Giving Options

If you are thinking about your Philanthropic Legacy with the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust, please consider the following giving options to help maximize your impact while benefiting you personally. 

We encourage you as well to talk with your financial advisor to determine the option(s) that best align with your personal financial and charitable giving goals as this information is meant to be a guide and not individual tax advice.

· Cash Gifts – Gifts of cash could provide you with an immediate tax deduction for the full value of the donation. Cash gifts are a simple transaction that deliver instant benefits to the Buses. (Note the recent changes to the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) may lessen the after-tax cost of a donation to a charity in 2025.) If interested in giving a cash gift, you can via the "Donate Now" button at the bottom of this page or mail it to Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust, PO Box 1522, Red Lodge, MT 59068. 

· A Gift from Your Donor Advised Fund – If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), you have already received an immediate tax deduction, tax-free growth of donated assets, flexibility in choosing charities, and streamlined administration. 

· Retirement Plan Assets, IRA – Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) – If you are 70-1/2 years or older, you may be eligible to make a QCD from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). A QCD allows you to donate up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to a qualified charity without having to report the distribution as taxable income. This can help you meet your required minimum distribution (RMD) while also benefiting the Buses. 

· Stocks and Securities – When you donate appreciated securities, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, that you have held for more than a year, you not only avoid paying capital gains taxes, but you unlock the ability to give more than you might through a cash gift. On top of that, you may be eligible for a charitable deduction for the full fair market value, creating meaningful tax advantages. This allows you to support the Buses while maximizing the impact of your philanthropy. 

· Personal Property – Donations of real estate, land, automobiles, and other personal assets can be made and provide an immediate tax deduction to you and immediate benefits to the Buses. This is a simple donation if you own property that is not mortgaged, has appreciated in value, and is no longer of use. Utilizing this giving strategy removes taxable assets from your estate and allows you to avoid capital gains tax.

· Bequest and Charity Designation – This is one of the simplest forms of gift planning (plan now, give later). A nonprofit such as the Buses can be named in your will or living trust at any time by designating a specific amount or a share of the residual. This is a meaningful way to significantly impact the Buses without costing anything during your lifetime. Additionally, the Buses can be designated as a beneficiary of IRAs and retirement plans, life insurance policies, commercial annuities and holdings in brokerage accounts.

· Charitable Gift Annuity – A charitable gift annuity is a way to benefit the Buses and provide lifetime payments to yourself or someone you designate. As the donor, you make a gift to the Buses and, in return, you become eligible to take a partial tax deduction for your donation, plus you receive a fixed stream of income from the Buses for the rest of your life.

· Endowment – Giving to an Endowment is a way to make a permanent investment in the Buses. Endowments create a sustainable funding source for the Buses and provide an immediate tax deduction for you.

· Retained Life Estate – You can gift your home to the Buses without significantly impacting your lifestyle. You retain the right to live and use the property for life. You receive an immediate charitable tax deduction and avoid capital gains taxes while the Buses receives the property outright after your lifetime.

If you’d like to talk more about your needs or your vision for giving, or have questions about any of this information, please reach out to us.