Twenty-four percent of all charitable giving occurs during the holiday season. In conjunction with this effort, advisors search for strategies that efficiently reduce taxable income and thus enhance one's gifting power. Did you know the type of organizations to which you give and the category of asset transferred determine a taxpayer's write-off? For instance, cash given to a public charity is deductible up to 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI), while real property given to charitable lead trust can only be deducted up to 20% of AGI. If you are ready to make a gift this year, your advisor may be able to enhance its size with a little tax know-how.

Sources: Giving USA Foundation, The Giving Institute, Center on Philanthropy