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For more information contact the DMCS Development Office
515-252-2496
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Ways to Give
Gifts of Cash and Check
Simplicity
and ease of delivery make cash the convenient asset to donate. For tax
purposes, gifts of cash are considered to be complete on the date they
are personally delivered, or postmarked if mailed. Cash gifts include
donations of maturing bonds and certificates of deposit, money market
accounts, and savings accounts.
Cash gifts will have an immediate impact upon the program for which the funds are allocated. Checks should be made to Des Moines Christian School and mailed to DMCS Development Office, Suite 100, 13007 Douglas Parkway, Urbandale, IA 50323
Electronic Transfer
Increasingly
popular and easy way to make a gift is through monthly auto-withdrawals
from your bank account. It is simple and convenient way to make
recurring gifts or to make payments on a pledge. The transfer is set up
through your bank to be deducted on the 15th day of each month.
Credit Card - Pending
In
the near future, donors will be able to contribute is through a credit
card gift. These gifts can be made by contacting the DMCS Development
Office at 515-252-2496. Watch this page for upcoming information.
Corporate Matching Gifts
Maximize
your gift! Many employers sponsor a matching gift program that can
maximize the impact of charitable contribution by employees and
retirees.
Des
Moines Christian School is grateful for gifts from matching gift
companies and the many donors who submit matching gift forms. The
businesses and corporations, listed here, have supported Des Moines Christian School through their matching gift programs in recent years.
Specific details about your matching gift program can be obtained through the Human Resource office at your work place.
Gifts of Stock or Securities
By
giving a gift of securities that have increased in value since you
purchased them, you may take the current market price as tax deduction,
you owe no income tax or capital gains tax on the increase. These gifts
are unique in that the donor can take a federal tax deduction for the
full, fair market value of the stock, regardless of how much the donor
paid for the stock. No capital gains taxes apply.
To
receive the full deduction, it is important that you transfer the
ownership of these assets to DMCS instead of selling them and donating
the proceeds of the sale. IF you sell the asset and then gift the
proceeds, you will be responsible for capital gains taxes. Transferring
ownership eliminates the capital gains tax.
You
can also use these assets to fund a charitable gift annuity. This does
not eliminate the entire capital gains tax, but it does spread it out
over the life of the annuity. We can provide you with an illustration
to show you how you can use stock to fund a charitable gift annuity and
receive an income for the rest of your life.
For
more information please call the Development Office at (515-252-2496).
Gifts of appreciated stocks or mutual fund shares provide immediate
support to the school. Donors may realize substantial tax savings by
transferring appreciated stock or securities to the school prior to the
sale. Capital gains on the amount of appreciation may be avoided, and
the donors may receive a tax deduction based on the fair market value of
the stock or property at the time of the gift.
Contact
the Development Office advising of your stock gift either by phone,
e-mail or by letter. Please indicate your name and, how you want your
donation to be used. We will connect you with the school's broker for
this transfer.
Gifts-In-Kind
In-kind
gifts of equipment or other items relevant to our educational programs
will be receipted as received by the school. IRS regulations do not
allow the school to assign or verify the value. The donor, through
purchase receipt or appraisal, determines gift value for tax purposes.
For
items large enough to have capital gains tax implications, it may be
necessary to transfer the ownership of these assets to DMCS instead of
selling them and donating the proceeds of the sale. Please consult the
school to assess whether the school is able to receive your in-kind
gift. DMCS does not accept vehicles at this time.
Memorial/Honorarium Donations
One
way to support Des Moines Christian School is through
memorial/honorarium giving. It allows you to honor family, friends,
living or deceased, while helping to support Christian education. Gifts
can be made in celebration of a special occasion such as an anniversary,
birthday, retirement or other special reason.
Acknowledgement
letters are sent to the donor and notification is made to the family of
the deceased or to the individuals being honored. Memorial/Honorarium
cards are also available at the Development Office.
If you would like to include a family member or friend in the program, click on the appropriate form below or contact Samona Yentes at Des Moines Christian School Development Office, Suite 100, 13007 Douglas Parkway, Urbandale, IA 50323.
Real Estate
Des
Moines Christian School may be in a position to accept gifts of land or
other real estate. Like gifts of securities, the appreciation portion
of a real estate gift for Des Moines Christian School Christian may help
the donor avoid capital gains tax while realizing a tax deduction.
Please contact the Development Office directly if you are considering a
gift of real estate.
Bequests
Des Moines Christian School advises that bequests be directed to the DMCS Foundation.
Bequests
are gifts made through a will or living trust. They are especially
popular for people who want to make a gift of significant size but
cannot give up income or capital during their lifetime. The future gift
is revocable, and you retain control of the assets to meet future
needs. Bequests of all sizes benefit Des Moines Christian School. You
can make a gift in the following ways:
A percentage of your total estate. In using this approach, your gift adjusts with changes in the size of your estate.
The
residue or a percentage of the residue of your estate. After your
specific gifts to loved ones have been made, you may designate that the
entire residue or a percentage of the remainder shall go to one or more
charitable organizations. With this approach as well, your gift adjusts
with changes in the size of your estate.
A
gift of a specific amount. You specify a dollar amount to be given to
one or more charitable organizations. With this kind of gift, it is
especially important to keep your will or trust up-to-date.
Contingent bequest. You specify that DMCS is to receive a gift only in the event of the death of other beneficiaries.
The following is sample bequest language you may take to your attorney:
I
give, devise, and bequeath [insert amount of gift, percentage of
estate, or residuary of estate here] to the Des Moines Christian School
Christian Foundation, located at 13007 Douglas Parkway, Urbandale, IA
50323
The Iowa State Bar Association has provided information about the value of having a will.
For guidance in how to begin the process of making a will, use this Will Information Kit.
Life Insurance
Many
individuals have life insurance policies whose benefits they no longer
need. If this applies to you, you may want to consider naming DMCS the
beneficiary and assigning us ownership of the policy. In doing so, you
will receive a charitable deduction; and in removing the life insurance
policy from your estate, you may also reduce your estate taxes.
Life Income Gifts
The
Des Moines Christian School Foundation offers two types of life income
arrangements: the charitable gift annuity and the charitable remainder
trust.
Charitable gift annuity
The
charitable gift annuity pays a donor a rate of return for one or two
lives. For example, a husband and wife, ages 81 and 77, could get an
annual rate of 7.0 percent for their lifetimes, with quarterly payments.
The rate is based on the age of the donor. The older the donor, the
higher the payment rate, up to a current high of 11.5 percent per year.
This is a relatively simple transaction.
Charitable remainder trust
Under
a charitable remainder trust, you make a gift to the DMCS Foundation in
a trust, reserving the income to yourself, another person, or yourself
and another person, either for life or a set number of years. At the
end of the trust, the remaining assets are distributed to DMCS.
Charitable remainder trusts are complex legal instruments.
Consequently, the use of an attorney and professional trustee, such as a
bank trust department, is usually advisable.
Retirement Plans
Retirement
plans are excellent assets to leave to DMCS. IRAs and qualified
retirement plans such as 401(k)s, when passed on to heirs, can incur as
much as 70 percent in taxes because this asset faces double taxation.
Not only is the plan benefit reduced by estate taxes, but the recipient
must also pay income taxes on the plan.
If
you plan to make a Legacy Gift to DMCS, you may want to consider naming
us the beneficiary of your 401(k), pension, or other retirement plan,
and leaving other assets to your family. Naming us the primary
beneficiary avoids all income and estate taxes on the retirement plan.
Of course, you can also name DMCS for a portion of the assets, or as a
contingent beneficiary, with the gift to be effective only after the
death of a spouse or other family member.
Moreover,
in 2001 the IRS issued favorable, simplified new rules for calculating
minimum annual payments from IRAs and other retirement accounts such as
401(k)'s. These new rules make it easier for you to accumulate more
savings - tax deferred - in your account. Now you can name DMCS as a
beneficiary without increasing the minimum amounts you must withdraw
each year. By taking advantage of these new rules, you can keep more
tax-deferred savings in your account during your life, and designate an
important future gift to DMCS.
To
designate DMCS, simply contact your plan manager, ask for a change of
beneficiary form, and name Des Moines Christian School Foundation as the
beneficiary.
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