Giving Beyond Your Income: The Power of Non-Cash Gifts
Discover strategic giving options that maximize your stewardship and provide greater tax benefits.
Real Estate Gifts
Donor-Advised Funds
Gifts of Appreciated Stocks
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Giving Through Will or Trust
Gifts of Life Insurance
Workplace Giving
Maximize your giving
We know giving is a deeply personal journey, guided by prayer and a desire to honor the Lord with your resources. But did you know there are impactful ways to give beyond writing a check? These alternative methods can make a bigger difference for those you support while offering greater tax benefits for you. Below, you’ll find thoughtful strategies to maximize your generosity. We’ve also included simple steps to give directly to FISM, should you feel led to do so.
Key Benefits of Non-Cash Giving
- Enhanced Giving Power: Remember that the whole of your wealth is a gift from God to be used for His glory.
- Tax Savings: Align your giving with your financial goals - like offsetting high-income years, meeting retirement account distributions, or reducing estate taxes.
- Legacy Planning: Many strategies allow for thoughtful, long-term giving and involvement in the charitable missions that have been placed on your heart.
NON-CASH GIFTS
Click the Right Giving Strategy for You
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
Gifts of Appreciated Stocks
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
Real Estate Gifts
Giving Through Your Will or Trust
Gifts of Life Insurance
Workplace Giving
Tax Deductions
Donor Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund is a simple, tax-efficient way to manage charitable giving. Through a DAF you can include funds beyond your bankroll, including properties, securities, and other assets. When contributing to a DAF you receive an immediate tax deduction and the fund balance grows tax-free over time. Plus, there is no deadline for when fund assets must be distributed to a 501(c) organization. You can prayerfully consider which ministries or charities will be granted gifts from within this fund as long as it has a balance. This option allows you to maximize your tax benefits now while preserving future giving potential. The DAF provider may charge fees or have minimum deposit requirements, so factor those details in when choosing where to open a DAF.
Steps to Using DAF
- Open a DAF account with a sponsoring organization (ie. Schwab Charitable, National Christian Foundation, Waterstone, etc.)
- Contribute assets into your fund and take the tax benefit on your federal return.
- Enjoy the ability to give as the Lord leads
Steps to Give
- Contact your DAF sponsor and recommend a grant to FISM.
- Include our EIN number: 26-4646842 to ensure the funds are directed correctly.
- Once FISM receives the gift, we will joyfully acknowledge your generosity via email so you know that it has been received. This is not for tax purposes, since the tax benefit was taken when you contributed funds to the DAF.
Noteworthy Considerations
- The charity receiving the donation is responsible for acknowledging the gift. However, the DAF is the entity that technically makes the donation to the charity on your behalf. Therefore, the acknowledgment may not be addressed to you personally.
- Use the acknowledgment letters from charities to reconcile that all of the gifts made from your DAF actually arrived to the intended recipient.
- Consult a tax professional.
Gifts of Appreciated Stocks
Donating stock is a smart way to give, especially if your investments have grown in value over time. By transferring stocks directly to a ministry or charitable organization rather than donating the proceeds from selling stock, you avoid capital gains tax and potentially receive a deduction for the full market value of the stock. To qualify, a stock must be held for over a year.
Example: If you purchased stock for $5,000 that is now worth $10,000, donating the stock directly means you won’t pay capital gains tax on the $5,000 profit. Instead, you may be eligible to deduct the full $10,000 from your taxable income, allowing you to make a larger impact with your gift.
Steps to Using Appreciated Stocks
- Identify appreciated securities in your portfolio that you would like to donate.
- Directly transfer stocks to a qualified charity.
- You’ll report the value of the donated stock as a charitable deduction on Schedule A of your federal tax return.
Steps to Give
- Consult with your financial advisor or broker to initiate the transfer.
- Once FISM receives the stock, it will be sold and the proceeds used to sustain our ministry. Look for the emailed acknowledgment of the transfer date, the stock symbol, and number of shares given. This letter will arrive via email and is important for claiming the deduction but won’t state the stock’s value.
- Click the button below, fill out your infomation and an FISM representative will be in touch to get the appropriate infomation regaring your gift of appreciated stocks.
Noteworthy Considerations
- The donor must determine the fair market value of the gift. For stocks publicly traded on an exchange this is a pretty straightforward calculation but feel free to seek the aid of your broker-dealer, financial advisor, or tax specialist. On stock held for at least a full year, take the average of the high and low prices on the date the charity takes control of the stock. Example: If on the date of the transfer, the highest price of the stock was $100 and the lowest was $90, the FMV would be the average: ($100 + $90) ÷ 2 = $95 per share.
- Private company stock (non-publicly traded) will require an appraisal if the value is $5,000 or more and you will likely need to file Form 8283.
- Do not report the sale of the stock on your return, as you are not responsible for capital gains taxes when donating the stock directly.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
If you are 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to give up to $100,000 per year (or $200,000 for couples with separate IRAs) directly from your IRA to an organization(s) of your choosing without it being taxable income. This also counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you’re 73 or older.
Steps to Using a QCD
- Ensure you are eligible (70 ½ or older and have an IRA)
- Initiate a direct-to-charity distribution (Distribution MUST be made payable to a charitable organization)
- Since gifts made by QCDs are not tax-deductible, make sure to report the QCD correctly on your tax return. Enjoy the income tax savings. RMDs are typically taxable income, but not when met through QCD giving.
Steps to Give
- Contact your IRA custodian to request a direct transfer to FISM.
- Make sure to provide our legal name (Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries) and EIN: 26-4646842 to ensure the transfer is processed correctly.
- When this gift is received, FISM will send our appreciation letter via email. This acknowledgment is important to keep for your records, even though the donation isn't deductible. But like most third-party gifts, QCDs won’t be included in your annual giving summary from FISM.
Noteworthy Considerations
- Your IRA custodian will report the distribution on Form 1099-R as a non-taxable transfer, but it won't differentiate between regular distributions and QCDs—it's your responsibility to report it as a QCD on your tax return. Use the charity’s acknowledgment letter to distinguish and reconcile IRA distributions that will not be income-taxable to you.
- IRA custodians have differences in their distribution processes. To request a QC Distribution, it must be made PAYABLE to the charitable organization, but it can be mailed to you for forwarding.
- Always ask for your name to be included in the distribution memo or notes. Otherwise, many platforms will not include that information and the receiving charity will not be able to acknowledge an anonymous gift.
Real Estate Gifts
Donating real estate is a powerful way to support ministries while potentially avoiding capital gains tax and reducing your taxable estate. Whether it’s a residential, commercial, or undeveloped property, your gift can be put to work in advancing our mission by generating ongoing income.
Steps to Give
- Contact a ministry to discuss the property you wish to donate to see if they can help coordinate the transfer with your legal and financial advisors. If you desire to give real estate to FISM click the button below, fill out your information, and an FISM representative will be in touch to discuss next steps.
Giving Through Will or Trust
Including a ministry or charitable organization in your will or trust is a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy. This planned giving option allows you to support a ministry or charitable organization far into the future while providing for your loved ones.
Steps to Give
- Consult with your estate planner or attorney to include a ministry or charitable organization in your will or trust.
- Specify the amount or percentage of your estate you wish to leave.
Gifts of Life Insurance
If you have a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose, you can name a ministry or charitable organization as a beneficiary. This is a simple way to make a significant impact without affecting your current financial situation.
How to Give
- Contact your insurance provider to change the beneficiary designation.
- Provide the legal name and EIN of the ministry or charitable organization. If choosing FISM, provide our EIN: 26-4646842 to ensure the policy benefits FISM.
Workplace Giving
Many companies offer matching gift programs or payroll deduction options to support charitable organizations. This means that your employer may match, double, or even triple your donation, allowing you to increase the impact of your gift to FISM.
Steps to Give
- Check with your employer’s HR or benefits department to see if they offer a matching gift program.
- Confirm the process that will result in your employer matching your giving. Then comply with those procedures.
- If choosing FISM, provide FISM’s EIN: 26-4646842 to ensure your donation is matched properly.
Considering Income Tax Deductions
Income tax deductions are generally available only when itemizing your deductions and not when taking the standard deduction.
Many of the provisions of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 are set to expire at the end of 2025. Some of these impact tax deductibility and are listed below:
- The standard deduction may revert to pre-2018 levels. Once adjusted for inflation, this deduction could be about half of the current amount. 2024 amounts are $14,600 for singles and $29,200 for married taxpayers filing jointly.
- We may also see a scheduled drop in the income tax deduction maximum, currently limited to 60% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), but set to revert to the pre-TCJA limit of 50%.
- The estate and gift tax exemption threshold was doubled by the TCJA. In Jan 2026, the exemption amount may revert to an amount expected to be between $6 and $7 million per person.
Complete the form to the right to receive more information and begin your giving journey.
Ready to Maximize Your Impact?
By exploring these non-cash giving options, donors can make a lasting impact on the causes they care about while enjoying financial benefits. Whether you’re planning a large donation or looking for ways to make your giving more efficient, consider these strategies to maximize your charitable contributions.
Please reach out to our team. We’re here to help you make informed decisions that align with your financial goals and values.
Contact
Ready to get started with your Non-Cash gift? Simply fill out the form to the right, and one of our representatives will reach out to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for considering these powerful ways to support Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries. Your generosity enables us to continue our mission of promoting biblical stewardship and impacting the world for Christ.