Some Christians seek an alternative to the mountains of “stuff” distributed on the day we celebrate the incarnation of God’s love in Jesus Christ. I’ve had two trees and a pig given in my honor to people in need in lieu of traditional wrapped gifts. You may be familiar with these alternative gift-giving programs through a number of charitable organizations. Did you realize that you can choose specific ministries, mission projects, or programs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for selected giving?

For instance, you can give a gift in honor of a Sunday school teacher or youth advisor to Youth Ministry (D680116), which designs and implements the Presbyterian Youth Connection, Presbyterian Youth Triennium, and supports six annual conferences. You may wish to target the ministry of mission workers like Frank and Nancy Dimmock in Malawi (D504843) and share with someone whose ministry has had an impact on your life that the contribution has been made in his or her honor.

Selecting a year-end gift may simply be a choice for financial or tax benefits. It can also be a tangible way of expressing your gratitude to God for the blessings you have received throughout the year. A full listing of programs and projects from which to choose can be found in two printed resources: Directed Mission Support 2005, #6870005050, and Extra Commitment Opportunities 2004, #6870004085 (ECO 2005, #6870005085 will be available in January 2005). Both resources are free and may be ordered through Presbyterian Distribution Service: (800) 524-2612 or www.pcusa.org/marketplace. You can find out more by visiting the new online giving Web site. It’s called “Your Treasures . . . God’s Church.” The link is www.pcusa.org/give.

Year-end Giving Tips

1. Charitable giving benefits you and PC(USA).

Did you know that charitable gifts may save you on taxes in many ways? Donations may be deductible from income and gift taxes. With the proper strategy, you might also be able to lower capital gains taxes as well.

2. Appreciated assets can make great gifts to PC(USA).

For example, if you have owned stock for at least a year and a day, you can receive full value for your charitable gift, including all the appreciation. What’s more, neither you nor the charity will have to pay capital gains tax on the gift. The more the stock has appreciated, the greater the benefit. Your tax adviser can spell out the specifics for you. Mutual funds, real estate, and other appreciated assets can make great gifts as well.

3. Tax-wise charitable gifts often require advanced action.

A gift of stock usually takes more time to process than writing a check. Real estate gifts require even more time. Scheduling a meeting with your attorney or financial adviser to discuss your non-cash gift and handling the paperwork also takes time. So start early to plan your holiday charitable giving.

4. Charitable gifts can be accelerated.

You can reach into 2005 and pull your charitable giving benefits into 2004. There are several reasons why this might make sense. First, you may be looking at a higher tax bill this year. Additional giving this year may create a higher charitable income tax deduction and help ease your tax burden. Second, as you move closer to the end of the year, you may find you have extra cash on hand and may want to make an “advance” on your charitable giving plans for the coming year.

5. A life-income plan may be your best solution.

Deferred giving plans let you establish a gift arrangement now, obtain current tax benefits, create a stream of lifetime income, and provide a future gift to PC(USA). They are especially attractive to donors who cannot afford to give up current income from retirement-related assets.