How can I donate stock to charities?

Most charities can't accept stock directly, so the easiest path is through a donor-advised fund like Daffy. Once you're a member, you can contribute nearly any publicly traded stock, ETF, or mutual fund directly from your brokerage account. Daffy offers direct transfers from E*TRADE and Schwab, along with simple transfer instructions for other brokerages. Once your contribution is complete, you can recommend donations to more than 1.7 million charities through Daffy.

Can I donate stock to churches and schools?

Yes. With Daffy, you can contribute stock to your fund and use the liquidated proceeds to recommend donations to nearly any 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing with the IRS, including schools, churches, synagogues, and other places of worship, even if they aren't set up to accept stock directly. If you want to donate to a charity not currently in Daffy's database, you can request that it be added through your member account.

What are the tax benefits of donating stock?

If you donate appreciated stock held for more than one year, you can receive two federal tax benefits. First, you can avoid the capital gains tax you would have owed if you sold the shares yourself, including the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) when applicable. Second, if you itemize your deductions, you can claim a charitable deduction based on the stock's full fair market value; beginning in 2026, only charitable contributions above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) are deductible.

Which types of stock can I donate through Daffy?

Daffy accepts contributions of publicly traded stock, ETFs, mutual funds, and private stock. Donating your most highly appreciated, lowest-cost-basis shares will often produce the greatest potential capital gains tax savings.

Can I donate company stock, vested RSUs, or shares after an IPO?

You can generally contribute public company shares after they have vested and settled in your brokerage account; unvested RSUs cannot be contributed because you don't own the underlying shares. If your company recently completed an IPO, you'll generally need to wait until the lockup period expires and the shares become transferable. Before initiating a transfer, contact Daffy — for RSUs and company stock after an IPO, Daffy may need to review your company's insider trading policy and stock purchase agreement to confirm the shares are transferable and that the transfer occurs during an open trading window.

How long must I hold shares to qualify for a fair market value deduction?

Shares must be held for more than one year to qualify for a charitable deduction based on their fair market value. If you donate shares held for one year or less, your deduction may be limited to your cost basis. Other requirements and deduction limits may apply to your circumstances.

How long does a stock transfer take, and when is my contribution complete?

The time it takes for your shares to reach Daffy depends on your brokerage. Securities can arrive in as little as 1 to 2 business days or take more than two weeks. Once the shares arrive at Daffy's custodian and you have created a matching stock intent in Daffy, the shares are typically liquidated, and the proceeds are added to your Daffy fund on the same or next business day.

What is the deadline to donate stock for it to count on this year's taxes?

To qualify for a tax deduction this year, Daffy must receive your stock by December 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The deadline is based on when Daffy receives the shares, not when you initiate the transfer, so we recommend starting your stock contribution as early as possible — waiting until the final days of December could mean your shares don't arrive in time to count toward this year's taxes.

Can my employer match a donation made through Daffy?

Yes. Most workplace giving programs match donations made through donor-advised funds, and some employers may even match contributions directly to your Daffy fund.

Can I make anonymous donations through Daffy?

Yes, Daffy gives you control over what information you share with each charity. You can share your name and contact information, share your name only, or remain completely anonymous. You can also set a default privacy preference for all future donations.

Reduce your taxesby donating stock

If you have appreciated stock, even from a recent IPO, charitable giving can be a great strategy to save you thousands on taxes and support the charities you care about.

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Hands dropping Apple, Meta and Google stock into a donation jar

Don’t sell all your stock. Donate a portion of it.

Donate a portion of your stock directly to a donor-advised fund (DAF) to avoid the capital gains tax. Then give it to the charities you support — even those that don't accept stock.

Hand-drawn diagram comparing selling appreciated stock and paying capital gains tax with donating appreciated stock through a donor-advised fund, resulting in less tax and more money for charity.

Learn More About Donor-Advised Funds

Why the ultra-wealthy have used DAFs for years

When you contribute stock to a DAF, you have more flexibility in how and when you give. You can:

Avoid up to 23.8%* in federal taxes on appreciated stock gains.
Deduct the full fair market value of appreciated stock held for more than one year.
Bunch multiple years of giving to clear the new 0.5% charitable deduction floor.
Support nearly any U.S. charity, even if it can’t directly accept stock.
Contribute and save on taxes now, and give to charities anytime.
How to Maximize Your Charitable Tax Deductions

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Tens of thousands of members • $1B+ in stock contributions

How donating stock can change the math

Explore common ways tech employees can use appreciated stock to give more tax-efficiently.

Case Study
Donate appreciated stock and diversify
Tax savings$13,240
Brett has $250,000 of Google stock with a cost basis of $50,000 he wants to diversify. He also plans to give $50,000 to charity over the next few years.
If Brett sells the full $250,000 first, he realizes the entire $200,000 capital gain.
Instead, he donates $50,000 of Google stock directly to a donor-advised fund and sells the remaining $200,000. The donated shares include ~$40,000 in gains that Brett does not have to realize.
At a total federal and CA tax rate of 33.1%, he may avoid approximately $13,240* in capital gains tax.
The same $50,000 goes to charity. Brett potentially eliminates $13,240 in capital gains tax.
*Assumes 20% federal capital gains tax rate, 3.8% NIIT, and 9.3% CA tax rate.
Case Study
Give before you sell: A post-IPO tax strategy
Tax savings$74,200
Jordan works at SpaceX and plans to sell $2 million of stock after his lockup expires. Jordan already gives to charity, so instead of selling all $2 million, he decides to sell 90% and contribute the other 10%, or $200,000 of stock, to a donor-advised fund.
Assuming the donated shares have little to no cost basis. If Jordan sold that $200,000 first, the resulting capital gains tax could be approximately $74,200.*
By donating the appreciated shares directly instead, Jordan avoid that capital gains tax and may also qualify for a charitable deduction based on the full $200,000 fair market value of the shares.
Jordan turns 10% of the position into charitable impact while potentially avoiding $74,200 in capital gains tax.
*Assumes a 20% federal capital gains tax rate, 3.8% NIIT, and a 13.3% California rate, including the 1% Behavioral Health Services Tax.
Case Study
Use stock donations to reduce future taxes
Tax savings$2,648
Alex works at Apple and typically donates $10,000 to her children’s school and charities each year. Normally, she would donate cash.
This year, Alex donates $10,000 of Apple stock (cost basis: $2,000) to a donor-advised fund, then uses the $10,000 cash she would have donated to buy new Apple shares. As a result, Alex
- Avoids realizing $8,000 of capital gains, saving up to $2,648 in federal and CA taxes*
- May claim the full $10,000 fair market value of the donated stock as a charitable deduction
- Resets the cost basis on the newly purchased shares to $10,000
- Maintains the same $10,000 exposure to Apple stock
Alex saves up to $2,648, resets his cost basis, and maintains the same stock exposure.
*Assumes 20% federal capital gains tax rate, 3.8% NIIT, and 9.3% CA tax rate.

Please note that the information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. Any calculations are intended to be illustrative and do not reflect all of the potential complexities of individual tax returns. To assess your specific tax situation, please consult with a tax professional.

Put Your Appreciated Stock to Better Use

Donate a portion of your shares, potentially reduce your tax bill, and support the causes that matter to you.

Learn more about donating stock Try Daffy For Free

How to donate stock to charities with Daffy

Open your Daffy account. It only takes a few minutes to get started.
Submit your stock contribution. Tell us which shares you’d like to donate.
Transfer your shares. Transfer directly through Daffy for E*TRADE and Schwab, or follow our simple transfer instructions for other brokerages.
Give to the charities you care about. Once your stock is received, recommend donations to any of 1.7 million IRS-qualified charities.

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Join thousands of generous members

Daffy blows away the competition in the DAF space on basically every metric. Daffy spices up the act of giving, all while helping you do it efficiently.
Joel LarsgaardMember since 2022
I can't recommend Daffy enough. Gifted some shares yesterday, transactions went through in one business day, and I made our annual donations tonight. All in a 36 hour period - so efficient!
Jofi JosephMember since 2025
I added funds to Daffy in 2022, when the S&P was at a low. Even after giving $22,000, I still have $17,000 left—my money is growing even while I'm giving. That's why a DAF like Daffy is so powerful.
Pranav GargMember since 2022

Frequently asked questions

How can I donate stock to charities?
Most charities can't accept stock directly, so the easiest path is through a donor-advised fund like Daffy. Once you're a member, you can contribute nearly any publicly traded stock, ETF, or mutual fund directly from your brokerage account.
Daffy offers direct transfers from E*TRADE and Schwab, along with simple transfer instructions for other brokerages. Once your contribution is complete, you can recommend donations to more than 1.7 million charities through Daffy.
Can I donate stock to churches and schools?
Yes. With Daffy, you can contribute stock to your fund and use the liquidated proceeds to recommend donations to nearly any 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing with the IRS, including schools, churches, synagogues, and other places of worship, even if they aren't set up to accept stock directly.
If you want to donate to a charity not currently in Daffy's database, you can request that we add it through your member account.
What are the tax benefits of donating stock?
If you donate appreciated stock that you've held for more than one year, you can receive two significant federal tax benefits.
First, you can avoid the capital gains tax you would have owed if you sold the shares yourself, including the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) when applicable.
Second, if you itemize your deductions, you can claim a charitable deduction based on the stock's full fair market value. Beginning in 2026, only charitable contributions above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) are deductible.
Which types of stock can I donate through Daffy?
Daffy accepts contributions of publicly traded stock, ETFs, mutual funds, and private stock. Donating your most highly appreciated, lowest-cost-basis shares will often produce the greatest potential capital gains tax savings. Read our brokerage-specific contribution guides for detailed instructions.
Can I donate company stock, vested RSUs, or shares after an IPO?
You can generally contribute public company shares after they have vested and settled in your brokerage account. Unvested RSUs cannot be contributed because you don't own the underlying shares. If your company recently completed an IPO, you'll generally need to wait until the lockup period expires and the shares become transferable.
Before initiating a transfer, contact Daffy. For RSUs and company stock after an IPO, Daffy may need to review your company's insider trading policy and stock purchase agreement to confirm that the shares are transferable and that the transfer occurs during an open trading window. Company policies and securities laws may also apply, so consult your employer and professional advisors.
How long must I hold shares to qualify for a fair market value deduction?
Shares must be held for more than one year to qualify for a charitable deduction based on their fair market value. If you donate shares held for one year or less, your deduction may be limited to your cost basis. Other requirements and deduction limits may apply to your circumstances.
How long does a stock transfer take, and when is my contribution complete?
The time it takes for your shares to reach Daffy depends on your brokerage. Securities can arrive in as little as 1 to 2 business days or take more than two weeks. Once the shares arrive at Daffy's custodian and you have created a matching stock intent in Daffy, the shares are typically liquidated, and the proceeds are added to your Daffy fund on the same or next business day.
What is the deadline to donate stock for it to count on this year's taxes?
To qualify for a tax deduction this year, Daffy must receive your stock by December 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The deadline is based on when Daffy receives the shares, not when you initiate the transfer.
Because transfer times vary by brokerage and are outside of Daffy's control, we recommend starting your stock contribution as early as possible. Waiting until the final days of December could mean your shares don't arrive in time to count toward this year's taxes.
Can my employer match a donation made through Daffy?
Yes. Most workplace giving programs match donations made through donor-advised funds, and some employers may even match contributions directly to your Daffy fund.
Can I make anonymous donations through Daffy?
Yes, Daffy gives you control over what information you share with each charity. You can share your name and contact information, share your name only, or remain completely anonymous. You can also set a default privacy preference for all future donations.