What to Give
Learn how to make a gift that provides tax benefits and even life income. Discover the best gift option to meet your goals.
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Gifts of Stocks and Bonds
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to our organization for UM ministry.
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
By electronic transfer – Please contact us for instructions on how you can transfer stock or bonds from your brokerage or investment account to Mississippi United Methodist Foundation for your UM ministry.
By certified mail – If you hold securities in certificate form, you will need to mail two envelopes separately to complete your gift. In the first envelope, place the unsigned stock certificate(s). In the other envelope, include a signed stock power for each certificate. You may obtain this power from your broker or bank. Please remember to use certified mail.
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.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about gifts of stocks and bonds, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.
Gifts of Real Estate
Donating appreciated real estate, such as a home, vacation property, undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property can make a great gift to our organization for UM ministry.
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 a ministry or mission of the United Methodist Church
How to make a gift of real estate
Your real property may be given to resource a United Methodist mission or ministry by executing or signing a deed transferring ownership. You may deed part or all of your real property. Your gift will generally be based on the property’s fair market value, which must be established by an independent appraisal.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about gifts of real estate, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.
Gifts of Retirement Assets
Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets such as a gift from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan is an excellent way to make a gift to our organization for UM ministry.
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 resource a ministry or mission of the United Methodist Church, you will need to complete a beneficiary designation form provided by your retirement plan custodian. If you designate Mississippi United Methodist Foundation as beneficiary, your favorite ministry 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 resource a mission or ministry of the United Methodist Church. As a charity, we are not taxed upon receiving an IRA or other retirement plan assets.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about gifts of retirement assets, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.
Please let us know if you have already included Methodist Foundation of Mississippi as a beneficiary of your retirement assets. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.
Gifts of Cash
A gift 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 your UM mission
- You can take a charitable income tax deduction
How to make a gift of cash
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 Mississippi United Methodist Foundation 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!
Contact Us
If you have any questions about gifts of cash, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.
Gifts of Insurance
A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to make a gift to UM ministry. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy. 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 Mississippi United Methodist Foundation retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts so that we can pay the premiums
- If Mississippi United Methodist Foundation 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 support local UM mission and ministry
How to 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 Mississippi United Methodist Foundation as the beneficiary of your policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about making a gift of a life insurance policy, please contact us. We would be happy to answer questions that you have.
Please let us know if you have already named us as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.