• Donor Stories

Almost Anything Can Be a Charitable Gift

Potential is Everywhere

Sometimes giving starts by looking at what you have and asking: Could this do some good for someone else? Our Planned Giving Officers come to the table ready to help you identify non-cash charitable gifts that could fund the organizations you want to support. This type of charitable strategy is called a gift in-kind, which allows you to give an asset instead of selling it first and donating the cash.

The Catholic Foundation facilitates all kinds of gifts, including grain and other agricultural assets, stock and mutual fund shares, real estate, retirement assets, life insurance, and other property. As an independent Catholic community foundation, our team works closely and confidentially with you to make the gift in-kind. You choose the parish, school, ministry, fund, or other eligible charitable organization you want to support. Then, our team identifies the most tax-advantaged giving strategy and handles the required steps to make sure the gift is directed according to your intentions.

Pass-Through Gifts

For some gifts, an immediate pass-through can provide a simple path from an asset you own to the cause you care about. The asset is transferred to The Catholic Foundation, and our team handles the sale and other necessary details. All proceeds are distributed to the beneficiary you select, and because we provide immediate pass-through service at no cost, 100% of the donation goes to your chosen beneficiary.

How it Works with Grain

For Nebraska farmers, a charitable gift may already be part of the year’s harvest. A charitable gift of grain allows a farmer to transfer grain directly to The Catholic Foundation before it is sold, rather than selling the grain personally and then making a cash donation. Once ownership has been transferred, the Foundation works with the elevator to sell the grain and send the proceeds to the donor’s chosen beneficiary.

Many farmers we work with love this process, because it’s simple and provides them with an easy, adjustable way to manage farm income for tax purposes. Donating grain is really as easy as this:

1. You, the donor, complete The Catholic Foundation’s grain gift form.
2. Ask your local elevator to transfer or deliver the designated amount of grain to the Foundation’s account. If the elevator does not already have a Foundation account, the Foundation can help establish one.
3. Our team contacts the elevator to complete the sale.

Tax Benefits

Consider Jack, who wants to use $1,000 worth of corn to support his parish. Instead of selling the corn, receiving the income, and then writing a check—often only 60%, or $600 in this example, after taxes—Jack can ask his elevator to transfer the grain to The Catholic Foundation’s account. The Foundation sells the grain and sends the proceeds to Jack’s parish. This means the parish receives $1,000 instead of $600, and Jack can take advantage of multiple tax benefits he would not have been able to otherwise. With a properly structured gift of grain, other farmers can do the same. We will work with your tax or financial advisor to help everyone understand how those rules apply to your individual situation before the transfer is made.

We Consider Every Option

Grain is one example of what non-cash charitable giving can look like. Appreciated stock and mutual fund shares, real estate, farm equipment, retirement assets, and other property may also be used as part of a charitable giving or planned giving strategy. If you want to donate appreciated stock to charity, give property to a Catholic organization, or explore planned giving in Nebraska, the right approach depends on the asset, your goals, and when you want the gift to take effect.

Our Planned Giving Officers help donors like you explore those questions before a gift is made. They can work alongside your attorney, CPA, financial planner, or other professional advisor so your charitable plan fits with your broader financial and estate goals. Their role is to help you understand the charitable giving tools available, complete the giving process, and keep your intentions at the center of the plan.

You do not need a finished plan before you reach out. If you have grain, stock, property, or another asset you want to give, a conversation with The Catholic Foundation can help you understand your options and choose a path that fits. You decide where you want your gift to go, and the Foundation helps connect the asset you already have with the parish, school, ministry, or charity you want to support.