If you would like to make a gift of securities to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, please let us know! Call us at (607) 275-9487 or email us at info@fllt.org for specific stock donation instructions.

Publicly traded securities, such stocks and mutual funds, which have been held for more than one year, are deductible at their fair market value on the date of the gift. There is no capital gains tax when appreciated securities are given to a qualified public charity like the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Securities held less than one year and a day can be donated, but the deduction will be limited to the donor’s tax basis. If the donor were to sell a short-term security for a gain, the gain would be taxable as ordinary income, NOT at the capital gains tax rate.

Securities that have depreciated in value can be sold by the owner, and the proceeds given to the Land Trust as a tax deductible charitable gift. The donor can claim the capital loss and also claim a charitable deduction for the amount contributed to the Land Trust.