How to Donate to Charity through your Estate

There are several different ways to make a will bequest to a charitable organization. The most basic is the outright, also known as the specific, bequest. This type of bequest is the donation of a certain, predetermined sum of money or a particular item or items of property, such as real estate.

Another way to donate is through a residuary bequest, one in which the remainder of your estate is given to charity after all of your specific bequests have been distributed. This is perfect if you want to both donate to charity and also make sure that your immediate friends and family are taken care of in your will as well.

A third type of bequest is the contingent bequest, which is transferred to another beneficiary if the original beneficiary has deceased. This type of donation is perfect as a back up plan. Even if you’re not 100% committed to leaving some or all of your assets to charity, instead wishing to make sure that your survivors receive the fruit of your life’s work, you can name a charitable organization as a contingent beneficiary. This way, in the unfortunate event that your loved one might not be alive to receive their bequest from you, the bequest would not be put to waste, misused, or squabbled over. Instead, it would go on to benefit a good cause—not just any cause, but the cause of your choice—and thus allowing your legacy to live on.

There are all kinds of assets that can be bequeathed to charity in your will. Aside from cash assets and real estate, you can pledge stocks, mutual funds, and life insurance policies.

In addition to the fulfillment of helping those in need, your charitable bequest brings financial benefits as well. As with most charitable donations, these bequests are tax deductible. By making a will bequest, you can enjoy your assets during your lifetime and also live with the peace of mind that they will benefit others in the future.

You want to make a will bequest to charity, but aren’t sure where to start?

The Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans would be a great organization to consider for a will bequest to charity. VOAGNO is one of the most diverse, venerable, and deeply rooted charities in the New Orleans area. Touching the lives of over 63,000 needy residents in 16 parishes, a will bequest to this organization allows your legacy to live on right in your own community, helping make the world a better place for your own family and friends. Not sure about all the legal mumbo jumbo required in distinguishing your bequest? No problem. VOAGNO offers tips and templates for crafting the statement of your bequest. For more information, visit voagno.org or call (504) 482-2130.

Giving Options for making a Charitable Donation

            “I wish I could do more to help,” is something most of us have uttered when viewing one of those commercials that show hungry children, abused pets, homeless veterans, or abused senior citizens. We automatically think of giving money and how our strict budgets just don’t allow for anything to spare, but there are actually many ways to make a charitable gift that don’t involve cash. In the event of a recent death in the family, for example, you or someone close to you might find that you are left with an extra car, RV, motorcycle, or boat that you no longer need. Did you know that you can donate it to charity either online, or by fax, phone or even via mail in a couple of easy steps?

There are many different circumstances that leave people with belongings they no longer need: books, furniture, clothing, collections, and property, even life insurance can all be donated to charity! Or, for those who invest regularly, it is also possible to donate stocks and mutual funds and even receive tax breaks or benefits in exchange. A good charitable organization will be able to find a use for just about anything you wish to donate, so there’s no longer any reason to feel that you can’t donate just because you don’t have extra cash.

Donating one’s time, energy, or expertise are also some good alternatives to donating cash. There are innumerable opportunities to donate your time and energy by volunteering; or if you possess professional training such as a doctor, counselor, attorney, tailor, mechanic, teacher, or even a small business owner, you can donate your services. After the terrorist attacks of 911, for example, many professionals donated their services to the families of victims. After Hurricane Katrina there were several thousand good people who donated their time and energy to help repair and rebuild homes, schools, businesses, and churches as well as helping collection and delivery efforts. But you don’t have to wait for disaster to strike – there are likely to be programs in your area that need volunteers and services for children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

No matter who or where you are, and no matter what you have or do not have, there is someone who needs your help and there is something you can donate. Instead of cringing when you see commercials or billboards for charity, hold your head up high and give yourself the gift of being able to say, “I am helping!”

Charitable Gifts made Easy and Giving Options Aplenty

Providing support and relief for southern Louisiana residents since the 1890s, Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans is everything you’re looking for in a charitable organization. They offer the maximum tax deductions available, can help you structure your donation to receive specific tax benefits, and are an Officially Recognized IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity, so all donations are secure. VOAGNO also handles the preparation and or legwork for you, so donating is usually a quick and simple process. To learn more about Volunteers of America giving options and volunteer programs in the Greater New Orleans area, visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 482-2130 start giving today!

Vehicle Donation Made Easy

Charities realize that you’re a busy person, so they’re making it simpler than ever for you to give your car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle to a good cause. Once you’ve decided to donate your vehicle, it’s time to decide which charity you would like to support with your gift. It will help to research how your charity plans to use your donation, in order to make sure the maximum amount of your gift is going to help people in need. Watch out for online scam sites that offer to collect your car for charity; sites like this donate a portion of the proceeds to good organizations, but keep most of the money for themselves.

After choosing a charity, it’s time to contact them and tell them about your wish to donate your vehicle. Different organizations offer a variety of ways to donate cars, including donating by fax, phone, mail, email and in person. A popular New Orleans’ based charity organization, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America, even offers donors the unique ability to donate a car online using a simple form.

There are several things you need to know in advance of giving your car to charity. First, how much is your car worth? This information is helpful for both you and the charity, as it will help give them an idea of how many people they can help with your donation, while allowing you to anticipate how much you can write off as a tax deduction. Second, what’s your preferred mode of communication? If you don’t have access to a fax machine, then donating a car by fax will obviously not be the best choice for donation method. No matter what method you choose, most charities will have a representative available by phone to help you through the donation process.

Once you’ve completed the initial donation paperwork, it’s time to get your car ready to go! Clean out any garbage or personal effects, making sure to check the glove compartment, ash tray, consoles, floorboards and trunk. Coordinate with the charity organization to decide on a time when they will come and collect your car, then leave the keys, owner’s manual and title information on the driver’s seat or in another place that the organization’s driver will easily find them. You might also want to check with the charity to find out if you should remove the license plates from the vehicle, as rules on this differ by state.

Where To Donate A Car In New Orleans

If you’re looking for a trustworthy organization that accepts car donations in New Orleans, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America is a great charity to choose. The VOA serves kids, families, recovering drug addicts, the homeless, disabled persons, veterans, and the elderly in communities across 16 Louisiana parishes. Visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 482-2130 to learn how to donate your vehicle.

Create a Living Legacy: Where to Begin

A good first step is figuring out what you have or would like to donate. Most will think immediately of money since it is, after all, a more traditional means of giving, but there are also many other sound options from which to choose. You might donate a person’s books to an assisted living facility or donate their clothing to a local shelter. You can also donate a loved one’s car to an organization that helps less fortunate people get their lives back on track. Of course a financial donation such as an In Memory Gift will always be welcome at any charitable organization and can be bolstered by requests for friends and family to make a donation in lieu of sending flowers to a funeral.

In the event of a sudden or untimely death that affects many people, a campaign or project in honor of the deceased can do wonders for everyone involved. A grieving mother in California invited her son’s friends to help her build a memorial garden out of a run-down park in the area to honor the memory of her lost son who played there as a child. The project helped them give meaning to their grief while channeling their energy into creating something beautiful for their neighborhood. Everyone who participated agreed that the project helped them feel empowered to make his death stand for something good while having a positive outlet for their sadness.

Donating your time is also a viable choice and one that is often overlooked. In the case of those who are retired and have lost a spouse, the challenge of filling what feels like an enormous hole in their lives can be quite daunting. The need for interpersonal contact is greatly intensified by the loss of a long-time companion and the abrupt, all-encompassing change in lifestyle can be quite overwhelming. If material things are not an issue, donating one’s time can serve as a life raft that helps the volunteer as much as it helps the receiver. In the case of the grieving mother in California, she enlisted the help of anyone who mourned her son’s death to donate their time and pour their grief into a project that improved their neighborhood.

An In Memory Gift doesn’t have to be money and no matter what you donate, the feeling of having turned your grief into something worthwhile is as good a way as any to honor someone’s memory and help yourself heal at the same time.

Making an In Memory Gift in Greater New Orleans

Making an In Memory Gift, whether it is financial or otherwise, is easier than you might realize. With an impeccable reputation and history of giving, Volunteers of America will help you establish your In Memory Gift or In Honor Gift and be there to guide you every step of the way. Since the 1890s, Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America has been providing charitable services to Louisiana in 16 parishes. After Hurricane Katrina, Volunteers of America placed over 20,000 volunteers in and around the affected areas to help rebuild our great city. Call (504) 482-2130 for more information or visit www.voagno.org and select the “Give A Gift” tab to get started, or just read some of their success stories. Gifts can be made online, by phone, fax or mail, and donations can be anything from stocks or mutual funds to a car to volunteer hours. Start your living legacy today!