Ways To Give

CHARITABLE SUPPORT

There are many ways to support charity, and some may even allow you to provide more than you might have considered. Some key tax considerations which may help you increase the amount of your gifts are described below.

CASH GIFTS

The simplest method of giving is to send a personal check.  The SWIF also accepts a variety of credit cards for your convenience

APPRECIATED SECURITIES

When you give long-term appreciated securities, not only do you receive an income tax deduction equal to the market value of the securities, but you also avoid capital gains taxes on the transfer.

REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

A residence or other real property may be given as an outright gift, or you may prefer to give your residence, farm or vacation home and retain the right to occupy it for life.  Personal property such as paintings, library books, cars or musical instruments make excellent gifts. 

BEQUESTS AND RETIREMENT PLANS

A will provision allows you to make a substantial contribution without diminishing the assets available to you during your life. Since bequests are deductible from your taxable estate, significant estate tax savings are possible.  Naming charity as a beneficiary of your retirement plan also avoids income tax when charity receives its distribution from the plan.

  

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

In exchange for a gift of money or securities, a charity will pay you and/or a loved one a fixed  amount annually for the rest of your life.  A portion of this income is not taxed, and you also receive a charitable deduction for part of your gift as calculated with IRS tables.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS

You can use an irrevocable trust to provide yourself and/or a loved one with a fixed annual income or an income which varies with the value of the trust.  Part of your gift qualifies for an income tax deduction, as calculated with IRS tables.  At the death of the last income beneficiary, the corpus of the trust is distributed to charity.

CHARITABLE LEAD TRUSTS

You can support charity for a term of years or for the life of an individual by creating a charitable lead trust.  Income will be paid to the charities of your choice each year during the term of the trust.  When the trust terminates, the assets in the trust revert to you or to individuals you wish to benefit.

LIFE INSURANCE

When you give a life insurance policy to charity, the cash surrender value of the policy or the cost of a replacement policy is deductible as a contribution.  If you continue to pay premiums after your gift, these premiums are also deductible.