What does tax-loss selling season mean for charity donations?

EDMONTON, AB – “Diabetes Awareness Month” and “Giving Tuesday” are behind us, and 2019 is nearing an end. There are lots of ways you can support Alberta Diabetes Foundation before 2019 wraps up, and at the same time, helping out your own portfolio.

Jamie Golombek wrote an article that appeared in the November edition of the “ Financial Post ” and highlighted some points to help make the most of tax-less-selling season, before the end of the year.

What is Tax-Loss selling?

It involves selling investments with accrued losses at year end to offset capital gains realized elsewhere in your portfolio. In order for your loss to be immediately available for 2019, the settlement must take place in 2019.

What is Tax-Gain donating?

"In Kind” donations of publicly traded shares, mutual funds or segregated funds to a registered charity or foundation not only provide you with a tax receipt equal to the fair market value of the securities or funds being donated but also allow you to avoid paying capital gains tac on the associated accrued gains.

Have you considered an “In-Kind” donation to diabetes research in Alberta? Your donation would provide you with a tax receipt equal to the fair market value of the securities or funds being donated. Sizeable donations may be made at little to no cost, or at pennies on the dollar. A $500 donation will process islet cells for research. This would have a large impact on multiple research projects. A donation of $1000 will fund a diabetes researcher for an entire week.

Here are four of the major projects you can help support, along with Alberta Diabetes Foundation, before the end of 2019.

“A Better Version of the Edmonton Protocol” – Dr Andrew Pepper (University of Alberta)

Click the link to swatch Andrew explain this project, in his own words!

Results that Quick? – Dr Jean Buteau and Dr Gina Rayat (University of Alberta)

The goal of this project is insulin producing beta cell preservation and regeneration by inhibiting the mechanisms that destroy those cells. The fact that they are focusing on an existing clinical drug already in Phase II trials accelerates the pace of the research and the outcomes.

“Body Heal Thyself” – Dr James Shapiro (University of Alberta)

Dr Shapiro and his lab aim to re-program stem cells generated from the T1D’s own body into beta cells that are both insulin-producing cells and shielded from the autoimmune attack. If successful, the recipient would be cured of diabetes using their own cells. This research is complex and could take years to complete, but the project result is extraordinary.

“Nanomedicines tackle Huge Disease” – Dr Pere Santamaria (University of Calgary)

This University of Calgary based collaboration will use nanotechnology at a molecular level to tune or switch the immune cells that cause the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells into protecting immune cells that work to suppress the attack. By stopping the auto-immune attack, those people with T1D can once again regenerate their own beta cells and produce their own insulin, all without the need for anti-rejection medication.

To donate to Alberta Diabetes Foundation, click here.

For more information about the research projects funded by ADF, click here.

To read Jamie Golombek’s entire article, click here.