
A gift that costs nothing during your lifetime.
Greater Yellowlegs. Photo: Brad James/Audubon Photography AwardsLeaving a gift to Audubon in your will or trust, by beneficiary designation, or another form of planned gift can make a lasting difference to our work. Many gifts cost you nothing now, there is no minimum contribution, and you are not locked into a decision you make today.
Shining Sunbeam.
Photo: Barbara Driscoll/Audubon Photography Awards
Northern Cardinal.
Photo: Bette Parette/Great Backyard Bird Count
Sandhill Crane with chick.
Photo: Mary Lundberg/Audubon Photography Awards
Great Blue Heron with nestlings.
Photo: Pamela Underhill Karaz/Audubon Photography Awards
Roseate Spoonbills.
Photo: Kelley Luikey/Audubon Photography Awards
Red-winged Blackbird.
Photo: Ray Whitt/Audubon Photography Awards
Same Gift, Better Deduction
We've told you that a donation using appreciated securities produces a charitable deduction in the amount of the full, fair market value of the stock, with no liability for capital gains -- a great tax benefit!
So why give Audubon cash if you could give stock? Because you may be able to take advantage of one tax benefit that a gift of cash offers.
A $10,000 gift of cash produces the same deduction as a $10,000 gift of appreciated securities or other assets. However, the IRS allows you to claim the deduction for the cash gift up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income ("AGI" -- the figure at the bottom of the first page of Form 1040. See Glossary for full definition). The gift of stock may only be claimed up to 30 percent of AGI.*
So if this will be a high earnings year for you, you will be able to offset more taxable income with the deduction from a cash gift.
We can help you determine which gift asset will work harder for you.
* Deductions in excess of the percentage limits aren't wasted -- the balance may be claimed during the five years after your gift is made.
Read more... , email us, or contact us at (212) 979-3033.
Costa’s Hummingbird. Photo: Belen Schneider/Audubon Photography Awards
Office of Gift Planning
National Audubon Society
225 Varick Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014
212-979-3033
plannedgifts@audubon.org