Maintain Donor Intent with Family Members
I love my child, but we don't always see eye to eye.
That's why I'm using Donors Capital Fund to carry out my charitable intent. While I'm alive, they're providing me with a convenient and effective alternative to establishing a private foundation. And after my lifetime, the account will avoid the pitfalls of the Fords and Rockefellers by ensuring that my family will honor my beliefs in the future.
Privately-Held Stock
I had privately-held stock that I wanted to give to charity and claim for a charitable tax deduction.
A gift to my private foundation would have restricted the deduction value to the cost basis of the shares-a terrible loss of value for this highly-appreciated stock. Thank goodness that wasn't the only option! I found the perfect solution at Donors Capital Fund, a public charity dedicated to helping donors support liberty. By giving it to them, I received a tax deduction based on the market value of the shares, avoided the capital gains tax, and funded a donor-advised account all with one simple transaction. At my convenience I can now recommend grants from my account to any number of public charities.
Using Successors to Maintain Your Intent
I've always wondered what my grandchildren will value when they're my age.
Since I can't know, I've decided to use a Donors Capital Fund account to secure my charitable assets now and clearly communicate my values in future years. When the time comes for my grandchildren to act as advisors to my account, I can rest assured that the protective boundaries of Donors Capital Fund and my example will be there to guide them as they make charitable gifts.
Reducing Tax Liability
I received a large bonus at year-end and promptly needed to reduce my tax liability by making a charitable gift.
That's where Donors Capital Fund saved the day. Instead of making a hasty decision, I donated the money to a Donors Capital Fund donor-advised account and immediately received the tax deduction my accountant said I needed by December 31. Now I'm looking forward to recommending grants from my account as I have time to make thoughtful decisions.
Maintaining Anonymity
Privacy is very important to me and at times it's been hard to do my charitable giving in a way that's discreet.
My private foundation was beneficial for tax benefits and administration but completely failed when it came to privacy since all private foundation tax forms are available to the general public on the Internet. That's why I set up a Donors Capital Fund donor-advised account. My contributions to Donors Capital Fund are not public information and the grants I recommend from Donors Capital Fund can remain completely anonymous.
Wary of Endowment Gifts
I'm uncomfortable giving endowment gifts to charities.
Thankfully, Donors Capital Fund has found another way for me to make large gifts. I contribute the money to an individual donor-advised fund, immediately receive my full tax deduction, and then disburse the funds to charity on a periodic basis-dependent on the direction the project or the organization is taking.
Finding a Donor-Advised Fund That Fits
I rescued my money from the local community foundation when after just one year they began to refuse to honor my grant requests to conservative organizations.
(I guess their "neutral" community agenda was neutral to all organizations but the ones I favor.) That's when I found out that Donors Capital Fund is a community foundation that specializes in giving to liberty-loving organizations. I immediately set up a donor-advised fund and am now satisfied that I won't be hassled over my conservative grant requests.
Private Foundation vs. Donor-Advised Funds
I established my private foundation because I wanted to have more thoughtful involvement in my charitable giving.
Instead, I found myself consumed in red tape and facing extra taxes, fees, and deadlines. Now instead of racing to meet the 5% payout by year-end and paying lawyers, accountants, and staff to comply with IRS regulations, I use my Donors Capital Fund donor-advised account to make the same charitable gifts. There's no hassle and there's plenty of extra time to thoughtfully plan my charitable giving.
Avoiding Capital Gains Taxes
I like to make my charitable gifts with appreciated stock rather than cash so that I avoid capital gains taxes and receive the charitable tax deductions I need.
To avoid the hassle of making stock transfers to each individual organization I support, I make one gift of stock to Donors Capital Fund and receive one tax deduction. From that simple transaction, I'm able to recommend grants to as many charities as I like. It's easy and economical.