Charitable Giving Tracker

Overview

Wilson Tools Used

• transaction_search

  — find charitable donation transactions across all accounts

Workflow

1. Run

   transaction_search

   with

   query: "donation OR charity OR charitable OR church OR tithe OR nonprofit OR 501c3 OR United Way OR Red Cross OR Salvation Army OR GoFundMe OR donor OR giving"

   and

   months: 12

   to find all charitable transactions in the past year.
2. Also run

   transaction_search

   with

   query: "foundation OR ministry OR habitat OR food bank OR humane society"

   and

   months: 12

   to catch additional charitable organizations.
3. Combine and deduplicate results. Group by recipient organization.
4. For each organization, calculate total donated in the period.
5. Classify each donation as likely tax-deductible or not:
   • Tax-deductible: donations to registered 501(c)(3) organizations
   • NOT deductible: GoFundMe for individuals, political campaigns, gifts to individuals
6. Present the giving summary:

   CHARITABLE GIVING SUMMARY (2025 Tax Year)
   ══════════════════════════════════════════════════
   Organization              Total Given  Deductible?
   ────────────────────────   ──────────   ──────────
   Local Church               $2,400       Yes
   Habitat for Humanity       $500         Yes
   Red Cross                  $250         Yes
   GoFundMe - J. Smith        $100         No
   ══════════════════════════════════════════════════
   Total Giving:              $3,250
   Tax-Deductible Giving:     $3,150
   Non-Deductible Giving:     $100

7. Estimate tax deduction value:
   • Only beneficial if the user itemizes deductions (total itemized > standard deduction: $14,600 single / $29,200 married filing jointly for 2025).
   • If itemizing: estimated tax savings = deductible amount x marginal tax rate. Ask the user their approximate tax bracket (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%).
   • Example: $3,150 in deductible giving x 22% bracket = ~$693 in tax savings.
8. If donations exceed $250 to a single org, note that the user needs a written acknowledgment letter from that organization for IRS records.
9. List donations under $250 that only need a bank/credit card statement as proof.

Without Wilson

1. Search your bank and credit card statements for the past calendar year. Most banks let you search by keyword — try "donation," "church," the names of organizations you support.
2. Check your email for donation receipts — search for "donation receipt," "thank you for your gift," "tax receipt," or "contribution."
3. In a spreadsheet, create columns: Date, Organization, Amount, Payment Method, Receipt on File (Y/N).
4. Total the Amount column:

   =SUM(C2:C50)

   .
5. For tax deduction estimation:
   • Check if you will itemize: add up mortgage interest (Form 1098), state/local taxes (up to $10,000), medical expenses (over 7.5% of AGI), and charitable giving. If the total exceeds the standard deduction ($14,600 single / $29,200 MFJ for 2025), you benefit from itemizing.
   • If itemizing, multiply total deductible giving by your marginal tax rate for estimated savings.
6. Verify 501(c)(3) status: search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ to confirm an organization qualifies.
7. For donations over $250: make sure you have a written letter from the org stating the amount, date, and that no goods/services were received in exchange (or describing what was received).
8. If you donated property (clothes, furniture, vehicles), you need a fair market value estimate. Salvation Army and Goodwill publish valuation guides on their websites.

Important Notes

• This skill provides estimates only. It is NOT tax advice. Consult a tax professional or CPA for your specific situation.
• The standard deduction increases annually. Many taxpayers do not benefit from itemizing, which means charitable donations do not directly reduce their tax bill (though some years include an above-the-line deduction for cash donations — check current tax law).
• Cash donations are deductible up to 60% of AGI. Non-cash donations have lower limits (30% or 50% depending on type).
• Keep all receipts. For cash/check donations under $250, a bank statement or cancelled check is sufficient. For $250+, you must have a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the organization.
• Donations to individuals, GoFundMe campaigns for personal causes, and political organizations are never tax-deductible, even if they feel charitable.