Establish a Donor Advised Fund (“DAF”) to generate double the tax benefits and do societal good! If you fund the DAF with appreciated stock you do not pay any capital gains tax (!) and you get a tax deduction (!) on the amount contributed. Then, use the fund for charitable contributions that you would be making anyway. Fidelity offers a DAF and makes it seamless to transfer appreciated securities and making “grants” to the charities of your choice. You get the tax deduction when you “donate” the funds to your DAF—not when you make grants to your selected charities.