Donate
You can help make simple, decent, affordable housing available for hard working, limited income families in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area!
In the Oklahoma City area, some 64% of us own our homes - we have achieved a stable place to come to at the end of the day; our safe, secure retreat from the world. One in ten persons, though, in the Oklahoma City metro area are still living below the poverty line - one in four if the householder is a single mother. Among families below the poverty level, just 7% own their home. No matter how hard they work, the vast majority of these families will not be able to achieve home ownership - ever - without the opportunity offered by Central Oklahoma Habitat and its supporters.
Quality affordable housing for owner occupants stabilizes and invigorates neighborhoods, and contributes tremendously to the health and vigor of our economy. Neighborhoods that have higher ownership rates are statistically safer, more stable, with higher property values, and less crime.
Please make your gift today - whatever you can afford - to help a family less fortunate to reach a better life in a basic, stable home of their own. Every dollar of your gift will go directly to fund construction of a house, placing within that family’s reach the dream of home ownership - a simple, decent place that “we can call ”˜home.’”
Variety of giving options available!
Central Oklahoma Habitat needs and welcomes your support in any form that best meets your needs. Some donors make gifts of cash or stock, while others choose legacy gifts. Many giving options can offer significant income tax benefits to you, and some can reduce estate taxes, and even provide regular income back to you. All donors are recognized for their support through Central Oklahoma Habitat’s quarterly newsletter.
Memorials or Honoraria
Any form of contribution you would like to make to Central Oklahoma Habitat can be made in honor or memory of a special friend or loved one. The form linked below can be printed, completed, and sent in with your check to the Habitat office at the address below. Or, you can also specify a memorial or honoraria while donating online. With any other form of contribution, please just let Habitat staff know your wishes regarding a memorial or honoraria.
Contributions made with cash, check or debit/credit card
Cash is one of the easiest ways to make a charitable contribution. A cash contribution to Central Oklahoma Habitat can be made by currency in person, or by check, money order, or cashiers check.
* Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity
* 1025 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK. 73102
* Phone: (405) 232-4828 Fax: (405) 232-4868
Credit or debit card donations can be made online. If you would like to set up a regular contribution, please see “Carpenters Crew Membership” below.
Carpenters Crew Membership
Join the Central Oklahoma Habitat’s Carpenters Crew, pledging a regular contribution to make more affordable homes happen each and every month for more hard working, deserving families. Please print out the form linked below, fill it out, and mail or fax it to the Habitat office at the address or number below.
* Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity
* 1025 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK. 73102
* Phone: (405) 232-4828 Fax: (405) 232-4868
For credit card or automatic debit transactions, an authorization form will be mailed to you in response to your registration form.
Gifts of Stocks or Bonds
Marketable or closely-held securities, such as stocks and bonds, if appreciated, offer the donor the ability to realize significant tax savings while maximizing charitable contributions. Securities may be given so that the donor receives an income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the donated assets, while avoiding the capital gains tax on those donated assets. Central Oklahoma Habitat would be very pleased to work with donors to facilitate the donation of both marketable and closely held securities.
Real Estate
Donors often can contribute real estate - vacant land, or property that includes structures - for which they have no further use. Central Oklahoma Habitat will work with potential donors of this kind of asset to determine if Habitat homes could be built on the property, or if it could be sold to raise funds for Habitat construction. In addition to providing tax benefit, gifting land can help to preserve a donor’s liquid assets while maximizing his or her charitable giving.
Cornerstone Society
Central Oklahoma Habitat’s “Cornerstone Society” is made up of individuals who are extending their charitable giving to Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity beyond their own lifetime through a planned or deferred gift. Such legacy gifts include:
Wills and Bequests
Inclusion of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity in a donor’s will benefits the donor’s heirs with tax savings and allows the donor’s charitable interests to continue to be supported, a living symbol of the donor’s care and concern for the working poor in our community. The gift given to ensure that simple, decent, affordable housing is always available for hardworking, deserving limited income families will recycle over and over as families pay back the cost of their homes, at no interest, with an affordable mortgage payment.
Retirement Plan Assets(IRAs)
Retirement plan assets can be one of the most favorable assets to donate to charity because the assets are subject to a two-tier tax upon the owner’s death. Retirement plan assets are subject not only to estate taxes, but also income taxes. This two-tier tax structure can subject retirement plan assets to tax rates as high as 80 percent. Given the high tax structure, donors can use their retirement plan assets to maximize their charitable contributions with a small cost to their heirs. Please speak with your estate planning attorney for more information as to how this type of charitable giving might benefit you.
Real Estate/Retained Life Estates
Real estate that is appreciated above its cost basis can offer donors wonderful opportunities for mutually beneficial gift arrangements. It can, of course, be simply bequeathed in a will. Or, it can be gifted to Central Oklahoma Habitat during one’s lifetime in what is called a retained life estate, by which the donor retains the right to occupy the premises during his or her lifetime while receiving a current tax benefit for the discounted remainder value. Only after the donor’s lifetime does possession of the real estate being gifted pass to the charitable recipient.
The value of a gift of real estate is typically determined by appraisal. If appreciated, capital gain taxes may be avoided on the real estate appreciation by donating the property to Central Oklahoma Habitat, maximizing charitable contributions, while yet preserving liquid assets for the donor’s living expenses and/or benefit to heirs.
Oil and Gas Interests and Royalty Interests
Charitable gifts can be made of both oil and gas working interests and royalty interests. This type of contribution is another which may allow the donor to preserve liquid assets while maximizing charitable contributions.
Charitable Trusts
Your estate planning attorney can assist you with gifts by which you retain income from the charitable gifts. With this technique, a donor may contribute the asset(s), yet continue to receive income from the asset(s) for his or her lifetime. This can be done with a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) is a popular type of life-income plan. Cash, securities, real property, or other assets are transferred into a trust. The trustee manages the trust assets and pays you or others you choose a fixed income for life or for a term of years. When the trust terminates, the remaining assets in the trust are transferred to the specified charity.
Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts (CLT) are often viewed as the opposite of charitable remainder trusts. A donor transfers property to the lead trust, which pays a percentage of the value of the trust assets, usually for a term of years, to the specified charity. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets in the trust and any growth it has realized are passed to the donor’s heirs. Although there is no income tax deduction when you create a charitable lead trust, gift or estate tax is greatly discounted and any growth is passed to heirs gift and estate tax free. It is one of the only transfer devices currently used that can discount the value of the original assets and result in little or no tax while achieving philanthropic goals.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is often a gift of choice when a guaranteed income is desired. A gift of cash or securities is placed in trust in exchange for a contractual life income paid monthly or quarterly. The income is guaranteed by the issuing charity. A portion of the gift is invested and used to provide income for life, and the remaining portion qualifies as a present-interest gift to the charity. Part of the annuity income may be received tax free. Any capital gains taxes due on the asset that was exchanged for the annuity are paid over the annuitant’s life expectancy.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations
Life insurance can be an effective means for a donor to fund his charitable giving plan without significant outlays of cash. There are many types of life insurance policies and payment plans. Most policy types can be charitably gifted, and can be an ideal means by which to involve and initiate family philanthropy.
Planned gifts will help to ensure the future of Central Oklahoma Habitat’s mission while providing both immediate and future benefits to donors. Benefits may include:
* reductions to current income tax
* reduced capital gains tax
* reduced estate tax
* increased cash flow
* opportunity to maximize inheritance to heirs
GET INVOLVED TODAY!!
If you are interested in contributing your time, please visit the Volunteer page of our website to get more information.
If you would like to donate construction and remodeling materials or supplies, working appliances, or furniture, please look at the Renovation Station page for more information.
If you are interested in donating household items to the Habitat Donation Pick-up Service please click here for more information.
Please consult your legal and/or tax professional for all determinations of value and/or tax benefit.
Thank you for supporting Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity!
