Becoming a Donor: Charitable Checking Account Service

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If You Write Checks to Charity, the Charitable Checking Account^SM Service Is for You

The free Charitable Checking Account Service is the most tax-wise, convenient way to do your regular charitable giving.

The service acts like a personal checking account. You deposit assets into an account and then direct The Dayton Foundation to send gifts to any IRS-approved U.S. charities you choose, including educational and religious institutions. We do all of the work!

To open a Charitable Checking Account online now, click here.

To learn more about how the Service can help you help others, continue reading below.

More information about The Dayton Foundation's Charitable Checking Account^SM Service is available in our brochures, The Charitable Checking Account^SM Service and in Guidelines for Using Your Charitable Checking Account^SM.

"I've had my Charitable Checking Account since 1991, and I'm just thrilled with it. I really like how easy it is to use appreciated securities to fund my account, and it makes doing my taxes so much easier. I also enjoy making some gifts anonymously and doing my giving online. I just can't say enough about the Charitable Checking Account Service."
- Barry James, donor and President, James Investment Research

So Why Not Just Write a Check?

By doing your charitable giving through the Charitable Checking Account Service you can consolidate your giving activities, maximize your charitable tax deductions and simplify your tax reporting, all with the personalized support of the Foundation's staff of charitable-giving experts.

Consider these important benefits:

Highly personalized and professional service.
Our staff of charitable-giving experts are here to help facilitate your gifts of cash, appreciated securities and retirement funds, as well as more complex contributions, including gifts of real estate. We'll also research and verify the IRS charitable status of your selected charities.

Tax smart.
You can use appreciated assets, such as stocks, mutual funds or real estate, to fund your account. You gain the full value of the asset for your charitable purposes, undiminished by long-term capital gains taxes, when you donate the asset to The Dayton Foundation before the asset is sold.

Tax timing.
Deposit assets in your account before the end of the tax year when you need a charitable deduction, then distribute gifts to your favorite charities whenever you're ready.

Click here for a scenario illustrating the increased tax benefits of using the Charitable Checking Account Service.

To learn how one Greater Dayton family gave the gift of charitable giving by opening separate Charitable Checking Accounts for their children for the holidays, click here.

Online giving, 24/7.
Opening an account online takes only a few minutes. Obtain up-to-date account information, direct grants and access your gift history through our secure, password-protected online service, Donor Express. You also can contribute to your account online with a credit card or by authorizing an electronic transfer of funds from your personal checking or savings account.

Simplified tax reporting.
Your gift acknowledgment from The Dayton Foundation is the only one you need for tax purposes for gifts made to and grants made from your account. We regularly update you on your account balance, deposits and charitable grants. We also provide you with quarterly statements and an end-of-year statement, detailing all account activity for the year, and thereby simplifying your tax reporting and record keeping.

Save time.
We'll do the work of mailing or electronically transferring funds to your chosen charities, verifying their IRS status and doing the bookkeeping for you.

Give anonymously, if you so choose.
Grants to charities can be made in your name or anonymously, depending upon your preference.

No minimums and no fees.

"I have encouraged many of my clients to open Charitable Checking Accounts, because I know what an easy-to-use, tax-wise service it is for people who give regularly to charity. In fact, my wife and I use the service ourselves. I have had nothing but positive responses from my clients who use it. Many have said they wish they'd started using it sooner!"
- Kevin McDonald, Charitable Checking Account donor since 1989 and Vice President and Trust Officer, Key Bank, National Association

Is There a Cost for the Service?

It's free! For every cash dollar you put in, you get to direct a dollar to the charities of your choice. The only charges you may incur for the service are the usual costs involved with liquidating securities or other property (e.g., broker's fees) that you may wish to place in your account. These charges will be subtracted from your account balance.

"We find the service to be very convenient and efficient. It saves us a lot of time in making some of our routine gifts to charities. We periodically replenish our fund with appreciated securities, which saves us a large amount in capital gains taxes, giving us more money for the charities that have the greatest need."
- Leanora and Orlando Brown, Charitable Checking Account donors since 1996

Who is Right for the Service?

Any individual, family, business or other organization who gives regularly to charity will find this a convenient, beneficial service. Anyone at any level of giving may participate, since no minimum deposit or balance is required - and there are no maximums either. People and organizations with appreciated property they wish to donate will experience increased tax advantages.

What Do You Have to Lose?

Financial advisors who regularly refer their clients to The Dayton Foundation's Charitable Checking Account Service have related to us that they urge their clients to "just try it." If they're not convinced of the value, the advisors have told them, simply spend out their accounts. Advisors report to us that their clients love the service and the convenient option of online giving.

Yes, I want to open a Charitable Checking Account now.

I'd like more information or to schedule an appointment with a member of the Foundation's Development department. Please contact me.

Joe Baldasare, vice president of Development for The Dayton Foundation, interviews John Ey, a Dayton Foundation Charitable Checking Account donor since 1999, about John's experiences with the service.

Click here to find out what our donors have told us about the service in a random sample survey.

The Dayton Foundation. We Help You Help Others^SM

File date: 06-24-2011