How to Donate on a Tight Budget

In a tough economy when personal and family cut backs are necessary, cutting back on charitable giving often elicits a lot of guilt. Find ways to look deeper into your life and what you are already doing for ways to be charitable and economical at the same time.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Look at areas where you are already spending money to see if there are charitable options tied to your spending. When you order checks, opt for the design that donates 5% to breast cancer. Eat out at your favorite restaurant on the night when your local high school band gets a cut of the profits. Pull over to have that too-energetic softball team wash your car rather than going through the fancy car wash. Opportunities are everywhere when you have your eyes peeled.

2. Volunteer. It costs nothing to donate your free time to a cause or organization. Help out at your child's school, with your political party of choice, the local food shelf, animal shelter, nursing home, etc. Most organizations have established roles for volunteers for you to slip right into and are relying on their volunteers more and more as avenues of funding dry up in this economic downturn.

3. Donate your clothing. Every area has groups such as the Wounded Veterans of America, Lupus Foundation, Salvation Army, and more that will not only take clothing donations to help fund their programs, but will even come and pick them up from your home, saving you the cost of gas. Be careful to keep an itemized list of all clothing, shoes, and accessories you donate, because it is all deductable at tax time.

4. Donate your car. If you have an old clunker that is costing you more than it is worth in repairs, and has laughable trade-in value, strongly consider looking into the many organizations that take car donations. Many will go so far as to tow your vehicle for you. These organizations have volunteers fix up the cars to be drivable, reliable vehicles for single mothers or at-risk families, or profit from the sale of parts. Making a car donation also means a sizable tax deduction!

5. When you do make money donations to a group or organization, look for opportunities for the recipient to receive matching funds. Some employers will match employees charitable giving to certain organizations, and other causes sometimes have the opportunity to receive a matching funds grant if they are able to raise a certain among of money on their own on a certain time. Matching funds opportunities doubles your donation.

6. For birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah or anniversaries, use the money you would have spent on a gift for that person and make a donation to a charity in their name. Most people are touched by such a gesture, and it is a good way to educate them and others on the particular organization or cause receiving the donation.

7. Consider a micro loan. There are several reputable organizations that specialize in making small loans to people in developing countries to build or enhance their small businesses. As with all loans, the money eventually comes back to you and a great difference is made in the life of the person receiving their loan, as well as their family and whole community.

[soanyway]

on 4/27/2009 Wonderful Ideas, I always feel so bad when I can only give a couple of bucks in the offering at church. Great ideas you have!