Many of us like to make charitable donations at the end of the year. Here are some ways you can make the most of your donated dollar.

Donate stock that has increased in value. A gift of stock entitles you to a tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the donated stock (not just your cost basis) on the date it is given. The value of your gift will be based on the average price of the stock on the date the stock is transferred to LSSM. If you have held the stock for more than one year, you can avoid capital gains tax on any appreciation of the stock by donating it before it is sold. To donate shares of stock to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, please contact our broker, Tom Murasky of Smith Barney, at (248) 740-7125.

Make a donation from your IRA. New legislation has extended the popular provision in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 that allows taxpayers over 70½ to make tax-free distributions from their traditional and Roth IRAs directly to charity. The provision is retroactive to January 1, 2008, and will apply to gifts made from that date through December 31, 2009.

Designate your United Way donation. If you donate to United Way through payroll deduction, you can designate Lutheran Social Services as the recipient of those donations.

Get your employer match. A matching gift from your company can double your gift to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. Check out the list of companies that will match your gift.

Lutheran Social Services thanks the thousands of donors who have included the organization in their retirement or estate plans.
For more information about giving to Lutheran Social Services contact Anna Romund at (313) 823-7700 ext. 3074 or aromu@lssm.org.