Year-End Giving Deadlines
As you’re planning your year-end gifts, keep the following deadlines in mind.
December 1
Last day to contribute to your passthrough fund to be able to recommend 2026 grants.
December 1
Talk to your broker to initiate a gift of mutual fund shares.
December 7
Initiate any stock gifts you have planned.
December 15
Last day to submit grant recommendations from your fund. Following approval by the MCF Board, grants will be issued the last week of December.
December 31
Deadline for 2026 donations. Donations delivered in person or by any delivery service (except the U.S. Postal Service) must be received at the MCF office by 4:30 p.m. today.
Please note that the U.S. Postal Service clarified in 2025 that postmarks reflect the day it processes your mail, which may not happen the same as the day you dropped it in the mailbox. This means that the postmark could reflect a date that is a day or more later than when you mailed it. If you want your year-end gift recognized in 2026 for tax or other purposes, don’t delay. MCF is bound by law to use the postmark date on the envelope for processing gifts by mail, regardless of when you wrote the check or dropped it in the mail.
If it’s important that your gift be made in 2026:
- Mail it early to allow ample time for processing.
- Get it hand stamped at your local post office or use certified mail.
- Drop it off. Our staff will be available to accept donations at our office through Thursday, December 31, with the exception of Christmas Day. Our office is open between 8:00 and 4:30.
January 8, 2027
Donations mailed and postmarked on or before December 31 must be received in the MCF office by this date.
