If you have land, a residential property or commercial real estate that is unused, costly to maintain or no longer part of your plans, consider donating it to the Alzheimer's Association. 

Your charitable donation helps contribute to our mission to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

We partner with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) to process donations in the form of real estate assets. Properties in any location, condition and format are eligible for donation to the Association. Back taxes, mortgage balances and deferred maintenance don't prohibit your ability to donate. The program covers all loans, liens, commissions and closing costs so long as there is equity in the property. You may also be eligible for a significant tax deduction. 

How to donate

• Call 844.277.HOME (4663) or complete the real estate donation form. 

• Work with a donation specialist as the property is evaluated, including valuation, title, liens, condition and estimated closing costs.

• If accepted, the property is sold for maximum value through the program’s real estate process. 

• At closing, applicable IRS forms are sent, proceeds go to the Association, and you receive documentation for your generous gift. 

Can you accept real estate with a mortgage balance?

Can I give a portion of the equity to Association, or do I have to donate it all?

What type of real estate can be donated?

Is donating real estate easy?

Yes. Our partner has a national real estate auction platform, and a national title company partner so we can quickly vet assets and convert them to cash without the Association ever having to own or operate the asset. Also, using the IRS Bargain Sale, the Association can accept real estate with mortgage debt and high-value assets with a portion of the equity going to the Association (and a portion in cash to the donor). Donors don't need to pay for anything and only need to fill out a seller disclosure and sign the deed at closing.

What tax deduction do I receive when donating property? 

Real estate donations are based on the full appraised value, not the sale price. Capital gains tax may also be avoided (excluding the mortgaged portion or cash received). The deduction can be carried forward up to five years following the year of sale. In most cases, you may deduct the difference between the cash received and the fair market value based on an appraisal specifically completed to assess the value based on IRS gift appraisal guidelines. You may not deduct proceeds that were applied to pay off mortgages or back real estate taxes. 

How long does it take to complete a real estate donation? 

Most donated properties will be completed within 90 days, and some as quickly as 14 days. The goal is to maximize the value of the property. 

Do I have to pay commissions or closing costs? 

You don't have to pay any commissions. If your property is currently listed with a broker, the Association will pay the commission owed based on the list price, or tax assessor value if there is no list price. There are no closing costs to the donor, and all unpaid liens will be paid off at closing. The donor is generally not asked to pay anything out of pocket, and prepaid property taxes and assessments will be remitted back to the donor at closing.

Can either party cancel the donation agreement? 

It depends on the transaction. If the Association can't achieve a retail sales price that results in a surplus, or if there are title or serious repair issues found, the Association may terminate the donation agreement. 

What if my property has environmental issues? 

Properties with environmental issues can be processed; however, only high-value assets would be considered due to the risk and complexity. Investors specialized in environmental clean-up often issue indemnities to sellers via complex insurance placements.