Giving

Stewardship, for Catholics, is based on the spiritual principles of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. Stewardship encourages each of us to reflect on our blessings from God and to share our gifts with others, more out of gratitude than obligation.

Expressing one’s appreciation with a gift of treasure can be both spiritually rewarding and financially practical.

And thanks to our tax laws, giving to these worthy causes may also financially benefit the donor, because providing support to charities can also significantly reduce one’s income taxes.

There is no easier way to gain a year-end charitable deduction than by a gift of cash — either by check or credit card. However, the most tax-efficient way is by donating investments that have appreciated. Donors can deduct the fair value of the asset from their tax bill and avoid the capital-gains tax that would have come from selling the investment. This works with stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate and other appreciated assets.

Many Different Ways to Give

Outright cash gifts are the most common form of giving; your gift becomes immediately available to support important programs and services. The donor will be credited with the full amount of his or her gift – which may be tax deductible. Available Now: Donate with a credit card or a bank transfer, click HERE.

If you own long-term securities that have appreciated in value, you may prefer to contribute securities rather than cash. In this way, there may be both capital gains and tax deduction benefits.

Gifts in memory of deceased friends and loved ones – or gifts that honor living individuals – are gratefully accepted. Such contributions are often designated to reflect the special interests of the person honored.

Real property gifts will be accepted at the discretion of the Diocese after a review of all relevant factors. Understandably, this is because of the complexities and issues inherently involved.

Your will is a meaningful way to make a charitable gift of lasting value. Through a bequest provision, you can designate a specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate, or the balance of your estate after other bequests are satisfied. Adding a codicil to an existing will is a simple process that begins by making your intentions known to your attorney.