Gifts of Cash. An outright gift of cash is the simplest and most popular type of charitable gift. It goes to work immediately, meeting current needs or as endowment. If you itemize, outright cash gifts are generally deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income.

Gifts of Stock. An outright gift of appreciated property such as securities can provide an extra tax benefit. In addition to receiving an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the property, you also avoid tax on the capital gain.

Bequests. One of the simplest ways to make a gift to the Center for Desert Archaeology is through your will. A charitable bequest to the Center can be as simple as a sentence or two in your will, or a codicil appended to your present will. Your bequest may specify a certain sum of money:

"I give to the Center for Desert Archaeology, an Arizona nonprofit corporation, Tucson, Arizona, or any successor organization thereto, the sum of $___________ to be used for its general purposes."

You may also give a particular asset ("my shares of XYZ stock") or a portion of the residue of your estate after other bequests have been paid ("50% of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate"). You may designate your bequest to be used for a particular purpose, and you may indicate whether it is for current needs or endowment. (Such conditions should be discussed beforehand with Center representatives to assure that your wishes can be met.)

Because it is revocable, a bequest provides no current income tax deduction, but when distributed will be deductible from your taxable estate.

Life Income Gifts. Charitable life income arrangements can allow you to increase your income, receive a charitable contribution deduction, avoid capital gains tax and support the Center for Desert Archaeology. Such life income gifts include charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. You should contact your personal financial planner for more information on how a life income gift might benefit you.

An Invitation. The Center for Desert Archaeology has established a Legacy Club to recognize and thank generous Center members and friends who make a life income gift or bequest. We invite you to become a charter member of this very special group. If you have made a planned gift to benefit the Center, please let us know so we can extend to you the privileges of membership.

Contact Us. To discuss making a gift, or for more information on giving opportunities, please contact Linda Pierce at (520) 882-6946 or lpierce@cdarc.org.