Happy October, everyone! First, I want to thank everyone who stepped up and supported the St. Louis Area Foodbank in September during Hunger Action Month. We are grateful for the food, funds, and friends that chose to support our mission, and you are the reason we are the regional backbone for supporting families struggling with food insecurity. We are grateful and humbled that you joined us last month – and how about all the ORANGE we saw on social media – especially on Hunger Action Day! Wow!
With fall quickly passing and the holiday season just ahead, we wanted to use this platform in a slightly different way this month by highlighting some important changes for donors who are looking to make a tax-deductible donation before December 31. New tax rules may mean new opportunities to make a bigger impact this year. It is also important that you consult a licensed tax advisor before making any decisions, and regard this as general information and not individual tax or legal advice – as we are neither tax advisors nor lawyers. 😊
What 2026 Tax Changes Mean for Charitable Giving
A new federal tax rule gives more donors a reason to keep track of their charitable gifts in 2026. For the first time in several years, people who take the standard deduction may also be able to deduct cash gifts to eligible charities. Whether you give to the St. Louis Area Foodbank each month or at year’s end, it is a good time to review how your generosity fits into your tax plans.
Deductions for Donors Who Do Not Itemize
Beginning with the 2026 tax year, eligible taxpayers who take the standard deduction may deduct up to $1,000 in cash contributions to certain qualified charities. The limit is $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. This is a deduction, not a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, and it applies to eligible gifts made during 2026—not to a 2025 return filed in 2026. For those who give regularly, those gifts can add up. A $50 monthly gift, for example, totals $600 over a year. Keeping a record of each contribution will help you and your tax preparer determine what you may claim.
IRA Giving Remains a Valuable Option
Donors age 70½ or older can ask their IRA custodian to send a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly to an eligible charity. An eligible QCD can be excluded from taxable income and can count toward the required minimum distribution. The annual QCD limit rises to $111,000 per person in 2026. Because a QCD is excluded from income, the donor cannot also claim a charitable deduction for that same gift.
Itemizers Should Plan Around a New Threshold
Beginning in 2026, taxpayers who itemize can generally deduct charitable contributions only to the extent their eligible gifts exceed 0.5% of adjusted gross income. For a donor with $100,000 in adjusted gross income, that threshold is $500. Other deduction limits may also apply. This change makes it especially useful to discuss the timing and form of larger gifts with a tax advisor.
Tax rules affect each donor differently, but the purpose of a gift to the Foodbank is immediate: helping neighbors access the food they need. As you plan your 2026 giving, consider which approach works for your circumstances and keep records of your contributions. Your tax professional can help you determine which benefits apply to you.
We hope that this information was helpful but we also know it does not apply to everyone, or every situation. I want to ensure that everyone reading this is reminded of the three things we always need at the St. Louis Area Foodbank:
- Funds (I think we covered that!)
- Food
- Friends
There is no better time than the present to give the gift of time! If you or your family, company, school, sports team, or faith-based organization is looking to volunteer with us this holiday season, we would truly be grateful. You can visit https://stlfoodbank.org/give-time/ to sign up for a volunteer shift at our Bridgeton location, or at one of our community distributions. And have you seen our new Food on the Move “What to Expect” video? It is amazing – and truly helps educate volunteers on what to expect before they sign up! Check it out:
Finally, we are always in need of more food donations through our food drive program. We are laser-focused on collecting and distributing healthy and nutritious foods to our communities, so to answer the age-old question “What do you need?” here is our “wish list” of food items that we would love for you to collect!
No matter how you can join us this fall, know that we are grateful and thankful for your support. It truly makes a difference for families across the bi-state region and that is something we can all smile about.
Happy Fall Y’all!
