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How to contribute stocks and ETFs to your Giving Fund

Contributing stocks or ETFs can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to give, helping you maximize both your impact and your tax savings. There are also no fees charged by GoFundMe Giving Fund when receiving stock or ETF contributions. Once contributed, you'll receive the full liquidated value of your stocks or ETFs in your Giving Fund.

When you donate appreciated stocks or ETFs, you eliminate the taxes on investment gains. That means the full value of your assets is added to your Giving Fund for you to support nonprofits.

Follow these steps to contribute stocks to your Giving Fund:

  1. Log into your GoFundMe account and open Your Giving Fund
  2. Select Add funds > Stocks and ETFs
  3. Select your brokerage from the list
  4. Choose the stock and quantity you’d like to contribute
    • For some brokerages, you can Choose specific shares as well
  5. Continue to add your brokerage details
  6. Sign your name and click Next
  7. Confirm your contribution

Brokerage not included in list

If your brokerage isn’t listed, we can still accept a transfer from the brokerage you work with. Just follow these steps:

  1. Log into your GoFundMe account and open Your Giving Fund
  2. Select Add funds > Stocks and ETFs
  3. Select Other brokerage
  4. Enter your brokerage’s DTC number (You can contact them directly or check your statements for this number.)
  5. If your brokerage is found, then you can choose the stock and quantity you’d like to contribute
    • You won’t be able to select specific shares.
  6. Continue to add your personal information and brokerage account details
  7. Sign your name and click Next
  8. Confirm your contribution, and we’ll initiate the transfer on your behalf (You can also download the transfer form for your records.)

If we’re unable to find your brokerage with your DTC number, you’ll need to manually initiate your stock or ETF transfer

Manually initiate a stock or ETF transfer

If your brokerage isn’t listed or if you prefer to manually initiate a transfer, follow the steps below:

  1. Log into your GoFundMe account and open Your Giving Fund
  2. Select Add funds > Stocks and ETFs
  3. Select Other brokerage > Initiate from your brokerage manually
  4. Complete three steps to submit your transfer request through your brokerage:
    • Log into your brokerage and locate their stock transfer form
    • Complete the form with the Giving Fund’s brokerage information and select your stocks
    • Submit the form through your brokerage account

⚠️ When initiating the transfer through your brokerage, be sure you don’t mark it anonymous and carefully check you’re entering your correct, unique Giving Fund account number.

See brokerage specific instructions for manually initiating a stock or ETF transfer:

Things to keep in mind:

  • For maximum tax benefits. Contribute shares you’ve held over a year and have appreciated the most.
  • Record your cost basis before transferring. Most brokerages don’t keep this once shares leave your account, but you may need it for tax reporting.
  • Do not check “anonymous” on the form. We need your name to match the transfer.
  • Only stocks and ETFs are eligible. Mutual funds, fixed income, and other assets aren’t currently supported, and the transfer will fail if they’re included.
  • We’ll sell your shares once received. The sale proceeds are added to your Giving Fund balance.
  • Already picked an investment strategy? Your contribution will be invested automatically at the next market opportunity.
  • Transfers usually take 5–10 business days from when you submit it to your brokerage. Timing depends on your brokerage’s processing times and can sometimes take longer. We’ll notify you once it’s complete.

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