Gift of Stocks and Securities - Division of Advancement

A gift of appreciated publicly traded securities is a simple and tax-effective way of supporting York University.

In most cases, when you donate publicly traded securities (including stocks, bonds, and units of mutual funds that are listed on the Canadian or U.S. stock exchanges) you can avoid paying tax on the capital gains. You’ll also get a tax receipt for the full appreciated value of the donated stock.

This means more money for York and a greater charitable tax credit for you.

The receipt value will be based on the closing trading price on the day that the stocks are received in York’s brokerage account.

For more information on making gifts of stocks or securities, please see the PDF resources below or contact us directly.

Note:

If you are planning on making a gift of securities during the 2024 tax year, please initiate the transfer ideally no later than Monday, December 16, 2024.

York University will be closed from December 24, 2024 - January 1, 2025 inclusive. If you need to speak with someone urgently about a 2024 transfer of securities during this time, please contact Tina Dang on her cell at 416-797-3511 or dangt@yorku.ca.

“I give to York because it’s a gift that keeps on giving. “Donating stock is no strain on my budget, because the money is already invested and not part of my cash flow. If redeem the stock personally, any gains in value are subject to tax. But donating the stock directly to York solves the tax problem. This makes a lot of sense to me. The staff at York helps make the transfers easy to accomplish. More importantly, it contributes to the education of new generations of students who can make a difference in the world.”

— Earle Nestmann (MSc ’71, PhD ’74) is a York University alumnus and member of the University's Board of Governors

Sample Gift of Securities

The following chart illustrates the cost-saving potential of gifting stocks or securities.

	Option 1 Sell shares and gift cash	Option 2 Donate shares directly
Current market value of shares	$35,000	$35,000
Original cost of shares	$10,000	$10,000
Capital gain*	$25,000	$25,000
Tax on capital gain*	$6,250	$0
Total tax savings from donation	$11,250	$23,250

*The chart above assumes a marginal tax rate of 50%
This financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional
advice. If you are considering a gift of securities, please contact your financial and/or tax advisors.