How to Donate Stock

With the stock market regularly breaking records at the closing bell, many of your investments are likely worth more today than what you originally paid for them.

Time to sell? If you do, you might have to pay capital gains taxes. There’s a better option that provides you with valuable tax incentives as well as the satisfaction of supporting a cause close to your heart: Give your stock to St. Cecilia Catholic Church and School.

When you give St. Cecilia appreciated securities that you’ve owned for more than one year, you will receive two tax benefits:

1. You are entitled to a federal income tax deduction based on the current fair market value of the securities, regardless of their lower original cost.
2. You will be exempt from paying capital gains taxes on any increase in value—taxes you would pay if you sold the stock.

Reap the Rewards

To realize full tax benefits from your gift, keep the following IRS guidelines in mind:

• Donate long-term appreciated property. For short-term assets (owned one year or less), only the amount you originally paid is deductible.
• Watch the ceiling. The gift deduction for long-term capital gain property is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income in the year of your gift, but the excess is deductible over the next five years.

How to Make a Gift of Stock

To transfer a gift of securities submit a completed LETTER OF INTENT form to your broker, and to assure that your gift will be properly identified and applied to your intended purpose please send a copy to the Archdiocese and St. Cecilia Catholic Church or School.

Instruct your broker to electronically transfer your intended shares; ask your broker to notify us once the transfer is complete.

The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor.