Ways to Give

Oftentimes the opportunity to discuss philanthropy with your client occurs when a major business or personal decision is being made. Perhaps your clients has sold a business, is writing a will, and planning retirement, or contemplating the sale of commercial real estate or other major assets. The Greater New Orleans Foundation can be your resource to maximize these financial opportunities for your client and the charitable causes they care about most.

Gifts of Cash

A cash gift is the simplest way to establish a named fund or to add to an existing fund. Cash gifts are fully deductible up to 50% of the donor’s adjusted gross income in any one year. Deduction amounts exceeding this limit may be carried forward for up to five additional years.

Gifts of Securities
Gifts of appreciated securities (bonds and stock, including stock in closely held companies) also may be used to establish a fund or add to an existing fund. Such gifts often provide important tax advantages. Their full fair market value is deductible as a charitable contribution up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Gifts of closely held stock enjoy the same tax benefits as with publicly traded stock.

Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of real estate to the Greater New Orleans Foundation can include a house, apartment building, farm, vacation home, commercial buildings and income-producing and non-income-producing land. You can make an outright gift of property now or through your estate, or use it to fund a Charitable Remainder Trust that provides income to you or your children. A gift of real estate that your client has owned for more than a year entitles them to a tax deduction for the full market value of the property while allowing them to avoid capital gains tax.

Gifts of Life Insurance

Life insurance policies also can be used as charitable gifts. If you name our community foundation as the owner and beneficiary of an existing or new life insurance policy, you receive an immediate tax deduction, which usually approximates the cash surrender value of the policy. All premium payments made by you thereafter will be deductible as a charitable contribution.

Gifts from a Private Foundation

A private foundation can make a grant to any fund at the Greater New Orleans Foundation or transfer its assets to a Donor Advised Fund or supporting organization to alleviate tax and administrative burdens.

To learn more about how a partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation can meet your clients’ needs, please contact Alice B. Parkerson, vice president of development, at (504) 598-1291.