About gifts of stocks, securities, & mutual funds
Many people choose to give stocks, securities, or mutual funds instead of gifts of cash. Giving appreciated assets like these help you avoid paying capital gains taxes, and can give you an income tax deduction for the full value of the gift, if you’ve had the assets for more than one year.
Give appreciated assets now and enjoy the benefits, or add your favorite ministry as a beneficiary of these assets and eliminate estate and inheritance tax, making the most of your gift.
Benefits
- Gifts of assets can often save you far more on taxes than gifts of cash
- Avoid all capital gains taxes
- Receive an income tax deduction for the value of the assets (if you’ve had them for more than a year)
- Make an immediate impact on the mission of your favorite ministries
How it works
- Transfer appreciated securities directly to a charitable organization (and avoid all capital gains taxes).
- Receive a tax receipt for the value of the assets.
- The securities are sold and the funds put directly to use for greatest impact.
Make your gift over the phone, by mail or via a financial advisor
For gifts of DTC eligible securities, we utilize the ELCA Foundation’s account as follows:
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
DTC#: 0164
ACCOUNT NAME: Endowment Fund of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 3055-7938
Please contact Lutheran Giving to complete a Gift Authorization Form in advance of any direct transfer of securities.
We’re here to help you meet your goals!
Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals, with no obligation.

Name: Sarah Callahan
Title :Executive Director
Phone: 402-342-5728
Email: info@lutherangiving.org
As Executive Director, Sarah provides charitable gift planning services to anyone wishing to support Nebraska Synod congregations and its agencies and institutions as well as any Synodical or Churchwide ministry. Sarah provides legacy presentations across Nebraska and consultation services to congregations wishing to form or build up an endowment fund. She also serves as the local representative of the ELCA Foundation’s Ministry Growth Fund.
Before joining Lutheran Giving in 2018, Sarah built a financial advising practice where she worked with families in Nebraska and Iowa with generational transition and estate planning. In her early career, she worked in fundraising and development. She holds a bachelor of arts in music and a master’s in business administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Sarah earned the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) professional designations from The American College of Financial Services.
Already included your favorite ministry in your estate plan? Let us know
More ways to make an impact
Gifts in a will or trust
Donations in your will or trust are (by far) the most popular type of planned gift. Learn more, or get help starting your will (for free!).
Beneficiary designations
Gifting assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — may help your heirs avoid unwanted taxes, even if you’re below the estate tax threshold.
Gifts that pay you back
Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.