You can transfer ownership of stocks, bonds or mutual funds to the church and receive a charitable tax deduction based on the full fair market value of the securities on the date of the transfer. This avoids the capital gains tax while giving the church the benefit of the full value of the security. To receive this benefit, it is important to transfer ownership before the security is sold. For your gift to apply to the current tax year, the securities must be in the account of the local church by December 31st of that year. So, allow plenty of lead time for your broker to complete this transaction.
When you name the church as the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, it usually offers you a tax advantage in the year you make the gift.  You can take a charitable deduction approximately equal to the cash value at the time of the gift.  Additionally, continued payments of premiums qualify as charitable tax deductions each year.
A charitable gift of real estate can be especially tax advantageous. If a home, vacation home, acreage or farm property has appreciated in value over the years – its sale could result in a sizable capital gains tax. If the real estate is given to the church prior to the sale, you can avoid the tax and realize a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the real estate. One could even consider a bargain sale transaction with half of the funds to the church and the other half to the donor.