By Sarah Cone, Alpha Xi-The Ohio State University, Senior Director of Development Operations, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, is #GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement – a day to give back and to harness the collaborative giving power of individuals around the world. It’s also the day we kick off the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s #WaysToGiveWeek. Every day between December 3-December 10, we’ll highlight different ways to make gifts to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, so if you don’t know a DAF from a CGA, or why gifts of stock may be financially advantageous, or where to start when it comes to wills, we’ve got you covered! If you have any questions about supporting the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, please contact us at foundation@alphadeltapi.com or (404) 378-3164, option 2.

December 3, 2024

Method #1: Traditional Cash, Check, or Credit Card Gifts

Most donors are familiar with our most typical type of gifts: cash and cash-equivalent, which includes gifts made with a check, e-check, credit card, or cash. The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity, so gifts made via these methods are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Our secure online donation forms can accept credit card gifts (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), as well as e-checks, allowing you to make your gift on your preferred schedule.

Make your #GivingTuesday gift online at donate.alphadeltapi.org/givingtuesday today!

Looking for more ways to make your impact with a gift to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation? Visit alphadeltapi.org/foundation/give to get a sneak peek of some of the other giving methods we’ll be sharing throughout #WaysToGiveWeek.

December 4, 2024

Method #2: Stock, Bonds, and Mutual Funds

 Donating appreciated securities – like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds – to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation can be a tax-savvy way to give. Gifting stock to a 501(c)(3) charity like the Foundation avoids federal capital gains taxes and most donors can claim an income tax deduction for the full market value of the stocks. If you’re new to this giving method, here are a few FAQs:

Q: What do I do? Sell my appreciated stock and send a check to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation?

A: No. To avoid capital gains taxes, you’ll want to transfer the stock to the Foundation. By doing so, it’s 20%+ more valuable than if you’d sold it and then donated the after-tax earnings.

Q: I’m ready. Where do I start?

A: To start, please contact Jennifer Webb, Executive Director of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, at (404) 844-0637 or jwebb@alphadeltapi.com. She’ll provide you with the information you need to share with your financial advisor to make the transfer.

Q: What happens after I transfer stock to the Foundation?

A: Our policy is to liquidate (sell) stock gifts as soon as we receive them. Jennifer Webb will contact you to confirm we’ve received your stock gift. You will also receive a thank you letter that serves as your tax receipt. It will include the number of shares, date received, and name of the stock.

Q: Why does my thank you letter/tax receipt have the number of shares and not a dollar amount?

A: Officially speaking, a charity is not qualified to give an official appraisal to a donor for any non-cash gift – this applies to gifts of stock, as well as tangible items and property. If you’ve ever donated items to a food bank or animal shelter, for example, they ask you to provide the estimated value of the donation. The same applies to stock and cryptocurrency gifts.

Q: I’ve given stock to the Foundation before. Can I use the same transfer information?

A: Our stock donation information changed starting fall 2024, so if you have made a stock gift in the past, please contact us before initiating your next gift.

December 5, 2024

Method #3: Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax-deferred savings account. Withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax (plus penalties if you do so before age 59 ½). Once you turn 73, you are required to start taking distributions from your IRA, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), even if you don’t need or want the funds. And those RMDs are considered taxable income.

You can choose to make qualified charitable distributions (QCD) to one or more qualified charities – like the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation – to help satisfy your RMD. You may also see QCDs referred to as IRA charitable distributions or IRA charitable rollovers. You can start making QCDs beginning at age 70 ½, up to the amount that would otherwise be taxed as ordinary income. The maximum total QCDs an individual can make from all eligible accounts combined is $105,000 in 2024. This number is adjusted annually and is indexed for inflation going forward.

And you can take a QCD up to $53,000 to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) – spoiler alert! CGAs are another method we’ll talk about later in #WaysToGiveWeek – or Charitable Remainder Trust.

QCDs have a few limitations – they can’t be made to donor advised funds (which we’ll also talk about this week) or private foundations; they also can’t be used in a manner where you would receive a benefit, such as purchasing something in a charity auction or buying tickets for a charity golf tournament.

Making a QCD is often a good strategy for donors who don’t need all the funds in their required minimum distribution and would face increased tax liabilities by taking the distribution as income. Learn more about QCDs and learn more about the potential tax benefits of making a qualified charitable distribution to help reduce your required minimum distribution.

December 6, 2024

Method #4: Donor Advised Funds

 Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are basically a savings account for charitable giving. You contribute assets, including cash, credit card, stock, cryptocurrency, or other appreciated securities, to your DAF. You retain advisory privileges for how those assets are distributed but the contributions are irrevocable.

Your DAF is held by a 501(c)(3) sponsoring organization. Sponsoring organizations typically fall into a few primary categories: local community foundations, single-issue nonprofit organizations, financial service companies (Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, etc.), and technology-based organizations (Charityvest, Daffy, etc.). You receive an immediate tax benefit when you contribute to your DAF. Some – but not all – sponsoring organizations require a minimum contribution to open a DAF. Others have minimum recommended contributions, and some have requirements for how much and how often you must make a grant from your DAF.

The sponsoring organization typically invests your assets so they can grow in value over time (with some sponsoring organizations, investment is optional). When you’re ready to make a gift to a nonprofit, you recommend a grant from your DAF, and the sponsoring organization ensures the grant complies with IRS regulations and distributes the funds to the nonprofit.

When you make a gift from your Donor Advised Fund to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, you will receive a thank you letter, confirming that we received your gift and for which fund it was designated. DAF gifts are included in your lifetime giving totals to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation as soft credit gifts, but any tax paperwork will come from the 501(c)(3) sponsoring organization that manages your DAF.

And if you already have a Donor Advised Fund, we invite you to use our new tool: DAFpay™. Through a new partnership between the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation and The Giving Block, you can make a grant from your DAF in just a few clicks on our website (and soon directly from our online giving pages!). While not required, using this tool helps our Foundation team track incoming DAF contributions. Try it out below.

December 7, 2024

Method #5: Cryptocurrency

Yes, you read that right – the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation can now accept donations in cryptocurrency! This new initiative allows us to diversify our fundraising efforts and provides donors even more ways to contribute to our mission to Educate, Lead, and Serve our sisterhood. Crypto donations can be made directly through our website.

Donating cryptocurrency offers several advantages to you as a donor, including unmatched tax benefits. Current IRS guidelines classify virtual currency (cryptocurrency) as property for federal tax purposes. Because of this, donating cryptocurrency is a non-taxable event, meaning you do not owe capital gains tax on the appreciated amount and can deduct it on your taxes. This makes cryptocurrency donations one of the most tax-efficient ways to support the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation.

When you make a gift of crypto to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, your gift will be processed by The Giving Block. As with stock gifts, the gift will be liquidated (sold) immediately and your thank you letter will include the date received, as well as the number and type of digital coins. You will also receive an email receipt through our partners at The Giving Block as an immediate thank you for your gift.

Check it out below.

December 8, 2024

Method #6: Charitable Gift Annuities

How about a gift that both supports the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s mission AND gives back to you personally? Let’s talk about a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). How does it work? You make a sizeable, irrevocable gift to the Foundation (cash, securities, or other assets). You receive a partial tax deduction for the gift. We invest the donation, and you receive payments back on a fixed schedule for life. The gift annuity agreement locks in the rate, amount, and timing of those payments. Payments may begin promptly – within a year – through a current charitable gift annuity or payments can be deferred until a future date through a deferred CGA, and part of each payment may be tax free. Payment amounts are based on several factors, including the age at which you fund your CGA.

Currently, the minimum initial CGA contribution to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation is $10,000 and beneficiaries should be at least 50 years at the time of the gift (exceptions to this age minimum may be made by the Board of Trustees). We use the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) rates when determining the gift annuity rate.

And if you are at least 70 ½, you can use the qualified charitable distribution of up to $53,000 from your IRA that we talked about earlier during #WaysToGiveWeek to set up a CGA.

Learn more about CGAs on our planned giving website. If you’re interested in exploring whether a CGA might be right for you, please contact Jennifer Webb, Executive Director of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, at (404) 844-0637 or jwebb@alphadeltapi.com.

December 9, 2024

Method #7: Matching Gifts

 It’s Monday, so let’s call today #MatchingGiftsMonday. If you made a gift last week during #GivingTuesday – or at any time this year – today is a great day to submit it for a corporate match or to lookup your employer if you don’t know whether or not they offer a matching gift program.

Employee matching gift programs are a type of corporate philanthropy set up to encourage employees to give back to their communities. Companies encourage community outreach by making donations to the same nonprofits that their employees have donated to.

These programs have become quite widespread, but many donors have not heard of them or aren’t aware of their own match-eligibility. An estimated $4-7 billion in matching gift revenue is left on the table each year. Increasing the number of matching gifts we receive could go a long way to support the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s mission to Educate, Lead, and Serve.

The specifics of matching gift programs vary from company to company, but the elements that shape these guidelines are always the same:

• Match ratio: This defines what kind of donation the company will make in relation to the employee’s initial contribution. A 1:1 ratio indicates that the company will donate the exact same amount, doubling the contribution to the employee’s chosen nonprofit.
• Minimum and maximum: The minimum refers to the amount an employee must donate to qualify for a matching gift. The maximum is the total amount that a company will donate in matching contributions per employee annually.
• Employee status: Sometimes, the employee’s role at the company can affect the match that they qualify for. For example, Gap Inc. offers a $1,000 maximum to part-time employees and a $10,000 maximum to Senior VP’s.
• Nonprofit eligibility: Some programs offer different matches based on the nonprofit being donated to. ExxonMobil offers a higher match for donations made to educational institutions than for donations made to cultural organizations.
• Deadline: Every program identifies a deadline when the matching gift request must be submitted by the employee. This deadline can be either a firm date (December 31st is common) or a threshold based on the date of the initial donation (90 days after donation is made).

Thousands of companies offer matching gift programs. A few examples include:

• Johnson & Johnson — Triples donations with a 2:1 match for current employees while also doubling donations (a 1:1 match) for retirees.
• Bank of America — Matches donations 1:1 up to $5,000 annually per employee.
• Home Depot — Matches donations 1:1 up to $3,000 annually per employee.

The impact of these programs can be substantial! Microsoft has been known to match over $48 million worth of employee donations to schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in a single year. Did you know that more than 18 million employees work for companies with matching gift programs? You might be one of them. Visit our matching gifts page or use the lookup tool below to see if you may be eligible for a matching gift through your employer.

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

And a bonus: some companies offer volunteer grant programs. These are charitable giving programs set up by companies to reward employees for giving back to their communities. Companies donate to eligible nonprofits – like the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation – as a way to recognize employees who volunteer. The employer lookup on our matching gifts page includes information on volunteer grants too!

Thanks to our partner Double the Donation for this matching gift content.

December 10, 2024

Method #8: Wills, Bequests, and Planned Giving

Do you have a will? If you said no, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, more than 2/3 of Americans do not have a will. And 40% cite lack of assets as the reason they haven’t created a will. But what happens if you don’t have a will? To start, almost all estates have to go to probate court to start the process overseeing distribution of assets, but without a will, that process can get very complicated, time consuming, expensive – and even contentious – for your loved ones.

Here are a few reasons why you might want to complete this important task:

1. You decide who manages your estate. When you write a will, you choose an executor. This is an important job – their responsibilities may include everything from closing bank accounts to liquidating assets, so you should choose someone who is capable and who you trust. If you don’t choose an executor in your will, the court will pick one for you – and it may not be the person you’d want.
2. You decide who gets your assets and property – and who does not. Without a will, these decisions are left up to the court and your state’s laws. Your will can help you decide who’s in, as well as who’s out. For example, you might want to prevent an ex-spouse from receiving an inheritance. Or, if one child received your support through school, you might want to make sure a second child gets their fair share, too.
3. You decide who takes care of your minor children. If you’re a parent, you can nominate a guardian for your minor children if both parents pass. And if you don’t make that decision, the court will have to choose one for you. This could mean that someone you would not have chosen will be raising your kids.
4. You decide who takes care of your pets. No, you can’t leave your house to Fluffy to live in for the rest of their life, but you can name a beneficiary for your pet, leaving them to a trusted friend or family member. You can ask that person to be a caretaker or guardian for your pet and even leave them funds to provide for your pet’s care.
5. You decide what happens to your digital assets. You can also name a digital executor to manage online accounts (email, social media) and digital files or property (photos, videos, domain names), including how you want them handled – for example, if you would want an account closed.

And, of course,

6. You decide if your estate supports your favorite causes. When you write a will, you can preserve your legacy and continue your commitment to the charities and causes you care about by leaving part of your estate to a charitable organization.

Thanks to our partnership with FreeWill, planned giving has never been easier. FreeWill is a free online tool that allows you to create a will in just 20 minutes, providing peace of mind and the opportunity to support the causes you care about most. Whether through a gift of stock, an IRA contribution, or including a charitable bequest in your will, you can leave a lasting legacy without any cost today. More than one million people have trusted FreeWill to help them create a will and protect all they love at no cost. While we understand that online will-making may not fit everyone’s situation, this resource can also help you organize your information to share with an estate planning attorney. Additionally, our Planned Giving website includes bequest language if you intend to include the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation in your estate plans.

And if you’ve already included the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation in your will, please take a moment to fill out our Summit Society Declaration of Intent Form so we can recognize you as a member of the Summit Society.

Thanks to our partner FreeWill for this planned giving content.

As always, we recommend you consult with your tax advisor and/or financial professional, especially as it relates to state and federal income taxes. References and links to external companies and organizations are provided for your convenience; they are not intended to endorse views expressed or products or services offered by those external companies and organizations.