By giving stock that has appreciated, you receive two benefits. First, you receive a charitable income-tax deduction for your donation, and, second, you avoid paying the capital-gains tax which would be required if you sold the stock yourself. If you have held the stock for more than 12 months, you can deduct the full fair-market value of the stock at the time of your gift, regardless of how much you paid for it. For example, if you donate publicly traded securities valued at $5,000, your deduction will be the full $5,000, even if you purchased it several years ago for only $1,000.
If your stock has depreciated, another option is to take the capital loss. You can sell the stock to realize the loss, take the tax deduction for that loss, and generate a charitable contribution deduction by donating the cash proceeds of the sale to The Carey School.
To make a gift of securities, please use our Stock Transfer Form.
