Cash

A gift of cash is the easiest way to create a new Fund or add to an existing one. Cash gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, currently up to 50% of your adjusted gross income in any one year. Contributions exceeding this limit may be carried over and deducted for up to five years following the gift.

Donate online now with a credit card using a secure vendor.

Or, checks can be made payable to Greater Worcester Community Foundation and mailed directly to the Foundation:

Greater Worcester Community Foundation
One Mercantile Street, Suite 010
Worcester, MA 01608-1738

Please note the Fund name in the memo field.

Securities

Stocks and bonds that are highly appreciated may be given to the Foundation, thereby allowing you to deduct the full fair market value as a charitable donation and avoid capital gains tax.

Download instructions for transferring public traded securities [PDF].

Real Estate

Property is accepted after careful evaluation, it must be readily marketable and free of environmental problems. The Foundation's general policy is to accept gifts of real property so that it may be sold and the proceeds added to an existing Fund or to create a new one. You receive a charitable deduction for the value of the property and avoid capital gains taxes.

Find out more information about gifts of real property.

Personal Property

Collections of artwork or porcelain must be marketable and are accepted after careful review. The Foundation will sell the property and use the proceeds to add to an existing fund or create a new one.

Transfer of an Existing Private Foundation

A Foundation fund relieves you of the complexities and costs associated with running a private foundation and fulfills your charitable goals in perpetuity.

Compare a private foundation to a donor advised fund

Charitable Lead Trust

The trust makes payments to a Named Fund at the Foundation for charitable purposes you specify. After a set number of years, the trust's remaining principal and any accumulated appreciation can be distributed to children, grandchildren or other named beneficiaries, often with significant estate tax savings.

Family Limited Partnerships

Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) enable people to own and manage family property or family business enterprises. The main goal of an FLP is to protect assets. It allows for complete control over family assets with protection from lawsuits and claims. Assets are transferred to and held by the FLP, which most often has general and limited partners. Typically, spouses are named as General Partners and have complete control and authority over the partnership's assets. Children are named as Limited Partners and are not permitted to participate in management decisions. General Partners may gift shares of ownership to children free of estate or gift tax consequences.

Learn more about Family Limited Partnerships.