Ways to Give

A gift of appreciated securities like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds can be a smart way to support the arts!

When you transfer ownership of securities to Strathmore, you receive a charitable deduction for the full market value and incur no capital gains taxes (subject to IRS deductible limitations), both of which effectively reduce your cost of making a gift.

And it's easy! Download the instruction sheet (PDF) and follow the step-by-step guide on how to provide your financial adviser or brokerage firm with the transfer information.

Important: This information is intended to provide general gift planning information. Please consult your legal, tax or financial advisors before making a gift.

If you are 70½ or older you can make a gift directly from your IRA to a qualifying public charity like Strathmore. This giving option is also commonly called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).

Beginning the year you turn 73, your gift can satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).

How does it work?
An IRA owner can make up to $100,000 in charitable gifts to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations like Strathmore without having to pay income taxes on the distribution. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions. This law no longer has an expiration date, so you are free to make annual gifts this year and in the future. 

What do I receive in return?
You will make an immediate impact on the arts in your community and receive a tax benefit, even if you take the standard deduction. This allows you to make a gift from your most highly taxed asset without impacting your current spending.

And, your gift may go towards all or part of your required minimum distribution.

Can I receive member or donor benefits with my gift?
The only permissible benefits that may be accepted with a charitable IRA rollover gift are those that do not have a value for tax purposes. 

The IRS has ruled that the costs cannot be separated, meaning the value of benefits cannot be paid for with a personal check. They call this practice bifurcation. 

For memberships, Strathmore automatically waives benefits of value (i.e., member event invitations, valet, box tickets, etc.) on your behalf. Learn more about what incidental benefits you can enjoy on our membership page. Benefits with a ^ symbol will be excluded. 

How do I get started?

Many donors who give this way start by seeking advice from their financial or legal advisor. Next, you can ask your IRA administrator about making a direct transfer to Strathmore or have the administrator send a check from your account to us.  

Legal Name: Strathmore Hall Foundation 

EIN/Federal Tax ID: 52-1233092 

Address: 5301 Tuckerman Lane, N. Bethesda, MD 20852 

Please contact us when you make your gift as some IRA providers do not provide the donor’s name with the gift, and we’d love to say thank you! 

Important: This information is intended to provide general gift planning information. Please consult your legal, tax, or financial advisors before making a gift.

“We are pleased to have funds from our IRA
distributed directly to a charity rather than
adding to our taxable income. It’s an easy way
for us to support the charities that we love,
including Strathmore.”
—Richard & Melba Reichard, donors

A donor-advised fund (DAF), which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to Strathmore and other charities.

How does it work?

You can establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax deductible donation to a community foundation or financial services company that sponsors a DAF program. From there, you recommend grants to the charities you support.

What do I receive in return?

You qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction at the time you contribute to the account. You also have the power to make recommendations on which charities to support whenever you want allowing you to centralize your giving and record-keeping in one location.

Can I receive member or donor benefits with my gift? 
The only permissible benefits that may be accepted with a gift through a donor advised fund are those that do not have a value for tax purposes.  

The IRS has ruled that the costs cannot be separated, meaning the value of benefits cannot be paid for with a personal check. They call this practice bifurcation. 

For memberships, Strathmore automatically waives benefits of value (i.e., member event invitations, valet, box tickets, etc.) on your behalf. Learn more about what incidental benefits you can enjoy on our membership page. Benefits with a ^ symbol will be excluded.  

How can I make an even bigger impact?

Thanks to #HalfMyDAF your gift could go further with a matching grant!

With the recent surge in DAFs, over $160 billion sits unused. #HalfMyDAF was launched in May 2020 to inspire donors to move more money out of their Donor Advised Funds to nonprofits where the money could be put to good use. Since then, #HalfMyDAF has inspired over $26 million in giving from DAFs to nonprofits. 

Meet Strathmore volunteers and donors Steve and Madeline D’Alessio, whose #HalfMyDAF application was selected for partial matching, increasing their sustained impact on the community through Strathmore’s important programs. 

Stay tuned to #HalfMyDAF for dates and deadlines.

Important: This information is intended to provide general gift planning information. Please consult your legal, tax, or financial advisors before making a gift.

Did you know many companies offer a matching gift program to encourage philanthropy among their employees?

Click here to see if your employer will double or even triple your donation or membership to Strathmore!

A donation in memory or in honor of a family member, friend, or colleague is a caring way to celebrate a special occasion or honor a life. Commemorative gifts of any amount can be designated toward existing Strathmore programs— often one that would be meaningful to the honored or memorialized individual. These gifts can be made online or by calling 301.581.5145.

Dedicate a Seat

By dedicating a seat in the Music Center at Strathmore, you will create a visible and lasting legacy for your loved one while supporting a cause they are passionate about. A special note will be sent to your honoree and/or their family. Download a Name a Seat Form.

Honor the arts’ impact on your life! Purchase a seat in the Music Center for yourself, your business, or a loved one. A custom copper plate affixed to the chair’s armrest will bear an inscription of your choosing. Cement your lasting support for the arts and your commitment to our vibrant future by naming a seat. Download the Name A Seat form.

Strathmore appreciates in-kind gifts that are consistent with our mission and support our core programs and special projects. These gifts of goods or services could include musical instruments, artwork, office equipment, professional services, gift cards, and more.   

Acceptance policy 

All in-kind gifts are reviewed, accepted, and officially acknowledged. Before acceptance, the gift is reviewed to see if it meets Strathmore’s needs. We reserve the right to decline any gift that does not further our goals or may involve special maintenance or other conditions that Strathmore would be unable to satisfy. Gifts of tangible personal property can be donated to Strathmore with the purpose of being sold.   

The donor is responsible for making arrangements to deliver the gift.  

Appraisal guidelines 

Strathmore does not provide gift valuation. Per Internal Revenue Service regulations, the donor is responsible for determining the value of an accepted gift. If the estimated value of the gift exceeds $5,000, then the IRS requires a qualified appraisal to substantiate a donor’s charitable deduction for gifts-in-kind.  

Strathmore encourages donors to consult with a tax professional regarding tax deductibility before making a donation.  

Additional information about appraisal requirements can be found in IRS Publication 561 available here. For taxation details, see IRS Publication 526 available here. 

Through gifts-in-kind, supporters help Strathmore strengthen its programs and improve facilities to provide the best possible artistic experience to our community.  

If you have questions, or would like to make a donation, please contact us or call 301.581.5145.