ORLANDO, Fla. – As the holiday season approaches, charitable giving surges, driven by a spirit of generosity and a desire to help others before the year comes to a close.
But while millions of Americans prepare to open their hearts and wallets, many are also navigating shifting tax rules and an increasingly complex nonprofit landscape. Understanding how to give wisely, and safely, has never been more important.
To help make sense of it all, WKMG-TV spoke with CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger, who offered timely insight into what donors should know as they make their end-of-year contributions. From upcoming changes to federal tax deductions to tools that help verify whether a charity is legitimate, Jill broke down how to ensure your generosity goes exactly where you intend.
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In the conversation that follows, Schlesinger also warns of the scams that often surface during the holiday rush, urging donors to stay vigilant and protect their financial information. Her practical guidance provides a roadmap for giving with confidence during a season when both goodwill – and criminal activity – tend to peak.
Below is the full transcript of our discussion.
WKMG-TV:
We are down to the last two months of the year, which is typically the giving season as many people are inspired to give during the holidays and charitable donations peak. CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger joins us now with what to know before opening your heart and your wallet. Jill, first of all, is there a tax benefit to giving?
Jill Schlesinger:
Well, for this calendar year 2025, if you want to claim a tax benefit for your charitable giving, you have to be the kind of taxpayer who itemizes your deductions. Now, that means that for the nearly 90% of taxpayers who use the standard deduction, there’s no tax incentive for your giving, you just being a good guy or gal. Now, that is about to change.
Next year, in 2026, even standard filers are going to be entitled to a $1,000 charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction amount. It’s $2,000 if you file jointly. This applies to cash gifts only. It’s got to go directly to a qualifying public charity.
WKMG-TV:
And how can we make sure that that charity is legit and the money that is used is used to support programs and, like, not their overhead?
Jill Schlesinger:
You know, I think the easiest way is to go to the IRS website irs.gov and they’ve got a tool there. It’s the tax exempt organization search tool. You pop the name of the charity in there, make sure it’s listed. If you want to go to your next level of research and dig into the finances of the organization, you can check out Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, or CharityWatch. These are all really helpful resources.
WKMG-TV:
And this time of year can also bring out the criminals. What do we need to know to protect ourselves?
Jill Schlesinger:
I know I say this all year long, but please be alert to fraud. I think especially during this period of time where you’re going to be quite distracted and really busy, just know that scammers, they use names that sound like a well-known charity and it’s just intended to confuse you. So, a couple of other things to keep in mind.
Don’t donate over the phone via text, via social. Don’t give anyone your credit card information until you verify the legitimacy of the organization. Please avoid charities that ask for donations by gift card or by wiring money. IRS says that is a usual sign of a fraud. Also, if there is any sort of hard sell, like ‘Give now,’ the IRS says that that usually indicates that there is a criminal or a scammer behind the ask. So, walk away.
You can see Jill regularly on CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News. For more analysis, go to JillOnMoney.com.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/11/25/the-naughty-list-scammers-target-holiday-donors/