Charitable Bunching: A Simple Strategy to Maximize Deductions in High-Income Years
The standard deduction is high, which means many generous people no longer receive a tax benefit for their annual charitable gifts. Charitable bunching solves that problem. It’s a strategic way to group multiple years of giving into one tax year so you can itemize when it counts and still support your favorite charities over time.
Here’s the quick breakdown.
What Is Charitable Bunching?
Bunching means you “stack” two or three years of donations into one year instead of spreading them evenly. That large, single-year gift pushes your total deductions above the standard deduction, allowing you to itemize and unlock a bigger tax benefit.
In the off years, you take the standard deduction. Total giving stays the same, the tax savings increase.
Why Bunching Works
Most taxpayers don't itemize because their mortgage interest, state taxes, and annual giving don’t exceed the standard deduction. Bunching temporarily increases your deductions in a high-income or high-expense year so you capture a deduction you would have missed.
This is especially valuable when you have:
Bonuses or variable income
RSU or stock option vesting
Sale of a business or rental property
A high-tax year you want to offset
Pair Bunching With a Donor Advised Fund
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) makes bunching easy.
You contribute a large amount in one year, take the full deduction immediately, then send grants to charities over time.
Your tax plan stays strategic, but your giving stays consistent.
Quick Example
You normally donate $10,000 per year.
Your deductions never exceed the standard deduction.
Instead, bunch your next three years of giving:
Contribute $30,000 to a DAF in Year 1
Itemize and get the tax benefit
Give $10,000 per year from the DAF in Years 2 and 3
Take the standard deduction those years
Same generosity, stronger tax result.
Bottom Line
Charitable bunching is an easy, high-impact strategy for anyone navigating fluctuating income, large tax years, or a desire to make their giving more efficient.
Want to Build a Smarter Giving Plan?
If you want help structuring a bunching strategy or coordinating it with DAF contributions and appreciated stock, I can map it out for you.
Schedule a consultation to turn your charitable giving into a strategic tax advantage.