Gift of Stocks & Securities

Simply writing a cheque or charging a credit card is the most common means of donating

but there may be better alternatives.

This is where planned philanthropy can start to play a role. Often donors may have publicly traded securities such as stocks, bonds or units of a mutual fund that have appreciated significantly since its purchase. Thus they face a significant capital gain and tax liability when the asset is sold. The donor can share their good fortune with their chosen charities and significantly reduce their tax bill by making an “in-kind” donation of the asset.