Gift Stocks To Help Families With Catholic School Tuition
by Catholic Tuition Organization | November 19, 2025
The stock market has been on quite a ride. Maybe now is the time to gift some stock and reduce your state tax burden before some rules change in 2026.
This year has been a remarkable time for the U.S. stock market and it may also be a great opportunity to donate appreciated stock to the Catholic Tuition Organization. Gifts to CTO result in a tax credit equal to 75% of the stock (gift) value as an Iowa tax credit. Gifts made before year end support tuition expenses for qualified students in our diocesan Catholic schools during the 2026-2027 school year.
Gifts of stock held for more than a year allow donors to deduct the full fair market value - pre-tax - and allows the donor to avoid capital gains tax when the stock is transferred to CTO. Always check with your tax professional to understand the impact on your situation.
For some portion of donors, it may be more advantageous to make your charitable gift in 2025 rather than waiting until 2026, when recent tax law changes go into effect. But remember, CTO is unable to award tax credits to donations made from a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), since the fund already earned an immediate tax savings.
As a reminder, donations of stock, grain, checks or electronic contributions made in calendar year 2025 create the opportunities for families meeting federal poverty guidelines to remain in or begin attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Des Moines for the 2026-27 school year. Your gift now makes a significant difference in the lives of these families. For the current school year, CTO is directing donor contributions to assist 1,900+ students attending one of our 16 Catholic schools. To qualify for tuition grants, families must be below 400% of the federal poverty limit.
Donors may designate 75% of their gift to one or more of the schools that means the most to them. Visit www.ctoiowa.org/resources to download a Securities Transfer Instruction form. It is best to initiate a stock gift by mid December to avoid potential delays that might interfere with the Dec. 31 deadline for posting.
For more information on CTO tuition grants or donating appreciate stock, contact Brian Tingleff at 515-237-5010 or btingleff@dmdiocese.org.