Pictured: Susan Goldstein, Dianne Kopczynski, Veronica Thames, Brittany Lamon, Nick Feather, Laurie McCracken and Marcus Walfridson at the Capitol steps, advocating for policies that support thriving communities in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

If anything is certain, it’s that uncertainty persists. Every generation rides out economic shifts and the turmoil of unexpected events. Today, we experience a government shutdown following Congress failing to pass a funding bill with disagreements over Medicaid cuts and health care subsidies as the main points of contention between Democrats and Republicans.

Policy changes, in particular, can feel like they give us collective whiplash.

Communities depend on nonprofits to be a constant during turbulent times. And if a community is like a building, philanthropy is one of the pillars that keeps the structure from buckling under the storms it faces. With cuts in education, Medicaid, and food security benefits like SNAP, philanthropy will be called to take an even bigger role to sustain our nonprofits and our community. But often, even philanthropy itself needs to adapt to the winds of change.

For example, tax code changes are redefining how many people approach their giving. A new rule requires donors to reach a floor of 0.5 percent of their adjusted gross income before itemized deductions for charitable gifts provide tax benefits. For some, that threshold discourages smaller annual donations to individual charities. The result is less incentive to give in the way people once did.

But there is a solution. By working with a community foundation, donors can “bunch” several years of giving into one larger gift. That single contribution qualifies for the deduction in the year it is made while still allowing the donor to recommend grants to their favorite charities over time. This approach can both restore the financial benefit of giving and provide greater flexibility. A family may choose to bunch their philanthropy into a year when income is higher or when they experience a windfall. Then they can advise on grants to local causes in subsequent years.

Donor advised funds (DAFs) are especially well-suited for this. Once a gift is placed in a fund, it is invested alongside MCF’s pool, which offers a range of options to match different levels of risk tolerance. The initial contribution has the opportunity to grow while waiting to be distributed. At the same time, donors can continue supporting the organizations they care about most, while also being ready to help the community respond quickly when unexpected needs arise, such as after a storm.

One of the smartest uses of a fund at a community foundation is as a vehicle to donate appreciated assets, like stocks, a business interest, or real estate. Doing this helps a donor avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation of the asset while receiving a deduction for the full market value. Families can even lower their tax bracket through this type of planning while championing the charities they care about.

These are practical financial tools with real impact, and at MCF we see the difference up close every day. Donors who use these strategies provide steady resources for nonprofit partners that serve families, strengthen education, expand access to housing, and improve this area’s quality of life in countless other ways.

Community foundations are uniquely positioned in this sense. Our mission transcends one program or moment in time; we are here “now and forever,” to safeguard charitable resources and ensure they are available whenever our community needs them most. By building funds that exist in perpetuity, we help donors turn a single decision into years of steady help for their neighbors.

No one can predict what the next challenge will be. An economic downturn, a public health crisis, or something entirely unforeseen. But we know that change will come. When it does, philanthropy—strategic, thoughtful, rooted in community—remains a surefire way to weather the storm.

I’m heartened by the families who have embraced these strategies, choosing to give in ways that help their own planning while also keeping support steady for tomorrow. Because of their foresight, Manatee County will be better prepared when the winds shift.

And this is only part of the story. In the months ahead, I hope to turn our attention to another building block of philanthropy, and of our community’s resilience: renewing civic trust and encouraging greater participation in community life. Both generosity and engagement will help us navigate whatever the future brings.

Veronica Thames is the CEO of Manatee Community Foundation.

Pictured: Susan Goldstein, Dianne Kopczynski, Veronica Thames, Brittany Lamon, Nick Feather, Laurie McCracken and Marcus Walfridson at the Capitol steps, advocating for policies that support thriving communities in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.