You may wish to make an outright gift of a non-cash asset, which includes real estate, business interests, appreciated securities, and personal property. In most instances, outright gifts of non-cash assets qualify for an immediate tax deduction, eliminate capital gains tax, and remove an asset from their estate—reducing estate taxes.

You can give from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in two ways. First, if you are at least 70.5 years old, you can gift the church up to $100,000 per year through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Your QCD will count toward your Required Minimum Distribution. Second, if you are at least 72 years old, you can assign your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) directly to the church. You will not receive a tax deduction for this gift, but you won’t have to pay ordinary income tax.

A Donor Fund is held by the church for the benefit of a specific ministry. It is governed by a giver agreement stipulating how the fund will be used. Essentially, the Donor Fund works like an endowment where the gift is not immediately available and is disbursed over time. As the donor, you can establish the fund from cash or assets. You’ll receive a tax deduction and avoid capital gains tax if an appreciated asset funds the Donor Fund. 

A Donor donor-advised fund is like a charitable investment account that is created for the sole purpose of supporting the charitable organizations you care about. The giver may issue grants from the fund to multiple charities. When funded with cash or non-cash assets through a public charity, you are generally eligible to receive an immediate tax deduction. Funds are invested for tax-free growth.