Outright Gifts

• Cash

  Cash is one of the easiest ways to make a charitable contribution. A cash contribution can be a check, money order or cashier's check. You can either establish an endowment fund or give to an existing fund. All gifts should be made payable to the Catholic Foundation of South Georgia with the proper designation if intended for a specific program or entity.

• Securities

  Gifts of securities are accepted by the Catholic Foundation. The securities may be given so that the donor receives a tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the donated assets while avoiding capital gains tax on the donated assets. The Catholic Foundation will work with donors and their advisors to facilitate the donation of both marketable and closely held securities. Donors whose gifts are matched by a company will receive credit for the matching amount.

• IRA Charitable Rollover

  If you are over the age of 70.5, you must take a required minimum distribution from your IRA. Normally, this distribution is taxed as ordinary income. However, federal legislation enacted on October 3, 2008 extends the opportunity for you to make a direct distribution from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as (PARISH NAME), (SCHOOL NAME), the Bishop’s Annual Appeal or the Catholic Foundation of South Georgia. Such distributions, while not subject to income tax, will still count toward fulfilling your required minimum distribution.

• Real Property

  A donor can give a full or partial interest of a home and retain the right to enjoy the home for their lifetime. Gifting real estate may allow the donor to preserve their liquid assets while maximizing the charitable contribution. Donors are encouraged to discuss their gift of real property prior to gifting.

• Life Insurance

  The gift of an existing or new life insurance policy in any amount is welcome. Life insurance can be an effective way for a donor to fund their charitable intentions without significant outlays of cash. The donor simply designates the parish, school or the Catholic Foundation as the beneficiary.

Planned Gifts

• Bequest

  A bequest in your will is one of the simplest ways to make a charitable gift. Through a bequest, you can make a contribution to an existing fund or establish a named endowment fund. Either option ensures that your charitable wishes will be carried out in perpetuity.

• Charitable Lead Trust

  This type of trust provides income to your charitable fund for a fixed number of years. At the end of the term, the remaining assets in the trust are returned to you or your heirs. This is a gift that works best for families with relatively large estates.

• Charitable Remainder Trust

  This type of trust gives you the opportunity to receive income for life from your gift, with the assurance that the trust will be used by the Catholic Foundation to fulfill your charitable intentions. The donor receives a charitable deduction in the year the trust is created. The amount of the deduction depends on the age of the income beneficiary or beneficiaries, the value of the property placed in the trust, and the size of the payout selected by the donor.

• Life Insurance

  Life insurance is an easy way to make a significant contribution. You may give a policy that is no longer needed, take out a new policy or name a parish, school or the Catholic Foundation as a beneficiary of an existing policy.

• Retirement Accounts

  The Catholic Foundation may be designated as the beneficiary under a donor's qualified retirement plan benefits, including IRAs, 401(k)s, and a Keogh (HR-10) plan. Retirement benefits may be the most tax-efficient way to make a gift to the Foundation.

• Life Estate

  You may make a gift of your residence or vacation home to your parish, school or the Catholic Foundation and continue to live in the home for your lifetime. You'll be entitled to a charitable deduction in the year that the property is deeded and the property is removed from your estate for estate tax purposes. Upon your death, your property is sold by the beneficiary and the proceeds benefit the charitable purpose that you have chosen.