A gift of cash is the easiest and most frequent way of giving to the Angus Foundation. Simply make your check payable to the Angus Foundation and mail it to the Foundation. Your gift will be recorded and receipted promptly on behalf of the specific initiative that you wish to support. Please include a short note with your check stating the purpose or designation of your gift. Or, if you wish, your gift will be credited to the Angus Fund, the general fund of the foundation to be used for the many programs we support. 

These gifts are fully deductible for federal income tax purposes, subject to the limitations placed on charitable gifts by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Gifts can also be made by Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit cards.

Common and preferred stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other appreciated securities may be donated to the Angus Foundation. In addition to providing benefit to the Foundation as a current gift, securities may also be part of the planned giving process, depending on your wishes and financial objectives. 

A popular benefit of such a gift beyond the charitable income tax deduction is the avoidance, in most cases, of capital gains tax on the appreciation. Regardless of your income bracket, it is almost always to your advantage to transfer appreciated securities to the Foundation directly, rather than selling them and giving cash. In the case of securities having depreciated in value, in most cases it is advantageous to sell the security, take the capital loss for tax purposes, and donate the proceeds. 

You, your broker or bank trust officer should contact the Foundation to determine the best method for the transfer of your securities to the Foundation. Instructing the transfer agent to reissue the stock in the Foundation's name often causes delay. This can especially be a problem when a year-end gift is involved, since the delay could result in a different valuation or gift date than intended. For information about gifts of stock in closely held corporations, also contact the Foundation for assistance. 

You can contribute real estate such as their residence, vacation home, farm, ranch, commercial property or undeveloped land to the Angus Foundation. Usually, the Angus Foundation will accept gifts of real estate if there are no restrictions placed on selling the property. (The Angus Foundation reserves the right to accept or refuse all property donations.)  

Real property can be donated to the Foundation as a current gift by a warranty deed. Real property may also be part of the planned giving process. The donation is worth the property's fair market value, which must be established by an independent appraisal. 

Note: When mortgaged property is donated, it is subject to bargain sale rules. According to the IRS, a bargain sale occurs when property is sold to a charity at a price less than fair market value or when it is mortgaged or otherwise encumbered. In these circumstances, the donor has made a charitable gift and a sale. The sale element of such a transaction may have capital gains consequences. These transactions, because of their complexity, should be closely examined by the donor's tax advisor to avoid tax problems. 

Any item of personal property that has value may also be donated. Such items include cash, securities, art, copyrights, equipment, stock of closely held corporations, antiques, insurance policies, jewelry, furniture, rare books, manuscripts and any other item that has a determinable value. 

Unless the donor has created personal property (for example, art work), he or she may deduct the full fair market value of the property as a charitable contribution. The IRS has appraisal rules to which the donor must adhere when making such a gift. 

These gifts can receive the same tax treatment as gifts of securities: no capital gains tax plus deductibility at fair market value. 

You may choose to make a planned gift through a will or living trust, which enables you to retain the use of your assets during your lifetime, while helping the Angus Foundation in the future. Bequests can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the balance of your estate after providing for your family or other loved ones. A bequest removes those assets from your estate and reduces estate tax liability.  

While it isn’t required, letting us know that you have created a planned gift helps us plan for the future and appropriately recognize you according to your wishes.  We can assist you and your legal counsel in preparing the appropriate verbiage in your will (or a codicil to your existing will) stating your intentions. 

For example, the John and Jane Doe Memorial Angus Scholarship Endowment Fund can be established through a bequest that upon the Doe's demise, the bequest becomes the permanent endowment of which only the annual investment revenue is utilized to fund scholarships that will empower young men and women to realize their dreams of acquiring an education at the college or university of their choice. These scholarships could be awarded each year at the National Junior Angus Show to the deserving recipients. 

A gift of your home or farm can be made without giving up the use of your property during your lifetime. You may also provide for your spouse or other loved one to live there upon your death. You can obtain a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the property and your age. Property taxes and insurance remain the donor's responsibility. 

The charitable remainder unitrust and the charitable remainder annuity trust are two life income planned gift options that allow you to make a gift to the Angus Foundation and receive income back annually from that gift for you or a family member for the rest of your life or for a set number of years while also receiving a current income tax deduction for the gift. 

A charitable remainder trust is established when the donor irrevocably transfers cash, securities or real estate to fund the trust. With the transfer of appreciated securities or real estate, the donor not only receives the charitable gift deduction, but also avoids capital gains tax. Upon the termination of the trust, the remaining principal in the trust is directed to the Angus Foundation's education, youth and research program of the donor's choice at the time the trust is established. 

The charitable gift annuity is not a trust but is a contract between you and the Angus Foundation whereby the Foundation promises to pay a fixed annuity to a maximum of two beneficiaries (beginning immediately or deferred to a later date) in exchange for the irrevocable transfer of assets by the donor to the Foundation. Annuity payments are based on the initial market value of the assets contributed and the ages of the income beneficiaries. A portion of the annuity payment may be considered a tax-free return of principal. An income tax deduction is allowed for a portion of the total gift value, and capital gains tax is avoided as well. The charitable gift annuity is very popular due to its simplicity and effectiveness in providing immediate income tax deductions with a high level of tax advantaged income. A $5,000 minimum gift amount is also attractive to many donors.