Saturday, October 6, 2012

Tips To Make Veteran Donations Count

By Sharlene Fleming


There's a difference between supporting charitable causes and giving veteran donations. In this case, the donor is not just helping a person in need. This is someone who has risked life and limb so that others may enjoy freedom, safety and a good life. It's hard to put a price on something like this, but let's start by giving what they need to get back on their feet, so to speak.

Everybody, no matter what their own financial condition, can pitch in and help in many ways. Actually, there are so many possible ways to help that it can be quite confusing as to what to do and what not to do. Go through the details provided below and each person can then decide how to help on an individual basis.

Giving cash online is both simple and effective. The organization getting it can use the cash to fulfill the individual needs of each veteran they help out. Furthermore, the charity can pool all the donated funds to get discounts for items they need to buy in bulk.

Of course, all this doesn't have to come from the donor's own money. Many people organize events such as a car wash or bake sale with the proceeds going to a veterans charity. The most effective cash pledges, though, are recurring payments from donors on a monthly or annual basis. This helps the charity plan for the future knowing how much cash they will have in hand during each month or for a given year.

The second best choice is to directly hand over gifts and goods. Anything new or used can be donated, because a lot of this goes to unemployed or disabled veterans, who may also be homeless. Skilled workers can donate time, businesses can donate their own goods or services, and everyone can volunteer to help.

All household use items may be given. But the three things that are most needed are clothing, food and vehicles. A used car donated to a veteran is probably the best way anyone can help, and it has a lot of advantages for the donor too.

For instance, the tax-deductions available for veteran donations make them part of a sound financial strategy. The donor gets deductions based on the amount of cash or the fair market value of the goods donated. In order for donations to be tax-deductible, it is required that the recipient organization must be registered as a non-profit with the IRS.

In addition to veteran donations in the form of cash, goods, cars and volunteered time, there are other ways to help better their lives. For example, buyers can make it a habit to purchase from businesses that are owned and staffed by veterans. Business owners who want to help can provide military discounts. The most important thing is to let veterans in need know that the help they are getting is not just charity, but the community's way of appreciating their courage and sacrifice.




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