A gift of cash by check or credit card is a simple type of charitable gift.

Many gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds and mutual funds result in a charitable deduction for the full market value of the donated asset, even if you bought it for far less, and minimize capital gains taxes.

We offer you the opportunity to easily and effectively donate your property. A gift of real estate to the Laredo Area Community Foundation offers a way to unlock the full appraised value of a property. You can gain significant tax advantages, and at the same time, build a charitable legacy to support your favored charitable organizations for years to come.

Many people find that the protection offered by life insurance policies is no longer needed later in life. Thus a life insurance policy can become an ideal tool for charitable giving. A few steps need to be taken to donate a life insurance policy. You start by irrevocably assigning your insurance policy to the Laredo Area Community Foundation and naming it as the sole beneficiary. You can make annual tax-deductible contributions to cover the policy's annual premium. Or, if the policy is paid up, you will receive an immediate tax deduction in an amount equal to the policy's cash surrender value.

Name the Laredo Area Community Foundation to receive all or a portion of your estate through your will or trust, reducing estate taxes while creating a charitable legacy.

You make a charitable gift and you and/or someone you designate can receive lifetime income. The remainder goes to the Laredo Area Community Foundation upon your passing, potentially reducing and deferring capital gains tax and reducing probate costs and estate taxes.

A charitable lead trust or several types of charitable remainder trusts create valuable options in estate planning by providing tax savings, a significant gift and income for either a charity or family members.

Give your personal residence, ranch or farm as a gift, occupy the residence or land without disruption, and receive an income tax charitable deduction for the present value of the remainder interest.

Naming the Laredo Area Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your insurance policy enables you to create a charitable legacy without invading cash and other assets designated for your heirs.

Double taxation on retirement plan withdrawals decreases their value for your heirs. Consider providing other assets to heirs and naming the Laredo Area Community Foundation as the beneficiary of your retirement accounts. You can save taxes and preserve your hard-earned assets for the good of your community.

Provides an ideal stepping stone to philanthropy for those who wish to start a fund with less than $10,000.

You can direct your gift to a specific agency or purpose by providing ongoing funding to any nonprofit charitable organization. You identify the recipient you wish to benefit through your gift; our staff manages the annual distribution of funds.

You can have ongoing involvement in the use of your gift. You work with our board members in identifying ways to use dollars from your Donor Advised Fund to address the issues and needs you care about most. Your recommendations are submitted to our local board for approval; we then distribute grant dollars.

You can target your gift to address needs in an important area of community life that you identify as your personal interest area when making your gift; our board awards grants to community agencies and programs that are making a difference in the area you select.

Through its donors, the Laredo Area Community Foundation helps students achieve their educational dreams. Each fund has its own criteria and application, based on the donor's interest. Some scholarship funds are for a specific area of study while others are for students representing the first generation in their family to pursue higher education.