By
eHow Culture & Society Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- IRS Forms
- Ledger Books
- Calculators
- File Cabinets
- File Folders
- Tax Preparation Software
Step1
Review your income and expenses.
Step2
Set an annual charitable-donation goal.
Step3
Find one or more nonprofit organizations involved in an issue that you feel strongly about.
Step4
Make sure the nonprofit is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charitable organization that is qualified to receive tax-deductible donations (usually designated as a "501(c)(3)" organization) so that you can receive a financial benefit when filing your income taxes.
Step5
Ask a representative of the nonprofit for literature describing the nonprofit's scope of activities and for a copy of their latest financial statement (Form 990). (Note: The Form 990 must be provided immediately if the request is made in person and within 30 days if made in writing in accordance with federal law.)
Step6
Read the nonprofit's literature and financial statements, or Forms 990. (See "Evaluate a Charitable Organization," under Related eHows, for more details on finding and evaluating charities' Forms 990.)
Step7
Decide whether you approve of how the nonprofit is using donated funds.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 From a collector's point of view (Red Shield Appeal - Salvation Army, Australia), one of my pet peeves is when people either hide behind the curtains or give me an earful.
Please bear in mind that most charities are there to save lives, or at least make life bearable. I always pray that those who I call on never have need of our services.
By all means, check out the charity of your choice. Bear in mind, too, that the exceptionally wealthy First World is doing far better, day-to-day, than most of the rest of the World.
Look around. Do you have a reasonably weather-proof abode, do you have a television, are you fed every day, have you had formal schooling? That's often more than the people for who I collect. Please think about giving generously, rather than just a bit of spare change. Imagine the lives you'll be changing.