Gifts of Cash
Pledging a gift over a five-year period may allow a donor to make a more substantial gift while affording him/her the opportunity to adjust the timing and amount of each payment to achieve the most beneficial tax treatment. Gifts of cash are deductible up to 50% of the donor's adjusted gross income annually.

Gifts of Appreciated Publicly Traded Securities
A gift of stocks or bonds, which are readily marketable. Marketable publicly-traded securities will be receipted at the average of the high and low market value on the date the donor relinquishes control of the assets in favor of the charity or other valuation techniques approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The deduction for outright gifts of appreciated securities is equal to the fair market value of the securities on the date the donor relinquishes control of the assets to the charity as determined by prevailing IRS regulations. None of the appreciation is taxable for capital gains purposes.

Caution: Donors should not sell the stock; donors should transfer it to the charity to achieve the most advantageous tax treatment!

Gifts of Closely Held Stock
A gift of stock of a private or family-held corporation. The donor may avoid capital gains on appreciation of closely held stock, while attaining a tax deduction based on the stock's fair market value. Gifts of closely held stock exceeding $10,000 will be receipted at the fair market value placed on them by a qualified independent appraiser, paid by the donor, as required by the IRS for valuing stock that are not publicly traded. Gifts of less than $10,000 may be valued at the per share cash purchase price of the most recent transaction. Normally, this will be the buy-back transaction of the donor. If no buy-back is consummated during the specified period, a gift of closely held stock might be credited to the Foundation totals at the value determined by a qualified independent appraiser paid by the donor. All gifts of closely held stock will be held until liquidated, at which time the funds will be used consistent with the gift intentions of the donor and the established policies of the Foundation. As with publicly traded stock, the donor may obtain an immediate tax deduction of up to 30% of adjusted gross income. If the gift amount exceeds 30% of adjusted gross income, the remainder of the deduction generally can be carried over for up to five years.

Such securities will be conveyed to the Foundation's Fiscal Affairs Office for disposition, consistent with the established practices of the ASME.

Gifts of Real Estate
Almost any type of real property from personal or vacation homes and commercial buildings to farms or ranches and even undeveloped lots. The property may be donated outright; serve as the corpus of a trust arrangement; or, if it is the donor's personal residence, the donor and/or spouse may gift the property with the right of a lifetime tenancy, called a retained life estate. An immediate tax deduction is available and capital gains taxes may be avoided.

Outright gifts of real estate, bargain sales and/or partnerships will be credited, recognized and/or commemorated at fair market value at the time they are transferred to the charity, less any encumbrances. An independent, qualified appraiser paid by the donor shall determine the fair market value of the property. Appropriate structural and environmental hazard appraisals are also required and are to be paid for by the donor.

Gifts of Tangible Property and Gifts In-Kind
Many types of new and used equipment, art works, antiques, etc. If the Foundation uses a donated asset (for example, a computer system), the donor is entitled to a charitable deduction equal to the fair market value of the asset, assessed, at the donor's expense, by an independent appraisal. If the Foundation does not use the donated asset, as defined by IRS related use regulations, the charitable deduction is set at the donor's cost basis in the property.

Outright gifts of tangible personal property, for which donors qualify for a charitable gift deduction under current IRS regulations, will be credited, recognized and/or commemorated at the appraised value of the property at the time it is transferred to the charity, less any encumbrances. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors, the Foundation will seek to liquidate such assets in order to secure the cash needed to fund its programmatic and/or facility priorities and/or to invest such assets in ways consistent with the currently authorized investment strategies of ASME and the ASME Foundation.

The following are general guidelines or considerations in connection with gifts of tangible personal property:

• Generally, the Foundation's acceptance of such gifts cannot involve significant additional expense for their present or future use, insurance, maintenance or administration. Acceptance of gifts of this type will be at the Foundation's discretion.
• Generally, the Foundation cannot incur burdensome financial or other obligations, directly or indirectly.
• Gifts of real and personal property, such as land, houses, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, antiques, rare books, etc., exceeding $5,000 in value shall be reported at the fair market value placed on them by an independent, expert appraiser, at the donor's expense, at the time the donor relinquishes control in favor of the Foundation. Gifts of under $5,000 may be reported at the value declared by the donor or a qualified expert.
• The Foundation will not accept gifts of tangible personal property, such as books, paintings, etc., if such gifts are to be made on the condition, understanding or expectation that the gifted items will be loaned to the donor or to persons designated by the donor for life or for an extended period of time as determined by the donor.
• Any gift in-kind that can be liquidated will be credited on an item-by-item basis. Value is to be determined by liquidation price.