Year-End Generosity Guide: Advisors

Help activate your clients’ charitable giving vision. Find contribution and grant deadlines, forms, and tips to streamline your efforts to end 2026 with confidence.

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Advisor Managed Accounts

Apply by: December 1, 2026

  • Custodial applications to establish new advisor managed accounts (AMAs) must be submitted to The Signatry by December 1, 2026.
    • After December 1, donors may still open and contribute to donor advised funds (DAFs), receiving 2026 tax deductions when eligible. After January 1, 2027, those funds may add an AMA as an investment option.
    • A donor advised fund at The Signatry must have a minimum of a $100,000 balance to be eligible to utilize the AMA investment option.
  • Contributions can be made directly to an active AMA or to The Signatry’s main contribution account. Please ensure that one of the below contribution notification forms is completed for each contribution, so our teams can identify and attribute the gift properly.
    • Wire and ACH Contribution Notification Form
    • Stock Contribution Notification Form
      • Stock contributions made directly to a donor’s advisor managed account may be journaled and held in-kind. Any stock contribution sent to The Signatry’s main account will be liquidated upon receipt. If donors wish to make in-kind stock contributions in 2026, they will need to begin the AMA opening process no later than December 1st.

Alternative Investments for DAFs

Submit recommendations by: October 26, 2026

The Signatry is open to partnering with donors and financial advisors who wish to recommend alternative investments for the money that is held in a donor advised fund. We have invested in a wide variety of alternative investments, including opportunities we bring to the table and those introduced to us by donors and advisors.

Talk with our investments team if your client is interested in recommending an alternative investment for a DAF.

To allow for proper due diligence, an alternative investment recommendation should be submitted by October 26, 2026. All due diligence documents should be submitted by November 2, 2026.

Email alternatives@thesignatry.com to submit alternative investment recommendations.

Contributions

Stock Contributions

Start by: December 7, 2026

  • Please submit a stock contribution notification form when the gift is initiated. Without this form, we cannot attribute stock gifts to the correct donor or fund.
    • Your client should receive an email confirmation from The Signatry when we have received and posted your stock contribution. Please confirm that their email preferences are updated to include stock notifications.
    • If they do not receive this notification email, confirm with the broker that the stock has been sent by December 28, 2026.

Nonliquid Asset Contributions

If your client would like to make a gift of a nonliquid asset before the end of the year, we encourage you to please start the process by November 13, 2026, for real estate and November 25, 2026, for business interest.

Your client can donate business interests, real estate, or other nonliquid assets directly to a donor advised fund. To get started, contact our team at assets@thesignatry.com.

Donating Nonliquid Assets

Cash Contributions

Deadlines vary by delivery method. See a full list of cash contribution deadlines here: Cash Contribution Deadlines

Grant Recommendations

Grants to new recipients: Recommend by December 1, 2026

New recipients include nonprofits The Signatry has not previously supported.

Grants to existing recipients: Recommend by December 15, 2026

Tips to ensure your client’s grant recommendations reach the recipient by year-end:

  • Prepare in November: Consider making bulk contributions, or moving additional funds into the money market, in November to ensure there will be sufficient funds to process December grants.
  • Share information: When recommending a grant, include the nonprofit’s website, EIN, state, and contact information. This helps expedite our processing.
  • Get nonprofits on board: Encourage your clients to ask their favorite nonprofits to sign up to receive grants from The Signatry via ACH. ACH often allows us to send and deposit funds more quickly and more securely.

Did you know? 50% of our contributions and grants typically occur in the month of December. We always recommend getting ahead of the rush so your client does not need to worry!

Contribution & Grant Forms

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Stock Contribution Notification Form

Contributing publicly traded securities? Let us know.

Stock Contribution Form
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Wire & ACH Contribution Notification Form

Contributing via wire or ACH? Let us know.

Wire/ACH Contribution Form
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Check Contribution Form

Mailing a check to The Signatry? Include this form.

Download PDF
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Alternative Investment Recommendation Form

Donor advisors can use this form to recommend an alternative investment for a DAF.

Submit Online Form
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Grant Recommendation Form

Donor advisors can recommend a grant from a fund via our online platform or with the form below.

Download PDF

Resources for Charitable Planning

We are here to serve you with resources you can use to open new conversations with clients and provide them with information about generosity, giving strategies, and more.

Advisor Resources
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