Donating Long-Term Appreciated Property
A gift of long-term appreciated assets can be highly beneficial for both you and New England Conservatory. Common examples include publicly traded securities, real estate, and personal property. By donating appreciated assets such as these, you may enjoy several advantages:
- Immediate Tax Deduction: In the year of your gift, you may claim an income tax charitable deduction for the fair market value of your gift, subject to IRS limitations. You can carry forward any unused deduction for up to five additional years.
- Avoid Capital Gains Tax: By donating appreciated property, you may avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation, reducing the cost of your gift.
- Estate Tax Benefits: A gift of appreciated assets may reduce your estate size, potentially lowering the tax on your estate.
- Immediate Impact on New England Conservatory’s Mission: Your contribution will have an immediate and lasting impact on New England Conservatory and its mission.
Giving Stocks, Securities, and Mutual Funds
When you donate appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, you can avoid taxes on your capital gains while also taking an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the shares. To maximize these benefits, the IRS requires:
- Holding Period: You must have owned the asset for over one year.
- Direct Transfer to New England Conservatory: Instead of selling the shares and giving the proceeds, transfer the shares directly to New England Conservatory to avoid capital gains taxes. As a tax-exempt organization, New England Conservatory will not owe taxes when it sells these shares.
Please inform us once you’ve instructed your broker to transfer the shares so we can coordinate accordingly.
Real Estate Donations
You can donate real estate to New England Conservatory. Contact us to learn more about thins giving option.
Donating Personal Property
You may also donate valuable tangible property, such as artwork, antiques, or vehicles. For more information on giving personal property, please contact us.
Consult with Your Advisors
We encourage you to speak with your financial and tax advisors before making a gift. The IRS offers tax incentives for charitable giving, enabling you to support a cause you value while potentially reducing your tax burden.
Thank you for considering a generous gift to help sustain New England Conservatory.
Additional Giving Options
By making a planned gift, you can strengthen NEC and gain financial and tax benefits for you and your family. For more information, please contact Aaron McGarry, Planned Giving Officer, by email or by phone at 617-585-1356.
Real estate can be contributed as an outright gift or to finance a planned gift. Available options include a retained life estate, which allows the donor to continue to use the property for a certain number of years, or for the donor’s lifetime. Other arrangements offer special tax advantages and lifetime income.
Gifts of real estate include undeveloped land, a residence, a vacation home, a farm, or commercial property. NEC requires the donor to bear certain costs when making a real estate gift, such as an appraisal to determine the fair market value. Also, NEC deducts transaction costs from the proceeds of the sale of the property, including the closing costs, title insurance, a survey (if needed), and any taxes due before the gift is completed.
For any questions about gifts of real estate, please contact Abigail Smitka, Assistant Vice President of Major Gifts and Campaigns, at as3628@necmusic.edu or (617) 585-1719.
Many companies support the philanthropic interests of their employees by matching employee contributions to nonprofit organizations like NEC. If your employer offers a matching gift program, you may be able to double or even triple your gift!
For more information on matching gift contributions, please contact Cheryl Fries, Assistant Director of Advancement Operations, at cheryl.fries@necmusic.edu or (617) 585-1373.
Gifts of personal property, such as musical instruments, recordings, and scores provide valuable support for our music education programs. Through the support of in-kind gifts, you can help NEC meet the college’s ongoing need to expand its inventory — and you qualify for a tax deduction.
NEC accepts in-kind donations on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact Patricia Kopko, Director of Advancement Operations, by email or phone at 617-585-1225
Friends of NEC may elect to make gifts to commemorate a loved one’s life, birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion. We will gladly notify those you wish to know of any gifts made in their honor.
Contributions in any amount may be directed to The NEC Fund, or to the area of your choice. Please note the name of the person you wish to commemorate when you make your gift.
Contact Us
To learn more about how you can support NEC, please contact Cheryl Fries, Assistant Director of Advancement Operations, at cheryl.fries@necmusic.edu or (617) 585-1373.
New England Conservatory is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Our non-profit tax ID is 23-7225104.
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