The coordinating properties of NHC (A), phenolate (B) and phosphonium ylide (C) moieties have been investigated systematically through the preparation of a family of NHC, phosphonium ylide-based pincer ligands where the third donor extremity can be either a NHC, a phenolate or a phosphonium ylide. The overall donor character of such ligands [NHC(AaBbCc)] (a + b + c = 2) has been analyzed by comparison of the MOs (energy and shape), oxidation potentials (Ep ox), and IR nCO and nCN stretching frequencies of their isostructural pincer Pd(II) complexes [NHC(AaBbCc)PdL][OTf] (L = NCCH3, CO or CNtBu). The three categories of pincer complexes based on phosphonium ylides were easily obtained by acidic treatment of their highly stable ortho-metallated Pd(II) precursors prepared in a single step from readily available N-phosphonio-substituted imidazolium salts. Analysis of IR data indicated that NHC and phenolate ligands have a similar donor character but which remains lower than that of the phosphonium ylide. The impact on catalytic performance of the incorporation of a second strongly donating phosphonium ylide into the ligand architecture has been illustrated in the Pd-catalyzed allylation of aldehydes.