Gifts of appreciated securities may offer better tax benefits than gifts of cash, such as:

• Entitling you to a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the gifted securities as of the date of your gift.
• Eliminating capital gains taxes that would ordinarily become due if you had sold the appreciated securities on the open market and donated the proceeds from the sale.
• Claiming your charitable deduction against up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Any unused deductions can be carried forward over the next five years.
• Helping you achieve your long-term financial objective of reducing your income and estate taxes.

If you have depreciated securities and want to donate them, you may find it more advantageous to sell the securities first and contribute the proceeds as opposed to donating the securities outright. This strategy should allow you to claim a deduction for both the loss from the sale of the securities as well as the charitable gift.

If you are considering donating stock that is subject to a cash merger or tender offer, it’s important to note that you will be subject to capital gains taxes even though the shares were transferred to us before the tender offer became effective.

You should always consult with your financial advisor before initiating a charitable gift arrangement.