It’s the seventh day of my 12 Days of Charitable Giving for 2018. 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’s charity is The International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The IRC offers emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster. The American branch of the European-based International Relief Association (IRA) was founded at the suggestion of Albert Einstein to assist Germans suffering under Hitler; the organization would later join forces with its European counterpart and rebrand as The International Rescue Committee. Today, the IRC has locations in over 40 countries.
The mission of the IRC is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Specifically, the IRC helps those who are recovering from conflict and disaster seek protection from harm, build safer communities, and understand their human rights.
One of the areas of focus of the IRC is health. Each year, millions of people, particularly women and children, die from preventable causes in countries affected by violent conflict and natural disasters. Most of these deaths are the result of disruptions related to crisis: poor sanitation, shortages of food and medicine, and inadequate prevention. The IRC helps those who are experiencing or recovering from conflict and disaster reduce their risk of falling ill and receive treatment when they do get sick.
The IRC also targets education. During conflict and crisis, education protects children and sets them up for a better future. However, over 62 million children in countries affected by war remain out of school, while many others receive only a poor quality education. The IRC provides young children with access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education as well as learning opportunities for youth and adults that teach employment-related and trade-specific technical skills, such as budgeting, accounting, and marketing.
So how can you help?
To make a one-time donation or monthly donation, click over to the organization’s website.
To make a gift by check, make your check payable to the International Rescue Committee and mail it to the International Rescue Committee, P.O. Box 6068, Albert Lea, MN 56007-9847. You can also donate by phone by calling 1-855-9RESCUE.
For federal income tax purposes, if you plan to claim a deduction for a cash contribution, you’ll want to keep a record of the donation regardless of the amount. Ideally, the organization will provide a written record with the name of the charity, date, and amount of the contribution.
You can also give through a donor-advised fund (DAF). With a DAF, you can contribute cash, securities or appreciated assets in exchange for an immediate income tax deduction – and without paying capital gains taxes. It’s a win-win. The funds can be invested (tax-free) and you can generally direct distributions when and how you’d like.
There are strict Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines which apply to DAFs. For example, as the donor, you’re not allowed to receive any benefit that is more than incidental. If you have any questions or need more information, you should consult with your tax professional.
Do your homework.
As always, you want to make sure that your donation is going to a qualified charitable organization. A search using the IRS’ new Exempt Organizations Select Check reveals that International Rescue Committee is on the list. It’s worth noting that two similarly named charities (I checked using the EIN). When you search on the site, it’s always best to have as much information as possible.
To find out more about the work of the organization, check out their website, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Instagram or Twitter.
I often suggest checking out third-party sites like Charity Navigator for more information about charitable organizations, including evaluations and access to tax forms and other financials. The International Rescue Committee has a four star rating with Charity Navigator.
The organization earned the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, an online service that provides information about nonprofit organizations.
Remember: Submissions to the 12 Days of Charitable Giving are made by readers, and in most cases, I can’t personally vouch for the good work that these folks do. So be generous, but be smart: Do your homework.
For more on making charitable donations, click here.
Looking for more inspiration? Here are the other organizations on the list this year:
- The Women’s Tax Resolution Center, Inc.
- America’s VetDogs
- First Book
- The Grey Muzzle Organization
- Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
- Rise Against Hunger