Making a gift of appreciated stock or other securities to SoundWaters is a generous and smart way to donate and may provide you with a greater tax benefit than a cash donation.  Your broker can assist you in making a gift of stock via a direct electronic transfer.

The best stocks to donate are those that have increased greatly in value, particularly those producing a low yield.  If you sell the stock outright, you would pay capital gains tax.  If you have owned the stock for at least one year and donate it to SoundWaters, you support SoundWaters, generate no capital gains and you may even save on brokerage fees since you are transferring, not selling your shares.  Your charitable income tax deduction will be equal to the market value of the stock on the date your transfer is received into the SoundWaters brokerage account.

If you would like to make a gift of stock to SoundWaters, please contact Bob Mazzone, SoundWaters Vice President of Development at (203) 406-3303 or bmazzone@soundwaters.org.

We will liquidate your donation of securities as soon as possible.  Please notify SoundWaters at giftsofsecurities@soundwaters.org or (203) 406-3301 after you have made the transfer so we can ensure smooth processing of your gift and promptly provide information regarding your tax deduction.

You may designate SoundWaters as the beneficiary of a bequest or gift by the terms of a will, revocable trust or irrevocable trust.

Potential Options

Donor may gift or bequeath a fixed cash amount, specific assets such as shares of stock or real property, a percentage of the donor’s estate or the donor’s residuary estate.

Potential Benefits

Has the virtue of simplicity and gift deferral for donor’s lifetime.  May offer federal and state estate tax deductions.

Deed of personal residence to SoundWaters while retaining right to occupy residence until death.

Potential Option:

Donor may gift a primary residence or vacation home.

Potential Benefits:

Immediate federal income tax deduction and charitable deduction upon death.

SoundWaters may be designated as beneficiary of a donor’s retirement plans, such as IRAs and 401k and 403(b) accounts.

Potential Option:

Donor may name SoundWaters as primary, successor or contingent beneficiary for all or a portion of the donor’s retirement accounts, to be paid at the death of the donor or donor’s spouse.

Potential Benefit:

Use of a heavily taxed asset for the fulfillment of charitable goals.

Contribution of a life insurance policy to SoundWaters by naming SoundWaters as the owner and beneficiary of such policy.

Potential Options:

Donor may contribute an existing or a new policy.

Potential Benefit:

Donor receives an income tax deduction for lifetime premium payments.  Upon donor’s death, all insurance proceeds pass tax free to SoundWaters.

Donor preserves an income stream for life in exchange for a gift of cash or marketable securities to SoundWaters.

Potential Option:

Donor may designate a family member as income beneficiary, and may structure the annuity to defer the income stream until a later date.

Potential Benefit:

Provides current income tax savings while the charitable gift is deferred.  Income stream can be a helpful income supplement during retirement.

Donor establishes a trust reserving an income stream for a term of years or the life of the donor, naming SoundWaters as remainder beneficiary.

Potential Options:

Donor may designate a family member as income beneficiary.  SoundWaters may be named as one of multiple remainder beneficiaries.

Potential Benefits:

Provides current income tax savings while the charitable gift is deferred.  Income stream can be a helpful income supplement during retirement.

Donor establishes a trust naming SoundWaters as income beneficiary for a term of years or the life of the donor.  Upon trust termination, assets pass to family members or other named beneficiaries.

Potential Options:

Annuity amount may be structured as a fixed dollar amount or fixed percentage of the trust.

Potential Benefits:

Minimizes gift taxes, income taxes and the size of the donor’s taxable estate.  Preserves assets for the donor’s family