There are, as of this writing, just under two weeks until the end of the taxable year. That means that you a bit more time to squeeze in most of your remaining tax deductions for 2016 (there are a few exceptions like those for IRA contributions). One of the easiest ways to get a deduction, assuming you itemize, is to make a charitable donation.
With that in mind, today we kick off the first of my 12 Days of Charitable Giving. Readers have suggested deserving charities over the past few weeks, and I’ll be posting one a day for – well, 12 days (I’m clever that way). Today we start with Technoserve.
Technoserve works with men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. A nonprofit organization operating in 29 countries, TechnoServe focuses on harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, the organization has helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.
Technoserve – short for “technology in the service of mankind” – was founded in 1968 by Ed Bullard after he traveled to Ghana. A businessman, Bullard realized that the people he saw in Ghana who struggled did so because they lacked the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to lift themselves out of poverty. He believed that could change by providing business solutions to poverty: linking people to information, capital, and markets. The organization works with partners to provide those resources to those who want to build better lives.
One of TechnoServe’s successes is the Cosechemos Más Café (Better Coffee Harvest) project. The project is a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the J.M. Smucker Company, and the PIMCO Foundation. The project seeks to boost the productivity and the quality of coffee produced by smallholder farmers of El Salvador and Nicaragua, which, in turn, improves the income of farming families. The project includes three components: training and technical assistance, access to finance and inputs, and knowledge management. You can read about the impact of the program on one of its participants, Maritza Sobalvarro of Matagalpa, Nicaragua here.
The reader who nominated Technoserve points specifically to another success story: Athanasie, a Rwandan woman whose life was shattered by genocide. With help from TechnoServe, Athanasie put her life back together, becoming a successful coffee farmer who is able to send her children to school and pay for their healthcare.
Last year, donors helped 1.6 million people like Maritza and Athanasie improve their incomes and the health, education and welfare of their families through TechnoServe’s programs.
So how can you help?
To make a one-time donation by credit card, you can click over to the website. If you’d rather stretch out your gift, you can sign up to make monthly donations here.
Donations may also be sent by mail. Simply complete and print this form (downloads as a pdf) and then send it to:
TechnoServe
Attn: Development Office
1120 19th Street NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
TechnoServe is a member of the Combined Federal Campaign, the official workplace giving campaign of the Federal government. The CFC number for TechnoServe is #10728.
Some employers will match donations. You can find out whether yours does by clicking here.
You can find more information about ways to give to TechnoServe – including making donations of appreciated assets like stock (a smart tax move) – here.
As always, you want to make sure that your donation is going to a qualified charitable organization. A search using the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Select Check reveals that Technoserve is on the list. To find out more about the work of the organization, check out their web site, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter or Instagram. You can also check out their YouTube channel.
You can also check out third-party sites like Charity Navigator for more information about charitable organizations, including evaluations and access to tax forms and other financials. TechnoServe boasts that “[f]or ten consecutive years, Charity Navigator has awarded TechnoServe its highest rating. This places TechnoServe in the top one percent of all rated charities, based on our fiscal health and commitment to accountability and transparency.” You can see Charity Navigator’s summary of TechnoServe’s financials and other info here.
Remember: submissions to the 12 Days of Charitable Giving are made by readers, and in most cases, I can’t personally vouch for the work that these folks do. Be generous. But be smart and do your homework. For more information about making charitable donations, check out this prior post.
