Another argument against extreme donation bunching: Because marginal tax rates get higher as your income increases, being able to deduct $40K is not necessarily twice as valuable as being able to deduct $20K.
If you expect your income to increase over time (all else equal this is reasonable), that’s an extra reason to bunch. However, it throws a wrench in an alternative to front-load bunching, i.e. give 50% in year 1 and then only 10% of your raise since year 1 in the subsequent four years.
Another argument against extreme donation bunching: Because marginal tax rates get higher as your income increases, being able to deduct $40K is not necessarily twice as valuable as being able to deduct $20K.
If you expect your income to increase over time (all else equal this is reasonable), that’s an extra reason to bunch. However, it throws a wrench in an alternative to front-load bunching, i.e. give 50% in year 1 and then only 10% of your raise since year 1 in the subsequent four years.