Methods of Giving

Many people who support Easter’s mission say they derive great satisfaction from their generosity and would like to do more. The Foundation Committee can suggest creative ways to support Easter – ways you might not have considered.

Gifts of cash

Cash gifts are the most common form of giving and are as easy to make as writing a check to the Easter Lutheran Church Foundation. Every dollar you give outright to the foundation is tax deductible.

Gifts of securities and stock

By donating securities held for more than one year, you completely avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation and receive a charitable deduction for the full market value of your donation.

Gifts of property

By donating gifts of property, you avoid capital gains tax on your profit and you receive an income tax deduction for the full market value of the property.

Estate gifts

An estate gift is made after the donor’s death, such as through a Will, externally – managed Trusts, retirement funds or proceeds from a life insurance policy. Estate gifts are part of plan giving, which means the donor planned to give the gift while still living.

Tax benefits

The federal income tax deduction encourages the support of foundations, like the Easter Lutheran Church Foundation, by reducing the out-of-pocket cost of your philanthropy. Each year you can deduct up to fifty percent (50%) of your adjusted gross income for cash gifts and thirty percent (30%) for gifts of long term capital gain property. If you make both types of gifts, the total deduction cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of your adjusted gross income. If your gifts exceeds the ceiling, the excess deduction can be carried over and deducted for up to five (5) years.

You get two (2) tax benefits from a gift of an appreciated asset that you have held for more than a year: complete avoidance of capital gains tax on the property’s appreciation, plus the deduction for its current market value (instead of the lower cost basis).