There are several different methods of making a contribution to St. Mary's Parish and Schools. Each method provides you, the donor, with attractive tax benefits and is suited to varying financial situations. St. Mary’s is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Most gifts are 100% tax deductible.

The following will be helpful as you consider the best way to make your gift to St. Mary's Schools. We will be pleased to provide you with more information and assist you in making your gift any way we can. You may contact us at the Office of Parish Advancement and Alumni Office if you have any questions at 410-268-3467.

The easiest and most direct way to support St. Mary's Schools is to make your gift by cash, check or credit card.

Scheduled payments over several months allow you to increase the amount of support to St. Mary's Schools.

It is almost always more tax-wise to contribute stock rather than cash because a gift of appreciated stock normally offers a two-fold tax saving. The donor not only receives a charitable gift tax reduction for the fair market value of the security, but also avoids the capital gains tax on the appreciation. The transfer can be initiated by your broker and accomplished through an electronic transfer. St. Mary's has made arrangements with RBC Wealth Management to assist those who want to contribute by the transfer of stock. Please print out the Authorization Letter below on the right.

Your gift can be doubled or tripled if you or your spouse's employer matches charitable donations. Please contact your human resources department to ask whether yours is a participating matching gifts company. If so, simply request a matching gift form, complete and forward it to the Office of Parish Advancement.

Donations made to the Fleur-de-Lis Fund to honor or memorialize a classmate, relative or friend are a particularly meaningful way to remember someone. We pay special tribute to those chosen to be remembered by acknowledging them in the St. Mary's Schools' Annual Report.

Planned gifts help perpetuate our ministry of Catholic education.

The most common form of planned gift is a bequest provision in a Will. A gift by Will is one of the easiest and most effective means of ensuring that your family members are fully provided for by your estate while being able to support the mission of St. Mary's Schools. You can stipulate that the schools receive a specified amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after all other bequests are fulfilled. Those who have already executed their Will can easily amend it through a simple legal device known as a codicil.

Gifts of appreciated real estate are like gifts of appreciated stock. Assuming that you have owned the property for more than one year, you may deduct the fair market value of the real estate while avoiding the capital gains tax.

Gifts of tangible personal property related to our tax exempt purposes are fully tax deductible. Gifts of personal property not related to our tax exempt purposes are limited to cost basis for determining your tax deduction.

Benefactors may wish to donate a fully paid insurance policy, or purchase a policy to donate to the Schools. When the Schools are made owner and beneficiary of a continuing life insurance policy, the donor may be able to deduct the replacement value.

Life Income Gifts may be the best solution for donors who prefer to make gifts of cash, securities or real estate, but wish to retain income for life. These include: Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Charitable Living Trusts and Pooled Income Funds.