Smart Ways to Give
In addition to gifts by check or credit card, there are numerous ways to support the Vatican Observatory Foundation. Many of our donors choose to give gifts of stock or through their investment accounts — not only to support the Observatory’s mission, but because these ways of giving may have tax advantages.
Stock Gifts
Gifts of securities and mutual fund shares support the work of the Vatican Observatory while offering you potential tax benefits. Not only are you eligible for a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the donation, you also pay no capital gains tax on securities you donate that you’ve held for more than a year.
Charitable Rollover
If you are 70 ½ or older, you have the opportunity to support us by a direct transfer from your IRA to the Vatican Observatory Foundation, a tax strategy called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (also known as QCD). Funds transferred using a QCD are excluded from your taxable income. Using a QCD has several advantages for a donor. For donors who are required to withdraw funds annually from your IRA (currently required for people who are 73 or older), a QCD qualifies as a required distribution which reduces your taxable income. For donors who are not concerned with required distributions, using QCDs reduces the value of your IRA, which reduces future required distributions. Consult with your tax advisor to learn your specific tax benefits.
Donor-Advised Funds
A donor advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving program that allows you to combine favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to support a number of causes. If you have a DAF through Schwab Charitable, Fidelity Charitable, or BNY Mellon, please use the DAF Direct tool to easily recommend a grant to the Vatican Observatory Foundation. For other financial institutions, please contact them directly.
For more information on any of the above giving methods, please contact us using the form below. You may also contact Christopher Kennedy, Executive Director of Development by email. The Vatican Observatory Foundation’s Tax ID Number is 86-0559994.
The information above is general in nature and may not apply to all individuals and situations. Please contact your personal tax and financial advisors for more information on the specific implications of your gift.
Foundation Contact
If you’d like to discuss supporting the Foundation or just have a general question, please feel free to reach out to me via the contact form.
