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The Institute of
Cultural Affairs USA

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• Gifts by Check/Credit Card
• Gifts of Securities
• Gifts of Real Estate
• Gifts of Insurance
• Memorial and Honor Gifts
• Matching Gifts
• Estate and Planned Gifts
• Wills
• Annuities and Gifts in Trust

Gifts by Check/Credit Card
The majority of gifts to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA are in the form of cash. An unrestricted gift for the greatest needs of the organization is of particular benefit, but gifts may be designated for specific purposes.

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Gifts of Securities
Gifts of appreciated securities can provide special tax advantages: capital gains taxes may be avoided completely and the fair market value of the stock may be claimed as a charitable deduction on your income tax, up to 30 percept of adjusted gross income for itemizers.

The simplest way to make a gift of stock is to instruct your broker or banker to transfer it to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA. Your broker should be asked to contact our Development Office to determine whether we wish to keep the stock or sell it. An alternative, if you have the certificates in your possession, is to send them by registered mail, unsigned, to the Institute of Cultural Affairs Development Office in one envelope, and in a separately mailed envelope, send a stock power form signed by you in the presence of your broker or banker.

Instructing your agent to reissue the stock in our name often causes a delay. This can be a problem when a year-end gift is involved, since the delay could result in a different valuation than intended.



Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of homes, farms and other real property can receive the same tax treatment as gifts of securities: no capital gains tax plus deductibility at fair market value. Usually, the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA will accept gifts of real estate if there are not restrictions placed on selling the property. A donor can also transfer title to a personal residence or farm to the Institute of Cultural Affairs - USA and retain the right to live in or use the property for life. A current gift of a home or farm with retained life possession gives the same tax benefits as a gift by will-plus immediate income tax savings. Probate costs may be saved as well.



Gifts of Insurance
When the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA is named as the owner and sole beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the donor receives an immediate income tax charitable deduction roughly equal to the cash value of the policy. Premiums later paid by the donor are also tax deductible.



Memorial and Honor Gifts
Gifts to remember or honor a relative of friend may be designated for specific purposes, such as Learning Basket®, endowments, or general support of the organization. Acknowledgement will be made to the family of the deceased if the name and address of the closest survivor is provided.



Matching Gifts
Some of our friends are able to increase their gifts to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA through their employers' matching gift programs. If your employer has such a program, your gift may be multiplied once, twice, or even three times or more. Usually, a corporations' personnel department can provide information about a matching gift program and forms to send with contributions.



Estate and Planned Gifts
While outright gifts provide valuable support for current programs, estate giving provides substantial support for future programs. This form of giving is particularly suited to those desiring to make larger gifts through their estates rather than during through their estates rather than during their lifetimes. The allowable state tax deduction is unlimited.



Wills
The most frequent for of an estate gift to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA is a specific bequest in a will. Important tax savings can result from this type of contribution, sine bequests to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA qualify for an estate tax deduction.

The drafting of your will should be arranged with your attorney. Organization representatives are available upon request to confer with you and your attorney in drafting the appropriate bequest clauses. The following is a simple form for an outright bequest:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA, a charitable corporation located in Chicago, Illinois, the sum of _______ dollars (or other personal or real property appropriately described) to be used by its Board of Directors as it shall deem advisable to best promote the institution's objectives.



Annuities and Gifts in Trust
Benefactors who wish to receive income during their lives while at the same time providing a significant gift to the Institute of Cultural Affairs-USA should consider establishing a charitable annuity or trust. Income and tax benefits can be substantial.