Most nonprofits work with the tax code they're handed. Habitat for Humanity of Indiana decided to change it.

As the support organization for Habitat affiliates across the state, Habitat Indiana spends every legislative session at the Statehouse advocating for the families its affiliates serve.

For four years, State Director Gina Leckron led that effort by building a broad coalition, advocating with legislators, and championing a new approach to incentivize giving to affordable housing. 

In 2023, that work produced something rare: the Attainable Homeownership Tax Credit, a new state credit designed to make giving to affordable housing impactful for Habitat and the donor. It became available to Hoosier donors in 2024.

The mechanics are simple, which is the point. A donor gives $1,000 to Habitat Indiana as the approved affordable housing organization, and then the donor receives a state tax credit worth 50% of the gift, or $500 back on a $1,000 gift. The credit scales up to a maximum of $10,000 on a $20,000 donation. 

Habitat for Humanity of Indiana is currently the only organization the State has approved to receive these gifts, which means the credit runs statewide through one front door and out to local affiliates doing the building.
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Then came the harder question: how do donors actually give?

Because the most tax-efficient way to fund a gift like this usually isn't cash. It's appreciated assets, such as stock or bonds. A donor who gives shares directly avoids the capital gains tax they'd owe if they sold them first. 

In Indiana, that donor can now pair that federal advantage with a 50% state credit on the same gift. For a donor sitting on years of appreciated assets in a brokerage account, the combination is hard to beat. Note: every donor's situation differs, so a tax advisor should always weigh in.

The problem is that most nonprofits can't accept stock without a scramble: brokerage paperwork, a DTC transfer request, someone chasing a custodian, days of uncertainty about whether the shares arrived. Ask a donor to navigate that, and many will quietly write a smaller check instead.

That's where Infinite Giving comes in. Habitat for Humanity of Indiana launched a giving page in May 2024 that lets donors contribute stock in a few minutes from their phone, without calling a broker, and route the funds from each gift to the local Habitat affiliate of their choice.

The results speak for themselves.

Since launch, donors have given more than $2 million in stock through the platform across 187 gifts, spanning 103 different securities, including single-stock positions in Indiana employers like Eli Lilly to index funds and mutual funds. Gifts have flowed to local affiliates, and the count is growing, from Greater Indianapolis to Gary to Madison to Evansville to Fort Wayne. 

The clearest signal is gift size. The average stock gift has been roughly $11,500, about six times the average cash gift to the same program.
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“At least 11 affiliates that had never been able to accept stock before have now taken their first one,” said Maggie Wimberly, Director of Finance for Habitat Indiana. “For organizations our size, that's the difference between watching a gift go somewhere else and being able to say yes.”

Donors giving appreciated shares land squarely inside the credit's $20,000 window, right where the incentive is designed to work hardest. And nearly half of all stock value arrives in the fourth quarter during Giving Season, when donors are making year-end tax decisions, and the credit is top of mind.

A tax credit only works if donors can reach it. Habitat for Humanity of Indiana built both halves.
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DISCLOSURE - This testimonial was provided by a current client of Infinite Giving. No cash or non-cash compensation was provided to the client in exchange for their statement. The client’s experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients. Donation data on average gift size was sourced from May 2024 - Aug. 20, 2026 from Infinite Giving platform records; amounts reflect securities liquidated to cash net/ gross of fees, defined consistently. Donation and technology services provided by Infinite Giving Technologies, Inc.  Investment advisory services provided by Infinite Giving Advisory Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Infinite Giving and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. This content is provided solely for informational purposes. Investors’ experiences may vary from the content. The information, opinions, and views expressed in this material are provided as of the date indicated and are subject to change without notice. No obligation is undertaken to update or revise this material to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the initial publication date. Infinite Giving and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.