The Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, enacted March 25, 2014, allows taxpayers who make cash contributions on or before April 14, 2014 for Philippines typhoon relief to claim charitable deductions for the contributions on their 2013 returns. Eligible contributions may be claimed on either a 2013 or 2014 return, but not both. “Cash” contributions include …
Posts Categorized: Donations
GiveWell Focuses on Evidence-Based Giving
Would you buy a car without a thorough vetting? For most the answer is no. So why donate to a charity without a proper investigation? Last month we posted a list of the main questions to ask before you donate. But as the end of the year approaches, many potential donors tell us that they …
Today is #GivingTuesday
You may have seen this hashtag on your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram newsfeeds today. What is it all about? In response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is a movement to create a global day of giving to kick off the holiday season. New York’s 92nd Street Y was the catalyst for the movement …
What to Ask Before You Write a Check
Do you know what to ask a charity before you make a donation? Especially with large donations, donors should undergo some level of due diligence before handing over a check. Many donors look at an organization’s website and may even review its Forms 990, but is that enough? The Wall Street Journal recently confronted this …
How to Best Help Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan
Following the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, many are trying to figure out the most effective way to help. We’ll cut to the chase: it’s money. Often at times of disaster people want to donate new and used clothing, canned foods, and building supplies. Typhoon survivors need shelter, medicine, and food – NOW. They don’t …
Who's Protecting My Donation from a “Significant Diversion”?
Donors around the country are asking themselves that since The Washington Post published a series of articles reporting that more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations have reported a “significant diversion” of assets since 2008. A significant diversion is one that is more than the lesser of $250,000 or 5% of an organization’s gross receipts or total …