The coming fall season heralds an important time for nonprofit Christian ministries like ICR. Annual Workplace Giving Campaigns often begin this month, providing employees the occasion to support qualified charities. And as the end of the tax year approaches, there may be no better time to take advantage of certain tax-deductible giving opportunities that might not be available next year. Now is the time to consider ways you can help ICR fulfill its unique mission for the cause of our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For starters, the popular IRA Charitable Rollover is set to expire at the end of 2013 unless Congress acts to extend it. This special provision allows owners of traditional or Roth IRAs who are age 70½ or older to authorize a charitable gift directly to ICR without having to declare it as income. Such IRA gifts also count toward your required minimum distribution, providing a twofold opportunity to support ICR while avoiding taxes on income you would otherwise be required to take. IRA gifts are easy to make through your administrator, so please contact them today if this opportunity is right for you.

This month also marks the traditional start of Workplace Giving Campaigns sponsored by government organizations and large corporations. These special programs provide unique benefits to their employees by offering the convenience of automatic payroll deduction to fund charities of the employee’s choosing. ICR must meet high standards to participate, and as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, all donations to our ministry are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.

For federal government and military personnel, ICR is approved by the Combined Federal Campaign—the largest public sector workplace charity program in the world and the only one authorized to collect contributions from U.S. federal employees and military personnel. Those who serve our country can support ICR’s work with one easy penstroke. Look for ICR in the National/International Organization section of your local CFC brochure (CFC #23095) when making your pledge this fall.

ICR is also approved by the two largest State Employee Giving Campaigns—in California and Texas—offering state employees an opportunity to support our ministry work by designating the Institute for Creation Research on the pledge form. Similarly, employees of large corporations that offer workplace giving campaigns can designate gifts to ICR by providing our name and address in the “Write-In Organization” section of the pledge form this season.

Finally, the improvement in the stock market in recent years may present a marvelous opportunity to support the work of ICR while avoiding the significant tax burden on the sale of appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Shares that have been held for at least one year can be gifted directly to ICR, providing a tax deduction at their full current value while also completely avoiding capital gains tax. Talk about a double-bounty! Contact ICR for our brokerage account information and let us help you facilitate your gift.

While we cannot know “what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1), all Christians should use these opportunities to the best of their ability in support of God’s work here on Earth. ICR is deeply grateful for all those who choose to co-labor with us in our mission, but we are especially pleased when our ministry partners are able to “reap bountifully” with their gifts as well (2 Corinthians 9:6). Please prayerfully consider these special advantages in support of our ministry this fall.

* Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Relations at the Institute for Creation Research.

Cite this article: Morris IV, H. 2013. Seasonal Giving Opportunities. Acts & Facts. 42 (9): 21.