Year-End Giving · Northern Kentucky

Make a Tax-Smart Year-End Gift to Northern Kentucky

Before December 31, turn your generosity into lasting local impact — and a smart tax move. Horizon allows you to give cash, appreciated stock, or a distribution from your IRA to support the causes you love across Northern Kentucky, while receiving a tax benefit.

Gifts must be received by Thursday, December 31, 2026

 

Bob and Linda Kohlhepp, Horizon Community Foundation donors

“We are very proud to be involved with and a contributor to the Horizon Community Foundation. They are making a real difference in Northern Kentucky where we both grew up and have lived for many years of our life.”

Bob & Linda Kohlhepp
Mike Schlotman, Horizon Community Foundation donor

“If leaving a charitable legacy is a priority of yours, planned giving is a worthwhile way to ensure it happens. By planning ahead, you can have a lasting effect on Northern Kentucky — and Horizon Community Foundation is the ideal vehicle to make that happen.”

Mike Schlotman
Bob and Linda Kohlhepp, Horizon Community Foundation donors

“We are very proud to be involved with and a contributor to the Horizon Community Foundation. They are making a real difference in Northern Kentucky where we both grew up and have lived for many years of our life.”

Bob & Linda Kohlhepp

Important Dates

Key Year-End Deadlines

To count toward your 2026 taxes, your gift must reach Horizon by these cutoffs. When in doubt, give early.

Give by these dates to count for 2026Thursday, Dec 31
Online / credit cardGive securely at horizoncfnky.org/donate
Dec 31 · 11:59p
Mailed checkMust be postmarked by December 31.
USPS note: a standard automated postmark reflects the date the mailpiece is first processed by an automated USPS sorting facility — not the date you drop it in a mailbox or hand it to a carrier. Mail early.
Dec 31 · postmark
In-person check / drop-offTo our Covington office by 5:00 pm
Dec 31 · 5:00p
Appreciated stockReceived in Horizon’s brokerage account
Dec 31
Mutual fund sharesInitiate no later than December 21 — transfers take longer
Dec 21
IRA / QCD & donor-advised-fund grantsAllow time for processing
Mid-December
Holiday hours: our office is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.Questions on a transfer? Call 859.757.1552

Ways to Give

Ways to Give Before December 31

From a quick online gift to a tax-smart transfer of stock or an IRA distribution — choose what fits you best.

Cash / Online

Give securely online or by check.

Give online →

Appreciated Stock

Avoid capital gains; deduct full value.

Get transfer instructions →

IRA / QCD

Age 70½+? Give from your IRA.

How QCDs work →

Donor-Advised Fund

Give now, grant over time.

Start or add to a fund →

Endow KY Tax Credit

Add a 20% Kentucky tax credit. (Restrictions may apply.)

See if credits remain →

Give Wisely

Tax-Smart Strategies

A few ways Northern Kentucky donors make their year-end gift go further.

Bundle with a Donor-Advised Fund

Combine several years of giving into one — so you clear the new 0.5%-of-income deduction floor just once — then grant to your causes over time.

Give Appreciated Stock

Donate long-held securities to avoid capital gains tax and deduct the full fair-market value.

QCD from Your IRA

If you’re 70½+, give directly from your IRA (up to the indexed annual limit) to satisfy your RMD. Note: IRA gifts can’t go to a donor-advised fund.

Endow Kentucky Tax Credit

Stack a 20% Kentucky state tax credit on your federal deduction. (Restrictions may apply — pending available credits and approval.)

Tax details are general and current for 2026 — please confirm with your tax advisor before giving.

Your Impact

Where Your Year-End Gift Goes

Direct your gift to a specific fund, or let Horizon put it to work where Northern Kentucky needs it most.

150,000+
Northern Kentuckians served
$65M+
Granted to the community
232
NKY nonprofits supported since inception

Community Impact Fund

Meets the region’s most pressing needs.

Northern Kentucky–specific funds

Food, housing & student success funds.

Your Own Fund

Give to the fund you’ve established.

Current need this season: the Community Impact Fund →

Getting Started

How to Make Your Gift

Our team makes year-end giving simple — especially for stock, IRA, and other highly appreciated assets.

1 · Choose your gift

Cash, stock, IRA distribution, or other highly appreciated asset.

2 · Talk to our team

We’ll send instructions and handle the details with you.

Email us →

3 · We confirm by Dec 31

Your gift is processed in time for your 2026 taxes.

Giving stock or mutual funds? Tell us it’s coming so we can match and confirm your gift — call 859.757.1552 or use the stock-gift form.

Common Questions

Year-End Giving FAQ

See the deadline table above — cutoffs vary by gift type. Online gifts must be made by December 31; stock must be received by December 31, and mutual-fund transfers should be initiated by December 21.

Contact our team for transfer instructions, then ask your broker to transfer the shares to Horizon’s brokerage account. Let us know it’s coming so we can match the gift to you.

If you’re 70½ or older, you can give directly from your IRA up to the annual indexed limit and satisfy your required minimum distribution. QCDs cannot be directed to a donor-advised fund.

Yes — recommend grants through the fund portal; allow time for processing before December 31.

Gifts to Horizon are generally tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please confirm specifics with your tax advisor.

Plan Your Year-End Gift

Let’s Make Your Gift Count

Talk with Nancy Grayson and the Horizon team to plan a tax-smart year-end gift — stock, IRA, donor-advised fund, or Endow Kentucky. Email ngrayson@horizoncfnky.org or call 859.757.1552.