How to Donate to Charities

If you've decided to donate to make a charitable contribution, you'll need to organize the details of the donation to make the most of your efforts. Donating to charity isn't limited to just money; you can donate food, clothing, pet supplies, and even blood depending on the organization. Making any type of donation may also make you eligible for a tax deduction which ends up saving you money in the long-run.

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Instructions

Pick An Appropriate Cause For You

1. When choosing a charity, it is important to decide what is most important to you. Most likely, it will be something that has personally affected you.There are literally thousands of charitable organizations out there, and the IRS recognizes nine main types of non-profit organizations.
   
   1. Charitable Organizations. Includes religious, scientific, and educational institutions as well as private foundations.
   
   2. Social Welfare Organizations. Includes civic leagues and community organizations.
   
   3. Labor and Agricultural Organizations. Includes labor unions and farm bureaus.
   
   4. Business Leagues. Includes trade associations and chambers of commerce.
   
   5. Social Clubs. Includes hobby and country clubs.
   
   6. Fraternal Societies. Includes lodges and other such organizations.
   
   7. Veteran's Organizations. Includes organizations of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States.
   
   8. Employee's Associations. Includes voluntary employees' benefit associations and local associations of employees.
   
   9. Political Organizations. Includes campaign committees and political parties.
   
   One final factor you will want to consider is how much of your donation actually goes to the cause. While some foundations give 100% of the donation to those in need, others retain a percentage to cover operating costs. Charities will be up front about this (they have to, according to the IRS) so make sure to do your research so that you end up with an arrangement that makes you comfortable.

Next: Find A Reputable Organization

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Resources

• Greater Good
• The Humane Society
• Charity Cars

[beamer03]

on 8/12/2009 Please help my youth pastor. They are in need of some repairs on their vehicle. They are trying to get grant through an orginazation called modest needs. Please go to www.modestneeds.org and look for request #117746. I would greatly appreciate it as they have helped me so much and I know they could really use the financial help. Here is their story I copied from the modest needs web page.



We are Youth Pastors at a church in Poinciana, Florida. As this is a brand new church, we do not receive any compensation from the church. We have had to work full time at other jobs to pay our bills for the past 4 years while still working full time at the church as well. Both my husband and I worked full time jobs until the 23rd of July when my husband's job laid him off. He has been looking for another job applying everywhere with no such help.

Then, we had some trouble with our brakes...