What to Give 

CASH

One of the most common ways to make a gift to nonprofit of your choice is to write a check, give a credit card number, or donate online.Stocks & Bonds
Giving long-term appreciated stock is one of the most tax advantaged ways to make charitable gifts. With careful planning, you can reduce your capital gains tax while supporting nonprofit of your choice.

A gift of cash could be right for you if:

• You want the easiest way to donate to nonprofit of your choice.
• You want the largest possible income tax charitable deduction for your gift.
• You would like to make a gift to nonprofit of your choice that has the greatest immediate impact.

How it works
You make a gift of cash directly to nonprofit of your choice and you receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction.

STOCKS & BONDS

Make a gift of publicly-traded securities to nonprofit of your choice and potentially save income tax and capital gains tax, too.
A gift of publicly-traded securities could be right for you if:

• You own publicly-traded securities that you have owned for at least one year.
• Some of these securities have increased in value since you bought them.
• Some of these securities may provide you with little or no income.
• You would like to make a gift to nonprofit of your choice.

How it works

• You transfer shares of one or more publicly-traded securities, such as stock, bonds, and mutual funds to the nonprofit of your choice.
• The two most common ways to give publicly-traded securities are to make an outright gift of your securities or to make a gift of your securities and receive payments for life.

RETIREMENT ASSETS

A gift of your retirement assets, such as a employee retirement plan, IRA or tax-sheltered annuity, is an excellent way to make a gift. A gift of these assets can shield your heirs from taxes while funding nonprofit of your choice's future.

A gift of retirement plan assets can be a surprisingly easy way to reduce potentially very high taxes and provide support to nonprofit of your choice.
A gift of retirement plan assets could be right for you if:

• You have an IRA or qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b).
• You do not expect to use all of your retirement plan assets during your lifetime.
• You have other assets, such as securities and real estate, that you want to pass to heirs.
• You may want to provide payments to loved ones after you are gone.
• You would like to make a bequest gift to nonprofit of your choice.

Option 1: Make a tax-free gift with an IRA charitable rollover 
You can make an immediate tax-free gift by transferring up to $100,000 directly from your traditional IRA to nonprofit of your choice (other qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s are not eligible). You must be at least 70 ½ years old to take advantage of this opportunity. 
The benefits of an IRA charitable rollover gift include:

• Satisfying the required minimum distribution.
• Avoiding income tax on IRA withdrawals.
• Supporting the important work of nonprofit of your choice with a tax-free gift.

Option 2: Designate remaining retirement plan assets for nonprofit of your choice
Another attractive option is to designate nonprofit of your choice as the recipient of some or all of what’s left in your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified plan when it ends.    
In addition to having the satisfaction of making a significant gift to nonprofit of your choice, your benefits include:

• Making a gift completely free of federal and state taxes that can total 37.0% or more, if your estate exceeds the applicable exemption.
• Preservation of non-retirement plan assets for family.

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Option 3: Designate remaining retirement plan assets for a life income plan
Alternatively, you can designate that some or all of the assets remaining when your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified plan ends be used to fund a gift arrangement that will make payments to family members or other loved ones for the rest of their lives. When the gift arrangement ends, what is left will go to nonprofit of your choice.
In addition to having the satisfaction of making a significant gift to nonprofit of your choice, your benefits include:

• Potentially saving federal and state taxes.
• Preserving non-retirement plan assets for family.
• Providing payments to family or other loved ones for life.

LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance is a valuable asset for making a charitable gift. It can be made without diminishing other investments or assets earmarked for family members.

A gift of life insurance that you no longer need can be an easy way for you to provide generous support to the nonprofit of your choice.
A gift of life insurance could be right for you if:

• Your life insurance policy is paid up or has substantial cash value.
• You have no loan outstanding against the policy.
• Your family is well-provided for by other means.
• You would like to make a gift to the nonprofit of your choice.

​How it works
Option 1:  You give your policy to nonprofit of your choice.
As the policy owner, nonprofit of your choice will either cash in your policy and use the proceeds, or maintain the policy until it ends and then receive its face amount. Your benefits will include:

• An immediate income tax charitable deduction for the value of your policy.
• No change in your cash flow.
• The satisfaction of making a generous gift to nonprofit of your choice.

Option 2:  You designate the nonprofit of your choice as a beneficiary of your policy.
When your policy ends, nonprofit of your choice will receive some or all of your policy's death benefit, as you have designated. Your benefits will include:

• The death benefit of your policy will not be included in your estate, which may save estate tax if your estate exceeds the applicable exemption amount.
• No change in your cash flow.
• The satisfaction of making a generous gift to nonprofit of your choice.

This option offers the additional benefit that you can change your mind about your gift at any time should circumstances in your life change. 

REAL ESTATE

A gift of real estate allows you to preserve your cash assets, receive tax and income advantages and make a significant charitable gift to nonprofit of your choice.
​There are many options for donating your home, second home, commercial building, raw land, farm, or other real estate to the nonprofit of your choice.  There may be a gift plan available that will help you achieve your charitable and financial goals.
A gift of real estate could be right for you if:

• You own real estate for which you no longer want to be responsible.
• You are willing to donate your home if you can continue to live in it.
• You own real estate that you are willing to sell to us for a bargain price.
• You own real estate that you are willing to donate if you get income in return.
• You want to save income taxes.
• You want to make a generous gift to the nonprofit of your choice.

How it works
Here are some common techniques for making a gift of real estate to the nonprofit of your choice.

• Give your real estate now.
• Give your home now, but continue to live in it as long as you wish.
• Give your real estate now and receive payments for life.
• Give your real estate through your estate.
• Give a portion of your real estate and keep the rest.
• Sell your real estate to us for less than its appraised value.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

A gift of artwork, coins, antiques, or other personal property can be an excellent way to support the nonprofit of your choice.
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A gift of personal property may be right for you if:

• You own artwork, antiques, or a collection of value that you no longer want.
• You own other personal property that would be useful to us.
• You want to save income taxes or capital gains taxes.
• You would like to make a gift to the nonprofit of your choice.

​How It Works
You give your personal property to the nonprofit of your choice. We either put your property to a use related to our mission, or we sell your property and use the proceeds.

Kent Meyer, Planned Gift Educator
Estes Valley Legacy
PO Box 4221 Estes Park, CO 80517
970-480-7703
[email protected]

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Karen McPherson, Estes Valley Legacy Administrator
Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center/Estes Valley Legacy
970-480-7805
[email protected] ​