Gifts of Appreciated Securities

Many donors to the University of Chicago make outright gifts and pledges in the form of appreciated securities rather than cash, in order to benefit from extra tax advantages.

If you itemize, you are entitled to a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of your appreciated securities on the date of the gift. In addition, assuming you have owned the securities for more than 12 months, you will not have to pay capital gains tax on the appreciation - a tax you would owe if you sold, rather than donated the securities.

About Closely-Held Stock

Gifts of stock in a closely-held corporation can also result in substantial tax benefits in the form of a charitable deduction and avoidance of capital gains.

Because special rules may apply to gifts of this kind, we encourage you to consult with your tax or financial advisor and the University's Office of Gift Planning at (773) 702-3130 or giftplan@uchicago.edu when considering such a gift.