Donations Projects

Is there any way to find out how much car donation programs are actually giving to charities?
Is there a resource online to find out how much car donation programs actually give to charities?

While the typical percentage is around 50%, some get a lot less, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/05/19/MN31930.DTL&type=printable. I believe you can check through the IRS to see what the percentage is for a particular charity.

I am going on two missions trips next summer and need to raise $4300. I was wondering if anyone knows of certain companies that might donate for this type of thing.

OK…Jonathon I am sure you do not realize how ignorant that sounded. As for your mission money, I am not sure about large companies but I know Wal-mart and Target both support missions although I sure their lists of those applying are very long. What I would do is write a heartfelt letter explaining your trips and all the details of monies needed, as well as why you want to go and what your personal goals as well the goals of the mission group.If you can provide links to websites. Explain you cannot do this on your own and are in need of help. Send it to everyone! Also create a blog page to document your journey, provide a link. Add a meter of some sort to show where you are at in your finances. Give your address and set up a pay pal account to accept donations. Don’t forget to update it often and add thank yous to those who have helped journal your trip as well during and after along with photos. People need to see the fruit. Don’t forget car washes, speaking at bible studies, Sunday schools, a special collection at church.

Do you think it’s just so they’ll feel good about themselves? Now, I know all celebrities don’t do this, but a good portion of them do!

Did you hear that U2 left Ireland to avoid paying taxes? They love to go on about how other people and governments aren’t doing their part for the flavor of the month. OTOH there are people like Dr. Dre and Denzel Washington. Dr. Dre donated $1m of his own money to the 9/11 fund and Denzel hangs out with the troops at Walter Reed. Denzel is so low key about it that the "rumor" was the subject of a snopes article.

I need to ask for donations from people so how would I be able to make it so they get part or all of their money back?

By naming a NGO for yourself, and giving receipts too others for donations on your stamped letterhead.

Can someone tell me the step by step process of donating clothing to goodwill store or similar style places and bing able to get the tax deduction. I have to use the long form for tazes anyway so might as well get the deduction if I can. Oh, This is mainly for used clothing and household goods. Good clean stuff thats left over from multi family house cleaning and yardsale.
Thanks!
I’ve never donated anything to get the deduction before, my prvious deductions have been drop offs. So I dont know what to expect.Also, Does it matter for taxes when the donation takes place? Such as there is a goodwill store close by in the next state.
Thanks again for any helpful answers!

1. Each time you donate, make sure to obtain a receipt
2. Keep a record along with your receipt with a list of items donated
3. At the end of the year, make an estimate of the total value you are trying to claim. IRS allow Fair Market Value. Use this sheet as a guideline.
http://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donating/FMV2005.pdf
4. If the total is less than $500, then deduct the value in Schedule A Line 16
5. If the total value is greater than $500, you have to use Form 8283

Best wishes.

I have a lot of quality items (appliances , furniture, etc.) and am wondering if I should hold on to some to donate next year.

If you take the standard deduction, you get no additional benefit from charitable contributions in most cases.
You need a receipt for each donation.
Cannot get deduction for more than 40-50% of income.
Value items donated at thrift shop value, what they would sell for now at Goodwill, Salvation Army, NOT what you paid for them. Must be in GOOD condition.

I have a friend that needs to raise $35,000 to get out of debt after being laid off. This would give her the fresh start on life since there are not many jobs in this area she could move and start over. I would like to help her and start a website for donations, even if people just gave a dollar, you get enough people and it could really make a difference.

You are wasting you time; nobody donate to someone just because they lost their job; think about it, anyone can start a website with a FAKE and sad story and ask for money.

All you will get are replies like:
"Why should I pay for her debts when I have my own debts ?"
"I have debts too, may be I should start my own begging website too."
"This is a cheap scam. Get a real job."

I have donated at least $8,000 worth of property (clothes, bed, fish tanks, etc). Reading the tax law, it states that if I make a donation in a year that is above a certain amount ($5000 or something) that I need to have the charity write me a letter stating that they can sell the goods that were donated.

My question is: since my donations total above $8,000 – do I need the charity to write me a letter, or am I OK since I donated smaller items? (example, not one $500 donation – but 100 small things that are $5)
I have itemized. I have a list of everything, and I am using the ‘It’s Deductible’ program to acquire the ‘fair market value’.

The reason I have so much to donate is due to just being married – so two pack rats merged into one

Any donations of non-cash items in excess of $500 in one calendar year requires you to itemize the contribution on a separate tax return form. For any contribution, you should have the contribution supported by documentation from the charity of the contribution. If you donate ONE item that is in excess of $5,000, then you need to be able to support the contribution with an appraisal of the value of the item being donated.

In your case, since your $8,000 contribution is a combination of a bunch of small items, you don’t need to provide an independent appraisal. Just declaring the contribution on the non-cash contribution form is sufficient.

Does anyone know of places Asia, Africa or America that accepts donations of used clothing? I am willing to pay the shipping and handling…I have checked salvation army etc and I cannot find any info for these places….thanks!

Try the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky. They distribute the clothing to area residents in need. They’re also rated on Charity Navigator.

In Theatres November 6, 2009 – La Donation (The Legacy) – Dr. Rainville, an aging country doctor with a deep attachment to his patients, is about to retire and is looking for a successor. Jeanne Dion, an emergency room doctor from Montreal, agrees to go to Normétal to replace him for a few weeks, with no plans for an extended stay. When Dr. Rainville suddenly dies, Jeanne must decide if she’ll take over the job, and its inherent responsibilities, for the long-term.

Duration : 0:2:50

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