More Ways to Give

More Ways to give

Appreciated Securities, Real Estate, Donor Advised Funds, Memorial & Tributes, Endowments, and Charitable Lead Trusts

gift of appreciated securities

A Tax-Wise Way to Grow Your Impact

Donating stocks, bonds or mutual funds that have increased in value—and that you’ve held for more than one year—is a smart and meaningful way to support the Detroit Historical Society. These gifts allow you to advance our mission while receiving valuable financial benefits.

When you contribute appreciated securities to the Society, you can reduce or even avoid federal capital gains taxes that would otherwise be owed if you sold the assets. You may also qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction based on the full fair market value of the securities at the time of the gift.

Securities are commonly used to support our work in the following ways:

By donating securities directly to the Detroit Historical Society, you receive the same charitable income tax deduction as a cash gift—plus the added benefit of eliminating capital gains taxes on the appreciated portion (which can be up to 20%).

You can name the Detroit Historical Society as a beneficiary of your brokerage or investment account through a simple TOD* designation. After your lifetime, the remaining assets transfer directly to the Society, supporting our mission without going through probate.

*State laws govern transfer on death accounts. Please consult with your bank representative or investment advisor if you are considering this gift.

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Doug Czajkowski, Vice President of Development
Gail Busby, Director of Development
Jack Donnelly, Corporate Gifts Officer

questions?

send a message

Or call 313-578-8203

Legal Name: Detroit Historical Society
Address: 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Federal Tax ID Number: 38-1381144
 

real estate

Transforming Realty Into Impact

Want to make a gift to the Detroit Historical Society without touching your bank account? Consider giving real estate—such as a personal residence, vacation home, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land. This generous type of gift helps sustain our

mission for years to come. And it can benefit you as well. When you donate appreciated property you’ve held for more than one year, you may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction and potentially reduce or eliminate capital gains tax. You also relieve yourself of maintenance costs, property taxes and insurance.

Another advantage: you don’t need to deal with selling the property yourself. You can deed the property directly to the Detroit Historical Society, or your attorney can include a few sentences in your will or trust to complete the gift.

ways to gift real estate

If you make an outright gift of real estate you’ve owned for more than one year, you may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s fair market value. This can significantly reduce the cost of your gift. By donating the property to the Detroit Historical Society, you also eliminate capital gains tax on the appreciation.

Including a gift of real estate in your will or living trust gives you the flexibility to change your plans while allowing you to support the Society with a potentially larger gift than you could during your lifetime. In as little as one sentence, you can ensure that your support continues for future generations.

When you contribute real estate to your donor advised fund, you may avoid capital gains taxes and qualify for an income tax deduction based on the property’s fair market value when you itemize.

If managing your property—paying taxes, utilities, repairs—has become burdensome, you may donate the property in exchange for reliable lifetime payments for yourself (and another beneficiary, if you choose). You can receive a charitable deduction in the year you establish the annuity. When using appreciated real estate, you can often eliminate capital gains on a portion of the gift and spread the remainder over your life expectancy. Unmortgaged property generally provides the best tax results for a deferred gift annuity.

If you’d like the tax advantages of a real estate gift but still want to live in your home for life, a retained life estate may be the ideal choice. You transfer your personal residence or farm to the Detroit Historical Society but keep the right to occupy or rent the home for the rest of your life. You continue paying real estate taxes, maintenance and insurance. Since the gift is irrevocable, you may qualify for a federal income tax deduction for a portion of the property’s value.

You can donate appreciated, unmortgaged real estate you’ve held for more than one year—such as a residence (vacant at contribution), farm, land or commercial property—in exchange for income for life or up to 20 years. Real estate works well with certain variations of charitable remainder trusts; your estate planning attorney can guide you on the best structure.

This option allows you to support the Detroit Historical Society while ultimately transferring appreciated real estate to your family with potential tax advantages. A charitable lead trust works especially well with income-producing property expected to appreciate over the term of the trust.

A gift of real estate may be a perfect way to honor your loved one in perpetuity. When you make an endowed gift of real estate, your contribution is invested with and becomes part of our endowment. An annual distribution is made for the purpose you designate. Because the principal remains intact, the fund will generate support in perpetuity.