That lasted until 2008, when the economy was hit and donations likewise took a hit, she said, “but contributions have increased since then [because] people want to make a difference.”
“Now, people should look at giving appreciated assets such as real estate, closely held shares of a company or a collection they have,” she added. “They may not have thought of these things as charitable gifts,” she said. Also, recent changes in tax law allow anyone over age 70 to make charitable contributions directly from an IRA. They can get a deduction for the gift without itemizing, Jenevein added.