Before we get to it, I just want to say thanks: we’ve collected $475 already for Smile Train. That’s almost two life-changing surgeries for children withs clefts! We still have a little over $2000 to go to meet the goal of reaching 10 children, so if you haven’t given yet, please do.
Okay, now for a few more ideas about donating:
Idea #12: Make a…really long-term plan. Have you ever considered including a charitable organization in your estate planning? Many organizations will take almost whatever gifts they can get — life insurance, stocks, real estate. You can set up a charitable gift annuity. You can include a bequest provision in your will. There are tons of different giving mechanisms, and some of them can save you big on your taxes. To get the ball rolling, you will need the organization’s federal tax identification number. Check with the organization to make sure they can accept whatever kind of gift you plan to give — some charities may not have the resources to manage them, so ask to talk to a planned giving officer. Then go talk to your financial advisor and, if applicable, your estate attorney. (I know a great one. She’s one of my favorite people ever.)
Idea #13: You can also donate your car and write it off as a tax deducation as well. The good people over at Charity Navigator have a handy guide, if you are so inclined. Just make sure you give it to a (financially healthy, effective) charity directly, rather than through a for-profit car-donation agency that may pocket a big chunk of the value of your donation.
Idea #14: As long as you’re clearing out your car, you may as well clean out your closet, too (you’re probably going to be getting new sweaters for Christmas anyway, right?). Be sure to do some research before you drop off your clothes, books, or furniture to a charity, though. First of all, if it’s broken, unsafe, or unusable, just throw it away. Also, it may be more helpful to the charity if you just sell the items yourself, and donate the proceeds. You can sell online through Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist, or you could host a yardsale and have your buyers come to you (Craigslist is good for advertising yardsales, too).
If you’re trying to get rid of stuff quick, though, and want to donate directly to an organization, make sure that they accept the sort of in-kind donations you have. Some may only accept men’s clothing and not women’s, for example. Some may have limited space and only accept items that are in-season. Finding out who needs what you’ve got will ensure that your donation is best utilized.
Waiting for Morning 