The stock market has soared over the last ten years. Many individuals have received stocks from companies for whom they worked or have made smart investments in other stocks and securities. Some of these securities have split and/or spun-off into other companies. (For example, ATT was split by a famous anti-trust case to form the Baby Bells. Some of these Baby Bells have been quite successful, and they themselves have split and had other spin-off companies, creating a fair amount of wealth for some stockholders.) Owners of these stocks have been wonderfully blessed, and the IRS is interested in sharing their wealth with them.

One way to avoid paying high capital gains tax is to give the gift of appreciated stock or securities. By doing this, you not only avoid capital gains tax, but you gain a charitable tax deduction for the fair market value of the stocks or securities on the day they were transferred. Plus, your parish, school, agency or the diocese itself will receive the full value of your stock - a wonderful and thoughtful gift that is a taxwise move. Because these gifts are "out of the ordinary," you may wish to consider using them towards an endowment of your favorite institution so that your gift can itself keep on giving over the years.

For anyone interested in giving a financial gift, giving the appreciated stock can be much more beneficial than selling the stock yourself and then giving the profits from the sale.

Before giving a gift of stock, you or your financial institution should notify the school, parish or agency of your plans. Please Click Here to download a copy of the two-page Instructions to Donate Stock or Mutual Funds please contact Virginia Blount in the Diocesan Finance Office at (704) 370-3309 or Jim Kelley in the Diocesan Development Office at (704) 370-3301.