You may have been blessed with investments in stocks and mutual funds that have increased in value. If those appreciated shares are sold, you must pay a Capital Gains tax that can be considerable.

If you have owned the investments for more than 1 year, you can transfer the shares to Children's Hope and avoid Capital Gains tax altogether.  In fact, the full value of the stock becomes an immediate income tax deduction for you.

If, for example, shares of stock that you bought for $1,000 are now valued at $10,000, and you transfer the stock to Children's Hope (instead of selling it), the result is a $10,000 gift to Children's Hope that only cost you $1,000!  You can also deduct the full $10,000 on your income tax return for the year in which the donation is made.

Benefits of giving shares that have increased in value:

• The full value of those shares helps orphans in need around the world.
• Capital gains taxes are avoided
• Income taxes are deductible for the full value of the gifted investments
• Donors are making a larger gift for less cost