Why Giving to Mars Hill is Smart for Donors of All Ages

For any donor

• Give cash or long‑term appreciated assets (stocks, mutual funds held >1 year) — you qualify for a charitable deduction and avoid capital‑gains tax.
• If you itemize, you can deduct up to ~60% of your AGI for cash gifts, ~30% for appreciated assets. Excess carries forward up to 5 years.
• New (starting 2026): even if you don’t itemize, you’ll get a $1,000 (single) / $2,000 (married) deduction for charitable gifts.
• Starting 2026: If you itemize, your deduction only counts for gifts above ~0.5% of your ‘contribution base.’
• Giving early builds your legacy, supports the institution, and may open naming opportunities or special donor recognition.

For younger or mid‑career donors

• You may not have reached age 70½ yet, but you can still donate appreciated assets to bypass capital‑gains tax.
• Use a donor‑advised fund (DAF): Put in assets now (take the tax deduction now), then recommend grants to the university when timing or projects are right.
• Consider ‘bunching’ – e.g., give two years’ worth of pledges in one year to maximize deduction this year; take standard deduction in other years.
• If you anticipate higher income later, give when you’re in a high tax bracket (maximizing deduction value), and still feel good you’re supporting now.

For donors age 70½ and older

• You can do a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to the university: the gift is excluded from your income, helping reduce your AGI and related costs (Medicare surcharge, tax on Social Security, etc.).
• In 2025 the QCD limit is about $108,000 per person (subject to change/adjustment).
• Important: QCDs cannot go into a DAF — they must go directly to the university (or other 501(c)(3) public charity).
• You can use your QCD to satisfy required minimum distributions (RMDs) if applicable.

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Bottom Line

Every donor — whether just starting out, mid‑career, or well into retirement — has tax‑smart ways to support the university. Use appreciated assets, DAFs, QCDs (if eligible) or simple cash gifts, and you’ll get tax benefit and make an impact.

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