Contributing on behalf of a client

From a Fidelity Brokerage account, what is the most efficient way to make a contribution on behalf of my client? 

1. Log in to GivingCentral and select your client’s Giving Account.  Select Contribute from the drop down menu. You will agree to the disclosure agreement and then select the donor making the contribution. If you have authorization on a brokerage account, you will see the Fidelity option with position level information, and tax lot information for appreciated securities.
   
   Any brokerage account registered to an entity like a trust will require you to provide information on the tax receipt recipient. This ensures Fidelity Charitable can provide an accurate tax receipt for the contribution and 8283 form for tax filing. Currently, brokerage accounts registered to entities will not show in the appreciated securities tool. 
2. Fidelity Charitable will initiate the transfer of securities and will transfer them in-kind to the managed account.
3. Fidelity Charitable will provide notification and a tax receipt to the donor when the contribution settles into the account based on e-delivery preferences. An alert will also be sent to you if you have subscribed to contribution alert. The tax receipt will also be available in GivingCentral for download.

This end-to-end process typically takes between 3-6 days.

Alternatively - you may use the Contribution Form for a non-digital experience.  Once completed, please fax the form to 877-665-4274, or you can mail to: (Regular mail) Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053 / (Overnight mail) Fidelity Charitable, 100 Crosby Parkway KC1D-FCS, Covington, KY 41015-9325. Advisor signature accepted for transactional advisors.

From a non-Fidelity Brokerage account, what is the most efficient way to make a contribution on behalf of my client? 

For Firms Custodied with Fidelity

All contributions can be transferred directly to the managed account. Any contributions that are transferred to Fidelity’s account number (Z97-000442) will be transferred in-kind to the advisor-managed account.

The fastest way to transfer the assets is to work directly with the outside firm.  You must send the Letter of Instruction (LOI) and any additional documentation required by the outside firm. These are the specific instructions provided on the LOI:

Deliver to DTC Clearing 0226
Account Number: Z97-000442
FBO: Fidelity Charitable Giving Account Number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

For Firms NOT Custodied with Fidelity

Unfortunately for CIAP contributions that are not held at Fidelity, the digital workflow tool on GivingCentral is not an option and you must use the Contribution Form. This ensures that Fidelity Charitable is aware the contribution is coming and can process it appropriately.

You can push the assets to the managed account per you firm’s policies and procedures.

Any contributions that are transferred to Fidelity’s account number (Z97-000442) will be liquidated if the brokerage account is not custodied with Fidelity NFS.

Alternatively, you may authorize Fidelity Charitable to initiate the transfer of assets by completing the following steps:

1. Complete the Contribution Form
2. Copy the most recent statement from the account that the assets will be transferred from
   
   *Note: For mutual funds, Fidelity Charitable must initiate the transfer. 

Once completed, please fax the form and statement copy to 877-665-4274, or you can mail to:
(Regular mail) Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053 
(Overnight mail) Fidelity Charitable, 100 Crosby Parkway KC1D-FCS, Covington, KY 41015-9325

It typically takes 3- 6 weeks for Fidelity Charitable to receive assets from the outside firm. The information you provide will allow us to quickly match the contribution to the Giving Account once it is received. If we do not have the pending contribution on the Giving Account based on the information you provide, the assets could be returned to the outside firm.  

Fidelity Charitable will provide notification and a tax receipt to the donor when the contribution settles into the account.  An alert will also be sent to you if you have subscribed to contribution alert. The tax receipt will also be available in GivingCentral to download.

Can I contribute cash via check or wire on behalf of my client?

Yes, log in to GivingCentral and select Make a Contribution from drop down menu.
Select the option for check or wire transfer. You will be asked to provide information about the cash amount of the contribution and to recommend allocations.  It is important to complete all steps and click Submit so that Fidelity Charitable is aware the contribution is coming and can process it appropriately. 

For wire contributions

Wire instructions MUST be provided by the client's bank. Fidelity Charitable will not initiate the wire. Specific instructions to wire include:

Wire to: JPMorgan Chase Bank
ABA: 021000021
For Credit to: NFS 066196-221
FBO: Fidelity Charitable Z97000442
Memo: CGF#­­­_______
*The wire will be rejected if necessary account numbers are not provided, which may incur a fee from your bank.

For check contributions

• Make checks payable to Fidelity Charitable and reference the Giving Account number or name in the memo section
• Mail to:
  (Regular mail) Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053 (Overnight mail) Fidelity Charitable, 100 Crosby Parkway KC1D-FCS, Covington, KY 41015-9325

Fidelity Charitable will not accept contributions of currency or certain cash-like monetary instruments, including official checks, bank drafts, traveler’s checks, or money orders.

Fidelity Charitable will provide notification and a tax receipt to the donor when the contribution settles into the Giving Account.  An alert will also be sent to you if you have subscribed to contribution alerts. A tax receipt will also available in GivingCentral to download.

• If custodied at Fidelity, the cash will go directly into the managed account.  Managed accounts not custodied at Fidelity will go to the default pool (Money Market).
• If the donor would like to contribute cash using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), they must log in to the donor portal to do so.

Alternatively, you may use the Contribution Form if you prefer a non-digital experience.  Once completed, please fax the form to 877-665-4274, or you can mail to:
(Regular mail) Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053
(Overnight mail) Fidelity Charitable, 100 Crosby Parkway KC1D-FCS, Covington, KY 41015-9325. Advisor signature accepted for transactional advisors. 

What can my client donate? 

Cash equivalents, publicly traded stock, mutual fund shares, bonds, certain private or restricted stock, certain cryptocurrencies, and privately held business interests are eligible for contribution to Fidelity Charitable.  

Can my client donate restricted or controlled stock? 

To contribute restricted or controlled stock, Fidelity Charitable requires a 144/145 Contribution Form (PDF).  Our Fidelity Charitable fundraising team is available to assist you in processing the contribution and if any additional special handling instructions are required.

Can my client donate private or non-publicly traded assets?

To contribute private or non-publicly traded assets, Fidelity Charitable requires a Complex Asset Contribution Form.  They will also assist you in processing of the contribution and if any additional special handling instructions are required.  More information can be found regarding Private company C-corp stock, Private company S-corp stock, LLC & Limited Partnership interests, and Private equity.

Can my client donate cryptocurrencies?

To contribute certain cryptocurrencies, Fidelity Charitable requires a Cryptocurrency Letter of Understanding (LOU).  Contact our Fidelity Charitable fundraising team to process the contribution as additional special handling instructions may be required.

Can my client donate master limited partnerships (MLPs)?

Please contact the Fidelity Charitable fundraising team for more information. 

Can my client contribute from an IRA (QCD)?

It is important to speak with a tax advisor or attorney about your client’s specific situation. Fidelity Charitable does not provide tax or legal advice. In general, whenever you take money out of a tax-deferred account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.), the distribution is considered income to your clients and is a taxable event. Therefore, they would have to pay the taxes due upon the value of the distributed assets and the remaining money would go to the charitable organization.

Some charities (such as private foundations and donor-advised funds) do not qualify for QCDs. However, there may be certain exceptions for "employer securities" (shares of an employer's stock, or "company stock") held in a 401(k) account. Please consult a tax advisor for more information.

What will my client receive after donating a complex asset?

Your client will receive a confirmation letter that serves as a record of the contribution for tax deduction purposes.  The letter also states that the tax-deductible value of a charitable contribution is generally the Fair Market Value on the date of the contribution. This confirmation reports the Fair Market Value for cash contributions as the amount of cash received. For publicly-traded securities, the Fair Market Value is reported as the average of the high and low prices on the date Fidelity Charitable received the contribution (i.e., the "Receive Date"). For all other assets, the Fair Market Value is reported as "N/A". Generally, unless an exception is available, you need an appraisal for contributions of non-publicly traded assets for which you claim a deduction of more than $5,000.

• An 8282 will be generated after the complex asset is liquidated and is then filed by Fidelity Charitable with the IRS.  No action is needed by your client.
• Additional receipts for complex assets will be available upon request.

How can contributions affect my adherence to the CIAP Investment Guidelines?

Weightings in each individual security (including common stocks, preferred stocks, corporate bonds, ADRs, publicly traded pass-through entities, REITs) will be limited to not more than 10% of the current market value of the Giving Account. Notwithstanding the above, a CIAP portfolio may hold one individual security up to 25% of the current market value of the Giving Account.

How can I get tax receipts for filing purposes?

You can access your clients’ tax receipts on GivingCentral. Select the client’s account, click on the Statements & Confirmations tab and then Form 8283 and select which year is need.  If you need other tax receipts, click on Contribution, Exchange, and Miscellaneous Transaction Confirmations (on the Statements & Confirmations tab).  Then use the drop down to select which date is need.

Donors can access their tax receipts online. After logging into the donor portal, click on the “History” tab and then “Statements & Confirmations”, Form 8283 and select which year you need.  If you need other tax receipts, click on Contribution, Exchange, and Miscellaneous Transaction Confirmations (on the “Statements & Confirmations” under the “History” tab).  Then use the drop down to select which date you need.

• Note that the 8283 Form is only for contributions of securities over $500.
• There is a tax receipt on each contribution which can easily be pulled by anyone with access under Giving Account Summary, Recent Contributions.
• For Complex Assets contributions, an 8283 will not be generated.
• Donors can also obtain blank 8283 forms from the IRS website at www.IRS.gov.  Click on the “Forms & Instructions” tab and type “8283” in the Forms, Instructions and Publications Search box to select the desired form.
• Review our comprehensive list of FAQs around IRS Form 8283.