Instead of donating to charity every year, consider moving one year’s donation to the next tax year. Thus, one takes the standard deduction one year and itemizes deductions using Schedule A the next year.
An income tax deduction reduces your taxable income. The standard (default) deduction requires no forms. If one wants to deduct more, complete Schedule A.
This strategy only makes sense if one would otherwise not itemize. Those paying state income taxes and property taxes and perhaps also mortgage interest may already benefit from itemizing ignoring charitable donations. Those whose itemized deduction total is less than the standard deduction may benefit from the strategy.
The charitable value of donated stock is the average of that day’s lowest and highest selling prices, not the price at the time of donation. Mutual funds trade only daily so this rule does not apply.