Gifts of Real Estate

Heritage members like you are thinking more creatively about their charitable giving and are unleashing the power of real estate in defense of America's founding principles.

Benefits of donating real estate:

• The ability to make a meaningful gift without dipping into cash reserves.
• A charitable income deduction based on your property's fair market value.
• The reduction or potential elimination of capital gains taxes on appreciated property.
• An opportunity to remove the burden of upkeep and out-of-pocket expenses on your property.
• In many cases, you may be able to use your property to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity which accomplishes all of the above in addition to paying you or a loved one income for life.

Giving Real Estate Outright

Your gift of a primary residence, vacation home, income property, commercial property, marketable land, or producing mineral rights donated in whole or in part to The Heritage Foundation should provide you the maximum charitable income tax deduction allowable by law. In addition, you may be able to realize significant capital gains tax savings on appreciated property and effectively remove the asset from your taxable estate.

Giving Property through Your Estate

By naming Heritage a beneficiary of your property—either specifically or as a remainder beneficiary of your overall estate—you'll create a lasting legacy of freedom for future generations. You may also be able to effectively remove the property from your taxable estate, potentially reducing any applicable estate taxes.

In addition to including a provision for Heritage in your will or living trust, a number of states* allow their residents to transfer property through a "Transfer on Death Deed" which bypasses probate. This option may also be used to gift property to charitable organizations like The Heritage Foundation. In all cases, please share the details of your intended gift with Heritage in advance so we may determine if we are able to accept your gift in the manner you intended.

Donating a Residence While Retaining Your Right to Live in It

In many cases, it is also possible to donate your home and reserve the right to continue living in it indefinitely or until some future date of your choosing. This is accomplished by deeding your property to Heritage via a "Retained Life Estate." In addition to establishing a future gift that will help Heritage advance your conservative principles and values, you will receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction. Generally the amount of the deduction will depend on the value of your home and how long your plan will last. This is a wonderful way to combine a future gift in support of America with potentially immediate tax benefits and no disruption to your current living arrangement.

Using Real Estate to Fund a Charitable Gift Annuity Which Pays You Income for Life

In addition to the personal satisfaction and tax benefits of donating real estate to Heritage, it may also be possible for you to use real estate to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity that pays you and/or a loved one fixed income for life. You'll receive a charitable deduction for a portion of your gift based on your age and the amount of your gift, and you will also receive lifetime income at a payout rate based on your age(s).

Contact us

If you have any questions about a gift of real estate please contact us. You may also call the Heritage Legacy Society office toll-free at (800) 409-2003.

Contact Us

*Please consult your own legal advisor to verify whether or not your state allows Transfer on Death deeds.