Ways to Give

There are several ways to give to the Community Foundation of Abilene to help the causes you care about most. Our gift acceptance policy describes the guidelines we use to screen proposed gifts.

Online

To make a gift to a fund held at the Community Foundation, click the “Give Today” link at the top of the page. 

Cash gifts

Cash and personal checks are the simplest way to give. Cash gifts enable donors to claim a current income-tax deduction of up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income in the year of the gift with a five-year carry forward.

Checks

Please make checks payable to “Community Foundation of Abilene” and mail them to:

Attn: Donations
PO Box 1001
Abilene, TX 79604

Please write the fund name or cause in the memo line. Check donations may also be dropped off in person at our offices, 850 N 1st St in Abilene.

Publicly traded securities and mutual funds

Donors receive a double income tax benefit when they give publicly traded securities or mutual funds (i.e., securities for which there is a recognized market, such as the NYSE.) These gifts are deductible at their full market value, and the donor avoids capital gains on the stock’s appreciation. Donors can claim a current income tax deduction of up to 30 percent of their adjusted gross income with a five-year carry forward if required.

Closely held stock

We review proposed gifts of closely held stock case by case. If accepted, donors are entitled to a deduction for the appraised fair market value of the gift, up to 30 percent of the donor’s adjusted gross income. Capital gains are also avoided.

Life insurance

Donors may name the Foundation as the owner and beneficiary of existing policies they no longer need. Donors are entitled to a federal tax deduction for the cash surrender value in the year the gift is made.

Real estate

Gifts of real estate include homes, farms, ranches, commercial buildings, or incoming-producing land. All gifts of real estate will require certain procedural steps, including a site visit, environmental assessment, and a qualified appraisal. The Foundation accepts real estate on a case-by-case basis.