BE PART OF SOMETHING BETTER

HERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHARITABLE GIVING BETTER

Define Your Charitable Giving Priorities

What are the charitable causes that are important to you? Animals, Arts and Culture, Children and Youth, Education, Environment, Health, Historic Preservation, or Vulnerable Individuals and Families?

Do Your Homework

Search online tools, such as GuideStar, for the most complete, up-to-date nonprofit data available. Get to know more about an organization’s governance, management, finances and programs before making a significant gift. Find, learn about and give directly to more than 100 Indian River County charities by visiting www.ircommunityfoundation.org.

Consider a Recurring Donation

If you are confident in the organization’s mission and the results it is achieving, consider making a multi-year commitment to let the organization know that it can count on your contribution for years to come. Some organizations, such as the United Way, make it easy to give a recurring donation of any amount with a credit card online, and honor recurring donations of $10,000 or more as part of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.

Give Appreciated Assets

Gifts of appreciated assets such as publicly traded securities, real estate or closely-held business interests help you to avoid paying capital gains taxes while helping your favorite charity to use the full fair market value of your gift. In most cases, these transactions are easy to make and provide a win-win for all involved.

Use the RMD from Your IRA to Give Tax-Free

If you or a family member are age 72 or older, contributions to qualified charities of up to $100,000 of the required minimum distribution from your IRA are not reported as taxable income. Many generous donors use this as a way to start or add to permanent endowments that can help sustain the mission and programs of a favorite cause.

Make a Planned Gift from Your Estate

Whether it is by making a simple bequest through your will or trust, or by using a charitable remainder trust, you can create and leave a charitable legacy to support your favorite cause forever. A free copy of an estate planning guide along with other helpful information about planned giving can be found at www.ircflegacy.org.