Giving with Purpose: Protecting What Matters

2025 Tax Planning Tips: Build Wealth, Build Wonder

The Backcountry Wilderness Area offers something we all want to preserve: open space, outdoor learning, and time away from screens and noise. When you make a gift, whether directly or through a Donor Advised Fund, you’re doing more than saving on taxes. You’re supporting a mission that’s about encouraging outdoor exploration, investing in personal growth, and building values worth protecting.

As 2025 unfolds, many families are thinking about how to better manage their taxes, grow their wealth, and give back to their community. Whether you’re in your peak earning years, planning for retirement, or thinking about how to leave a legacy, proactive tax planning can help you get more out of your money—while also making a meaningful impact.

One of the most rewarding ways to do that is by supporting local causes that align with your values—like the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund. This special 501(c)(3) nonprofit connects residents and children with nature through outdoor education, wildlife conservation, and community programs. When you support this mission, you’re not just helping with your tax return—you’re helping build a healthier, more connected community.

If you would like to learn how to Give Smarter and Leave a Legacy, we're hosting a Q&A learning hour on September 17 from 6-7 pm at Southridge Recreation Center. Register here: Give Smarter and Leave a Legacy

To get started here are ways to increase your gift to your favorite nonprofit and save on your tax bills:

1. Use Charitable Giving to Reduce Your Tax Bill

Donating directly to the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund or other charities, you can help reduce your taxable income. If you itemize deductions, your donation is tax-deductible, meaning you can support local outdoor education and potentially pay less in taxes. We like to call it “Building Wealth, Building Wonder.” You grow your financial strength while also giving families and kids a chance to explore, learn, and connect with nature.

2. Set Up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

A Donor Advised Fund allows you to make a charitable contribution now, get a tax deduction this year, and then support your favorite causes, like the Backcountry Wilderness Area 501(c) 3, over time. If you’re having a high-income year, received a large bonus, or have increasef business income, a DAF can be a smart strategy. It turns one big tax year into years of meaningful giving. We think of it as “Investing in Personal Growth”.

3. Bunch Your Deductions

With the higher standard deduction ($30,000 for married couples in 2025), many taxpayers no longer itemize every year. But if you plan ahead, you can “bunch” deductions like charitable contributions in a single year. Instead of making charitable contributions each year, bunch two years of contributions into one. Add other deductible expenses such as property taxes, mortgage interest, and medical expenses, and you could deduct more than the standard deduction. This could allow you to itemize this year and take the standard deduction next year while maximizing the tax benefit.

4. Review Your Retirement Contributions

Maxing out your retirement accounts is still one of the most efficient tax planning moves. In 2025, the 401(k)-contribution limit is expected to rise to $23,000 (plus $7,500 catch-up if you’re 50+). If you’re self-employed or own your own business, congratulations, you may be able to save more than the 401(k) limits. Saving for retirement reduces your current tax bill and builds long-term wealth. It's a classic win-win.

5. Harvest Tax Losses or Gains Strategically

If you have taxable investments, now is the time to review them. Selling investments at a loss can offset gains elsewhere. Or, if you’re in a lower-income year, it might make sense to realize some capital gains at a lower tax rate. Bonus tip: Donating appreciated stock to a charity (or your Donor Advised Fund) avoids capital gains tax and still gets you the full charitable deduction. That’s efficient giving.

6. Make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

If you’re over age 70½, you can donate up to $108,000 in 2025 directly from your IRA to a qualified charity—like the Backcountry Wilderness Area 501(c)3 —without paying income tax on the withdrawal. It’s a great way to meet your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and support a cause you love.

7. Talk with a Planner Who Knows the Community

We are incredibly lucky to live in Highlands Ranch and have this incredible natural resource available to all of us. Working with a local tax-focused financial planner who understands the needs of our community and the value the Backcountry Wilderness Area brings to us can help you make smarter decisions, whether planning a charitable legacy, reducing taxes, or preparing for retirement.

Ready to take action? If you're considering charitable giving strategies or want to better plan for your 2025 taxes, we're here to help. Let’s build wealth and wonder together.

To learn more about how your donation supports our community, visit the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund or the Future Capital Management Tax Planning page for the HRCA Backcountry Wilderness Area.

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About Future Capital Management

Future Capital Management is a proud corporate sponsor of the Backcountry Wilderness Area and is committed to supporting our community’s outdoor education and conservation efforts. Shane Callahan, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Investment Advisor Representative, has lived in Highlands Ranch since 2005. He and his family use the Backcountry Wilderness Area multiple times a week for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Shane is also a trained volunteer with the trail maintenance team and an active member of the HRCA Finance Committee, reflecting his belief in stewardship, service, and sustaining the natural beauty of our shared open spaces.

To learn more about Shane’s financial planning and tax strategies—or how you can integrate charitable giving into your own financial goals—please reach out or visit our website.