Why Volunteer on the Northshore?

The list of reasons to volunteer can be endless, but the bottom line is that serving your community is advantageous to both yourself and others. You will feel better about yourself after volunteering, in addition to the people whom you helped through volunteering, which in turn means that the community is a happier and better place. Imagine a neighborhood where nobody helps each other out. How could that even be called a neighborhood? It would merely be a collection of houses, a group of strangers that just happen to occupy adjacent parcels of land. What kind of fun is that? Summertime is about coming together, enjoying the company of others, getting to know each other better. Your weekend grill outs and barbeques will be enriched by the company of the people that you meet through your service to the community, be they fellow volunteers or the recipients of your help.

Parents: Not sure what to do with the kids now that they are out of school for the summer? How about getting them involved with a charity as volunteers themselves? Of course, kids are going to want to spend every waking hour playing video games, riding bikes, running around with their friends, playing sports, and all of those other fun things that they have not had the opportunity to fill their day with all school year. But why not give them a little structure during their few months of freedom? Not only will they be out of the house for a little while (giving you, or the babysitter, a much-needed respite), they will definitely learn and meet new friends as they serve the community.

Retirees: You are also extremely valuable volunteers on the NorthShore. Your wisdom, skills, and experience that you have accrued over your lifetimes are invaluable in helping others throughout Mandeville, Slidell, Covington, and the rest of St. Tammany Parish. You will feel great knowing that you can still make a strong impact on your very own community and gain even more wisdom and experience along the way.

Volunteering on the NorthShore

One organization that can utilize the services of all kinds of volunteers on the NorthShore is the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans. This organization prides itself on serving over 63,000 people each year throughout 16 parishes. VOAGNO even has its very own Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which gives seniors and retirees the chance to volunteer throughout St. Tammany Parish. For more information on volunteering on the NorthShore, please visit www.voagno.com or contact Brenda Brown at (985) 674-0488 or bbrown@voagno.org.

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.

What to Know About Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds

While volunteering is not something for everyone, there are now many more ways to give than perhaps ever before. In this day and age most people are proud to speak of their investment portfolio because it reflects a mindfulness of how to use existing capital to make more money and has become very popular among workers who want to plan for their future and/or supplement their income. If you are lucky enough to be someone who is successful at investing, consider that you can now use that skill to make a difference in your community while also enjoying the personal growth and rewards of having cared about the needs of those whom are suffering.

Additionally, donating stocks and mutual funds offers certain tax benefits that you may or may not realize. For example, if you find that you have some shares that pay low dividends or have hit their maximum value and you want to eliminate them, you can donate them without having to pay a capital gains tax. An important thing to know is that the actual shares must be donated as opposed to the proceeds from the sale of shares, as this will change the nature of the donation and affect the eligibility for tax benefits. Donations can also be structured to bring about certain tax or estate benefits, depending on what you would like to donate and the specific results you would like to see.

Knowing your own expertise is one thing, but also be sure that the charity to which you donate is set up so that you will receive the maximum tax deductions for your donation. One good way to check an organization’s legitimacy is by finding out whether they are an Officially Recognized IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity. Most charitable groups will have an easy-to-find web site and if they are officially recognized by the IRS, then this information should be advertised in a prominent spot as a selling point for newcomers.

Another important thing to look for is a charity that has made the process easy and free of complications. You should not have to interrupt your schedule for unnecessary meetings or paperwork that could be prevented by dealing with a reputable business that has experience with such transactions and will handle the legwork for you. The process should be as simple as providing your broker’s name and contact information, and the names and numbers of shares you wish to donate. Again, beware of any transaction that gets to be cumbersome or time-consuming, as this means that the group has not done their share of the work and may not be very adept at using your donation to its maximum potential.

Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds to Volunteers of America

            By donating stocks or mutual funds to Volunteers of America, you will have the comfort and satisfaction of knowing that you will receive the maximum tax deduction available, and that .88 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward funding that helps veterans, children, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. A quick visit to www.voagno.org or a phone call to (504) 482-2130 will show you that Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans is an Officially Recognized IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity and their experts have done all the preparation needed to guide you through your donation with a simple exchange of information. Donations can also be made by fax or mail; just use the contact information above and make a difference in someone’s life today!

Personalizing your In Memory Gift

            There are many ways to personalize your In Memory Gift, whether it is for your own living legacy or for someone dear to you whom you would like to honor. In the event that you are creating your own legacy, you can start by deciding who you would like to help. Perhaps you had a close friend who was adopted and you want to help other children who need a family or, maybe someone helped you as a child and you want to be sure that other children have the opportunity to have a mentor as well. In the event that you wish to honor someone you love or admire, the process will be similar. What made this person so special? Which qualities touched you so deeply? Choosing a recipient group is very fulfilling but you should keep in mind that this is simply a choice that is available to you and not a mandatory part of the giving process.

Whether or not you have a specific recipient group in mind, you do have to take stock of what exactly it is that you wish to donate. An In Honor Gift can be incorporated into a loved one’s funeral, for example, by asking for donations in lieu of flowers. Or, on a happier occasion, you might include the same request in birth announcements as well. We all seem to know that person or family who has everything, which makes it near impossible to select a gift on such occasions as birthdays, retirement, anniversaries, and the like. Consider starting an In Honor Campaign in which everyone can participate. The presentation of such a gift not only touches the person being honored but also has the added benefit of helping people who are truly in need of assistance in order to survive.

When planning your gift, keep in mind that the nature of an In Memory or In Honor Gift does not have to be financial. Of course monetary donations are always welcome, but consider that there are also many other choices when making a donation. A good charity should allow you to donate anything from vehicles to property, stocks or mutual funds, to life insurance or volunteer hours. Also remember that the right organization should offer an experienced professional to help cover all the options and assist you with planning and spreading the word. You should be able to structure your gift in such a way that it serves your purposes without becoming overwhelming or stressful.

In Memory and In Honor Gifts through Volunteers of America

            By making your In Memory or In Honor Gift through Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans, you will have the comfort of knowing that their capable staff will be there to guide you each step of the way. VOAGNO has been serving residents of southern Louisiana in 16 parishes for over 100 years, with programs assisting children, families, veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Donations are tax deductible, easy, and secure, and an average of .88 cents of every dollar donated goes directly toward funding for their programs. To learn more about VOAGNO or to get started on your gift today, visit www.voagno or call (504) 482-2130.

Tips for Avoiding Scams When Donating a Car or other Vehicle:

When donating a car or other vehicle such as a truck, motorcycle, RV or boat, the most important thing to know is that you should never make your donation through a third party. Anyone can claim to be collecting vehicles on behalf of a reputable organization and may even go so far as to offer rewards, tax vouchers or other benefits for your donation. Reputable charities do not send representatives on foot to canvass neighborhoods for unwanted vehicles. The process of donating securely is quite simple but, it is not standard practice to utilize door-to-door solicitors!

Before donating anything at all, you should always be prepared to do some basic research on your chosen organization. Legitimate charities have web sites with lots of evidence of the work they do. You should be able to tell within a few minutes which populations are receiving the benefits of the organization, which programs they offer, where their office is located, and some easily-verifiable history of their accomplishments. Remember, a real charity seeks to promote their achievements, not hide them. Beware of an organization that isn’t boasting about their success!

Another red flag to look for is how easy or difficult it is to find out what percentage of donations collected actually goes directly to people in need. The law does not stipulate just how much of amounts collected must be given to the organization’s recipients. That means that a group who call themselves a charity can actually give as little as 1% of their donations to people in need of assistance. In order to know for certain that your gift reaches the people who need it, remember that a legitimate and reputable charity will want to advertise their good work. You should be able to discern quite easily what percentage of donations reaches their targeted populations. Also keep in mind that this information should appear in a public format and not just something their representative said or other word-of-mouth claim.

Finally, any organization accepting donations and claiming to provide charitable assistance to people in need should be officially recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) charity. Again, charities that are reputable and secure will want to advertise this information in order to assure newcomers that their work is honest. You should not have to search very hard in order to find this verification and it should be presented in a public format. Look for charities that operate locally so that you can follow up on their activities and campaigns more easily. Most cities and smaller rural areas have at least a few good charities from which to choose. If you know what to look for and how to spot any suspicious claims or lack of information, you should be able to find an organization to whom you can donate your car or other vehicle securely.

Donating a Car or Other Vehicle in the New Orleans Area:

If you live in the New Orleans area and would like to donate your car or vehicle, look no further than Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans. Donating a car can be handled in a couple of easy steps and your donation will be fully tax deductible, with the receipt being mailed within 24 hours. Whether the car or vehicle still runs or not, pickup is free of charge. Volunteers of America is also an Official IRS 501 (c) (3) Charity that gives an average of .88 cents of every dollar collected to those in need, so you never need to worry about scams. All you need is the keys and title of ownership to make your secure donation today. Visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 525-2179.

Things to Know when Donating a Car:

            As you begin your research on available options for donating a car, you will find that there are many companies from which to choose. Having a list of your own criteria is always a good idea so you know exactly what to look for in order to get the results you want or need. For example, if you need the donation to be tax deductible, then you will need to know that the recipient of the vehicle is reliable so that you aren’t faced with penalties or rejection of the deduction later on. You also want to be sure that the company to whom you donate the car is legitimate, and a good way to confirm that information is by visiting the Better Business Bureau web site as well as CharityNavigator.org. These resources will alert you of any complaints or history of wrongdoing on the part of your chosen group.

If you plan to donate to a charity, they should also have their own web site where you can verify two critical pieces of information. The first is determining whether or not the organization is an Official IRS Recognized 501 (c) (3) Charity. This status should be plainly visible in a public format (like a web site) so that you won’t have any unwelcome surprises when you submit your taxes. The second is what percentage of donated revenue actually goes to the organization’s intended recipients. The law does not stipulate a required minimum amount, so beware of charities that do not advertise this information because the actual amount could be as low as 1%. If a charitable organization is truly legitimate, they will want donors to know these two things so it should be relatively easy to find on a web site or in promotional literature.

Another essential part of choosing an organization is the convenience with which they will handle the transaction for you. There should never be any hidden fees or transportation costs to the donor, and you should also look for a group that has simplified the process. Remember, you are donating to them, so the process should be simple, quick and hassle-free. Will they take care of picking up the car? Do you have to be physically present at the time? What will you need to provide? When will you receive the receipt? These are all important questions to ask before you agree to go through with the transaction.

To Donate a Car Online or by Phone, Fax or Mail:

            Donating a car can be as quick and easy as two simple steps that require only minutes of your time. Volunteers of America accepts all cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and boats whether they are operational or not. Pick-up is always free and receipts are usually mailed within 24 hours of the completed transfer. At www.voagno.org, you can begin the 2-step process; or email your donation. All you need are the keys and the title and VOAGNO will handle the rest! They also accept car donations by fax, phone, and mail. To donate a car by phone or fax call (504) 525-2179, or toll free at 877-721-4862. To donate a car by mail, simply call the local number above and they will provide the mailing address. Make a difference in someone’s life today!