Transforming Realty to Gift Reality
Want to make a gift to the Sierra Club Foundation without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate, such as a personal residence, vacation home, farm, or commercial property. Such a generous gift helps us continue our work for years to come. And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give the Sierra Club Foundation appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction and you may minimize or eliminate capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with that property's maintenance costs, property taxes, or insurance.
Another benefit: You don't have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to the Sierra Club Foundation or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement. The Sierra Club Foundation is happy to work with you and your attorney to establish a gift in this manner as the law is dependant on state law.
Ways to Give Real Estate
You can give real estate to the Sierra Club Foundation in the following ways:
A gift in your will or living trust+
A gift of real estate through your will or living trust allows you the flexibility to change your mind and the potential to support our work with a larger gift than you could during your lifetime. In as little as one sentence, you can ensure that your support for the Sierra Club Foundation continues after your lifetime.
A charitable remainder unitrust+
You can contribute any type of appreciated real estate you have owned for more than one year, provided it is unmortgaged, in exchange for an income stream for life or a term of up to 20 years. The donated property may be a residence (a personal residence must be vacant upon contribution), a farm, or commercial property. Real estate works well with only certain variations of charitable remainder trusts. Your estate planning attorney, who will draft your trust, can give you more details.
A memorial or endowed gift+
A gift of real estate may be a perfect way to honor your loved one in perpetuity. When you make an endowed gift of real estate, your contribution is invested with and becomes part of our endowment. An annual distribution is made for the purpose you designate. Because the principal remains intact, the fund will generate support in perpetuity.
Make a Gift Today
Learn more about the many ways to use real estate to support the Sierra Club Foundation in the FREE guide Ways to Donate Real Estate.
View My GuideAn Example of How It Works
Janet purchased a rental property years ago and has watched it grow steadily in value. Still active in her career and traveling frequently, she is beginning to find management of the property more and more of a hassle. Janet sees this as an opportunity to give her rental property to a charity that is important to her while realizing valuable tax benefits.
Janet avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualifies for a federal income tax charitable deduction for the property’s fair market value. Janet loves knowing that the gift of her property will make a big difference supporting our mission.