A stock portfolio is often one of the most valuable assets you own, and one that carries substantial appreciation in value. However, when you sell assets that have increased in value, you often have to pay capital gains taxes. Charitable giving may be one way to avoid paying capital gains taxes.

When you donate publicly traded stocks held long term (owned for more than one year) to a qualified charitable organization, you avoid all capital gains taxes. In addition, you may take the full fair market value of the stock gift rather than the original cost as a charitable deduction on your income taxes. The maximum deduction you may take within a given tax year is 30% of your adjusted gross income, rather than the 50% annual limitation for cash gifts. If you are unable to take the entire deduction in one year, you may carry the excess deduction forward for five additional years.

If you have stock losses rather than gains, sell the stock yourself to realize the loss and take the deduction for tax purposes. Then you can generate a charitable deduction by donating the cash proceeds of the sale to the Institute.

If you wish to make a gift of stock, ask your broker to transfer the stock to the Institute's account at A. G. Edwards & Sons as follows:

Fax (609) 951-9151
E-mail: 

Please instruct your broker to include your name as well as your account number on the transfer information. Also, please e-mail, fax, or mail us a copy of a letter of authorization that you send to your broker.  The letter should include: the name of the brokerage firm, your name and address, and the name of the stock and number of shares.

If you wish to donate securities that are in certificate form, or for further information, please contact:

E-mail: