Publicly-traded Securities

“Securities” is a term that includes not only shares of stock, but also things such as bonds and mutual fund shares along with certain other less common types of investments. Securities are “publicly-traded” if they can be bought and sold in an exchange or are otherwise available to the general public.

Over the years, many people have discovered the benefits of using securities to support Medical Teams International. A gift of securities can be appropriate if:

1. You have owned them for longer than one year,
2. they have increased in value during that time and
3. you transfer them directly to Medical Teams International.

As long as these three conditions are met,

• you will receive a tax deduction for the full value of the securities, with certain possible limitations.
• you will not have to pay capital gains tax on any of the appreciation.

Medical Teams International will then sell the securities promptly (without paying any capital gains tax, either) and use the proceeds to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world.

What if my securities have lost value?

If you own securities that are now worth less than you paid for them, it might make sense for you to sell them (especially if they are likely to continue to decline in value) and then give some or all of the resulting cash.

Do I have other options for my securities?

Keep in mind that you can use securities not only to make outright transfers to Medical Teams International, but also to fund other giving arrangements, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts or charitable lead trusts.

If you have questions, please contact Linda Ranz at 425.284.1941 or lranz@medicalteams.org.