Ways to Give
Great for recurring or one-time gifts via credit card or bank transfer.
Send checks payable to:
Eugene Symphony
115 West 8th Avenue, Suite 115
Eugene OR, 97401
Give stock or mutual funds.
Give us a call and place your donation with one of our development staff.
Questions? Contact:
Gretchen Farrar
Development Director
541-687-9487 x1104
Potentially Advantageous
Year-End Giving Ideas
1. Make an Immediate Difference
A cash gift—by check or online—helps the Eugene Symphony deliver performances, education, and engagement programs for our community. Your gift may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction.
Important note: If mailing a check, be sure it is postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before Dec. 31 for it to count in this tax year. Please consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.
2. Give Appreciated Stock
Donating publicly traded stock you’ve owned for more than one year can provide a double benefit: you may receive a charitable deduction for the fair market value and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Important note: For stock gifts made by electronic transfer, the effective gift date is the day the stock reaches the Eugene Symphony’s account—not the day you instruct your broker.
3. Recommend a Grant from Your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
If you have a DAF, you can recommend a grant (or recurring grants) to the Eugene Symphony.
Important note: You already received the tax deduction when you funded your DAF; your grant recommendation is how you put those charitable dollars to work for music in Greater Eugene. If you could let the Development team know to expect your gift and amount, we'll know to credit you right away for your gift.
4. Make a Gift from Your IRA (Qualified Charitable Distribution)
If you are 70½ or older, or have inherited an IRA, you can direct up to $108,000 from your IRA straight to the Eugene Symphony. You won’t pay income tax on the transfer, and it can count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).
Important note: Your IRA administrator must transfer the funds by Dec. 31 (or, if you write a check from your IRA, it must clear by Dec. 31) for it to count this year.
Updating your will, trust, IRA, bank, or securities beneficiaries?
Now is the time to consider ways to support your Symphony that would benefit your estate. It might be something as simple as making the Symphony a percentage beneficiary.
Every donor is unique, so check with your advisor to determine how best to make a gift to Eugene Symphony.
Urgent: Upcoming Tax Changes May Affect Your 2025 Giving — Act by Dec. 31
You can sustain the Eugene Symphony’s music-making and take advantage of current tax rules. Consider asking your tax advisor about these upcoming tax law changes that may shape your charitable giving in 2025.
Change: New floor for itemizers
Beginning with the 2026 tax year, you will need to contribute at least 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) to claim a charitable deduction.
What it may mean for you: 2025 may be an ideal year to maximize your giving to the Eugene Symphony before this new threshold takes effect.
Change: New limit for top earners
Right now, top-bracket taxpayers receive about a 37-cent tax benefit for every dollar deducted. In 2026, that drops to 35 cents.
What it may mean for you: If you’re in the highest tax bracket, making a larger gift in 2025 could provide greater tax savings.
Change: State and local tax deduction limit increases from $10,000 to $40,000
What it may mean for you: Starting in 2025, itemizers will be able to deduct up to $40,000 in state and local taxes, with a 1% increase each year through 2029, then a reversion to $10,000 in 2030. This expanded room may give you more flexibility to plan both your tax strategy and your charitable giving—especially if you live in a higher-tax area.
Change: Higher standard deduction made permanent (and indexed for inflation)
For 2025, the standard deduction will be $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. If you are 65 or older, you may qualify for an additional deduction (which begins to phase out at higher incomes).
What it may mean for you: Even if you don’t itemize, you can still make highly tax-efficient gifts—such as appreciated stock, real estate, or (if you are 70½ or older) a gift directly from your IRA.
Change: Deduction limit for cash gifts made permanent
What it may mean for you: You can still deduct cash gifts of up to 60% of your AGI. Many donors find that combining cash with non-cash assets (like stock) helps them increase their positive impact on the Symphony while optimizing their tax position.
A Note Before You Give
The Eugene Symphony does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. We encourage you to consult with your financial planner, accountant, or attorney to understand how these options may fit into your personal circumstances.
Instructions for Gifts of Stock or Mutual Funds
Donating stock or other securities takes just two easy steps. Please keep in mind that your gift of stock or mutual funds must be received by the Symphony’s broker by December 31 to count as a tax deduction in a particular calendar year.
Please contact us at 541.687.9487 if you have any questions or need additional information.
1.
Please tell your broker to direct your gift to:
Ferguson Wellman Capital Management
888 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1200
Portland, OR 97204
Account Information:
Charles Schwab
DTC # 0164
Account # 8009-0782
Eugene Symphony Association, Inc.
Tax ID # 93-0556298
Please note that this information should not be interpreted as legal or tax advice. Please contact your accountant, attorney, or tax advisor for assistance regarding stock gifts you may be considering making to the Eugene Symphony Association, Inc.
2.
Let us know you donated stock so we can confirm receipt and thank you for your donation. Use this form or the mailing instructions below.
Or mail the information requested in the form to:
Eugene Symphony
c/o Jennifer Clark, Finance Director
Eugene Symphony Association, Inc.
115 West 8th Avenue, Suite 115
Eugene, OR 97401