Sign up for our e-News
First Name *
Last Name *
Email *

If you see this paragraph and the element below, then your browser doesn't properly support cascading style sheets. Do not change the values in the form elements below. They are used to prevent spam bots from using this form to send spam.

* Indicates a required field
Donate Investments

Donate Stock:

Thank you for your interest in donating stock to Legal Services of Northern California. Electronic delivery of stock shares is the most secure and expedient delivery process available and provides efficient internal control as well as cost savings. However, you may also transfer certificates directly. To help you facilitate a gift of stock, please use the following instructions. Or click here and go straight to our Gift Form for an electronic submission.

How do you know that we received your gift? We will send you a thank you letter once the brokerage company has sent us your gift! Please watch for that letter, it documents your tax deduction.

Securities Delivered Electronically -- Option 1

Smith Barney
Citigroup Global Markets
Attn:  Megan Mulloy
155 Cadillac Drive
Sacramento, CA  95814
megan.mulloy@citi.com

Please call Megan at 916-567-2045 for DTC number
Account Name: Legal Services of No. CA
Tax ID (EIN): 94-1384659
Account Number:  602-70737-14

Please instruct your broker to include your name in the delivery instructions.
So that we are able to ensure proper acknowledgement of your gift for income tax purposes, we ask that you notify us in advance of any electronic transfers of securities. You may notify us online by emailing us at Development AT LSNC DOT net, or you may complete the Gift Notification Form and forward it to us at the address referenced above. The information you provide should include a description of the securities donated, the number of shares of stock or face amount of bond, your name, address, phone number and email address if available.

Securities Electronically Transfered -- Option 2

You may also call Legal Services of Northern California's Development Coordinator and she will fax or mail you the DTC transfer forms that your stock broker will need to make a smooth transfer: 916.551.2135 or  Development AT LSNC DOT net

Securities Delivered by Mail -- Or Drop by Our Office

Mail your unendorsed certificate(s) and stock power in separate envelopes by registered mail to:

Legal Services of Northern California
Development Office
517 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Notification of Donor Intent

Regardless of the method chosen to deliver a gift of stock, the donor or the transferring broker must provide a letter including the following information, for audit and acknowledgment purposes (click here for a sample letter, which you can customize):

* Donor's name and complete address
* Name and number of securities transferred

You may provide a letter, or send an e-mail to communicate this information at time of transfer to:
Legal Services of Northern California
Development Department 517 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
E-mail: Development AT LSNC DOT net 
Contact: Development Coordinator
Legal Services of Northern California
Phone: 916.551.2135
Fax: 916.551.2195

Valuation for Tax purposes and date of gift

The date of the gift is the day of the stock passes from your control. The value, for income tax purposes, is the mean between the high and the low quoted selling price on that day. Your gift will be acknowledged by Legal Services of Northern California.

Stock Donations

You can realize two tax savings by contributing stock as a gift to Legal Services of Northern California

1. Deduction for charitable contribution

Federal and state tax law permits taxpayers who itemize to deduct the current value of charitable contributions from their adjusted gross income. To qualify for such a deduction, the stock must have been held by the taxpayer for more than one year.

2. Save on capital gains tax

Contributions of stock may have no tax liability on the difference between the cost of donated stock and its current, fair market value (FMV): i.e. there may not be tax on the capital gains.

Here is how it can work:

Assume you purchased 100 shares of XYZ Corporation in 1988 for $2,000. Today, the shares are worth $10,000. If you sold the stock, you would realize an $8,000 capital gain. Under current tax rules, you could owe as much as $1,600 in federal capital gains tax (plus more in state taxes). You decide to make a $10,000 gift to Legal Services of Northern California. Normally, you make your gift by an on-line donation or check, but this year you decide to see whether a stock gift would work better for you. Your comparisons are (federal tax benefits only):

Option A                     
Give $10,000 in Securities As Gift
$3.960 Ordinary Income Tax Savings
$1,600 Capital Gains Tax Saved
$5,560 Net Tax Savings

Option B
Give $10,000 Check
$3,960 Ordinary Income Tax Savings
N/A Capital Gains Tax
$3,960 Net Tax Savings

Option C
Sell Securities & Give $10,000 Cash
$3,960 Ordinary Income Tax Savings
$1,600 Paid Capital Gains Tax
$2,360 Net Tax Savings

You become entitled to a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the gifted securities as of the date of gift. You eliminate capital gains tax that would ordinarily become due if you had sold the appreciated securities on the open market and donated the proceeds from the sale to nonprofit. Your charitable deduction can be claimed against up to 30% of your adjusted gross income and any unused deductions can be carried forward over the next five years. This helps you to achieve your long-term financial objective of reducing your income and estate taxes.

If you find that you have securities that have declined in value over the years and are interested in donating them to nonprofit, you may find it more advantageous to sell the securities first and contribute the proceeds to nonprofit as opposed to donating the securities outright. This strategy should allow you to claim a deduction for both the loss from the sale of the securities as well as the charitable gift.

If you are considering donating stock that is subject to a cash merger or tender offer, it is important for you to note that you will be subject to tax on the capital gain even though the shares were transferred to Legal Services of Northern California before the tender offer became effective.

Gifts of appreciated securities could provide even greater benefits to you through a charitable planned gift arrangement. Click here to learn more about the various giving options

Note: Legal Services of Northern California is obligated to record your gift as of the day it is received into its brokerage account. Consequently, given the increased volume of year-end gift transactions, it is advisable for you to plan your year-end charitable giving as early as possible. You may wish to have regular communications with your broker to ensure that the transfer has actually taken place. These steps should help to assure you receive proper credit for your gift within the tax year desired. Legal Services of Northern California does not make any representations as to the accuracy of the above information. You should always consult with your financial advisor before initiating a charitable gift arrangement.