Ways to Give to Smith
Thank you for your support. Every gift counts!
Cash
Direct cash gifts are the most common form of giving and can be unrestricted or designated for a specific project, program or department. Cash gifts may be made outright or used to fund a life income vehicle; they are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
Gift by Check
Please send to:
The Smith Fund
P.O. Box 340029
Boston, MA 02241–0429
Credit Card Pledge/Pledge by Phone
Call (800) 241-2056 (option 1) during business hours
Securities
Outright gifts of appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares) are tax-deductible at full fair-market value if the donor has owned the asset for at least 12 months. To avoid capital gains taxes, you must provide the securities themselves, not the proceeds of their sale.
Gifts of closely held stock (usually stock in a family-owned business) also carry benefits for the donor. The stock must have been held for at least 12 months for you to claim a charitable deduction at full fair market value. If the deduction exceeds $10,000, a qualified appraisal is required for tax purposes.
Real Estate
Gifts of residences, including vacation homes and farms, allow the donor to take a tax deduction, avoid capital gains taxes, retain lifetime occupancy for herself or himself and/or another person—and provide support for Smith. To qualify for tax benefits, you must have owned the property for at least 12 months before giving it to Smith. The gift may be an entire piece of property or an undivided fractional interest in it. Each proposed gift of real estate is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the college cannot use the property, it will be sold and the proceeds added to endowment. The owner must obtain a qualified appraisal for tax purposes.
Personal Property
Gifts of tangible personal property, such as art, jewelry, antiques, rare books, gold or silver, offer the donor an immediate tax deduction; the amount depends on whether the gift is related to the college's educational purpose.
Gifts related to Smith's educational purpose generate a tax deduction for the full market value of the object as determined by a qualified independent appraiser. Other gifts-in-kind do not offer the donor the same tax advantage but do benefit Smith through the proceeds from their sale.
Works of Art
Smith College Museum of Art accepts only works of art that can be added to its permanent collection. A donor considering a gift of art should contact the museum at artmuseum@smith.edu or (413) 585-2760.
Matching Gifts
More than 1,000 corporations, foundations and other organizations will match their employees' charitable contributions either dollar-for-dollar, or at a ratio of 2-to-1, 3-to-1 or even 4-to-1.
See if your company will match your gift >
Payroll Deduction
Smith College faculty and staff can sign up to have a gift deducted from their pay checks.
