5 Lessons for Charity Donations

Investigate

Payment and receipts

Tax deductions

Appearance

Contact

Investigate

With today's resources it is only a click away to find information on nearly any kind of organization. Look into local charity registrations and check with the local BBB to see if there has ever been any complaints. Some companies may have their own extensive sites, but the BBB will provide unbiased information from people who have provided their own personal feedback as well as time in business and other legal declarations. Google is a common way for finding basic information on most charities.

Payments and receipts

While giving a couple dollars shouldn't be cause for alarm, never give large sums of cash. Buying candy from a Girl Scout is different than donating $500.00 to the Red Cross. Use checks written to the name of the charity and not the collector. Be wary of giving your credit card information to any company you are unsure of. Always get a receipt. Records are essential for tax time.

Tax deductions

Tax exempt does not mean tax deductible. There are many more companies that claim tax exempt, but are not considered tax deductible. Personal time devoted to a charitable cause is not tax deductible, but the expenses associated with performing those activities, such as transportation costs, are considered a tax deduction. Check with the IRAS for more information related to the organizations that are acceptable tax deductions.

Appearance

Don't be fooled by appearances. Always look into the legitimacy of every charity. They want to be found. A charity can wait a few days while you gather additional info on their organization. Avoid mailers that demand payments of any kind. Some may include gifts and demand a charitable donation in return. These involuntary payments are in no way obligatory, regardless of the wording. Any email that looks suspicious should be treated as suspicious. Reputable organizations will have no problem with proving their authenticity.

Contact

Every reputable organization is going to have more than one form of contact. Email, phone and mail should be available. Many of the larger charities will even have local offices that you can walk directly into.

Conclusion

Even though the y may lift the spirit and even become a factor when taxes are due, the true essence of a charity is the cause it supports. There are more organizations available than can possibly be listed here. Thinking about expectations and donating to the right one can be a rewarding experience. Before making a decision, though, utilize the resources available to determine the best route to go. Legitimate companies are more than willing to cooperate.

Ray recently helped raised $600.00 for Special Olympics charity recently and learned valuable lessons in the process. Find a charity that fits the needs and expectations that you should already have in mind. Remember that even if it isn't tax deductible, it doesn't mean it isn't for a good cause.

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Happiness Brought Through Car Donation

Have you ever read of the Chinese expression which means double happiness? In the Western Hemisphere there is a way of getting that state of delight and satisfaction. And this is through car donations. It may strike you as hilarious, maybe even absurd, but I want to teach you how donating an automobile can make you and those around you really happy.

Now how do car donations make a person tremendously happy, you may wonder? To start, think about the car that you've stored in the garage for the longest time and ask yourself these questions: Is the car still worth storing? Is it still maximizing the use of gas, or has it grown into a gas guzzler? Has your growing family getting to big for the car? Is it thought to be still in style? Do you have the need for the car, or can another person put it to far better use?

When you're a businessman, or a salesman, you have to make an impression of achievement which starts with the automobile you are in. Driving around in an ancient beat up car may suggest that both your business and you aren't doing all that well.

Instead of donating a car, you could possibly decide to just sell it yourself. This can be a fine idea. When in comparison with car donations, marketing and advertising your car requires much more work. Why go through all of that when you're able to easily donate it?

Imagine yourself entertaining men and women you don't know who are making queries on the car which you have put on the market. A lot of them will have to test-drive it personally and you happen to be the person who has to go with them. You could even let thousands test drive your cars without offers.

One other thing to consider when selling your car is you have to make all the necessary repairs to make your car be sellable. When including to this the chore of advertising the car, going online, posting it in the daily news, it is possible to become quite stressed.

If you finally find somebody to purchase your car, you will then need to go through and fill out every one of the documents and contracts necessary. Plus, you may earn the ire of the customer if the car fails to function as you said it would. There are stories of vehicles working well and then suddenly conking out when sold and driven by the new owner.

Car donations to charity remove all these frustrating tasks. Despite the lack of anxiety, when you donate your car to a charity, you are helping someone in need, someone much less lucky then you are. It won't take a lot for you to donate your car, but it will make a major difference in someone's life. You are happy because you've just gotten rid of your vehicle, and because you helped somebody in need, and they're happy because they now have ways to get to work.

There are many types of car donations [http://www.1800cardonations.org/] that are very helpful to charity organizations. To donate car to charity [http://www.1800cardonations.org/donating-a-car/] drop it off at a reputable charity rather than selling it for a few hundred dollars.

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Items to Donate to Charities

There are many different ways to donate to your favorite charity besides just writing out a check or dropping change into a donation jar. Although charities will never turn away money, they also need more items than just money. You may have some of these items sitting in your home unused that the charity could need.

Charities like animal shelters, homeless shelters and the Salvation Army often need old clothes, towels, bedding baby toys and baby formula that has not expired. These items are given out to the homeless or made to help a barred cage a little more inviting for a pet that has to live in a shelter. Baby formula not only helps out homeless babies, but also can be modified for orphaned pet babies.

Contact your local charity or check out its website to see if they have a list of items that they need. For example, some charities need computers, fax machines and mobile phones, no matter how old. They will always need to communicate as quickly as possible with members and volunteers and may not have the money to get the latest technology.

You are not limited to just scouring your closets for these items. You could start a collection drive for items like old blankets or old mobile phones in your office, neighborhood or house of worship. People often do want to help out charities but do not have the financial means to do so. Starting a non-monetary charity drive may help you see the generosity inherent in your community.

Erica knows of some easy fundraising ideas.

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Why Make a Car Donation?

Car donations can be one of best ways to help the less fortunate. It is simple because you are providing something you no longer need to help those who are greatly in need of it.

People mostly think that car donations are made by people who have an extra car, but this is not necessarily true. These donations often come from people who often donate their cars when they think they don't need them. Some people who donate cars do so because they don't get a good trade-in value for the car. Sometimes the trade-in value is much less than the car's actually worth.

Sometimes it happens that a car is in good shape and runs well, but due to its age its worth is low. What are you going to do? You can either sell it or give it to someone who needs it. But, if you don't find a buyer, then the best thing is to donate it to a charity. Car donations are pretty good things, as they give you a chance to help lots of people. They can also be used as a tax deduction.

If you are fond of donations then you must have heard about people donating clothing, toys or furniture, etc. Car donation isn't that different. Just consider the following points before making a donation:

o Make sure that you are donating it to a charity that is approved by the government.
o The easiest way to be sure is to see the 501(c) (3) certification that is given by the government to an organization regarding tax-exempt status.
o Decide "blue book" price for your car. This is will help you in getting fair market value of the vehicle.
o Take the receipt for your car donated.
o The receipt should have information such as make and model of the car, year of the car, and date of donation.

For More Information :- Car Donation and Car Charity

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Charity Hair Donations

Nowadays, just about anything may be donated to charity. Even hair can be donated. Well of course, there are certain requirements to be followed in order to qualify quality hair. This is to ensure that donated hair would meet the stringent demands of its benefactors.

One might wonder what donated hair is used for. It is primarily used to make wigs for cancer patients who are undergoing therapy and are losing their hair. Some wigs are also being used by those suffering from chronic hair loss.

Although healthy hair may be sold, a lot more are opting to donate their hair to charity to greatly benefit those with cancer. It is a token that will definitely be well appreciated and well used.

The general criteria set by charities for those willing to donate their hair is fairly simple. First, most charities accept hair which is at least 10 inches in length from tip to tip. Charities ask that donors bundle hair up in a ponytail or a braid and have them pack it clean and dry. Chemically treated hair is accepted as long as it is not dry or damaged. Nonetheless, virgin hair (never permed, treated, or colored) is the best hair to make wigs from. Charities accept all kinds of hair color as long as other requirements are met. But it is commonly observed that brunettes and blondes are the rarest donations received.

Although there are no guarantees that all donated hair will be used to make wigs for those with cancer, following the guidelines set by charities accepting hair donations will certainly bring you closer to helping a cancer-stricken individual. Hair that does not meet the requirements set by the charities is usually sold to other industries.

The cost of making wigs may range from $3500 to $6000 apiece, considering the tedious job of making them look and feel as real as possible. Charities usually cover the expenses needed in producing the wigs and having donated healthy hair is equally as important in making them.

Charity Donations provides detailed information on Charity Boat Donations, Charity Car Donations, Charity Clothing Donations, Charity Computer Donations and more. Charity Donations is affiliated with Catholic Charity Car Donations [http://www.WetPluto.com/A-Guide-To-Charity-Car-Donations.html].

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It Just Feels Good to Donate a Car

The act of donating a car is very noble. It is definitely appreciated. Many items are donated to the needy everyday. These items normally fall along the lines of toys, clothing, furniture, etc. Donating cars is relatively a new concept. Many people don't feel comfortable and could use some tips on how to go about donating. Car donation advice cam be found through local charities, car donation services, and the Secretary of State.

It is very important to donate your car through a charity that has been government approved. This can be done by going through an online car donation service. Car donation services offer donations to various charities. Some donate to multiple charities. The government will actually offer a certificate to all charities that have been found legitimate. This goes for the car donation services themselves. They will then be deemed as tax-exempt organizations, which will guarantee their authenticity. This is a great way to know you are going through a reputable car donation company and/or charity.

Once you have chosen an online car donating service and charity of your choice, you will want to find the actual blue book price of your car. You will then know what the fair market value for your vehicle is. This is based on the current condition of your vehicle.

It is vital that you have your receipt that will be given to you once the vehicle donation is completed. Only legitimate organizations will give these. If you walk out without a receipt, that should be a very big read flag. It is this receipt that will also allow you to obtain a tax deduction from the IRS.

There are details that you will want to keep track of when donating your car. You will need to know the make, model and year. You will want to have the exact date that you donated your car. You need to know the blue book value that is yielded for the charity of your choice.

There are many laws pertaining to car donation. People will no longer receive fair market value, so do not let this catch you off guard. You will only get the amount that the car donation service or charity was able to get for the car that you donated. Many people do not find this as a problem, since they know they are doing a good deed. Sometimes receiving less money is OK when it is a convenient way to get a problem car off of your hands.

Donating a car is a benefit to all those involved. For you as a donor, it is a great way to get rid of a vehicle you do not want, and get a tax deduction. Charities have the ability to help fund their cause. Cars are a great way for a charity to have a big dent in their relief efforts.

The American Relief Foundation invites you to help us provide poor children around America with support they need. If you lost your car title and cannot donate we have an excellent resource to link you directly to your DMV page to order a duplicate car title. We are looking for a Pennsylvania Car Donation to help our cause. Please if you have an unwanted car consider a car donation.

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Donate Your Car to Support Services for the Blind or Vision Impaired

The loss of vision is one of the worse things that can happen to a person. There are many charities that fund research and provide services to those with vision problems or blindness. This costs a great deal of money. There are some ways you can help provide the money for those services.

You can donate money, valuable items for sale or you can donate car you no longer need. Many vision charities accept and sell car donations to help raise money to assist those who are blind or visually impaired.

The American Foundation for the Blind is a highly respected charity that has a large car donation program. They provide services to some 25 million people with vision loss across the United States.

Another charity providing services to the blind you can donate your car to is Helen Keller International. They are one of the oldest charities and their mission is to prevent blindness and reduce malnutrition throughout the world. Helen Keller International enjoys an A rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

One of the biggest causes of vision loss among people older than 55 is macular degeneration. This disease affects over 10 million Americans. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation funds research into the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration. They also provide support for the families of those afflicted with it. They rely on the proceeds from the sale of car donations to fund their activities.

Neuromyelitis optica is a very rare disease that can affect the optic nerve and cause blindness. There are some treatments available but much more research is needed to find better treatments and a cure. The Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure and a treatment for this condition. You will help when you donate car you no longer use to them.

You can also help improve the lives of those who are blind in Illinois by donating a car to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. They continue to help people with vision impairment in Illinois to achieve independence.

The Connecticut Radio Information System, is a radio reading service for people who because of vision loss, a learning disability or a physical handicap are not able to read printed material. They broadcast news and information featured in local newspapers and current magazines.

These charities all provide services to the blind and visually impaired and will all allow you to donate car whether it runs or not. Your car will be picked up for free too. And, they will sell your car for the most money possible. Many car donation charities sell all cars to the same place for a flat rate. These vision charities are different. They sell donated cars to a variety of outlets so that they will get the best price. This practice not only benefits them it also gives you the maximum tax deduction possible since it is based on the amount the charity sells your donated car for.

You can get complete details on how to donate your car by going to the website of any of these fine charities that help the blind and visually impaired. You can also donate car by calling 1.866.448.3487.

Karen Campese has over 13 years of experience handling charity car donations. She is the Co-founder and CEO of Cars4Charities, a not for profit car donation center that represents over 1,000 respected charities across the United States. Call 866.448.3487 or go to [http://www.cars4charities.org/].

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