The Wild Rover
10-30-07, 08:08 AM
How to Donate to a reputable Charity
It's getting towards the end of the year, so I thought I'd offer some tips on charitable giving. Giving to charity is about more than just saving on your taxes, it's also about helping a cause that's important to you. You could give money to help cure a disease, or help someone who is hungry. Giving to charity is a way for you to decide where your money goes. The question is always… how do I know if the charitable institution I’m giving to is worthwhile? Are they putting your money to good use? Also, what should you donate? Cash? Items you no longer need or use? How much can you donate? In the case of Mexfish…donating his tools to some young punk on his way up to re-building the world…heck, he used those tools to re-wire the lighting on the Ark, Phase II, so just the historical value of those old tools may be something to consider…but seriously…
Donating cash is always convenient, but donating items you don't use can be just as easy and there's the added benefit of getting all that crap out of your basement… if you are home for a while, consider that option. Being stationed overseas most of the time, I always went out of my way to donate to the local orphanage, or the USMC’s “Toys for Tots Campaign”. The Devil Dogs could always count on the generosity of the construction workers. Heck, I've been on Embassy jobs, where the construction workers were the only ones that gave...and some of these office people look down on us because we get dirty when we work...that's sad. You can knock the HB Zachry projects all you want, and usually rightfully so, but they ALWAYS involved the guys in a local charity or community building event, whether it was doing some construction work at the orphanages, boys clubs, or playground for the local children…this is something you will feel good about, and your using your trade skills for some good. Go over to the local orphanage and fix their broken equipment, or donate new lighting…anything…
I was in Mauritania a year or so ago, and my tool partner an I gave a class in Electricity for the American kids stationed there, for their Boy Scout Merit Badge...it was fun, the kids loved the lab work, and it made me realize how much we know that can benefit the communities...there are carpenter merit badges, carving wood work, you name it, and the kids will come away with a different attitude than their parents about construction workers.
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a watchdog group that rates charities based on their efficiency. Their goal is to maximize the effectiveness of every dollar contributed to charity by providing donors with the information they need to make more informed giving decisions. I could be wrong, and we’ll have to ask the tax guys, but for any of you multi-millionaires out there, your donations are limited to 50% of a person or couple's total earnings for 2007. If you're thinking of donating stocks and bonds, I'd say you were crazy, but for those that do, you're limited to 30% of your total earnings. Any donations of stocks and bonds must be of items that have increased during the calendar year, and will be rated at their value on the day of the donation. Me personally, I find that most of the time, I donate to many small type of personal charities, like an out of work construction hands get better soon raffle, or help a brother out because he’s sick, or his child is sick, or a help a brother that’s down on his luck type of fund raiser. Recently, we lost a brother and friend of ours due to cancer, Robert Fairley…to all that donated, Thank You. You have a place in Roberts' families hearts', forever. You just can't buy that kind of love, the goodness you feel when you give because you care. Again, Thank You.
There are always ways to help a friend or another in need. You first timers will see this someday when you go to a third world country, and see children eating off of garbage heaps…you’ll Thank God, or whatever power you believe in, that you are more fortunate. It will break your heart to walk a cancer ward for children, so give what you can…sometimes your time is more precious that any money…just to sit and listen to an old timer on his way out, to help another person should be remembered as the American way…it’s good for you too.
If you are looking to give to a charity service Stateside, the IRS has tightened the rules for giving, especially when donating used items. Cash donations now require a receipt from the charity, a canceled check, or credit card statement to prove their donation, and you may not claim a deduction if you cannot provide supporting documentation. "For material donations, donors may claim a deduction only for items that are in "good" condition. For items worth more than $500, a qualified appraisal must accompany the claim."
You might consider taking photographs of the items before you donate them to prove they were in good condition. The IRS provides detailed instructions on deducting all types of charitable donations from cars to a pair of jeans that no longer fit your ass…According to the IRS, "If you claim a deduction on your return of over $500 for all contributed property, you must attach a Form 8283 (PDF), Non-cash Charitable Contributions, to your return. If you claim a total deduction of $5,000 or less for all contributed property, you need only complete Section A of Form 8283. If you claim a deduction of more than $5,000 for an item or a group of similar items, you generally need to complete Section B of Form 8283 which requires, in most cases, an appraisal by a qualified appraiser”
You all must remember, no matter how good it seems everything is going, most people are only a paycheck or two away from being in financial trouble…with that in mind, the next time you have a chance to help your fellow man, every little bit helps…what goes around, comes around…instant karma. Please keep this in your heart as the holidays are just around the corner.:cheers
It's getting towards the end of the year, so I thought I'd offer some tips on charitable giving. Giving to charity is about more than just saving on your taxes, it's also about helping a cause that's important to you. You could give money to help cure a disease, or help someone who is hungry. Giving to charity is a way for you to decide where your money goes. The question is always… how do I know if the charitable institution I’m giving to is worthwhile? Are they putting your money to good use? Also, what should you donate? Cash? Items you no longer need or use? How much can you donate? In the case of Mexfish…donating his tools to some young punk on his way up to re-building the world…heck, he used those tools to re-wire the lighting on the Ark, Phase II, so just the historical value of those old tools may be something to consider…but seriously…
Donating cash is always convenient, but donating items you don't use can be just as easy and there's the added benefit of getting all that crap out of your basement… if you are home for a while, consider that option. Being stationed overseas most of the time, I always went out of my way to donate to the local orphanage, or the USMC’s “Toys for Tots Campaign”. The Devil Dogs could always count on the generosity of the construction workers. Heck, I've been on Embassy jobs, where the construction workers were the only ones that gave...and some of these office people look down on us because we get dirty when we work...that's sad. You can knock the HB Zachry projects all you want, and usually rightfully so, but they ALWAYS involved the guys in a local charity or community building event, whether it was doing some construction work at the orphanages, boys clubs, or playground for the local children…this is something you will feel good about, and your using your trade skills for some good. Go over to the local orphanage and fix their broken equipment, or donate new lighting…anything…
I was in Mauritania a year or so ago, and my tool partner an I gave a class in Electricity for the American kids stationed there, for their Boy Scout Merit Badge...it was fun, the kids loved the lab work, and it made me realize how much we know that can benefit the communities...there are carpenter merit badges, carving wood work, you name it, and the kids will come away with a different attitude than their parents about construction workers.
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a watchdog group that rates charities based on their efficiency. Their goal is to maximize the effectiveness of every dollar contributed to charity by providing donors with the information they need to make more informed giving decisions. I could be wrong, and we’ll have to ask the tax guys, but for any of you multi-millionaires out there, your donations are limited to 50% of a person or couple's total earnings for 2007. If you're thinking of donating stocks and bonds, I'd say you were crazy, but for those that do, you're limited to 30% of your total earnings. Any donations of stocks and bonds must be of items that have increased during the calendar year, and will be rated at their value on the day of the donation. Me personally, I find that most of the time, I donate to many small type of personal charities, like an out of work construction hands get better soon raffle, or help a brother out because he’s sick, or his child is sick, or a help a brother that’s down on his luck type of fund raiser. Recently, we lost a brother and friend of ours due to cancer, Robert Fairley…to all that donated, Thank You. You have a place in Roberts' families hearts', forever. You just can't buy that kind of love, the goodness you feel when you give because you care. Again, Thank You.
There are always ways to help a friend or another in need. You first timers will see this someday when you go to a third world country, and see children eating off of garbage heaps…you’ll Thank God, or whatever power you believe in, that you are more fortunate. It will break your heart to walk a cancer ward for children, so give what you can…sometimes your time is more precious that any money…just to sit and listen to an old timer on his way out, to help another person should be remembered as the American way…it’s good for you too.
If you are looking to give to a charity service Stateside, the IRS has tightened the rules for giving, especially when donating used items. Cash donations now require a receipt from the charity, a canceled check, or credit card statement to prove their donation, and you may not claim a deduction if you cannot provide supporting documentation. "For material donations, donors may claim a deduction only for items that are in "good" condition. For items worth more than $500, a qualified appraisal must accompany the claim."
You might consider taking photographs of the items before you donate them to prove they were in good condition. The IRS provides detailed instructions on deducting all types of charitable donations from cars to a pair of jeans that no longer fit your ass…According to the IRS, "If you claim a deduction on your return of over $500 for all contributed property, you must attach a Form 8283 (PDF), Non-cash Charitable Contributions, to your return. If you claim a total deduction of $5,000 or less for all contributed property, you need only complete Section A of Form 8283. If you claim a deduction of more than $5,000 for an item or a group of similar items, you generally need to complete Section B of Form 8283 which requires, in most cases, an appraisal by a qualified appraiser”
You all must remember, no matter how good it seems everything is going, most people are only a paycheck or two away from being in financial trouble…with that in mind, the next time you have a chance to help your fellow man, every little bit helps…what goes around, comes around…instant karma. Please keep this in your heart as the holidays are just around the corner.:cheers