Give Stocks and Receive a Big Break

While many investors give money to charity, until recently only the very rich could boast of having their own charitable foundation. But that's changing.

An option that has gained popularity in the past few years is donor-advised funds, which let investors donate stocks or funds to charities for a minimal setup cost, plus a sweet tax break.

"Anybody really committed to philanthropy, who's making a decent living, can now have their own philanthropic legacy, in a way that previously only the very wealthy could," says Timothy Freundlich, director of strategic development for Calvert Social Investment Foundation. "Suddenly a really broad slice of the population can be a high-end, sophisticated philanthropist." Calvert rolled out its program in October, joining a number of major fund families. ...