in the current tax year.  This is very important for donors who itemize their taxes.  In order to take deductions when you prepare your 2016 taxes in the coming months, you must give by December 31st.

No one knows for sure what changes to tax policy will happen in 2016.  Many donors, anticipating the President-elect’s tax proposals are choosing to give more in 2016, for the certainty of the deduction at the level they’ll get it this year versus the uncertainty of next year.  If you have not yet, you should consult your financial advisors on what these changes could mean for you, and if it may be wise for you to accelerate your giving this year.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great way to give and get your tax deduction this year, and choose what non-profit you will contribute to in the future.  It’s a smart solution if you decide to accelerate your giving now, and want to give over many years to come.  You can potentially realize additional tax benefits if you donate appreciated securities (which should be done now, so that the stock transfer can complete before the end of the year).

At The Women’s Foundation, we provide a DAF that offers you all the tax benefits of other DAFs and the opportunity for you to show your commitment to women and girls in the region.  Through our Philanthropic Services, we can consult with you on the organizations that create the greatest impact in our community and that align with your giving priorities.

If you are interested in opening a DAF, do not hesitate to call me at 202-347-7737 or email me at lpaulson@wawf.org .  We require a minimum opening gift of $50,000.

How to give before the end of the year:

  • Stock

Many donors choose to give appreciated stocks for the tax benefits. Stocks owned for a year or more are eligible for tax deductions for the full current value of the donated securities, not the lesser amount paid for them. In addition, they are not subject to the capital gains tax like they would be if the securities were sold and proceeds were donated as cash.

Stock gifts must be initiated by your broker in sufficient time to clear before the close of business on December 30th.  To you decide to give a gift of stock to The Women’s Foundation, your broker will need the following:

Account Custodian:  Capital One*

Account number: JZ1046633

DTC number:  0443

Contact person at Capital One:  Anoput Phimmasone 202-603-6094 or anoput.phimmasone@capitaleone.com

*Please note that this account is for direct gifts and NOT to open a DAF.  For information to open a DAF please contact me directly.

  • Check

Please be sure your check is dated and your envelope is postmarked on or before December 31.

Kindly send checks to:

Washington Area Women’s Foundation

1331 H Street NW, Suite 1000

Washington DC,  20005

  • Online

Give online before at thewomensfoundation.org/give.  Donations made by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31, 2016 will count in the 2016 tax year.

 We appreciate all you do to help all women and girls achieve economic security in our community.  We wish you and yours a great holiday season and a happy new year!

The Most Important Lesson in Life I Learned From My Mother

Posted on by Linda Paulson

Linda Paulson-Mom-WAWF

With Mother’s Day just a few days away, I can’t help but think of the important lesson I learned from my mother – to give.

As long as I can remember, my mom provided for others. She set an example and included me in her good work. As a child, I would often go volunteer wherever my mom was helping in the community and I loved it. We did many different things including volunteering at our church or the park concession stand, which I realize now played a vital role in my passion to help others.

Before she passed, we had a conversation about the days when she took me door to door to raise money for important causes—including selling Girl Scout Cookies (yum!). It made me remember the day she was so excited when I scraped together what I had and made a donation from my baby-sitting money. I don’t remember anything else I have ever done where she reacted with such overwhelming joy. I had, after all, just acted on what she really wanted to teach me in life. That is, when we give beyond ourselves we get the most out of life.

When I was in school, we spent hours discussing current events and issues of social justice. She was the first to teach me the concept that we rise from lifting others. Mothers, who undeniably influence and raise all of us, have a unique capacity to help their children see the world. Through those conversations, she helped me to think about the world in which I live. When I moved to the Washington region 20 years ago, I learned about the women that live in the area and the challenges they face. Today, at least 1 in 4 women are living in economic instability. There is a tremendous gap between what many women in our region are earning, and what they really need to survive and take care of their families.

There are countless stories of mothers giving their children everything, including the very clothes on their backs. But who is giving to the mothers? At The Women’s Foundation, we help women in the Washington region and beyond by providing the resources they need to thrive. By investing in women and girls in our community, we can ensure brighter futures where mothers don’t have to choose between medicine and food for their child, or a job and child care. While we celebrate the mothers we know, let us remember the ones we don’t know, who need our help. Because of my mother, I continue to encourage others to give to help bring economic stability to our region and make women’s lives just a little bit easier.

Women like my mom are the heartbeat of community, and often go without being thanked. So this Mother’s Day—I want to say thank you to my mom and to all the mothers who keep our families, schools and communities running. There is likely a mother in your world that should be appreciated as well. Share your thanks and her story in the comments below.