As the nation’s largest charity, United Way of America understands the impact that charitable giving has on improving communities and helping individuals. United Way also understands how important it is to choose the right organization to donate your hard-earned dollars. As you prepare to make any type of charitable gift, we urge you to follow the simple guidelines below.
1. View Your Donation as an Investment. Any gift to a charity should be seen as an investment, and you want to invest in a charity that will make a major impact on its recipients while also giving you personal satisfaction. An investment approach to a particular group or cause will ensure a more meaningful experience for you.
2. Do Your Homework. When selecting where to give, it is important to gather all the facts. Conducting thorough research prior to giving will help you separate legitimate charities from frauds, as well as reassure you that your donation is truly helping those who need it most. To avoid fraudulent charities, make sure your chosen charity doesn’t engage in any of the following activities:
- Asking for cash donations
- Sending mail appeals disguised as bills or invoices
- Offering very little or no information on actual day-to-day operations
- Pressuring you to give.
3. Understand the Tax Benefits of Giving. An added benefit to giving is that most charitable donations are tax-deductible. To receive a tax deduction, you will need the proper documentation when filing your income tax returns. The IRS requires a receipt for each tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more. Depending on the amount or type of your gift, you may need to provide additional documents with your tax form, such as Form 8283 for each non-cash donation exceeding $500.
4. Decide How You Will Give and How Much. Financial donations are the most popular charitable gifts, but there are other ways to help your favorite cause. Many organizations will accept property and goods, as well as your time. There are many options on how to give, including donating directly online, by mail, through payroll deduction or through a donor-advised fund. Additionally, find out if your employer will match your charitable gift. This will even further maximize your investment.
5. Track Your Donations. Once you have made your gift, mark your calendar with important dates of your charity’s meetings and key events for the year. These are excellent ways to see your investment at work. Also, be sure to track the dates and amounts you gave payment methods and desired uses for your gift. You should automatically receive a receipt with an acknowledgement of your gift. If you don’t, be sure to follow up. Don’t rely on a cancelled check to count as a receipt.
Education
Cut America’s High School Dropout Rate in Half
By 2018, 87 percent of high school seniors will graduate on time, up from 73.9 percent today.
That increase translates to 560,000 more youth who will receive diplomas in 2018.
An ill-prepared 12th grader does not one day magically appear in a cap and gown ready to pick up a diploma. This 10-year goal means we must engage with children and families from birth.
More about Education>>Income
Cut in Half the Number of Lower-Income Families Who Are Financially Unstable
By 2018, 1.9 million more working families will become financially stable and able to take the next steps to long-term independence.
This 10-year goal means helping these families increase income, build savings and grow assets so they have reduced debt and are working toward a goal that might be stable housing, business, retirement or postsecondary education.
More about Income>>
Health
Increase by One-Third the Number of Youth and Adults Who Are Healthy and Avoid Risky Behaviors
By 2018, the percentage of youth who are healthy and avoiding risky behaviors will increase from 34 percent in 2005 to 45 percent in 2018—that means 1.9 million more healthy young people.
The percentage of adults (age 18 and older) who are healthy and avoiding risky behaviors will increase from 35 percent in 2005 to 47 percent by 2018—that means 29.2 million more healthy adults.
More about Health>>
Education
Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. It’s essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits. And it’s fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs. More>>
Income - Achieving Financial Stability
As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. These individuals are walking a financial tightrope — they are barely able to get by, with no ability to save for college, a home, or for retirement. With your help, United Way is working to cut in half the number of lower-income families who are financially unstable. If we’re successful, by 2018 1.9 million working families will be on the road to economic independence. More>>
Health
United Way addresses pressing health and healthcare issues facing communities across the country. Community by community, United Ways and their partners target childhood obesity, health insurance coverage, healthcare quality, childhood immunizations, substance abuse, family violence, oral health or other healthcare concerns voiced by their community. Health>>
