Holiday 2006
Newsletter
| |
Bring Philantropy into
your
everyday life |
|
Now through December 31, 2006, American Express® cardmembers can donate through the Giving Express program and earn
double Membership Rewards points for every dollar they donate with an eligible, enrolled American Express Card.
|
|
|
|
Support JustGive while you shop online at Amazon. Learn more |
| |
How Much to Donate to Charity
The average American gives about 3.2% of their income (before taxes) to charity, an increase from previous years but still
well below the traditional 10% "tithe" for charity recommended by religious institutions.
The people that give the most actually make the least. Households earning under $10,000 a year -- far below the poverty
line -- gave 5.2% of their income to charity. That's a larger percentage of their money than any other income group. The
average household donates $1,620 each year. That's just three dollars a day.
To calculate how much to give, click here.
5 Charitable Gifts under $25
To help celebrate the true spirit of the holiday season, JustGive offers 5 charitable gifts under $25.
Charity Gift Certificates
Recipients can redeem these in support of their favorite charity.
Charity Gift Baskets
Our Charity Gift Baskets feature four charities with a cause-related theme.
Charity Wish Lists
Donors can access your list of favorite charities online and make donations in your honor.
Honor a Loved One
Make a donation as a gift to a special person in your life.
Remember a Loved One
Make a memorial donation and a personal message can be sent to the family.
Back to top
10 Steps to Giving Wisely
JustGive is powered by Guidestar, a database of over 1 million local and national nonprofit organizations. Guidestar
provides comprehensive information (such as mission statements, programs, annual donations, etc.) on charities. Guidestar has
created 10 Steps to Giving Wisely to help donors give with their heads as well as their hearts.
Clarifying your values.
Identifying your preferences. Which cause area is most important?
Search the GuideStar database to find charities that meet your criteria.
Finding each charity's mission in the GuideStar search results.
Eliminate organizations that don't meet your criteria.
Why you can trust GuideStar-listed charities.
Get the cold, hard facts on reputable organizations.
Compare and contrast charities' work and operating costs.
Avoid charities that won't share information or who pressure you.
Trust your instincts.
Reprinted from GuideStar
Search Guidestar for your favorite
charity
Back to top
8 Tips on Deducting Contributions
One of the
benefits of charitable giving is the ability to take a tax-deduction for your donations. To help donors understand which of
their donations are tax-deductible and which are not, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers
these tips on deducting contributions.
Contributions are deductible for the year in which they are actually paid or delivered.
Pledges are not deductible until the year in which they are paid.
The value of volunteer time or services to a charitable organization is not deductible.
However, out-of-pocket expenses directly related to voluntary service are usually deductible.
Contributions for which the donor receives a gift or other kinds of benefits are
deductible
only to the extent that the donation exceeds the value of any benefit received by the donor.
Direct contributions to needy individuals are not deductible. Contributions must be made
to
qualified organizations in order to be tax deductible.
Contributions made directly to foreign organizations are not deductible, except in the
case
of some Canadian organizations as specified in an agreement with that country.
The "fair market value" of goods donated to a thrift store is deductible as long as the
store is operated by a charity. To determine fair market value, visit a thrift store and check the "going rate" for
comparable items.
Donated property may generally be deducted at the fair market value of the property at the
time of the contribution.
Seek professional advice or to consult the IRS
when in doubt about the deductibility of contributions.
Make a tax-deductible donation today!
Back to top
Dedicated to creating tools and services to make charitable giving part of our everyday lives, JustGive is
a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase charitable giving by connecting people with the charities and causes
they care most about. Learn more
|
