There are many ways to make a financial investment in our community's future. The St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations accept gifts of:

• Cash - The easiest way to make a gift is using cash, which provides immediate benefits. Like most charitable gifts, cash gifts qualify for federal tax deductions if you itemize your return. A cash gift may be made by writing a check payable to the St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations. We also accept major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).
  
  
• Appreciated Assets - Gifts of stock (or other appreciated property) that have increased in value are meaningful gifts with maximum tax savings, which have little or no effect on your spendable income.
  
  
• Retirement Assets - Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), company-sponsored pension and profit-sharing plans are becoming more attractive to donors. If you are 59 years or older and have more than adequate resources set aside for retirement, it may be wise to periodically use a portion of those funds to make a charitable gift to the St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations.
  
  
• Charitable Relief Act - For a limited time, donors to the St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations have an unusual, and potentially valuable, opportunity to transfer distributions directly from their IRAs to qualified charitable organizations without triggering federal income taxes.
  
  Available in 2006 and 2007 only, transfers of up to $100,000 per year may be made and will count toward minimum distribution requirements that are generally taxable.
  
  These distributions will not generate taxable income or a tax deduction, so even those individuals who do not itemize their tax returns receive the benefit, and the gifts can be made in addition to any other charitable giving you may have planned or have already committed to during those years.
  
  Transfers to charitable trusts, donor-advised funds and supporting organizations do not qualify under this temporary provision.
  
  The St. Joseph's/Candler Foundations cannot give tax advice. Please contact your legal advisor or accountant to determine whether or not this charitable IRA rollover opportunity is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

The Foundations also work with donors who wish to provide legacy gifts through wills or estate plans and/or life income gifts through trusts or gift annuities.