Cash

The most common way to make a financial contribution is through an outright cash gift. Giving cash gifts entitles you to an immediate, full value income tax deduction for up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. If your gift is greater than this single-year deduction limit, you can carry your deductions forward for up to five years. The date of your cash gift is determined by date received, date postmarked or date charged, depending on your payment method.

Securities

Giving long-term appreciated stock or mutual funds to Perseus House, Inc. or to the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, Inc. may save you capital gains taxes while you claim an income tax deduction for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, carrying any excess forward for up to five years.

Real Estate

Perseus House, Inc. and the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, Inc. welcome gifts of appreciated real estate that we can either sell or manage to help fund our most pressing needs. Meanwhile, you may avoid capital gains taxes and receive a full, fair market value income tax deduction for up to 30% of your adjusted gross income, carrying any excess forward for up to five years. The property may also be removed from your estate, promising future tax savings as well.

Personal Property

Gifts of tangible property may be employed directly by Perseus House, Inc. or by the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, Inc. to meet our mission or may be sold to meet our most pressing needs. If we can put your tangible gift to long-term use, you claim a full, fair-market value income tax deduction based on the date it was given. If we sell your gift and use the proceeds, you may deduct the property's cost basis value or its fair market value, whichever is less. You may also avoid capital gains taxes on property we retain without selling and you may avoid estate taxes by removing the item(s) from your estate.

Named Beneficiary

You can name Perseus House, Inc. or the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, Inc. as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, financial accounts or retirement plan. Very little paperwork is involved and your assets are transferred without going through probate. Your estate receives a charitable deduction for the gifted amount. You may even designate which program you want your gift to help fund. Note: Life insurance policies naming either organization as owner and beneficiary entitle you to a charitable income tax deduction as opposed to the charitable estate tax deduction.

Another option: Consider leaving Perseus House, Inc. or the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, Inc. in your Will.