Cash
Some of the most common ways to make a gift to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center are to write a check, make a gift using a credit card, or donate online.
A gift of cash could be right for you if:
- You want the easiest way to donate to the Plant Science Center.
- You want the largest possible income tax charitable deduction for your gift.
- You would like to make the gift to the Plant Science Center that has the greatest immediate impact.
How it works
You make a gift of cash directly to the Plant Science Center and you receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction.
How Your Gift Helps
Your planned gift to the Danforth Center will help ensure our work and our mission continues long into the future. Among many things, your donation would help:
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| secure funding for research aimed at feeding the world and improving human health; | provide new, cutting-edge equipment for scientific labs to continue our mission; | fund educational opportunities for students and young scientists in our region. |
What is an outright gift of cash?
An outright gift of cash is when you transfer funds to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and get nothing of financial value in return. The most common way for donors to make an outright gift is to write a check payable to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Gift provides immediate support
Unlike some other gift arrangements, your outright gift will provide resources that the Plant Science Center can put to immediate use. If you prefer to restrict our use of your gift in any way, please contact us so that we can be sure that we can carry out your wishes.
Maximum tax savings
You may deduct the full amount of your donation up to 50% of your adjusted gross income, providing tax savings if you itemize. You may carry forward all of your unused deduction for up to five additional years.
Ways to give cash
Most donors make an outright gift by writing a check payable to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and mailing it to us. You may also make a cash gift using your credit card.
Example
Miranda Romero would like to make an immediate $15,000 gift to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Miranda could write a check for this amount and earn a charitable deduction equal to $15,000. Alternatively, Miranda could make a gift using her credit card by calling us on the phone, responding to a mailing, or by donating online through our website. Gifts of checks and gifts made via credit cards are considered cash gifts.
Benefits
- Miranda may deduct up to 50% of her adjusted gross income for her gift of cash, providing tax savings if she itemizes.
- If Miranda itemizes deductions but cannot use the entire deduction in the year of gift, she may carry the balance forward for up to five additional years.
- Assuming Miranda itemizes deductions and can use her entire income tax charitable deduction of $15,000, she will save her $5,550 (37% tax).
- Miranda will gain the satisfaction of making a $15,000 gift to the Plant Science Center.