Be Smart With Your Giving

There are several strategies you can take for resourceful year-end giving.

		Write a check. Cash is always appreciated by William Jewell College.
		Charge your credit card by simply calling us or visiting www.jewell.edu/giving and clicking on Make Your Gift Now.
		Contribute appreciated securities you have held more than one year. You can claim a deduction equal to the fair market value and avoid any tax on the appreciation. The stock markets are hitting new highs so this is a great time to consider a stock gift to the College!
		Prepay a pledge, either the entire amount or an upcoming installment.
		Invest in a life income plan that provides you with secure income for life and ultimately benefits William Jewell. If you use long-term appreciated securities to fund the plan, you will be entitled to an income tax deduction based on the charitable portion of the securities’ fair market value, in addition to avoiding up-front capital gains taxes.
		Take a capital loss on your tax return by selling your securities that are worth less now than when you purchased them; then contribute the proceeds. If you donate the securities directly, you will not be entitled to take the capital loss.
		Give real estate, artwork and other tangible personal property. For the highest possible tax deduction, give property that is related to our tax-exempt function.
		Donate an insurance policy you no longer need. For this to qualify as a gift, we must become the owner of the policy. Your tax deduction for a typical policy is usually the cost basis or fair market value of the policy, whichever is less

Be Aware of Gift Dates

Different rules govern the gift date, so be sure your gift is completed by December 31. Checks-The postmark date is the date of the gift. Credit cards-The day the charge is authorized is considered the gift date. Pledges-Pledges are deductible in the year they are fulfilled-not the year they are made. Securities-If the securities are electronically transferred, the gift date is the day the securities enter our account. For hand-delivered securities, the day they are received by our organization or our broker is the date of the gift. For securities that are mailed, the mailing date is the gift date. It is important to send, by registered or certified mail, the unsigned stock certificates in a separate envelope from the signed stock power and letter of intent. Real estate-The day the signed deed is delivered is the date of the gift. If your state law requires recording of the deed to complete the gift, then the date of recording is the gift date.