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You’ve probably seen the headlines about Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding in Venice.

It was… a lot.

Private gondolas. Red carpets. Security boats. Protests. And even a leaked wedding invite that’s getting roasted online for (as CNN so kindly put it) “its lack of design prowess.”

But stationary aside, there was one section of the invite that caught my eye:

“We have one early request: please, no gifts” (followed by a list of organizations they’ll be donating to on behalf of the guests)

Now, I’m not here to defend the wedding or the optics.

But it does bring up something worth talking about.

There are ways that you can give to causes you care about that’s intentional, impactful, and yes… even tax-smart.

And while Bezos likely gave through his private foundation, there’s another strategy with similar benefits (once reserved for the ultra-wealthy) that is now accessible to almost anyone.

Let’s break it down.

Meet The Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

It might sound like something you need a family office for, but these days? You can typically open one in minutes (with no minimums) and use it to give more flexibly and strategically.

In a nutshell, a DAF is like your own personal giving account.

• You donate cash or assets into it

• You get an immediate tax deduction

• But you don’t have to choose the charity right away. You can actually give over time, on your own schedule.

This can be especially powerful if you’re itemizing deductions (rather than taking the standard deduction). Since you only get a tax break on charitable contributions when you itemize, it can make sense to donate more in a high-income year (even if you’re not ready to give it all away yet).

Two things that make DAFs especially useful:

1. You can invest the funds tax-free while you decide

That means your donation can grow while you figure out where to send it. More impact, same dollars.

2. You can donate appreciated stock (instead of cash)

Donating stock lets you:

• Skip capital gains tax

• Get a deduction for the full fair market value (which can be more efficient than selling first and donating the cash)

The takeaway here?

You don’t need to be a billionaire or have a foundation to give to causes you care about (while also being smart about taxes)

And there are even platforms like Charityvest (not affiliated, just like them) that have made them more accessible than ever.

What’s Happening at Carry Lab?

Here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks

See the full list of events here. ⏰

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If you want more resources on building wealth as a solopreneur/entrepreneur, check these out:

• The Solo 401k handbook

• The Roth IRA handbook

• The Self-Directed IRA handbook

• The Guide to Paying Less in Taxes

• What is a Solo 401k?

• How to Open a Solo 401k