Archive for the ‘Research’ Category

Tips and Tricks: Car Donations Made Easy

Friday, November 19th, 2010

We like to keep things simple, so when we found this video on car donations, we thought it had some great basic information to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ctBPU-YJw&feature=related

Some highlights to take away from the video:

  1. Research the car donation charity to make sure it is legitimate.
  1. Figure out what percentage of the proceeds go to the charity, and how much goes towards costs of operating the business.
  2. Get the title of ownership for your vehicle.
  3. Complete their requested information and provide your contact information.
  4. Sign your title over to the charity and do not leave that portion blank.

We’re here for you if you have any questions, so don’t hesitate to ask! Now is a great time to donate a car to charity, and as the year comes to a close, you need to think about a car donation tax deduction for this year. It’s never too late to do a great thing.

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The Basics Of Donating A Car To Charity

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Sometimes we all need to go back to basics. Information overload can take its toll, and when it comes to donating a car, we often like to jump into all the details. Taking a step back with car donations, allows you to focus on how you can make sure you’re not being scammed.

  1. The first way you can check and make sure a charity is legitimate is you do your research. See whether there are any open investigations by researching online and with the Better Business Bureau.
  2. Check the percentage of money that goes to the charity. Charities will use a portion of their proceeds to operate their own business, but you can usually find a company that takes under 15% for their own needs.
  3. Know the write-off rules. You know the IRS has changed the rules, so take some time to learn how this will affect your individual situation. If you need help, call the car donation charity to ask questions.
  4. Value your car correctly. You usually can’t deduct the fair market value of your car, so make sure you get all the paperwork and know how much your car went for.

The biggest thing you need to keep in mind when you decide to donate a car to charity is to do your homework. It is an immensely satisfying experience, and it won’t take a lot of work, but if you don’t put in some time you might find that your donation didn’t do as much as you originally thought.

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State Attorney General Cracks Down on Fraudulent Car Donation Charities

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo recently announced on Tuesday June 22nd that he has subpoenaed 16 different car donation charities and fundraisers that could be scams. This is all part of an ongoing investigation that Cuomo hopes will halt fraudulent activity that takes advantage of trusting citizens.

One organization, Feed the Hungry (FTH) is charged with raising $430,000 with car donations between 2002 and 2009 but only donating 1.8 percent of that towards its said cause of feeding homeless New Yorkers. The rest of the money, was allegedly spent on personal purchases by the director of the charity, Nicholas Cascone Jr.

When you decide to donate a car, it cannot be expressed enough that you need to carefully consider your options. While you might believe you are making a charitable contribution, you might just be taken for a ride instead.

“We remain concerned that similar practices may prevail in other organizations and will diligently work to root out any other sham charities. As we continue working to clean up this industry, we encourage generous New Yorkers to stay informed and to keep donating to worthy charities,” said Cuomo.

Other charities that are under the microscope include Kars 4 Kids, Bless the Kids and Lechaim for Life. While you can still receive your car donation tax deduction if you were to donate to such charities, you might not be donating to a worthy cause and these companies are still taking advantage of their nonprofit status.

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Choosing A Car Donation Charity

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

In the car donation business, a few charities are, unfortunately, less than stellar. In the news recently, you may have heard about Cars 4 Causes®, which is currently undergoing a lawsuit for allegedly failing to pay the funds owed to the fundraiser. You can read about the lawsuit here, but here is the short version of what happened:

  • Cars 4 Causes hired Charity Development, LLC to handle the logistics of car donations. Charity Development handles the repair, storage and selling of the cars given to Cars 4 Causes, and Charity Development in turn gives Cars 4 Causes the money.
  • Charity Development claims that they have been delivering more proceeds to Cars 4 Causes than the company has actually donated to charities.
  • Charity Development asserts that Cars 4 Causes is only giving about 16% of the proceeds to the designated charities, while they are spending the rest on their own internal overhead and other programs.

When you want to donate a car to charity, make sure you choose a reputable company that will do its part of the bargain. Make sure you research the charity company online and find out everything you can about them. If they are reputable, then they will not have anything to hide.

At 1800CarDonations.org, we care just as much about your charity car donation as you do. Make sure your donation goes to people in need, and make sure you choose a company that can help your donation make a difference.

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