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ShareGift USA’s vision is to be the pre-eminent national charitable organization that collects small shareholdings or minor amounts of consideration resulting from corporate transactions and facilitates their donation to charity.

ShareGift USA's only objective is to place as many funds as possible into the hands of worthy charities. Because most of ShareGift USA's operating costs are donated or underwritten, it is able to pass though virtually all of its donations to its selected charities.

Shareholders
Shareholders find themselves holding small amounts of shares for many different reasons -- mergers or acquisitions, stock splits or dividends, inheritance, or simply shares that have fallen in value. Such shares often remain dormant in shareholders’ accounts due to the minimal value resulting from their sale. Now, there is a simple solution – making those small shares make a difference by donating them to ShareGift USA, a 501(c)(3) charity.

Similarly, shareholders often receive minor amounts of cash consideration from corporate transactions and may wish to donate these sums to charity; ShareGift USA will facilitate such donations.

When individual donors give their small holdings of shares to ShareGift USA, it re-registers them into its own name and collects them into round lot holdings that are large enough to sell cost-effectively. As soon as practicable after the receipt of the shares, ShareGift USA sells them and donates the proceeds to variety of US charities.

Interested donors should contact us if they would like to donate shares or cash. Please contact us at donations@sharegiftusa.org or 212 813 9677 about the form of your donations. ShareGift USA will provide donors with the necessary paperwork and instructions to effect the transfer, and it will provide the necessary documentation for tax purposes.

Corporations
ShareGift USA works with corporations to communicate with shareholders who may wish to donate their minor holdings of shares to charity, thereby simplifying the corporate register and reducing the cost of maintaining these holdings. Since minor shareholdings are often generated by corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs, ShareGift USA works proactively with corporations to develop shareholder donation programs when such corporate transactions take place.

In December, 2008 ShareGift USA received a No Action Letter from the SEC indicating that a ShareGift USA donation option could be included in documentaion relating to mergers, acquisitions, take-overs or spin-offs.

In addition ShareGift USA works with corporations which are initiating odd lot round-up programs to include a donation option for their shareholders. ShareGift USA believes that in the case of both corporate transactions and odd lot round-up programs, shareholders will have a greater incentive to participate if a charitable option is included.

ShareGift USA is happy to work with lawyers, investment bankers, accountants and shareholder service firms who are involved in such transactions, as well as with the corporations who undertake them.

Charities
ShareGift USA has chosen well-known charities that have demonstrated track records of success, high efficiency ratings and reflect the charitable giving patterns of generous Americans. ShareGift USA has donated funds to charitable organizations focusing on education (Scholarship America, First Book), health (the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society), human services (Childhelp USA, Make-A-Wish Foundation) , public society (The National Council on the Aging), the environment (The Sierra Club Foundation, The Conservation Fund) and international causes (CARE). ShareGift USA has recently selected a new roster of charities including Teach for America, the Alzheimer's Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Feeding America, the Trust for Public Land and Room to Read.

 

ShareGift USA has identified four key areas through which it can access small shareholdings:

Mergers, Acquisitions and Spin-offs -- When major transactions occur, shareholders often receive minor amounts of cash or stock as consideration. By working with corporations, their attorneys and investment bankers, ShareGift USA offers shareholders the option of donating their minor consideration to charity.

Odd Lot Programs -- Corporations recognize that small shareholders are costly to service and do not add to the ownership profile. By working with shareholder services firms and transfer agents, ShareGift USA offers shareholders the ability to "donate" their odd lots to charity, as well as to "buy" more shares or "sell" them.

Escheatment, Bankruptcy, Class Action Suits -- In all such cases, shareholders are entitled to minor amounts of consideration. By working with claims administrators, ShareGift USA offers shareholders the ability to donate these amounts to charity.

Retail Brokerage Accounts -- For many of the reasons outlined above, shareholders find themselves with small amounts of shares. By working with retail brokerage firms, ShareGift USA offers their clients the ability to clean up their accounts and donate small holdings to charity.

About ShareGift USA | Who's Who | Press | Our Friends