There are just 38 days left in 2018. As the calendar year winds down, charitable organizations know ’tis the season for folks to write out checks, drop canned goods at the soup kitchen, and toss coins in buckets on their way to do some holiday shopping. Savvy taxpayers are also looking for ways to make year-end gifts that can whittle their down taxable income and trim their tax bill. If you’re looking for some charitable inspiration – or hoping to inspire someone on your own – you’re in luck: The 12 Days Of Charitable Giving are coming!
As I do every year, I’m asking readers to nominate a charity to feature for the 12 Days Of Charitable Giving. In addition to the charity’s full name, I’ll need the city where the charity is located, what the charity does, and why you support the charity (a personal story would be great). Please also link to the organization’s website, Facebook page or YouTube channel: the more information that you can provide, the better.
The charity must be a bona fide 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that donations are tax-deductible in the United States. Examples include schools, libraries, and purely public charities like the American Red Cross. The charity must also be in good standing: check to make sure that tax-exempt status hasn’t lapsed or expired. You can confirm charitable status by using the new online tool, the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS), on its website (you can find out more here). Additionally, most charities will post evidence of tax-exempt status on their website.
Convince me why your favorite charity deserves mention. Anecdotes are great, as are links to stories in the press. I’ll review the nominations and select one charitable organization to feature for each of 12 days in December – with some tax tips for charitable giving mixed in (of course).
Send your nomination via email (charity@taxgirl.com) and put “12 Days” in the subject header.
