What to Give

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to United Way Monterey County.
 

BENEFITS OF GIFTS OF STOCKS AND BONDS

• Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock
• Receive a charitable income tax deduction
• Further our mission today

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT OF STOCKS AND BONDS

If you would like to make a gift of stock to United Way Monterey County, we would be happy to provide stock transfer instructions to you. It is a simple, straightforward process.  

1. You can call or write to your broker, and ask your broker to initiate a "broker to broker" transfer. You would instruct your broker to donate the stock directly to UWMC.
2. United Way would provide you with the name of our brokerage firm, the brokerage firm’s DTC number, the account name and number, and the telephone number and name of the broker contact at the firm.
3. Your broker can then transfer the securities directly to the United Way Monterey County's account. It is important that the securities be transferred to United Way's account prior to being sold in order to avoid capital gains taxation.

MORE ON GIFTS OF STOCKS AND BONDS

There are special rules for valuing a gift of stock. The value of a charitable gift of stock is determined by taking the mean between the high and low stock price on the date of the gift. Mutual fund shares are valued using the closing price for the fund on the date of the gift.

Donating appreciated real estate, such as a home, vacation property, undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property can make a great gift to United Way Monterey County.

BENEFITS OF GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE

• Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate
• Receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the gift
• Leave a lasting legacy to United Way Monterey County

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT OF REAL ESTATE

Your real property may be given to United Way Monterey County by executing or signing a deed transferring ownership. You may deed part or all of your real property to UWMC. Your gift will generally be based on the property's fair market value, which must be established by an independent appraisal.

Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plans, is an excellent way to make a gift to United Way Monterey County.

If you are like most people, you probably will not use all of your retirement assets during your lifetime. You can make a gift of your unused retirement assets to help further our mission.

BENEFITS OF GIFTS OF RETIREMENT ASSETS

• Avoid potential estate tax on retirement assets
• Your heirs would avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis
• Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT OF RETIREMENT ASSETS

To leave your retirement assets to United Way Monterey County, you will need to complete a beneficiary designation form provided by your retirement plan custodian. If you designate UWMC as beneficiary, we will benefit from the full value of your gift because your IRA assets will not be taxed at your death. Your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift.

MORE ON GIFTS OF RETIREMENT ASSETS

Did you know that 60%-70% of your retirement assets may be taxed if you leave them to your heirs at your death? Another option is to leave your heirs assets that receive a step-up in basis, such as real estate and stock, and give the retirement assets to United Way. As a charity, we are not taxed upon receiving an IRA or other retirement plan assets.

A donation of cash is a simple and easy way for you to make a gift.

BENEFITS OF GIFTS OF CASH

• You can make an immediate impact on our mission
• You can take a charitable income tax deduction

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT OF CASH

Online gifts of cash - Just click here and complete our online donation form. Your gift will be processed quickly and safely using our secure server.

Mailing a gift of cash - You can send us a check or money order. Please let us know if you want your gift used for a specific purpose by indicating that purpose either in the memo line or in a letter to us.
More on gifts of cash

Did you know that you can mail a check on December 31st and, even if the check is not received and cashed by UWMC until after the new year, the IRS will allow you to take a deduction in the year the check was mailed? Keep this in mind for year-end tax planning!

A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to make a gift to United Way Monterey County. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy to UWMC. For example, you may have purchased a policy to provide for minor children and they are now financially independent adults.

BENEFITS OF GIFTS OF LIFE INSURANCE

•  Receive a charitable income tax deduction
•  If UWMC retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts so that we can pay the premiums.  
• If UWMC cashes in the policy, you will be able to see firsthand how your gift supports our charitable work.  
• If we retain the policy to maturity, or you name us as a beneficiary, once the policy matures, the proceeds of your policy will be paid to our organization so that we can use the proceeds to further our charitable work.

HOW OT MAKE A GIFT OF LIFE INSURANCE

To make a gift of life insurance, please contact your life insurance provider, request a beneficiary designation form from the insurer and include United Way Monterey County as the beneficiary of your policy.