Gifts of Securities

Publicly traded securities include stocks, bonds and mutual funds containing stocks listed on approved stock exchanges. They make excellent charitable gifts. They are liquid and are usually easy to value. And, the tax incentives are very attractive.

As a donor you can choose to receive the satisfaction of seeing the gift at work now, or you can create a legacy gift.

You receive an immediate donation receipt for the full fair market value of the donated securities if the organization is a registered charity. None of the capital gains on the disposition of appreciated securities transferred directly to the organization is taxable.

Corporate donors will benefit from a tax deduction and in some circumstances benefit from an increased addition to their capital dividend account.

Who can give securities?

Donors of all ages who hold securities and can afford to donate some to charity. You may wish to simplify your estate, divest some holdings, or reduce taxes now. By planning your gift you can make your gift earlier, and reduce the size of your estate and thereby future probate costs. Employees of publicly traded companies may wish to donate shares through the exercise of employee stock options if the company and the stock market are doing well.

How can I give securities?

You instruct your broker to transfer (not sell) the securities directly from your account to the organization’s investment account. The transfer is carried out electronically. Alternatively, you may donate by endorsing the security certificates and delivering them to the organization, or by signing a stock power of attorney form and then separately delivering the signed form and the securities to the organization.

For receipting purposes, the organization usually uses the market closing price on the day the securities are transferred to it. Please check with the organization.