The CCHS Foundation Legacy Society
Smart Ways to Give

Outright Gift of Real Estate

Want to make a big gift to Central Catholic High School Foundation without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate. Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land. 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 us appreciated property (i.e. Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price) you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates 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 Central Catholic High School Foundation or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement.

*Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Ways to Give Real Estate

You can give real estate to Central Catholic High School Foundation in the following ways:

List of 8 items.

  • An outright gift

    When you make a gift today of real estate you have owned longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property's full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay taxes. By donating the property to us, you also eliminate capital gains tax on its appreciation.
  • 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 or two, you can ensure that your support for Central Catholic High School Foundation continues after your lifetime.
  • A retained life estate

    Perhaps you like the tax advantages a gift of real estate to our organization would offer, but you want to continue living in your personal residence for your lifetime. You can transfer your personal residence or farm to Central Catholic High School Foundation, but keep the right to occupy (or rent out) the home for the rest of your life. You continue to pay real estate taxes, maintenance fees and insurance on the property. Even though we would not actually take possession of the residence until after your lifetime, since your gift cannot be revoked, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction for a portion of your home's value.
  • A bargain sale

    Want to sell us your property for less than the fair market value? A "bargain sale" may be the answer. When you make a bargain sale, you sell your property to our organization for less than what it's worth. The difference between the actual value and the sale price is considered a gift to us. A bargain sale can be an effective way to dispose of property that has increased in value, and it is the only gift vehicle that can give you a lump sum of cash and a charitable deduction (when you itemize) at the same time.
  • A charitable remainder trust

    You can contribute any type of appreciated real estate you've owned for more than one year, provided it's 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), undeveloped land, 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 charitable lead trust

    This gift can be a wonderful way for you to benefit Central Catholic High School Foundation and simultaneously transfer appreciated real estate to your family tax-free. You should consider funding the charitable lead trust with real estate that is income-producing and expected to increase in value over the term of the trust.
  • 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.
  • A donor advised fund

    When you transfer real estate to your donor advised fund, you avoid capital gains taxes and qualify for a federal income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the property when you itemize your taxes.

An Example of How It Works

Salma purchased a rental property years ago and has watched it grow steadily in value. Still active in her career and traveling frequently, she's beginning to find management of the property more and more of a hassle. At this stage of her life, Salma has decided to move to a 55+ condominium development, where all exterior maintenance is provided and she doesn't have to worry about security issues. Salma sees this as an opportunity to give her rental property to a charity that's important to her while realizing valuable tax benefits.

Salma avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualifies for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $250,000, which is for the property's fair market value today. She is able to claim 30% of her $200,000 adjusted gross income, or $60,000, in the year of the gift. In the five years following, she can continue to use up the remaining $190,000 deduction. Salma is happy in her new condo and loves knowing that the gift of her property will make a big difference supporting our mission.

Next Steps

  • Contact Jim Pecchenino, '72 at (209) 968-1120 or pecchenino@cchsca.org to discuss the possibility of giving real estate to Central Catholic High School Foundation.
  • Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor to make sure this gift fits your goals.
  • If you include Central Catholic High School Foundation in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

About Central Catholic

Faithful to our Catholic Tradition, our mission is to witness to the Gospel while building an educational community that inspires the spiritual, academic and social development of young adults.


Central Catholic Students Are:

Academically-Prepared
Spiritually-Developed
Socially-Responsible
Globally-Conscious 

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