Cash
Cash, usually in the form of a check, is an easy and convenient way for you to support worthy causes in the community.
Cash gifts enable you as a donor to claim a current tax deduction of up to 50% of your adjusted gross income in any one year when you itemize deductions, with the excess, carried forward for an additional five years.
To donate cash to MCF, you can either send a check or initiate a wire transfer. You can also make a secure online credit card through this website (see below).
To give by check: Please make the check payable to the Marin Community Foundation. At the bottom of the check, write the name of the fund (e.g., The John and Susan Smith Fund of the Marin Community Fund) into which the gift is going. Mail or deliver the check to:
Lizzie Cairns
Marin Community Foundation
5 Hamilton Landing, Suite 200
Novato,CA 94949
For wire transfers of cash, click on the icon to the right to download the wire transfer instructions.
To make a secure online credit card donation: Go to the Online Donation Form.
If you have any questions about donating cash, please contact Lizzie Cairns, senior administrative accountant, at 415.464.2514 or via email.
Securities
MCF accepts all appreciated securities as charitable gifts. After the security is liquidated, the full value of the gift is available to support your charitable goals.
- Gifts of appreciated securities offer tax advantages, as their full fair market value is deductible as a charitable contribution up to 30% of your adjusted gross income each year when you itemize deductions.
- Deduction amounts that exceed the limit can be carried forward for up to five additional years.
- You do not have to pay federal or state capital gains taxes on the appreciated portion of the gift.
Stock or bond certificates:
Although Marin Community Foundation typically utilizes the services of Charles Schwab to sell donated securities, we have many brokerage accounts and may well have one with your brokerage firm. If you prefer to use your own brokerage firm and broker, we will need to know the name of the stock, number of shares, and the name and contact information for the broker handling the transaction. We will work with your broker to complete the transaction. If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie Cairns, senior administrative accountant at MCF, at 415.464.2514 or via email.
When you hold a paper certificate:
1. Mail your unendorsed (not signed) certificates to the Foundation:
Lizzie Cairns
Marin Community Foundation
5 Hamilton Landing, Suite 200
Novato, CA 94949
2. Send us, in a separate envelope, a signed Irrevocable Stock/Bond Power Form (below). Click on the icon below to download the form. (Please do not mail the certificates and Irrevocable Stock/Bond form together, as the certificates would be negotiable.)
Irrevocable Stock/Bond Power Form
The date of the gift is the date your letter is postmarked or delivered to us in person.
For electronic transfers:
1. Click on the icon below to download instructions for completing an electronic transfer of securities.
Instructions for electronic transfers
2. In addition to sending the letter to your broker, please send a copy via mail, fax, or email to:
Lizzie Cairns
Senior Accountant
Marin Community Foundation
5 Hamilton Landing, Suite 200
Novato, California 94949
Phone/Fax: 415.464.2514
Life Insurance
For those whose need for life insurance has decreased, making a gift of an unneeded policy can be a convenient and effective way of meeting your charitable goals.
- Transferring ownership of a cash value policy to the Marin Community Foundation makes you eligible for a charitable tax deduction based on its current value.
- To make a gift of life insurance, contact Alexandra Derby, vice president for Philanthropic Services, 415.464.2517 or via email.
