As you consider the charitable gifts you will make to close out the year, I ask you to please remember Star of Hope and our work on behalf of children across the world.
Now 2019 is quickly coming to an end and 2020 will be here before we know it. We get caught up in end-of-year activities and we forget about making year-end gifts.
These gifts, large or small, are important to us. They allow our work to blossom and the return on investment is seen in the children's eyes.
Looking over your charitable giving plans, between now and Dec. 31, can help assure maximum benefits for you and your family as well as Star of Hope. Giving sometimes helps you meet personal goals as well as spiritual goals.
There many ways you can make a gift before the end of the year that will provide you with valuable benefits and help further the work.
These benefits include tax savings on this year's return and bypass of capital gains tax on the sale of your property.
Here are three options for year-end giving:
A. Make a deductible gift of cash
While all gifts mailed or hand-delivered by Dec. 31 qualify for the charitable deduction, gifts of cash are the most common and the easiest way to give. If you itemize your tax deductions, gifts of cash are deductible up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
B. Make a deductible gift of securities
Making gifts of stocks, bonds, and/or mutual funds directly to Star of Hope can bring extra tax savings. If you have held such assets longer than one year, the gift can be deducted at full fair market value, not just the original cost. Giving this way enables you to bypass capital gains tax. Gifts of securities are deductible up to 30 percent of AGI. Please ask your expert.
C. Make a deductible gift of real estate and avoid taxes
If you own appreciated real estate that you no longer need, consider gifting this property to Star of Hope for the benefit of your personal cause weather it is; education, health, spiritual leadership or other. Star of Hope will sell your property tax-free, and you will receive a charitable tax deduction for the fair market value of the property and avoid paying capital gains tax.
D. Give crops or leases.
Are you a farmer or perhaps in the oil patch? You can give away those items to help children perpetually and you can call the shots!.
Now is also a good time to review your estate plan, as well as ask, will you leave a legacy?
Many want to make an impact on the world, to leave it in a better state after we are gone. A bequest is one of the easiest ways to have a lasting impact on the people and organizations that mean the most to you. You can create a bequest of any dollar amount, gift specific property, or designate a percentage of your estate in your will or trust.
Ten percent can make a big impact. Your generosity will make a difference for years to come.
These are but a few examples of what we plan for the New Year;
• Get more youth bibles in children's hands
• Water wells in Haiti and Argentina
• New building in Argentina
• Expand Awana International partnership to 3 new countries
• Enhanced nutrition for our kids
• Training and services to families caring for children with disabilities - Romania
• Teacher training
• Economic opportunities for people in Haiti and Argentina
• Alpha classes all over the world
• Lunch program needs a refill
• Christian classes for young men and women in the Philippines to learn Biblical respect for the sexes
• Doing the Great Commission.
Please pray and, if needed, ask your accountant if a donation can benefit your situation.
Contact Mark Presson on 1 866 653 0321 for more information on year-end gifts.
God Bless you and yours and Happy New Year
Mark Presson CEO
Star of Hope
Please pray and consider a year-end gift, donate here.