You may pledge over a period of time or make an immediate gift.  Cash gifts can be made by credit card, Paypal, check, Venmo, on our website, and of course by cash! We can provide a pledge form or a letter of intent if you’d like to spread your gift over time. A gift from your Donor Advised Fund is also easy to accomplish and comes to us as an immediate cash gift.

A gift of appreciated stock or mutual funds, if held for at least a year, is tax deductible at full fair market value at the time of the gift, and there is no capital gains tax due.  Many donors find this is a way to make a more generous and advantageous gift than might have been possible otherwise.  Please ask your broker to contact monica.merrihew@cbna.com. 

These are ways to support the campaign while saving on income tax that would otherwise be due for Required Minimum Distributions if you are over 70 ½ years old. You may also give from your IRA or other retirement account after the age of 59 ½ without incurring any penalties. Please discuss this with your financial advisor! (For the long term please also consider making Common Roots the beneficiary of your retirement account.) There is currently an option to make a $54,000 gift from your RMD to a Charitable Gift Annuity which would give you a tax deduction today, income for life, and a gift to our organization at your passing.

A generous ways to benefit both Common Roots and you, the donor. While the funds will not be received immediately by Common Roots, your gift is irrevocable so we can be sure to receive it in the future. You as the donor achieve a tax deduction at the time of the gift and may choose to receive lifetime income from the gift’s earnings. You may also have your annual income from these gifts donated to Common Roots if you choose. (See above for the one-time $54,000. CGA from your IRA also).

Insurance policies, when the premiums are paid, are welcomed, and if there is a cash value to the policy it can serve as a contribution to the campaign.  Please discuss this with us prior to making your arrangements. You can also make Common Roots a beneficiary of your policy.

Please contact us before making the gift to make sure we can accept it.  Please be aware that tax law requires you to obtain an appraisal of any tangible goods valued at $5000 or more, prior to your donation, and that our immediate sale of the gift may affect the limits of its tax deductibility.  In the case of a gift of real estate, you may need to have an environmental appraisal, which would also be at your expense.  We are happy to discuss this if you are thinking of such a gift.

Planned Gifts are an increasingly popular way to make a long-term impact on your contribution. In addition to a simple bequest, this could include charitable gift annuities, trusts, lead trusts, retirement disbursements, and other estate planning methods.  As a tax-exempt organization, Common Roots may benefit from a variety of trust arrangements and bequests which carry substantial benefits for you, the donor.  Please contact us to discuss these possibilities.

Please let us know if you have made provision for a gift to Common Roots in your will.  You can add Common Roots to your will when you write it or can add a codicil at any time.  The Legal Name and IRS designation number should be included in your document:  Common Roots, Inc., PO Box 9335, So. Burlington, VT 05407.