St. Jude patient Liliana and her sister
What is charitable giving?
Charitable giving is the act of donating funds, property, assets, securities or money with the intention of supporting the chosen charity’s mission. At St. Jude, our mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Exploring different ways to give
When people think of donating to charity, they often think of donating money. And while funding is critical, direct donations aren't the only way you can contribute. Fundraising, volunteering, donating personal assets and more all support the kids of St. Jude. You can decide which option makes the most sense for you based on the impact you'd like to make and the resources available to you.
St. Jude patient Kamryn
Financial funding options
When you hear the term “financial contribution” or “donation,” a cash or direct payment is likely what comes to mind. But alongside this type of donation are some other options.
Cash
Simple and straightforward, cash or direct-payment donations are some of the most common ways to give. Benefits include:
- Your funds are quickly available for use, meaning you can make an immediate impact.
- The full amount of your donation counts toward your annual tax deduction.
Along with one-time donations, you can become a St. Jude Partner in Hope by committing to monthly donations. Other options include memorial and dedication donations and honor donations.
Charitable gift annuities (CGAs)
A charitable gift annuity provides a way for you, as a donor, to make an irrevocable gift to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude while at the same time providing a source of fixed income for life to you — or another recipient of your choosing.
- You make a lump sum donation and take a partial tax deduction.
- Once the lump sum is invested, you or a person of your choosing receive payments on a fixed schedule for life, per terms of the agreement.
- After the recipient's lifetime, the charity receives the balance of the invested funds.
Charitable lead trusts (CLTs)
A charitable lead trust (CLT) is an irrevocable (unchangeable) trust that provides regular donations to a chosen charity, such as St. Jude. The remainder of the funds can be transferred to the trust’s non-charitable beneficiaries, such as family members. Benefits include:
- Lowering or eliminating taxes on trust assets.
- The potential for a lowered taxable income.
- An extended impact on the chosen charity.
As with CGAs, we recommend reviewing with your legal or tax advisor to determine which option is best for you.
Donor-advised funds (DAFs)
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a type of charitable fund that organizations and individual donors can contribute to as a way to further their philanthropic goals. Using a DAF allows you to immediately receive the maximum tax benefit for your donation, and distributions can continue throughout your lifetime and beyond.
Plus, DAFs give you the opportunity to create a legacy of family giving because the account can be passed down to your family members.
Stocks and other securities
Donating long-term assets, such as stocks, can be a tax-efficient way to contribute to charity. When you donate a stock (as opposed to donating the money made from the sale of a stock) the recipient charity can receive a larger donation overall.
In addition, stock donations are typically exempt from capital gains taxes since stock ownership is being transferred rather than sold. A financial advisor can help guide you through any additional tax benefits, depending on whether the stock has appreciated or lost value since you acquired it.
Charitable bequests
Creating a bequest via your will is a meaningful way to support the causes that matter most to you. Charitable bequests to nonprofits such as St. Jude can be a transfer of cash, securities or other property made through your estate plans.
This charitable giving option is simple to set up and flexible over time. It can also help you to reduce federal estate taxes as there’s no limit to the value of charitable bequest assets that can be deducted from the total estate's value.
Retirement accounts, 401(k)s and IRAs
If you don't need the full extent of your retirement assets during your lifetime, designating the remainder or even a portion of the balance is a great way to support the mission of St. Jude. It's as simple as designating St. Jude as a beneficiary.
Donating retirement assets to charitable organizations helps create positive change, leaves you in financial control during your lifetime and could help lower your estate and income taxes.
Learn More About Donating Retirement Savings Learn More About Donating IRAs
Life insurance
Similar to retirement accounts, donors can name a charitable organization, such as St. Jude, as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. This means you retain ownership of the policy throughout your lifetime, and then the organization receives payouts upon your passing.
This type of donation may also entitle you to charitable tax deductions and lowered estate taxes.
Workplace giving
Employer matching, workplace fundraisers and employee giving are all great ways to encourage support for St. Jude through your workplace. Workplace giving can:
- Boost company morale.
- Make donating easy.
- Create a larger impact than individual donations.
Depending on the type of workplace giving your company supports, you may be able to donate directly through payroll deductions, and your gift could even be doubled if your employer agrees to match.
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material is prepared and made available to you for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide or be relied upon for tax, legal or accounting advice. You should always consult a tax professional to determine your particular tax benefits that may result from any particular type of gift to charity.
Assets and personal property
If you're looking to maximize your impact while also benefiting from tax advantages, gifts of personal property may be a good option.
Artwork by St. Jude patient Calvin
Real estate
Donating real estate — such as a home, farm or vacation property — is an impactful way to support St. Jude. This may be a good choice if:
- You own property that has appreciated in value since you acquired it.
- You've owned the property for more than one year.
- You'd like to be free from paying real estate taxes and the costs of insurance and upkeep on a property.
Another option is to donate your primary residence after your lifetime, which you can set up through an enhanced life estate deed. This type of deed, only available in some states, lets you retain full ownership of your property while you're alive. It will then pass directly to your named beneficiary at the time of your passing, avoiding probate.
*Note: Real estate donations are subject to approval by our gift acceptance committee. St. Jude is unable to accept timeshares at this time.
Vehicles
St. Jude has partnered with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS) to make donating your car or other vehicle simple. Among the benefits:
- Avoiding expensive repairs.
- Skipping the hassle of selling.
- Potentially qualifying for a tax write-off.
Artwork by St. Jude patient Diego
Fundraising and volunteering
Outside of assets, another way to give to charity is to donate your time to raising funds or to volunteering.
Fundraising
If you're looking to make a difference for the St. Jude mission while fostering a sense of community and sharing in the satisfaction of creating positive change, fundraising might be the option for you. Online or in-person, there are countless fundraisers for you to join — or you can create your own.
Volunteering
Donating your time by volunteering is another way to give back to the mission of St. Jude. We have volunteer opportunities at local events, in local offices and virtually.
Make an impact for children around the world
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.
Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. Join us, and be part of our mission to save more lives.
St. Jude patient Alanna with her mom
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