How You Can Help
Gifts of Securities, Life Insurance Policies, Real Estate and Retirement Plan Benefits
Vote Smart is a 501(c)3, and donating securities can be a great way to receive an extra tax break. When you make your next gift to Vote Smart, you might consider donating securities rather than cash. We accept gifts of publicly traded stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and then liquidate them immediately so there is no perception of conflict of interest.
You can inform your broker that you wish to donate securities to Vote Smart, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization. Please also contact our Development Department (membership@votesmart.org or 515-989-6363) to give us a heads up. Your broker will need the following information to complete the transaction:
Vote Smart’s Broker: Scott Ollerenshaw
Ollerenshaw Wealth Management
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
541-286-7717 (No 1-800 #)
Account Name: Center for National Independence in Politics, Project Vote Smart
Account Number: 3755T471
DTC Number: 0725
Vote Smart's EIN #: 85-0364261
You will receive a thank you letter and gift acknowledgment statement for your records after the transaction is complete.
Life insurance policies may provide a significant gift at minimal cost, since the death benefit received is always greater than the premiums paid. Both existing and new policies make appropriate gifts.
Gifts of real estate can be made outright or as a bequest in your will. Vote Smart would sell the property and record the proceeds as a Legacy Gift in your honor.
Vote Smart can be named primary or contingent beneficiary on retirement programs such as IRAs, annuities, Keoghs, 401(k) plans, and other pension and profit sharing plans. Any funds remaining in these accounts at the participant's death would revert to Vote Smart.
Each of these gift options may provide reduced taxes at the time of the gift or to your estate. This is intended to provide an overview of several valuable gift options. Vote Smart cannot render tax or legal advice and this information is not intended as such. It is recommended that donors consult with their tax counsel or legal adviser prior to finalizing a bequest or major gift other than cash or securities.