This is a simple and common way to make a gift by check or credit card. Donations of cash are deductible if you itemize in the year of contribution.

Many gifts of appreciated securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds provide a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the donated asset. If you have owned them longer than one year, you may pay no capital gains tax on the transaction and you can deduct the full fair market value.

Name a charitable organization the “payable-on-death beneficiary” of your bank accounts or on certificates of deposit. You own the assets for your lifetime and have them available for your use. Upon your death, the assets pass directly to the organization without going through probate.

This is a simple donation if you own property that is not mortgaged, has appreciated in value, and you no longer need or use. You can deduct the fair market value of your gift and eliminate all capital gains taxes. Plus, you have removed that asset from your taxable estate.

Your most efficient estate planning option may be leaving all or a portion of your retirement plan to charity, because tax laws often subject these assets to income and estate taxes upon death.

Many people find that the protection offered by life insurance policies is no longer needed later in life. Thus a life insurance policy can become an ideal tool for charitable giving. Name us or another charity irrevocably as the sole beneficiary. You can make annual tax-deductible contributions to cover the policy’s annual premium. Or, if the policy is paid up, you will receive an immediate tax deduction in an amount equal to the policy’s cash surrender value.

Leave a designated amount, percentage, or the remainder of your estate to charity in your will. You can also leave a particular piece of property.

This is the most common type of planned gift. You make a charitable gift and you and/or someone you designate can receive lifetime income. The remainder goes to charity upon your passing, potentially reducing and deferring capital gains tax and reducing probate costs and estate taxes.