Cash may be the easiest way to make a gift, but for tax reasons, better choices are available to donors. Even though the financial markets have been quite volatile, chances are the stocks and real estate you now own have increased significantly in value over cost basis (purchase price). Making a gift of stock or real estate now may generate substantial tax savings in three ways: avoidance of capital gains tax, relief from estate taxes and generation of a charitable tax deduction for the fair market value of the asset.
Personal holdings in real estate and securities make excellent charitable gifts. Working with you and your financial advisors, we can show you how making a charitable gift with real estate or stock may be one of your best defenses against capital gains, estate and income taxes.
The following is a brief list of the many types of real estate and securities which have been donated to colleges and universities as charitable gifts: