Invest in CityScience

Donor Advised Funds

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are an increasingly popular way to manage your charitable giving. If you’ve already established a DAF of your own, you can use this handy tool to make a grant designation to Transportation Alternatives directly from your account.

What is a donor advised fund?

Creating a Donor Advised Fund is a convenient, low-cost way to support the causes you care about, and reap maximum tax benefits. It’s a bit like establishing your own personal foundation – but because your fund is managed by a public charity, you have flexibility and freedom to manage your giving.

How does it work?

Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program – whether through a national fund like Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Schwab Charitable, or a local community foundation.

Manage the investment allocation of your fund as you would any other assets. Any investment growth is tax free. Recommend grants, with the choice of being recognized or remaining anonymous.

Donating Stock

Donating stock benefits CityScience the same way a cash gift does – and as the donor, you benefit in several other ways:

  • You get an immediate income tax deduction for the full market value of your gift
  • You pay no capital gains taxes on the shares you donate
  • You can avoid triggering the federal alternative minimum tax

Giving a gift of stock is simple. If you manage your investments online, you (or your broker) can transfer shares directly to CityScience’s Charles Schwab account, using the below account information. Please notify CityScience of any incoming gifts of stock.

Bequests

Making a bequest to CityScience in your will is a practical, powerful option that anyone can afford. There are several ways to make a bequest through your will:

Specific bequest: Choose a specific percentage, dollar amount or asset (stocks, retirement funds) you would like to leave to CityScience.

Residual bequest: After you’ve provided for your loved ones, name CityScience as a recipient of a percentage or all of your remaining estate.

Contingent bequest: Name CityScience as a beneficiary in the event that other named beneficiaries not survive you.

Suggested language: “I give (specific amount, percentage or residual amount) to CityScience, organized and existing under the laws of New York, having its offices at 68 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 at the time of this writing, to be used for its general purposes.”

Beneficiary Designations

Designating CityScience as a beneficiary of your retirement plan (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), Keogh Plans or profit-sharing plans) is perhaps the easiest way of making a legacy gift to CityScience. Request a beneficiary designation from your plan administrator to leave a percentage of your plan to CityScience.