Donors most often make a “cash” gift in the form of a check payable to Columbia Housing Center, Inc. Cash gifts enable donors to claim a current income tax deduction of up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income in the year the gift was made.

Please make checks payable to “Columbia Housing Center, Inc.” and mail to:

Columbia Housing Center
P.O. Box 154
Simpsonville, MD 21150

Columbia Housing Center, Inc. (CHC) accepts online gifts through our secure platform.

Click here to make an online gift. We use Flipcause to process online/credit card donations. A processing fee will be deducted from your gift.

Wiring instructions available upon request. If you would like to make a wire transfer gift, please notify us at (301) 969-5700 or contact us via email before initiating a transfer.

Many donors give appreciated publicly traded securities as a “tax-smart” way to accomplish their charitable giving goals. You can transfer appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares you have owned for one year or more to Columbia Housing Center, Inc., reinvesting in your community and qualifying for an immediate tax deduction based on the full market value of the stocks. CHC also can sell your securities and use the proceeds for its programs.

Please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 before initiating a transfer. We accept these donations through our fund at the Community Foundation of Howard County, so we will provide specific transfer instructions upon request.

Donors receive a double income tax benefit when gifting publicly traded securities.

You can avoid capital gains taxes on the securities’ appreciated value and receive a charitable deduction for the stock’s full market value up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income.

If you would like to make a gift of publicly traded securities, please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 to start the process. We’ll be there at every step to help make sure your donation is processed smoothly.

Donors who choose to give a closely held stock are entitled to a deduction for the appraised fair market value of the gift, up to 30 percent of the donor’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Taxes on capital gains also are avoided.

Please note that before closely held stock can be accepted, Columbia Housing Center’s staff and board will review all relevant documentation to obtain a clear understanding of the related business activities, the underlying assets and liabilities, the nature of the ownership interest proposed to be conveyed and the actual or potential liabilities, if any, associated with holding such securities. Please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 to start the process.

Mutual funds also can be contributed to Columbia Housing Center. The value of a share in a mutual fund is its public redemption price (the “bid price”) on the valuation date. Gifts of mutual funds are deductible at their fair market value – up to 30 percent of the donor’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 to start the process.

Matching gifts are a great way to double or sometimes even triple the impact of your gift. If you work for (or have retired from) one of the many companies that will match employee donations, you simply need to contact your company’s matching gift office, request a matching gift form and send it with your donation. When we get the form, we will notify your employer, and when your gift is matched, we’ll let you know.

For many individuals, real estate represents a significant portion of their wealth. A gift of real estate offers an excellent way to unlock the full appraised value of a property and establish a charitable legacy supporting your favorite causes for years to come.

To initiate consideration of a gift of real estate, please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301)969-5700 to start the process.

Columbia Housing Center, Inc. accepts meaningful gifts of tangible property including art, antiques, collectibles, rare books, jewelry, gems and stamp and coin collections.

Just as you should plan for what will happen to your home, finances and businesses in the event of the unexpected, thought should be given as to what will happen to your artwork, collectibles and other prized possessions. Passing it on to your children or donating it to a museum is not always possible or desirable. Instead, these assets may be donated to CHC, which may sell and use the proceeds to add to or create a fund.

All gifts of personal property are subject to review by CHC’s Board of Directors and an independent appraisal arranged and paid for by the donor. Please note that some restrictions do apply to the tax-deductibility of personal property items.

If you are considering making a gift of personal property to Columbia Housing Center, Inc., please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 to start the process.

Life insurance provides a simple way for you to give a significant gift to charity and establish your legacy with tax benefits that you can enjoy during your lifetime. By giving a paid-up policy or continuing to pay premiums, you may receive a number of tax benefits, including reduced estate and income taxes. For more details, please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700.

One of the simplest and most tax-efficient ways to leave a legacy is to name Columbia Housing Center, Inc. as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of your qualified retirement plan(s). When you leave this asset directly to your heirs, it is a taxable event. But if you designate CHC as your beneficiary, it receives the full value of the asset.

If you choose to make a charitable gift of a retirement plan account, please be sure that the beneficiary forms on file with the plan administrator specify Columbia Housing Center, Inc. as the beneficiary and that you notify us about your plans.

If you already operate a private foundation but are looking to avoid the headache and the cost of managing it, you can convert your foundation into our affiliated fund within the Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo).

There are many advantages, and no risk or obligation involved, in exploring a private foundation conversion. Please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 to learn more.

Companies are encouraged to sponsor Columbia Housing Center’s events, products and services and special initiatives. As a sponsor, your business will be recognized by thousands of people who are passionate about making a difference in our community. You will receive high visibility through our events, publications and website. Please contact Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director, via email or call (301) 969-5700 for information about current sponsorship opportunities.

We will be joining the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Maryland Charity Campaign (MCC) in 2025.