Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

5 Excellent Charitable Causes

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One of the best feelings that you can have as a person is if you know that you can give money, time, or energy to a particular charitable cause. There are some cases where charities aren’t so above-ground though. And that’s why you have to do a little bit of research to find out which ones give the most to the people that they are supposed to give to.

So, five excellent charitable causes that have a great track record for helping people out are going to be charities that help with drug abuse, help prevent trafficking, give small loans to people in need, get wigs or other hair related items for kids, or the organizations that help to fulfill wishes for people in need. [Read more…]

Considering Charity: How Much Can Someone Afford To Give?

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The idea of charity is very important to some people, and to others it can be more of a thought that crosses the mind seasonally, or only during major disasters or times of need. Nonetheless, when it does come to the forefront of a thought process, how can a person determine the amount they can afford to give?

A few ways to look at that question would be to start with the idea of salary, then think about geography, look into administration fees of different companies, consider volunteering as a form of charity, and place the idea of your church or spiritual institution in the equation as well. [Read more…]

5 Ways You Can Give If You Can’t Afford a Charity Donation

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Giving to charity is a great way to contribute to society by selflessly giving to those who are more in need than you. People are always talking about the benefits of charity contributions from the tax breaks to feeling good within yourself.

But how do you give to charity if you simply don’t have the funds? Perhaps you don’t have the luxury of donating $100,000 to a recovery center. Sometimes there are ways to give that don’t involve any currency or bank accounts, simply human kindness and generosity. [Read more…]

A Few Ways (And Reason Why) Your Business Can Be More Charitable

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Being charitable is a great idea for your business, whether you are a solo business owner working out of your home or you own a large corporation with many employees. Giving to charity has benefits that range from helping you get tax breaks to allowing you to be more of a helpful part of your own community.

Charity has so many good benefits, whether you are donating to something local or to something national. Take some time to do some research on the charities you are considering donating to in order to make sure they have a good reputation and that your money will be going to what you expect it to.

Donate Locally To Help Your Community

Things happen in each and every community, from house fires that take a family’s entire belongings to tornadoes ravaging entire neighborhoods. It is through different charities, local and national, that families are able to rebuild their homes and communities are able to get their businesses back up and people’s lives back on track.

Local charities are those that keep the donated money in your own community. By donating to this type of charity your business gets a better reputation in your own home town, which can in turn lead to more clients and money for you.
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How Charity Work Affects Your Business And Taxes

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Individuals are the only ones that spend time doing volunteer work, or donating to charities. Businesses sometimes have a hand in such things as well. In fact, often charities will specifically contact businesses asking for donations of time and or money.

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Individuals that donate to charities can use that monetary donation to save some money when tax time rolls around. But what about businesses? Cab donating your time and money save your business some money when it comes to tax time? It’s a possibility, and being a little giving could even save you from bankruptcy. [Read more…]

Insights from Charities on Recent Japan and Ecuador Disasters

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Japan earthquake relief efforts

Natural disasters such as earthquakes can wreak havoc on the lives of people and properties. The trauma that they bring can last for a long time but thanks to humanitarian efforts, victims of these disasters get their much needed financial help and emotional support. With charities lending a helping hand, people were able to rebuild their lives.

Last year, Nepal suffered greatly from two major quakes that affected its more than eight million citizens. This April, two more countries were shaken by deadly earthquakes, Japan and Ecuador prompting charitable institutions from the different parts of the world to take action. [Read more…]

How Much Should You Really Give to Charity?

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Sharing one’s blessings is an admirable trait that people must practice in their lives. One form of sharing is giving to charity.

It should be understood, however, that while giving to charitable organizations is a good act, not everyone is obliged to do it. Give only on your own free will like when you have something, money or otherwise, extra. It is understandable when you can’t give to charity when you are having financial difficulties.

Remember that the amount you decide to give depends on your personal circumstances. But when you decide to share, give as much you can because there are many underprivileged people who will greatly benefit from your donations maybe not in your own place but in other areas and countries. [Read more…]

Putting Excess Food And Clothing To Good Use

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With the economy treating so many people roughly these days, there are a lot of families who could use a helping hand. Food, clothing, and other general use items are at the top of the list of things impoverished families tend to need. Also, by cleaning out your closet of unwanted wears, you will be making additional room for those designer furs you always wanted. As you take a look through your pantry, canned and boxed food items are generally the most useful items to donate. these items generally have a longer storage life than the food in your refrigerator. They are often the easiest for poor and homeless people to store — especially if a person does not have a refrigerator of their own. Although that is hard for some to imagine in our modern age, it is a situation that is more common than people might expect.

Giving to Churches and Food Banks

A lot of people would like to get involved, providing food items to the poor and needy, but are not sure where to begin. Generally, the poor and homeless obtain their food from shelters, food banks, and churches. In some cases, food that makes it into these centers is derived from the USDA surplus and other food redistribution projects. Though the redistribution of food from such sources is helpful, it generally does not satisfy the great need that exists. Most food pantries and food bank services still rely on other community members to donate to their cause, which helps to support the many efforts made to keep economically challenged people fed. If you have ever wondered how great the hunger problem in America truly is, according to the Feeding America website, approximately 49-million Americans struggle to obtain adequate food each day. [Read more…]

3 Surprising Items You Can Donate

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You can donate your time, money and of course certain products in good condition that you no longer use. However, it’s the products that seem to be so puzzling for many people. If the item is relatively costly, you may want to write it off as a tax deduction. While a 501(c)3 charity will give you a receipt, it’s your job to prove to the IRS at the end of the tax year that the item was worth a certain amount of money. This will require research and documenting like items/years/conditions and preferably taking photos before making a donation.

However, many people are also surprised to find out just what variety of items are eligible for donations. In certain instances, you might be able to donate healthcare items such as CPAP accessories or other monitoring devices. Check with your local hospital or care facility; they’ll likely have leads and recommendations. [Read more…]

How to Register Your Nonprofit

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Nonprofits are a lot of work to get up and running. But the hours are a small price to pay to become part of the important role these organizations play in society.

Before you consider registration and obtaining a Basic Business License, you need to make a few key decisions. What is the organization’s mission? Who will serve on the board of directors? What are the long-term goals and how will they be reached? Where will the funding come from?

Once the structure of your nonprofit has been decided on, you can take the first steps toward registration. [Read more…]