Get started now: Your 2026 charitable giving checklist
A message from the CICF Collaborative, including Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana
Written by Robin Elmerick, Senior Director of Effective Philanthropy
Many people approach a new year with a genuine desire to be more intentional about their charitable giving. The combination of busy lives and an ever-growing number of worthy causes can make getting started feel overwhelming. The good news is that taking a few simple, thoughtful actions at the beginning of the year can bring clarity and confidence to your giving.
Here are three steps to inspire you:
Consider reviewing your 2025 charitable contributions with us.
Looking back at last year’s giving can be surprisingly helpful, especially when guided by professionals who understand philanthropy, the needs of the community, and your personal interests. As a fundholder, your philanthropic advisor can help you see the real-world impact of your gifts, identify patterns in your giving, and highlight opportunities you may not have considered. This review also creates a natural bridge to planning your 2026 support, whether that means refining your focus, adjusting gift amounts, considering new organizations to support, or exploring new charitable vehicles. Just as important, it allows you to begin thinking strategically about future years, helping ensure that your generosity grows in a way that is both meaningful and sustainable.
Talk with your tax advisors as soon as possible about whether and how the new tax laws might impact your situation.
Charitable giving is closely connected to tax and estate planning, and early conversations can help you make informed decisions before the year gets too far along. This is also an ideal time to revisit your estate plan and beneficiary designations. Many donors choose to include a gift to their fund at a CICF Collaborative entity in their wills, trusts, or through beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or insurance policies. Coordinating these updates with your tax advisor and our team can ensure your charitable intentions are clearly documented, tax-efficient, and aligned with your overall financial and estate planning goals.
Set goals for your charitable involvement in 2026.
Rather than giving reactively, goal setting allows you to be intentional about how you engage with the causes that matter most to you. We can help you explore new and emerging charities, learn more about pressing needs in Central Indiana, and connect with organizations that align with your interests. Together, we can create a plan for the timing of your giving throughout the year—whether through recurring contributions, one-time major gifts, or multi-year commitments. This approach makes giving more manageable and helps ensure your generosity has the greatest possible impact.
As you look ahead, remember that you do not have to navigate charitable planning on your own. We are here to serve as a trusted partner—whether you are just getting started, refining an existing plan, or thinking about the legacy you want to leave for future generations. We invite you to reach out anytime to ask questions, explore ideas, and thoughtfully plan your 2026 giving. We are honored to play a role in helping you ensure your charitable intentions lead to meaningful, lasting impact.
About the CICF Collaborative
CICF Collaborative is a partnership of philanthropic organizations working together to strengthen communities across the region. Each entity within the CICF Collaborative (including the cornerstone entities, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana) brings deep knowledge, strong relationships, and its own individual, focused mission. The CICF Collaborative unites the entities by providing shared services, allowing the entities to operate more efficiently and effectively. By leveraging what we each do best, we’re able to better serve our communities and create more lasting impact, together. Learn more »
About the Author
Robin Elmerick, senior director of effective philanthropy has been with CICF since 2019. A certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor, she works closely with fundholders across all entities of the CICF Collaborative to help them define their philanthropic strategies and maximize their impact. With a background in nonprofit leadership and consulting, she is passionate about bridging the needs of the community with the missions of nonprofits and the passions of our fundholders, aligning all three to create meaningful change in Central Indiana and beyond.
