These Tips Can Help You Donate With Confidence
With the recent launch of Delaware Speech and Hearing Center’s Giving Back page, it’s easier than ever to help our caring team elevate the health of our community. We couldn’t do it without generous contributors like you.
If you checked out our blog post about the exciting new donation page, you may be wondering about the ins and outs of planned giving, one of the many options for contributing to Delaware Speech and Hearing Center (DSHC)*. If so, this post’s for you.
By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can preserve your wealth, help reduce your tax obligations, and create a legacy rooted in compassion and connection. Read on to learn how you can support access to speech, language, and hearing care through planned giving.
1. The Power of Planned Giving: Why It Matters
Your support of DSHC through a charitable gift makes you a partner in our mission: providing quality speech, sensory, language treatment, and hearing health care to improve communication and daily living. Your generosity helps people of all ages access vital tools to connect and thrive.
Planned gifts help expand access to care for patients at every stage of life, from infants developing their first words to seniors reconnecting with loved ones through better hearing. These gifts do more than support services today; they build a legacy of communication for generations to come.
Your donation can:
- Provide speech therapy to children with developmental delays
- Fit adults with hearing aids they otherwise couldn’t afford
- Expand access to services for uninsured or underinsured community members
My Audiologist showed me how to clean my hearing aids myself, which saves so much time. And the one-week check-in was so helpful. She made adjustments based on how I was actually using them. At the Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, you get care that’s specific to you, not just a device, but the knowledge and support to hear your best every day. —Audiology Patient
Whether you give now or include Delaware Speech and Hearing Center in your estate plan, your support helps bridge the communication gap for those who need it most. With current tax laws and effective planning strategies, charitable giving can also offer significant financial advantages.
2. The Tax Benefits of Charitable Giving
In addition to making a difference in fellow community members’ lives, charitable giving can provide significant tax benefits for you and your estate.
Income Tax Deduction
Qualified donations to DSHC may be deductible if you itemize your federal income taxes. Cash gifts to qualified public charities may be deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), and gifts of long-term appreciated assets up to 30%. Unused deductions can typically be carried forward for up to five years.
Capital Gains Tax Avoidance
Donating long-term appreciated assets (those held for more than one year) directly to DSHC can allow you to avoid paying capital gains taxes, while still receiving a deduction for the asset’s fair market value, if you itemize and the gift meets IRS requirements.
Estate Tax Reduction
Charitable bequests made in your will or trust are not subject to estate tax. This means that giving to Delaware Speech and Hearing Center may reduce the taxable portion of your estate, benefiting your heirs while supporting a cause you believe in.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) offer a potentially tax-efficient giving option for those aged 70½ and older. They may allow you to satisfy required minimum distributions without increasing taxable income.
3. Simple and Powerful Ways to Give
You don’t need vast wealth or a private foundation to make a meaningful impact. Many of the most effective giving strategies are simple to implement and accessible to individuals from all walks of life.
Bequests in a Will or Trust
Including DSHC in your will is one of the most common and flexible forms of planned giving. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other gifts are made.
- Sample Bequest Language:
“I give [__]% of my estate [or $____] to Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, at 494 West Central Avenue, Delaware, OH, 43015, to be used for its general purposes.”
Beneficiary Designations
Naming Delaware Speech and Hearing Center as a beneficiary is one of the easiest ways to create a lasting legacy, often without legal fees or changes to your will. You can designate DSHC as a full or partial beneficiary of:
- Retirement accounts — IRA, 401(k), 403(b)
- Life insurance policies
- Investment or bank accounts
In many cases, you may be able to complete this process online by simply logging into your account and updating your beneficiary information. It’s quick, flexible, and typically avoids probate, allowing your gift to make an impact faster.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
As mentioned above, QCDs — available only from traditional IRAs — may be a convenient and tax-efficient way to give. If you’re 70½ or older, you can transfer up to an annual limit (set by the IRS and adjusted for inflation) directly to a qualified charity like DSHC. This amount counts toward your required minimum distribution but is excluded from your taxable income.
Charitable Gift Annuities
This option provides a way to support DSHC’s work while generating fixed income for you or a loved one. They can be structured to meet your financial goals while ensuring lasting support for our services.
Outright Gifts of Cash or Securities
Giving during your lifetime allows you to see the impact of your support at DSHC and may reduce income tax. Cash gifts may be deductible up to 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Donating publicly traded securities held for more than one year may qualify for a deduction of up to 30% of your AGI and can eliminate capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Gifts of Real Estate or Tangible Personal Property
Donations of real estate, land, or valuable items, like artwork or jewelry, can help expand access to our services. If held for over a year and aligned with DSHC’s mission, these gifts may qualify for a fair-market-value deduction and help reduce future estate tax exposure. Deductibility may depend on appraisal, use relatedness, and IRS Form 8283 requirements.
4. Advanced Giving Options for Greater Impact
If you have a larger estate or more complex financial goals, several advanced charitable strategies may help you support DSHC while meeting personal-, tax-, and legacy-planning objectives. These tools can maximize your impact without compromising financial security for you and your family.
Donor-Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund is a simple, tax-efficient way to give. You contribute assets to a sponsoring organization (such as a community foundation), receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to nonprofits like Delaware Speech and Hearing Center over time.
This approach can offer the benefits of:
- Immediate charitable deduction
- Potential for tax-free investment growth
- Flexible grant-making over time
Private Foundations
If you’re looking to create a long-term charitable legacy with full control over how funds are distributed, a private foundation may be a good fit. This type of structure offers flexibility but comes with more administrative work and is usually best suited for larger estates.
Charitable Trusts
- Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) — CRTs provide income to you or another beneficiary for life or a fixed term, with the remainder going to Delaware Speech and Hearing Center. CRTs can offer an immediate partial charitable income tax deduction and help avoid capital gains taxes on donated assets.
- Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) — CLTs provide income to DSHC for a set period, after which the remaining assets pass to your heirs—often with reduced gift or estate tax liability.
Both CRTs and CLTs are irrevocable and require professional legal and financial guidance to establish and manage. When planned carefully, they can be powerful tools to support DSHC’s mission while providing meaningful financial benefits to you and your family.
5. Family Conversations, Values, and Legacy
Estate planning is about more than distributing assets. It’s an opportunity to shape the future, helping Delaware Speech and Hearing Center ensure access to crucial services for all ages. Talking openly with family about your giving priorities can foster understanding and reinforce your charitable giving goals.
Consider writing a legacy letter to share the personal meaning behind your gift. While not legally binding, this message can give inspiring insight into what motivated your donation and preserve the story behind your decision for future generations.
Consult your tax advisor or estate-planning professional to ensure your gift matches your financial goals and maximizes benefits. Proper guidance helps you make informed decisions that support both your family and DSHC’s mission.
There was a lot of crying and frustration before therapy. He really struggled to communicate what he needed. The therapy has made a huge difference. He’s happier, makes eye contact, and continues to grow in his daily living skills. —Mother of Speech and OT Patient
6. Why Delaware Speech and Hearing Center?
Supporting charitable causes is a personal choice, and investing in speech and hearing offers lasting impact. When you help someone improve their hearing, develop their speech, and find their voice, you’re helping build stronger, more connected communities for everyone.
At Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, your gift removes barriers to communication for all ages. We provide personalized care using advanced technology to diagnose and treat hearing, tinnitus, and speech-language needs, helping people live healthier lives.
Here’s what makes DSHC a compelling choice for your philanthropic legacy:
Deep Community Roots
DSHC is proudly independent and locally focused, serving Delaware, Powell, and neighboring areas with personalized care and unwavering commitment.
Mission-Driven, Nonprofit Care
As a nonprofit, we invest in our vital programs, ensuring your generosity fuels meaningful services rather than overhead.
Access for Everyone
We accept all forms of insurance for communication and sensory services and are committed to ensuring that the ability to pay does not prevent families from receiving the care they deserve.
Lifelong Support
From pediatric speech evaluations and language development programs to adult hearing aid fittings and tinnitus management, we support individuals at every stage of life.
Innovation and Excellence
Your support allows DSHC to maintain cutting-edge diagnostic tools and therapeutic technology, keeping our care effective and up to date.
Your generosity enables everything from advanced clinical equipment upgrades to free community screenings and hearing aid subsidies that change lives daily.
7. Making Your Gift
Including DSHC in your estate plan is a meaningful way to ensure lasting impact. Our development team is ready to guide you through tailored giving options aligned with your philanthropic goals and financial-planning needs.
Whether you’re considering will or trust bequests, beneficiary designations, appreciated assets, charitable gifts annuities, or donor-advised funds, we offer personalized support every step of the way. We invite you to take the next step:
- Visit our new “Giving Back” page to explore all giving options.
- Contact our development office at 740.369.3650 or contact@delawareshc.org for a confidential conversation.
- Speak with your financial or legal advisor about which options best align with your goals.
- Include us in your will, trust, or beneficiary designations, or corporate giving
- Consider shopping our Amazon wish list to donate much-needed supplies.
- Make a gift today, and witness your impact in real time.
By partnering with DSHC, you’re investing in a future where everyone can communicate clearly, confidently, and without barriers. Together, let’s build stronger families and communities for generations to come!
Before therapy, my son was completely non-verbal and extremely dependent on me for everything. Now, he’s talking in full sentences, feeding himself, and even putting on his own shoes. The difference has been night and day. —Mother of Speech and OT Patient
*Delaware Speech and Hearing Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please consult your financial, legal, or tax advisor to determine how any charitable gift strategy may affect your individual situation.