Gifts of Stock and Appreciated Assets: The Details

A $5,000 cash gift and a gift of $5,000 in appreciated securities both generate the same charitable deduction.

But if you use publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares that you have held for a year or longer to make your gift, you will receive an additional tax benefit: The IRS allows you to make your transfer to without recognizing capital gains on the appreciation. You can thus leverage a larger donation than you could make with cash — and receive a larger tax benefit — by "buying low and giving high."

See our stock calculator for an illustration.

Your gift of stock is valued, for tax purposes, at the mean of the high and low on the date the shares are received in our account. Mutual funds are valued at the "net asset value."

If you and your advisors are transferring assets at the end of the year, it is especially important to note the following.

• For stocks transferred through the U.S. Post Office, the gift date may be found in the postmark. (Stock certificates should be sent unsigned to the Diocese of Pittsburgh or your parish with an executed stock power mailed under separate cover on the same day.)
• Gifts delivered by UPS, Fedex, or any other delivery company are credited, by law, on the day received by the Diocese of Pittsburgh or your parish.

Important Tip: Don't sell the stock first. Even though you may give us the proceeds as a gift, the IRS will impose capital gains tax on your sale, wiping out the benefits of this arrangement.