Charities can help you address important issues in your family, community and world. They often have dedicated people with specialized know-how. Making a contribution as a volunteer or donor can be very satisfying too. It’s great to know you’re making a difference in people's lives. You can choose from a wide range of important challenges including the environment, civil rights, disaster relief, education, and poverty. Here's a list of issues that we cover. Giving is growing Donations have increased greatly in the USA. An estimated $248.52 billion was given to charities in
2004. Donations from individuals like you totaled $187.92 billion. Starting in December 2004, donors responded strongly to the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean, further increasing total donations. Giving is up, in part, because people are accumulating an enormous amount of wealth. For example, real estate has grown many times in value over the last few decades. With this much wealth, people feel they have enough left over to consider giving more during their lifetimes. They also leave donations in their wills, so they can continue to give even after they’re gone. It’s important to know…
It’s also helpful to know if you’re giving to a 501(c)(3) organization, one recognized by the IRS as qualified for tax exemption. You then may be able to deduct your donation from your taxable income. How to have an even bigger impact
You can have a strong effect on government policy by donating to, and volunteering for, nonprofits that do political lobbying. Due to IRS rules, these 501(c)(4) organizations may not be tax deductible. In conclusion
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