You can simply donate cash or equivalent to the Foundation. If you itemize your deductions on your personal federal income tax return, you may generally take a charitable gift deduction for the amount of your gift of cash and cash equivalents (certificates of deposit, savings bods, money market fund, etc.). When bonds, CD's and other ordinary income producing assets are given to the Foundation, the Foundation, unlike the donor, will not have to pay tax on the gain in those assets. You are thus able to "leverage" the gift. You receive a deduction for the value of the asset on the day of the transfer.

You can generally transfer ownership of appreciated assets, including securities, to the Foundation and receive a deduction for the value of the security on the day of the transfer. You are entitled to receive the benefit of having your gift valued at fair market value, including the appreciation, for the purpose of determining your charitable deduction. When the security is sold by the Foundation, neither you nor the Foundation will have to pay capital gains tax on the appreciation.

It is possible to give closely held securities to the Foundation. However, there are often limitations that accompany ownership of such stock, and legal and accounting advice will be necessary before the Foundation is able to accept such a gift. As indicated above, however, you will be able to avoid any capital gains taxes on the donation and receive a charitable deduction for the full value of the securities on the date of transfer.  

You can make outright gifts of real estate to the Foundation. If you have owned the donated property for at least one year, both you and the Foundation can avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciation of the value of the property. Outright gifts of real estate will often result in an income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the property, as determined by appraisal. It is possible to make a gift of your personal residence, vacation home, or farm to the Foundation and retain a "life estate" in the property, allowing you to retain rights to use the property without restriction until your death. You deed the property directly to the Foundation subject to your retained life estate, receive an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of the appraised fair market value, and have the comfort of knowing that the property will be excluded from probate.

By designating the Foundation as the beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance contract, you can make a significantly larger charitable gift than may be possible out of your current assets. In addition, if you make the Foundation the owner of the policy, you can deduct the premiums as you pay them. If you would prefer to retain the right to change beneficiaries on the pol,ice and do not care if you receive a charitable deduction, you can remain owner of the contract and simply name the Foundation as beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of some or all of the insurance proceeds.  

Donations of retirement assets, including IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and tax-sheltered annuities, are typically subject tot income tax when your beneficiaries receive these assets after your death. However, gifts of these assets will not be taxed if they are left directly to the Foundation as beneficiary. You can designate all or a certain percentage of your retirement assets to go the the Foundation.