One great way to meet your Annual Pledge is to gift appreciated securities (stocks, mutual funds, bonds) to Swarthmore Presbyterian Church.  A gift of appreciated securities is a win/win for SPC and you.  Whether your pledge is met with cash or the gift of appreciated securities, the church benefits in the same way.  And you benefit in several ways:

- By gifting the appreciated securities in kind, you do not incur any capital gains tax.
- If a low yielding stock is used to make the gift, your cash flow is not greatly affected.
- You continue to support the good works of SPC.

Here is an example of the power of a gift made in stocks, mutual funds or bonds:

- You purchased 200 shares of XYZ Company at $20.00 a share for a total purchase of $4,000.00.
- XYZ Company pays an annual dividend of .05% per share or $100.00 annually.
- Your 200 shares of XYZ stock is now worth $50.00 a share or $10,000.00
- Your annual pledge to the church is $2,000.

If you gift 40 shares of XYZ to the church, with a fair market value of $2,000.00. You have met your pledge and not had to recognize the capital gain on your personal income tax return and you still receive the charitable deduction on your personal income tax return. The loss of dividends to you is only $20.00.