I'm looking into finding a charity or non-profit organization I can contribute to starting next year. Do you do anything like this? Also, would it be a tax write off?



I'm looking into finding a charity or non-profit organization I can contribute to starting next year. Do you do anything like this? Also, would it be a tax write off?
"Do what thou wilt..."-Crowley
http://exoticallyneurotic.blogspot.com/




Don't donate to Yele Haiti.
I do, not much but there are few orgs Ive been loyal to for a few years, I get a small write off but have gotten better writeoffs for clothes/electronics donations. If youre stuck http://www.charitynavigator.org/ is a great way to see who spends their money well first before committing





I generally give to local charities versus major ones. One of my big charities are the various animal shelters and I do get a write off but not why I do this.





Same here. Locally based charities will put the vast majority of your contribution to 'work' immediately, where major national charities will consume part of your contribution on salaries of paid workers, lobbying, etc. plus you never really know the nature of the 'work' they are funding with the rest.I generally give to local charities versus major ones



Local food banks do a good job.
The country has been looted.
We give to the local Goodwill. At the same time, they have non-clothe donated items for sale, too, which are greatly price reduced.





Unless you have 6k or more of stuff to deduct as itemizing (standard deduction for singles is 5800 for 2012), you shouldn't deduct charitable contributions. IOW, the standard deduction is adequate for most people and they would pay more tax if they itemized deductions like charity.
If you are married or head of household, you get a bigger standard deduction (11600 for married, 8500 as head of household), but the basic point still holds.
Now if you plan to donate 10k/yr (800/month or more), that is probably adequate with other deductions to justify itemizing and 'writing off' the charitable contributions.
I am not saying don't give to charity, I am saying, don't assume giving 100$ here and there is any kind of tax benefit or way to shelter income.
As for who to give to, the best thing to do is think of what you value and find precious, and then google for an organization that supports that. If it's animals, then there are usually plenty of local shelters for many kinds of animals (i live in the country, there are shelters for horses and farm animals, in addition to dogs/cats/small pets). If it's people, there are usually programs for just about everything (there are, for example, tax-deductible nonprofits for women in the sex industry of various types, mostly advocacy, but they are out there). Since your location says you're in Vegas, you might want to try charities to help gamblers, as another example of a local charity. Anyway there are lots of options, and it's really best to pick options that reflect your values and interests. There is a charity or nonprofit for just about anything out there, and many are local to major cities like Las Vegas.





^^^ state tax rates are also a factor ... as the payment of significant amounts of state income tax makes crossing the federal 'standard deduction' hurdle that much easier.





That's true, if you live where state income tax is around. I don't, and boy am I thankful!
Do lots of research if you're considering foreign aid charities - in many situations the money can either get tied up in overheads, outright misused, or the aid does not reach people in need due to stuff being confiscated by the needy country's government. What a world.
Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor
- Dr John Zoidberg





Another vote for local charities. I give to the local food banks. This year, I've added a homeless shelter. I also volunteer at a homeless shelter a few hours a month. A bunch of us CPAs get together and do tax returns for poor people at the homeless shelter in March too. Get them their EITC without the rip-off of certain well known chain tax preparers.
HTH
Z



Thanks everyone for your responses. I will be looking into the local cherities out here in Vegas.
"Do what thou wilt..."-Crowley
http://exoticallyneurotic.blogspot.com/



I use www.guidestar.org to check out nonprofits. Hell even used it on a former employer during negotiations
I donate every year to my local Planned Parenthood.
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