GIFTS OF STOCK
Why Donating Stock is a Smart Way to Give
When it comes to making a meaningful impact, donating stock can be an incredibly tax-efficient strategy, allowing you to give more while reducing your taxable income. Here’s why donating appreciated stocks might be the best option for your charitable contribution:
Avoid Capital Gains Taxes
When you donate stock that has appreciated in value, you don’t have to pay the capital gains tax that would apply if you sold the stock. For example, if you’ve held onto stocks for several years and they’ve significantly increased in value, selling them would trigger capital gains taxes. However, by donating those stocks directly to a non-profit like ours, you avoid these taxes entirely.
Maximize Your Tax Deduction
Not only do you avoid paying taxes on the appreciation, but you may also be able to claim a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the stock on the date of donation. This means you could deduct the current market value of the donated shares—potentially a higher amount than the price you originally paid for them—helping to reduce your overall taxable income when compared to selling the stock and donating cash.
Make a Bigger Impact
By donating stock, you can give a larger gift than you might have been able to with cash. The value of the stock donation is based on its current market value, so even if you don’t have the funds available to make a significant cash donation, your stocks may allow you to give more than you thought possible.
Simplicity and Flexibility
Donating stocks is a simple and straightforward process. With a little paperwork, your brokerage firm or financial advisor can facilitate the transfer. Plus, the donation can be made in any amount, whether it’s a few shares or a large holding, providing flexibility for donors of all levels.
How It Works
1. Fill out our Stock Donation Interest Form to ensure you will receive your tax receipt
2. Upon submitting this form, you will receive instructions on how to donate your stock.
3. Your broker will help transfer the stock to make your donation to Ohlone Humane Society.
4. Avoid capital gains tax, get a tax deduction (if you itemize), and help animals in need.
The Ohlone Humane Society does not provide tax or financial advice.
Please contact your tax, legal, and/or financial advisory professional to determine the best gift option for you.
For questions, or to let us know you are choosing this way to give, contact us at Treasurer@ohlonehumanesociety.org
GIVE A TAX-FREE GIFT FROM YOUR IRA
If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make a tax-smart gift to help animals by donating directly from your IRA through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
A QCD allows you to give up to $108,000 per year directly to a charity like ours without paying income tax on the amount. If you’re 73 or older, it can also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)—and still be excluded from your taxable income.
That means more help for animals in need, and less tax for you.
How It Works:
- You must be 70½ or older.
- You can reduce your taxable income even if you don’t itemize deductions.
- You can lower or avoid income tax on your RMD because you don’t receive the money, Ohlone Humane Society does
- Please note that to be considered a Qualified Charitable Distribution, the donation MUST go directly to the charitable organization.
- At this time the maximum amount you can donate as a QCD is $108,000 per year. You can split that among multiple charitable organizations.
- The charitable organization must receive and process your QCD prior to year end, so it is best to complete this process earlier to ensure that all deadlines are met.
- You can potentially increase your gift to a larger amount than you might normally make, meaning saving more lives and keeping even more families together
- Lower taxable income could help lower Medicare premiums or taxable Social Security
Simply contact your IRA administrator and ask them to send a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to Ohlone Humane Society. Alternatively, your IRA might have provided a checkbook that allows you to send the gift yourself. If you write this as a check, the check must clear your account before December 31 to count in the current year.
Information for your Retirement Plan Administrator:
Organization: Ohlone Humane Society
Address: 39120 Argonaut Way PMB#108, Fremont, CA 94538
Tax Id #: 94-2894323
The Ohlone Humane Society does not provide tax or financial advice.
Please contact your tax, legal, and/or financial advisory professional to determine the best gift option for you.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS (DAF)
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. It gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to Ohlone Humane Society and other qualified charities. Most major brokerages can make available Donor Advised Fund accounts.
Make a Tax-Smart Gift Through Your Donor-Advised Fund
If you have a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), you already know it’s a powerful tool for giving—and it can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to support causes you care about, like protecting and caring for animals.
When you recommend a grant to our organization from your DAF, you help pursue our mission to inspire respect and compassion for all animals, advocate for their interests and welfare, and instill in our community that all living beings have the right to be treated humanely — all while maximizing your charitable impact.
Why Giving Through a DAF Makes Sense:
✔ Immediate Tax Benefit
You may receive an immediate tax deduction when you contribute cash, securities or other assets to your DAF, even if you choose to grant funds to charities later.
✔ Tax-Free Growth
Funds in your DAF can be invested and grow tax-free, allowing you to potentially give even more over time.
✔ Simplicity & Flexibility
Easily support our animal welfare work with just a few clicks from your DAF provider—no paperwork, no hassle.
✔ Strategic Year-End Giving
DAFs are especially useful for year-end tax planning. You can make a contribution to your fund before December 31 to secure your tax deduction, even if you decide where to give later.
Help Animals with a DAF Gift Today!
Recommending a grant to Ohlone Humane Society from your Donor-Advised Fund is simple and meaningful.
If you already have an established DAF, the widget on this page may be useful to assist you in requesting a grant from the fund.
If you prefer, you can directly advise the DAF to send the grant amount you wish to
Legal name: The Ohlone Humane Society
Address: 39120 Argonaut Way PMB#108, Fremont, CA 94538
Federal tax ID #: 94-2894323
The Ohlone Humane Society does not provide tax or financial advice.
Please contact your tax, legal, and/or financial advisory professional to determine the best gift option for you.
BEQUESTS
Including a gift in your will or estate plan—known as a bequest—is one of the most meaningful ways you can protect animals for generations to come. A bequest allows you to make a lasting difference without affecting your current financial security, while also offering valuable tax advantages for your estate and loved ones.
A bequest may be made in your will or trust directing a gift to The Ohlone Humane Society.
Why a Bequest Is a Tax-Smart Choice
- Reduces estate taxes: Bequests to registered charities are typically exempt from estate taxes, which means your gift can reduce the taxable value of your estate and leave more for your beneficiaries.
- Maximizes your legacy: Because charitable bequests are deducted from your estate before taxes are calculated, more of your assets go toward the causes you care about—like protecting vulnerable animals—rather than to taxes.
- Flexible and revocable: You can adjust or update your bequest at any time to reflect changes in your life, family, or financial situation.
- No impact on your current finances: Leaving a gift in your will allows you to make a significant future contribution without affecting your lifestyle today.
How Your Legacy Helps
- Your generosity helps ensure that we can continue to pursue our mission to inspire respect and compassion for all animals, advocate for their interests and welfare, and instill in our community that all living beings have the right to be treated humanely.
How Do You Make a Bequest?
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to be made to family, friends or The Ohlone Humane Society as part of your estate plan.
Your Bequest Options
A bequest may be made in several ways:
- Gift of a percentage of your estate
- Gift of a specific dollar amount or asset
- Gift from the balance or residue of your estate
Sample Language
- Specified Dollar or percentage bequest
“I hereby give, devise and bequeath to The Ohlone Humane Society, a California nonprofit corporation and a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, located at 39120 Argonaut Way PMB#108, Fremont, CA 94538, Federal Tax ID Number 94-2894323, the sum of __________ (or % of my estate), (or other personal property herein described) to be used for its general programs including wildlife rehabilitation, kitten fostering, pet therapy, spay and neutering services for domestic or community cats as it shall determine.”
- Residual Bequest
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to The Ohlone Humane Society, a California nonprofit corporation and a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, located at 39120 Argonaut Way PMB#108, Fremont, CA 94538, Federal Tax ID Number 94-2894323, [ALL OR A PERCENTAGE] of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for The Ohlone Humane Society’s general use and purpose.
Making a Bequest of Your Retirement Assets
A retirement asset, such as an IRA account, makes an excellent bequest to us. If the IRA were given to your family, much of the value may be lost through estate and income taxes. By designating The Ohlone Humane Society as the beneficiary of all or part of your IRA (using a beneficiary designation form provided by your custodian), the full value of the gift is transferred tax-free at your death and your estate receives an estate tax charitable deduction.
The Ohlone Humane Society does not provide tax or financial advice.
Please contact your tax, legal, and/or financial advisory professional to determine the best gift option for you.
