Appreciated Stocks Fuel Gospel Ministry

Appreciated Stocks Fuel Gospel Ministry

Richard and Tara Baxter have always aimed to use their family dental practice to reflect the gospel. Once Richard authored a book based on his dental expertise, they realized they could use the additional income from the book to increase their generosity toward outreach ministries.

For a while, Richard sent income from the book directly to ministries the family cared about. “Whatever money came into that account,” Richard said, “I used to immediately send out as a check.”

Then he realized there was a more tax-efficient way to share the benefits of the book: donating appreciated stock.

Instead of sending book revenue right to charity, now he uses the funds to purchase publicly traded stocks. He can then donate appreciated shares to a donor advised fund with The Signatry. When those donated stocks are liquidated within the fund, they are not subject to capital gains taxes.

“The donor advised fund has really saved us a lot of money on taxes,” he explained. “We want to be really intentional to give in the most tax-efficient way.”

Donating appreciated stock allowed the Baxter family to expand their generosity to a ministry dedicated to providing clean water and the hope of the gospel to unreached people around the world.

Being able to transform Richard’s medical expertise into added income that could flow into ministry was one step in the Baxters’ generosity journey. Multiplying that impact by donating stocks instead of cash drew the family even deeper into practicing generosity for God’s glory.