How to Give

The Real Estate Trust at Silicon Valley Community Foundation can help you decide which of these options is right for you. Contact us to discuss the specifics of your potential gift.

We will help you determine the timing and details of your gift. Then we will help you identify the charitable purposes of your fund or help you determine the organizations you want to benefit. Once your property is sold, the proceeds of your gift may be placed in your own named fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation or contributed directly to the charity of your choice.

1. Income for Life

Charitable Remainder Trust: Property is donated to a charitable remainder trust. With a CRT, the irrevocable donation that you make today yields substantial tax benefits and an income stream for the remainder of your life and the life of your spouse.

2. Estate Tax Relief and a Lasting Legacy

Charitable gifts of real estate may be made through your will or living trust. You would avoid potential future estate taxes and your family will not have to deal with the upkeep and sale of the property, liability insurance, and property taxes. You can provide instructions to the Real Estate Trust at Silicon Valley Community Foundation in your will or trust as to the type of fund to be established with the proceeds from the sale of real estate. It can be a donor advised fund, designated for a specific charity, or a field-of-interest fund for a specific charitable need or cause.

Should you be interested in the gifting arrangement, we can provide suggested legal language to be used by your attorney.

3. Remain in Your Home, Relieve Tax Burdens

A retained life estate is a special type of gift that allows you to retain the use of your property for the remainder of your life. By donating property to the Real Estate Trust at Silicon Valley Community Foundation while still alive, you receive an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of the current fair market value of the property.

4. Multiple Tax Benefits

An outright gift of real estate entitles you to receive multiple tax benefits, such as: a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the donated property; avoidance of capital gains tax; and/or, avoidance of potential future estate taxes on the gifted property.

5. Simplify your Giving with a Charitable Fund

You can make an outright gift of real estate to establish a donor-advised fund endowment at Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Your property can benefit many charities and provide multiple tax benefits. Tax benefits include a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the donated property held for more than one year, the avoidance of capital gains tax that would have been incurred if the property were sold directly by you, and the avoidance of potential future estate taxes on the gifted property.

6. Save Capital Gains, Help the Community through a Bargain Sale