Care about the future. Help give thousands of individuals and families the opportunity to enrich their lives through Y programs and services! Without your support, many people who benefit most from our programs and services might not be able to participate. Your gift ensures the Y remains accessible to everyone—regardless of their ability to pay.
Contribute to the Y. One hundred percent of your contribution provides financial assistance and supports critical programming at the Y. You can contribute in a number of ways, including our Strong Kids Scholarships, Year-End Giving, Sponsorships and Contributions. You also can join us as a volunteer.
Create a stronger community. Through many opportunities for giving, children can build self-esteem and discover personal talents at the Y. Teens can connect with peers and positive adult role models while learning leadership skills. Adults can develop new friendships and feel more connected in the entire community.
Year-End Giving Opportunities
With the end of the year comes the holiday season—a time to express appreciation and love for family and friends. It is also the time to evaluate and make plans for your year-end giving. Making a charitable gift at year-end can benefit not only the causes you believe in, but your bottom-line as well. Even as you help improve the lives of others, you can give in ways that maximize tax advantages and preserve your financial resources.
There are a variety of giving options that could help you lower your income tax liability and/or reduce your taxable estate.
Cash Gifts
Checks written and dated on or before December 31, qualify as a current year’s deduction. If you are mailing a check to the YMCA, be sure to have the envelope postmarked by December 31.
Gifts of Stock
Owning stock that has gone up in value presents a unique opportunity to make a gift to the YMCA, as well as obtain a tax deduction for you.
When donating appreciated stock (that you have held for at least one year), you receive an income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the stock at the time of the gift. Moreover, capital gains taxes that would otherwise be owed on the sale of stock are avoided.
The gift of stock should be received at the YMCA by December 31. For convenience, your stockbroker can arrange for a year-end gift-transfer of stock from your account to ours. Call us for more information on this option.
Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of real estate present some unique opportunities. You may own a residence, second home, vacation home, farm, or raw land that has increased in value so much over the years that a sale would mean a sizeable capital gains tax.
Similar to stock, by donating real estate to a charity, you avoid the capital gains tax on the appreciation in value and receive a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the property. Moreover, it is possible to make a gift of your residence or second home that allows you and your spouse to continue to use the property for your lifetimes and still receive an income tax deduction in this calendar year.
Gifts of Life Insurance
You may currently own a life insurance policy, which is no longer needed that could provide a year-end income tax deduction, if donated to the YMCA. To receive the deduction, you must designate the Stephens Family YMCA as both the owner and the beneficiary of the policy. Contact your insurance agent for the details. However,if you wish to maintain ownership over a life insurance policy but still benefit the YMCA, you may merely designate the YMCA as the beneficiary of the policy. By so doing, you will retain full control of the policy during your lifetime and the YMCA will receive the insurance proceeds at your death. Although you will not receive a charitable income tax deduction for this future gift, you will receive an estate tax charitable deduction.
Gift Annuity / Charitable Remainder Trust
You may want to contribute an amount to the YMCA and receive a fixed payment for life. A charitable gift annuity is a way to accomplish this. Under this technique, you donate an asset (cash, securities, or property) to the YMCA, and then the YMCA is obligated to pays to you an annuity over your lifetime based on the value of the donation. The older you are, the larger will be the annuity payment to you. Moreover, the annuity may extend to your spouse, and/or your children.
The many benefits of a gift annuity include the following:
- Avoiding capital gains tax on appreciated assets.
- Receiving an immediate income tax deduction.
- Increase your monthly income.
- Part of the monthly income from our organization is tax-free.
- You and your spouse receive a federal estate tax deduction
Similar in concept to a charitable gift annuity, is a charitable remainder trust. Under this technique, you create your own irrevocable trust in which you (and/or your loved one) receive an annuity for your life and/or the life of your loved ones. At the termination of the non-charitable beneficiary’s interest, the trust assets go to the YMCA. By transferring appreciated assets to a charitable remainder trust, you can alleviate your capital gains tax issues and diversify your income-producing investments—all while making a charitable gift and receiving a charitable income tax deduction, based on IRS tables.
Contributions
The Stephens Family YMCA is a not-for profit, charitable, community-based organization committed to helping people grow in spirit, mind and body, regardless of financial circumstances. The YMCA is blessed with the support of many who give of their time, talent and treasure. We invite you to contribute what you can to help build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. For more information, contact Heidi Cordes at (217) 239-2805 or email ymcagifts@ccymca.net.
The annual YMCA Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign enables the YMCA to provide an array of programs that positively impact and involve youth by subsidizing part or all of program fees. The Strong Kids Scholarship Campaign continues the YMCA’s long-held tradition of never turning an individual or family away because of an inability to pay for programs and services. This fund eliminates the perceived financial barriers to participation that kids and families hold and opens the door to healthy activities and the life-altering benefits that result from being engaged at the YMCA.
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
The YMCA seeks mutually beneficial relationships with reputable businesses or corporations who will contribute both financial and developmental resources, and /or an in-kind service in return for a set of negotiated rights and benefits. Sponsorship with the YMCA is strategically designed to achieve specific goals of both organizations.
Corporate sponsorship with the YMCA has a positive effect on the business partner. Sponsorship creates vast publicity opportunities, generates visibility, improves community image, and ultimately increases sales through a positive lifestyle association between the Y and the sponsor’s products and services. The YMCA logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world, and the YMCA has an outstanding image that is wholesome and family friendly.
