Key takeaways
- GivingTuesday is Dec. 1, 2026, and Nov. 30, 2027.
- Gifts count for 2026 if the check is mailed or the card is charged by Dec. 31, 2026.
- Starting with 2026, donors who don't itemize can deduct up to $1,000 of cash gifts, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.
- Form 990 is due May 15, 2027, for calendar-year organizations, with a six-month extension available.
Key dates
| Date | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving | Plan thank-you calls and messages for the week after. |
| Dec. 1, 2026 | GivingTuesday | The global giving day, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It opens GivingTuesday's Generosity Week, Dec. 1–5. |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | International Volunteer Day | Closes Generosity Week; a natural moment to thank volunteers. |
| Dec. 31, 2026 | Last day for 2026 gifts | Gifts count for 2026 if a check is mailed or a card is charged by year-end (IRS Publication 526). |
| Feb. 22–24, 2027 | Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum Conference | Chicago. |
| March 23–26, 2027 | Nonprofit Technology Conference | Portland, Ore., and virtual. |
| April 11–13, 2027 | AFP ICON | Baltimore. |
| April 18–24, 2027 | National Volunteer Week | Organized by Points of Light. |
| May 15, 2027 | Form 990 due for calendar-year organizations | The 15th day of the fifth month after year-end; Form 8868 gives an automatic six-month extension. |
| June 28–July 1, 2027 | Points of Light Conference | Long Beach, Calif. |
| Aug. 4–6, 2027 | Bridge Conference | Venue to be announced. |
| Aug. 7–10, 2027 | ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Nov. 15, 2027 | Extended Form 990 deadline | For calendar-year organizations that filed Form 8868. |
| Nov. 25, 2027 | Thanksgiving | |
| Nov. 30, 2027 | GivingTuesday | The Tuesday after Thanksgiving. |
| Dec. 31, 2027 | Last day for 2027 gifts |
See our 2027 fundraising conference list for organizers and links.
What's new for 2026 gifts
The IRS says that beginning with tax year 2026, taxpayers who don't itemize may deduct up to $1,000 of cash contributions to qualified organizations, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Most donors take the standard deduction, so this gives many supporters a tax reason to give for the first time in years. Mention it in year-end appeals, and remind donors to keep their receipts.
The same law added a floor for donors who itemize: law firm Taft summarizes it as a 0.5% of adjusted gross income threshold before charitable gifts become deductible. Donors with tax questions should talk to their own advisors.
Planning your outreach around the calendar
- Before GivingTuesday: call recent and lapsed donors to thank them and let them know a campaign is coming.
- Mid-December: follow up with supporters who opened but didn't give, and with past year-end donors who haven't given yet.
- January: make thank-you calls to new and returning year-end donors. A personal thank-you is one of the simplest ways to improve donor retention.
- Spring: reactivate donors who lapsed during the year, before summer slows things down. See our lapsed donor reactivation campaigns.
Calling? Check the rules first: our guide to fundraising call rules and state registration guides cover what applies.