Bunching Charitable Donations in 2026

Bunching means giving two (or more) years' worth of donations in one year so your itemized deductions beat the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint in 2026), then taking the standard deduction the next year. In 2026 the off year isn't wasted: the non-itemizer deduction still gives up to $1,000 / $2,000 for cash gifts. A donor-advised fund lets you bunch the deduction while spreading the grants — but DAF gifts don't count for the non-itemizer deduction.

Last reviewed 2026-10-29. General information, not tax advice. IRS Pub. 526, Pub. 6196 and a tax professional come first.