Cash

Gifts of cash or check are an easy and convenient way of making a charitable contribution and can be used to establish or add to a charitable fund. Cash gifts entitle you to a tax deduction, up to 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), with an opportunity to carry-over any excess deduction for five years.

Securities
Gifts of appreciated securities (bonds and stock, including stock in closely held companies) may also be used to establish a fund or add to an existing fund. Such gifts often provide important tax advantages. Their full fair market value is deductible as a charitable contribution up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. As with gifts of cash, deduction amounts exceeding this limit may be carried forward for up to five additional years. The added benefit of giving appreciated securities is the avoidance of the capital gains tax on the appreciated portion of the gift. Gifts of closely held stock enjoy the same tax benefits as with publicly traded stock. 

Life Insurance
Life insurance policies can also be used as charitable gifts. If The Community Foundation is named as the owner and beneficiary of an existing or new life insurance policy, the donor receives an immediate tax deduction which usually approximates the cash surrender value of the policy. All premium payments thereafter made by the donor will also be deductible as a charitable contribution. 

Real Estate
A gift of real estate held more than a year can provide the same federal tax advantages as those described for gifts of securities. Because the Community Foundation's ability to accept gifts of real estate depends upon a number of factors, such gifts are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Assets from Other Trusts and Private Foundations
To the extent you are permitted by law to make grants from a private foundation, you can direct such grants to the Community Foundation. In some cases, if a private foundation is no longer meeting your philanthropic objectives, it is possible to terminate it and transfer its assets to the Community Foundation to create a Donor Advised Fund or other type of charitable fund.

Available for download:
Four Approaches to Giving Chart

Note: As with all financial matters, donors should contact their professional advisor for tax deduction advice and referral.