How to accept a gift of stock

You’ve been offered a gift of stock. Wonderful! After thanking the donor, what should you do next? If your congregation doesn’t maintain its own brokerage account, we’re happy to help you make the transfer. We charge no fee for this service.

  1. First, you need to make Faith Foundation aware that a transfer is going to happen. Please tell us the donor's name and the name of your organization. Give us a call at 1(800)488-4179 or send an email to staff@faith.foundation.

  2. Next, you need to send the donor instructions about how to make the transfer (below), including the Stock Quick Facts page.

  3. Finally, please send a letter to the Faith Foundation office signed by a trustee, treasurer, or endowment committee chair authorizing the Foundation to sell the shares (unless you have previously sent a letter). The letter should be addressed to Faith Foundation Northwest, PO Box 656, Cashmere, WA 98815. Click here to view a sample letter.

Once we receive the shares, Faith Foundation will provide the donor with a receipt acknowledging the day shares came into our account, the average trading price of the stock on that day, and the price at which the stock was sold. Then we put a check in the mail, along with information regarding the donor and any conditions related to the gift.

Below are instructions for the donor.

Donor instructions for stock transfers

If shares are held by YOUR brokerage firm: 

Please notify your broker and request a DTC transfer of the shares you wish to give. To accomplish the transfer, the broker will require the following information:

  • Name of Faith Foundation’s Brokerage firm: Fidelity Investments

  • Name of the account: Faith Foundation Northwest

  • The Foundation’s account number: x64984682

  • DTC Transfer No: 0226

  • The name of the stock and number of shares to be transferred

Next, please notify Faith Foundation so that we know to look for the transfer and pass it on to your church or camp. Our number is 1-800-488-4179. If voicemail answers, please leave a message. You may also email or fax the information to us. Please see our Gift of Stocks Quick Facts form for further information.

 

If you hold the stock certificates (a less common scenario): 

  1. Email us at staff@faith.foundation to request a Stock Power and Security Release Form.

  2. DO NOT SIGN THE BACK OF THE CERTIFICATE. Signing a certificate makes it negotiable (like mailing a large sum of cash). Instead, you need to use a Stock Power. The less information provided on the Stock Power the better. Stock transfer agents are intolerant of errors.

  3. The Stock Power, like a stock certificate, must be signed with your name(s) appearing exactly as it does on the face of the stock certificate.

  4. Your signature on the Stock Power must have a medallion guaranteed stamp by a qualified bank. To accomplish this, you should go to your bank and request a medallion guarantee.

  5. You are also required to sign a Security Release Form. This form allows Faith Foundation to immediately sell the stock even though the certificate received is in another person’s name.

  6. When all forms and signatures have been completed, the certificate should be mailed to Faith Foundation in one envelope and the Stock Power and Security Release in a second, separate envelope. Our address is PO BOX 656, Cashmere, WA 98815.

  7. Notify Faith Foundation as soon as the stock and forms are in the mail. The number is 1-800-488-4179. If no one answers, leave a message.

  8. Notify the treasurer or other appropriate person at the church or camp about your transfer so they can provide instructions to Faith Foundation.

Please note: 

Fidelity’s commission for the sale of stock is typically less than $5, regardless of the amount of the transfer. Faith Foundation charges no additional administrative fees. 

Our policy is to liquidate stock as soon as it has been cleared for sale. Faith Foundation will make no effort to time the sale of these gifts. We can’t guarantee that your gift will be worth the same amount when it’s received as it is when you donate it.

If ComputerShare is the custodian of your stock, please know that transfers and sales can take as much as two months. This delay can result in the proceeds of your gift being significantly more or less than you originally planned. Faith Foundation assumes no responsibility for the delay or its consequence as we have little control over the process.

Any questions may be directed to Julia Frisbie, Executive Director, at 1-800-488-4179.