How to Choose the Right Charity for a Will Bequest

Before you begin, be prepared to do a little light internet research. There are many worthy causes from which to choose and you want to select the one that carries the most meaning for you. However, you also need to know that the charity organization you choose has a solid background with legitimate achievements. In this day and age, a charity that does not have an easily accessible web site will not make it very far. Promotion and awareness of their cause is absolutely vital to the success of any charitable objective, so a simple keyword search using terms like ‘Charity Giving’ or ‘Will Bequest’ should bring up several good choices immediately.

Another thing you’ll want to look for is how long the group has been around and what are some of their success stories. Legitimate charity organizations will want to boast about these things, so keep that in mind as you conduct your research. It’s usually a good idea to start with a group that has a local office so that you can more readily follow along with what they are doing. For many donors, this is also done out of a sense of loyalty to one’s community. If you are looking for ways to help veterans or foster children, you should be able to find a group that supports them in your area. Most national campaigns have offices in various cities all over the country, so don’t be discouraged! There are many sound organizations that help a long list of populations in need and they are eager to tell of their success!

When choosing which group is right for you there are two very important things you should know: first, if they are officially recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) charity, as this will guarantee the security of your donation, and second, what percentage of their collections go toward they people they serve. This second piece of information is very important because there is no legal limit to how little a charity has to use actually helping others. This means that that actual amount given to recipients could be as little as 1% of all monies collected. The fact that charities are not obligated to give out this information will actually help you by looking out for groups that either minimize or ignore completely this telling detail. A charity that is truly legitimate will be proud of what they are doing and should volunteer this information as a selling point!

Create Your Legacy by Making a Will Bequest to Volunteers of America New Orleans

            Volunteers of America New Orleans has been proving aid and support to southern Louisiana residents for over 100 years. Visit Volunteers of America to learn about their programs that fund housing for veterans, mentors for children, food for families living in poverty, programs for persons with disabilities, and much more! An average of .88 cents of every dollar collected goes directly toward funding their many invaluable programs. Volunteers of America New Orleans will also guarantee that you receive the maximum tax benefits available for your donation, and their experienced staff can help you make a will bequest that helps as many people as possible while allowing you to choose what you would like to give, how you’d like to give it, and to whom it will be given. You can change someone’s life today! Call (504) 482-2130, or go to www.voagno.org and get started!

4 Easy Steps To Profit From Donating Your Vehicle

1)    Choose A 501(c)(3) Charity. Make sure that your chosen charity has the 501(c)(3) public charity status, because donations to most 501(c)(4) charities are not tax deductible. 501(c)(4) organizations are civic leagues and social welfare groups that have the ability to lobby the government, like the Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association. To find out which charities are qualified by the IRS to receive tax-deductible contributions, see IRS Publication 78, Cumulative List of Organizations.

2)    Know How the Charity Will Use Your Car. If the organization you choose will be selling your donated vehicle, you are entitled to a deduction equal to the gross proceeds from the sale, as indicated on the final receipt. This means that you can get a deduction for the amount the car was sold for, NOT how much the car is actually worth. The only exception to this rule is that if the car is sold for less than $500, the donor can apply for a deduction in the amount of either $500 or the fair market value of the car, whichever is less.

3)    Know How Much Your Car’s Worth. As you may have guessed from the last tip, it will be handy to know your car’s fair market value to assess if donation is the best option. In addition, if the charity will be keeping your car for use, making improvements to it, or selling or giving the car directly to a needy person at a value far below fair market value, you may be able to receive a deduction in the amount of the car’s fair market value. This might impact your choice of charity, so know your vehicle’s worth before taking the plunge!

4)    Do Your Paperwork. In order to receive a tax deduction when you donate a car, truck, boat, motorcycle or RV, you must have a written acknowledgement from the charity that they received your gift. This document must contain your name, taxpayer ID, the vehicle ID number, the date of contribution, and a statement that outlines what (if anything) the charity gave you in exchange for the car at the time of donation. In addition, you should itemize the deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040 and include Form 1098-C Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats & Airplanes, which should be provided to you by the charity within 30 days of the vehicle’s sale. If your car is worth more than $500, you must also complete IRS Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions and attach that to your taxes.

Ready to Donate your Car?

If you’re looking for a 503(c)(3) charity in the Gulf Coast region that will gladly accept your donated car, consider the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America. To find out more about how you can provide a helping hand to kids, families, seniors and veterans in sixteen Louisiana parishes, visit their website to donate your car, or call (504) 525-2179 today.

How to Make a Charitable Gift in New Orleans

First you should decide what you can afford to give. Many people donate money if they don’t have time to volunteer, but did you know that there are other planned giving options? Depending on the organization’s mission, a charity might accept anything from canned food to cars. For instance, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America, which services thousands of people in need across 16 parishes every day, accepts a variety of charitable gifts. The VOA website lists dozens of ways for people to help, including donating vehicles, giving stocks or mutual funds, making a bequest in a will, giving gifts in honor of a loved one, and donating life insurance policies, among other options.

If you want to give in a different way, why not consider helping out a local food bank or homeless shelter? Both options accept gifts of money and food to help disadvantaged members of the community, and have space for volunteers every day of the year, allowing you the advantage of helping out during holidays or on vacation time. The Second Harvest Food Bank is a wonderful local charity that fights hunger through food distribution. The organization serves roughly 263,000 people throughout Louisiana, and accepts food donations in New Orleans and Lafayette as well as during regularly scheduled food drives organized by volunteer organizations. To find out how to host a food drive to benefit Second Harvest, visit their website.

For animal lovers, creating a little slice of heaven can be as easy as donating pet treats, toys and supplies to your local shelter or animal hospital. For the social media savvy, there are always opportunities to take part in the animal care community by sharing Facebook posts and tweets about missing animals, animals in search of foster homes, and dogs and cats on the upcoming euthanasia list. Those who want to devote more time and energy can also volunteer to become foster parents to dogs, cats, rodents and reptiles in need of a temporary home. Animal Rescue New Orleans is always looking for qualified foster homes for rescued animals, and the ARNO website also provides tips for helping out the New Orleans animal community in other ways.

Looking for a more fast-paced option? There’s always the opportunity to run or walk for charity. If you’re already an active person, take part in a charity race. One great example is the popular Red Dress Run, a 5-mile fun run that raises funds for charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Participants in the race, sponsored by New Orleans Hash House Harriers, wear red dresses and gather for celebratory beers after the run. Talk about having fun while helping the community!

Discover Giving Options with Volunteers of America

If you’re interested in donating time or money to help children, families, the elderly, the disabled, and veterans in need throughout the Gulf Coast region, contact the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America today. Visit their website at Volunteers of America New Orleans, or contact a representative at (504) 482-2130 to learn more.