Charitable Gifts Offer more Giving Options than Ever Before

Brent Pourciau — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:49:36 +0000

Perhaps the most human of all characteristics is our capacity for emotion. Feelings can be a powerful motivator when we are joyful, angry, frightened, or sad. Our ability to empathize with another person’s suffering is precisely what moves us to lend a helping hand or offer a charitable gift. What may come as a surprise, however, is the magnificent and substantial feeling of well-being that follows a gift of charity. It fulfills the soul and can even heal the broken heart in its darkest hour. In modern parlance this is referred to as a win-win situation, and there are more giving options than perhaps ever before.

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!

Add to your Wealth by Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds

Brent Pourciau — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:19:30 +0000

Everyone has something to offer, and philanthropy is as intertwined with the human experience as work itself. The deep satisfaction of helping another person is perhaps the genesis of the expression, ‘Giving and receiving are the same,’ because the experience is one of humanity at its finest. Donations are now as diverse as donors themselves and can range from volunteer services to vehicles to life insurance or property. Another exciting option is to donate stocks or mutual funds. If you are considering becoming a charity donor and you are fortunate enough to have done well with your investments, then you can use that talent to enrich your own life while helping others.

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!

New Orleans Louisiana Local» life insurance

Charitable Gifts Offer more Giving Options than Ever Before

Giving Options for making a Charitable Donation

Charitable Gifts made Easy and Giving Options Aplenty

Add to your Wealth by Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds

What to Know About Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds

Donating Stocks or Mutual Funds to Volunteers of America