Here are some of the best year-end gift ideas.

Gifts of Cash:  Tax savvy and simple to do.  Please see your accountant or professional tax advisor for details.

Gifts of Stock Avoid Capital Gains: If you own a stock, and would like to contribute the actual stock rather than the cash, your tax benefits will be twofold.  First, you avoid paying capital gains on the increase in value and second, you receive the deduction for the full market value of the stock at the time of the donation.

Gifts of Real Estate, Vacation Homes and More:  Sales of a residence, vacation home, farm, acreage or vacant lot that has appreciated in value through the years could mean hefty capital gain taxes.  A year-end gift of property eliminates the capital gain taxes and offers charitable donation deductions.  It is also possible that you and your spouse could continue to use it in your lifetime while you receive a deduction in the year it was donated to the Foundation.

Gifts of Life Insurance:  You can purchase a new policy, or donate a policy you currently own but do not need. To receive a deduction, designate The Bloomfield Educational Foundation as both the owner and beneficiary of the life insurance policy.  Please check with your insurance agent for full details.

Life Income Gifts: Increase Your Income - Make Unproductive Stocks Work for You:  If you own stock which is paying you little in dividends, a 'life income' gift may be the answer. Establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust or Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust and transfer your stock to the trust, which will provide you with a 5% or greater return.  This income is paid to you or a loved one for life, after which assets would be distributed outright to BEF.

Please Note:  Information that is provided on this website is general in nature.  It is not intended as a substitute for legal or tax advice in your particular situation.  You should contact your own advisers to learn how this general information relates to your personal circumstances.

Download PDF form.

January 2011

Dear Supporter:

Last year, many who believed in our work made an important gift show their support.  It provided an incentive to begin our Middle School Soaring to Success after school program.  We were greatly encouraged by this support.  Now we face an even greater need.  I am writing to good friends like you to see if you can help us again.

Today we need your renewed support to finance a second year of the Soaring to Success program.  Your gift of $25, $50, $100-or more – if possible – will be used to provide Bloomfield Middle School students with this innovative and successful initiative.  End-of-the-year reports show each child’s English and Math grades rose by a half or whole grade for the last two marking periods!  For someone like yourself who is familiar with the struggles that these children go through it comes as no surprise that this program is gaining in popularity. 

This year we are looking to raise $40,000 to fund this important program.  And I feel confident that you would want us to continue to raise the grades of these children, and to be able to accept as many students that apply for the Soaring to Success program. I’d like to ask you to complete the information on the giving card and if you made a donation last year, to consider matching that amount.

We thank you for your generosity and for your interest in the Bloomfield Educational Foundation, a registered 501c-3.  You can take pride in knowing that you’re doing something to affect a positive change in the lives of our youngsters!

Sincerely,

Michael Sceurman '96
Chairman