What are the deadlines for end-of-year tax-deductible donations in the US?

To be eligible for a U.S. tax deduction, your donation must meet the following deadlines depending on your payment method. Delays can occur with any payment method, particularly when working with a bank, broker, or other third party. We recommend submitting gifts well in advance and accounting for holidays and weekends.

Credit/Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay

Deadline: 11:59 PM on December 31, 2025. Online card payments typically process within minutes.

ACH Direct Debit

Deadline: must be initiated by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2025. If your bank account requires microdeposit verification, your donation will not be initiated until verification is complete (2-3 business days). If you need a 2025 tax receipt and your account cannot be instantly verified, we recommend using a different payment method such as credit card or wire transfer.

Wire/Bank Transfer

Deadline: Funds must be received on or before December 31, 2025 for a receipt dated in 2025. Please allow several business days after initiating a transfer for funds to arrive, or reach out to us if that is not possible in your case.

Check

Deadline: Must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2025. Checks postmarked after this date will not qualify for a 2025 tax deduction.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

DAF grants cannot be used to claim a tax deduction, as your deduction was taken when you originally contributed to your DAF.

Stocks & Securities

Deadline: received by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2025. Note that stock transfers can take several business days to complete. Please contact us for transfer instructions.

We recommend consulting a tax professional regarding your specific situation.