This year, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières teams have been responding to multiple, overlapping emergencies in over 75 countries around the world. This time of year is critical to ensuring nearly 67,000 Doctors Without Borders staff—doctors, nurses, pharmacists, surgeons, and other experts—have the resources they need to provide lifesaving care in the most challenging environments around the world.
Every day, Doctors Without Borders’ teams are bandaging war-wounded civilians in Gaza, treating children with malnutrition in Sudan, and providing basic health care to people in the hard-to-reach, mountainous regions of Afghanistan. Support is needed now more than ever, and strategic year-end giving helps to ensure that these teams have the resources they need to continue this lifesaving work.
Democratic Republic of Congo 2025 © Augustin Mudiayi/MSF
Make the most of your giving
Your personal portfolio and life events will best determine what a smart giving decision looks like for you this giving season. Many alternative gift types offer tax advantages or other financial benefits, while also serving as long-term investments in Doctors Without Borders’ work. And with the new tax law set to take effect in 2026, you may benefit from front-loading giving to take advantage of current benefits ahead of alteration.
As you consult your financial advisor or tax professional to determine the best course of action for your specific circumstances, consider these strategic ways to maximize your charitable dollars with Doctors Without Borders before December 31:
Donor-advised funds (DAF)
DAFs, sometimes referred to as charitable giving accounts, enable donors to aggregate their donations and claim an immediate tax deduction. This vehicle can be particularly advantageous in windfall situations and in advance of the new tax law taking effect. DAFs can also facilitate the donation of illiquid assets — such as real estate — which may be complicated for organizations to accept directly. If you made contributions to a DAF in recent years, remember to grant out this year to put your charitable dollars to work. And remember, when you put your DAF dollars into action by granting them to Doctors Without Borders, you’re turning your financial foresight into urgent medical relief where it’s needed most.
Appreciated securities
With strong stock market performance this year, you may have a limited-time opportunity to maximize your charitable impact with a gift of appreciated securities. You can easily donate stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Not only is the full market value of the securities donation tax-deductible, but there is also no obligation to pay any capital gains taxes on the appreciation.
Note: Gifts of securities must be received on or before December 31 to be processed before the end of the year.
Haiti 2025 © Marx Stanley Léveillé/MSF
Qualified charitable distribution (QCD)
If you are 70 ½ or older, you can donate up to $105,000 annually directly from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). QCDs, also known as IRA charitable rollovers, are a great way to support MSF’s lifesaving work even if you do not itemize your taxes. QCDs may be excluded from your taxable income and, if you are 73 or older, qualify for your required minimum distribution (RMD). And with potential changes to retirement account rules under the new tax law, it may be in your best interest to maximize your QCD contributions before 2026.
For a QCD to satisfy your RMD for the year, funds must be transferred by December 31. Consult your financial custodian to ensure enough time for processing.
Employer matched gifts
Did you know that many employers will match your charitable donation and double—or even triple—the impact of your gift at no extra cost to you? Gifts made by spouses, retirees, and board members may also be eligible for a match. This is the simplest way to maximize the impact of your charitable dollars.
Learn more today about the extraordinary impact you can make through Doctors Without Borders during this special time of year.
This post was created by Doctors Without Borders with Insider Studios.
Doctors Without Borders USA Federal tax ID#: 13-3433452
*The above is not intended as legal or tax advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please consult your professional advisor.
