By Jeff Baldus

Austin Area Foundation executive

Everybody wins when you make a gift of appreciated stock to your community foundation. Your gains are put to good use. Your gift of stock is reinvested in your community, and it qualifies for an immediate tax deduction based on the full fair market value.

How it works:

• You make a gift of appreciated stock to your community foundation.

• Your gift can be placed into any of our charitable funds. For example, you can use your gift to create a Donor Advised Fund in your name, in the name of your family or business, or in honor of any person or organization you choose. You can then stay involved in recommending uses of the fund.

• Your gift qualifies for a tax deduction based on the full market value of your stock; you avoid the capital gains tax that would otherwise arise from the sale of this stock.

• The Austin Area Foundation handles all the administrative details.

• Your gift can be placed into an endowment that is invested over time. Earnings from your fund are used to make grants addressing community needs. Your gift — and all future earnings from your gift — is a permanent source of community capital, helping to do good work forever.

With gifts of appreciated stock, your stock market earnings translate into community impact, so you get a more rewarding return on your portfolio. You can set up a scholarship; support special programs for education, arts and culture, social services, health and recreation; address civic improvements; designate a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to receive a gift or support the Austin Legacy endowment fund of the Austin Area Foundation.

For more information about the gift of appreciated stock or other giving opportunities, please contact Jeff Baldus, 507-434-7494 or jeff@austinareafoundation.org

Source: Council on Foundations