There are two main benefits to donating your vehicle.  First, the charity benefits from a very useful donation. Second, you have meaningfully affected someone else's life along with a healthy tax deduction.  But there are a few things you need to know before you donate your car.

1. Not all charities will get you a tax deduction.  Make sure it is government approved.  This means it can either be registered as a 501(c)(3) or a qualified church. This is the only way you will get a tax deduction!
2. You need to know the market value of your car.  Most dealerships that sell/buy cars use the Kelley Blue Book, so use that to determine the market value.
3. Cars worth more than $5,000 require a professional certified in vehicles to appraise it.  This will be necessary for government questions.
4. You need a receipt from your chosen charity.  This receipt needs the name of the charity on it, as well as the date of the donation, a tax ID number, and all relevant information about the vehicle.
5. The value of you car is not the tax write-off you receive.  Mostly likely your donated vehicle will be sold to someone needing a way to get to and from work. Find out what they charity sells it for, and this will be the price you receive for your tax deduction.
6. The DMV and your insurance company need to know about your donation.  They will help you with any other necessary steps, such as disposing of the license plate. 

 

Again, you won't be getting the cash you would from flat-out selling your car, but you will have helped someone who needed it and saved yourself the trouble of selling it.

Information taken from: Peter Wallander.  Car Donation Maryland. www.officialautodonation.com 

Lauren White

Instead of dealing with the costs, maintenance, furnishings, and hassles of owning a vacation home, pay for a limited amount of time to vacation somewhere exotic. Timeshares come in all shapes and sizes, anything from a condominium in a resort to houseboats and motor homes. They are fully furnished, usually with complete kitchens and various luxuries not included in your run-of-the-mill hotel room. Timeshares are usually sold in weekly increments and are a mere portion of the cost of actually purchasing and maintaining a vacation home. Purchase for a week or weeks can be deeded and sold permanently or leased for a limited number of years. Besides the initial one time only purchase price, there is an annual maintenance fee. Owners can rent out their timeshares. There are some things to consider before you purchase your timeshare. First, consider if you want a leased timeshare or a deeded timeshare. Take note of the dates of your timeshare and whether it is a fixed week or a “floating” week, meaning that the specific dates differ from year to year.  If it is a floating week, find out how far ahead of time you need to make your reservations. Make sure you know the maintenance fees and any taxes that may be included. Do some homework on the resort, find out if they have any special assessments pending and if they are part of an exchange program that enables you to change your dates. Ask them if you can “bank” your week and use it later, which usually requires it to be used within a two-year time frame.  Make sure you get a copy of the Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions and read it through.  Last but not least, find out how the seller plans to handle the closing paperwork and deed transfer. Timeshares are convenient for many reasons.  You won't have to worry about how much vacation is going to cost in a year or two; its already been paid. Most timeshares are flexible and can be traded or exchanged for another week.  A timeshare generally has much more available room and comforts and is fully furnished. The maintenance costs associated with owning a home are divided up among all the timeshare owners, while the repairs themselves are supervised by a management company, relieving the timeshare owner of the hassles and inconveniences of the upkeep of the facilities. Finally, unless your timeshare is a lease, it can be passed on to your heirs.  

Information taken from: Vacation Timeshare and Rentals http://www.vacationtimesharentals.com 

Lauren White

Instead of selling your timeshare, donate it to a charity. Most charities and non-profits will accept timeshare donations to generate cash for their programs.  Some may even use more creative means and offer the timeshare in an auction or raffle as a prize. Others may charge a fee to assist another charity in selling their timeshare. Transfer fees from timeshare owner associations are paid by the seller/donor. Transfer fees for new deeds charged to the non-profit are minimal. When looking for a charity to donate to, look for one that has minimal costs in promotion and advertising.  The less it costs them to advertise, the more of your donation goes to the programs run by the non-profit. One charity called Works of Life Ministries, is an example of a non-profit that helps sell timeshares for other charities for a fee.  Maintenance fees need to be updated and the donated part must be paid.  Works for Life primary assistance goes to people coming out of domestic violence situations, veterans, substance abusers, and educational goals. By donating it, you may not get the direct cash,  but the annual expenses inherent in a timeshare are gone, and the donation may even qualify as a tax-deduction. Keep track of comparative timeshares being sold online—and use it to warrant the deduction. When your timeshare just won't sell, give it away.  Your charity will thank you.  

 

Information taken from: Mark Silverman, “Getting out of timeshare-a bumpy ride through the secondary market-Part III”, S.F. Timeshare Examiner, www.examiner.com 

 

Lauren White

With stock markets swinging widely, the Federal Reserve slashing interest rates and the word “recession” on everybody’s lips, renewed attention is being given to the gap between the haves and have-nots in America. American credit card debt is growing at the fastest rate in years, this fact has signaled coming trouble for the banks that issue them. The Federal Reserve reported that the amount of revolving consumer credit that is outstanding hit $937.5 billion in November, seasonally adjusted, up 7.4 percent from a year earlier. Increases in outstanding credit card debt can indicate a strong economy, as confident consumers spend more, or it can indicate the opposite, as troubled consumers find it harder to pay their bills. The point of these staggering statstics is to demonstrate that America's trends in spending stems from our humanistic philosophical tendancies. American consumers see something they want, buy it, and pay later. This snowball affect can be clearly seen as we consider facts such as these: About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year. Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt. Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade. It's not clear exactly where the debt trend will take U.S. consumers or the U.S. economy. But it is clear that both are sailing in uncharted waters. You might be asking the asking the question what does this have to do with iDonate? Here at iDonate our desire is to aid the American economy, and not to become just another non-profit begging for another dollar. Times are tough and there is no doubt that history will remember these days for years to come. iDonate is challenging everyone to take a step back and to consider this question: Am I helping the problem or am I the cause of the problem? Sure it's nice go shopping and to buy whatever we that we want, but does that new toy really make a difference in my life or have I become just another statistic in the consumer credit crisis. When you evaluate what you are doing with what you have, consider giving rather than recieving. iDonate's whole purpose is to aid indviduals, ministires, charities, and really anyone who desires to start this rewarding journey down the path to generosity. So, how do I as an individual break the mold of consumerism? It starts by taking the first step, to recognize that there is a problem and to partner with someone that can help. iDonate has the capability and the wherewithall to be that solution. We specialize in partnering with motivated people, evaluating their unique situation, and providing specific solutions to their problems. If you or someone you know would like to break the mold and learn how they too can begin a journey down the path to genorsity please visit us at www.idonate.com.

*statistics taken from New York Times study on consumer credit crisis

The recycling process of vehicles should always be done with environmentally safe means. Often abandon or junk vehicles have fluids like motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, gasoline and antifreeze. Also batteries have toxic acid and lead and many vehicles have remote switches that contain mercury.

Recycled vehicles come from many sources tow companies, private parties, auto auctions and charities. When an individual has a car he no longer needs; this is a perfect opportunity make a great donation of their Junk Vehicle!

Simply by logging on to http://www.idonate.com/ click on donate vehicle and give us the information and we will gladly pick up your junk vehicle without any charge. All that is required is that you have a clear title without any liens.

Not only is vehicle donations a great gift to ministries, our business partners will take your donation and put it to good use as well as environmentally recycled it.

Our vehicle business partners will begin an environmentally friendly dismantling process by emptying the vehicle of any trash and/or leftover items. They continue the dismantling process by removing and recycling fluids and hazardous materials. Batteries are removed, tested and resold or recycled depending on the test results. At the same time, they carefully remove any mercury switches used in the engine compartment and trunk to prevent extremely toxic chemicals from entering our air and waterways. Freon (used by air conditioners), power steering fluid and brake fluid are all removed and recycled or reused.

After these first steps, they take the vehicle to specially designed drain tracks to remove the remaining fluids including gasoline, oil, antifreeze, differential and transmission fluids. All fluids are put into holding tanks with secondary containment to prevent spills and leaks into the environment.

Now that all the fluids have been drained, the vehicle is processed to sell and remove all reusable parts. Vehicles are stored so that there is no possibility of contact with storm water and to makes it easier and safer for parts to be removed.

After all the reusable parts are sold, the de-coring process starts. They check for anything that can be reconditioned or that has recycling value. Examples include engines, alternators, wiring harnesses, compressors, torque converters and more.

The final step in the process is to crush the remaining vehicle hulk. They take the crushed vehicles to metal shredders where they are recycled into new metal.

So if you have a junk or disabled vehicles or a car that is near the end of its life, it will still make a good donation.

The title of the article may get your mind moving a little bit. You might be asking the question, "How can my timeshare change lives?" The timeshare industry in many ways is very complex. For most owners in many regards it is a negative experience. From annual maintenance fees totaling in some cases over $1,000, to special assessments totaling in some cases over $700. These fees seem to spring up out of no where and often are billed at the most difficult times. On top of the added financial stress, when it does come time to take that dream vacation that you have been so eagerly awaiting, for whatever reason you can't even book the week that you want. Listen, all of us at one time or another have heard horror stories about the these "great" vacation plans, and maybe you find yourself in a horror story right now. Whether it is you, a family member, or just a close friend there is a way to rid yourself of this nightmare. iDonate can aid you in this process. We are able to take your timeshare through donation, liquidate the timeshare, and then disperse the revenue to other charities and non-profits. You might be asking the question, "How does this benefit me?" Well other than just getting you out of the timeshare mess, you no longer are responsible for annual maintenance fees, special assessments, or owner's dues. That means you have extra cash in your pocket! On top of that you are able to recieve a tax deduction for your donation since we are an approved 501(c)3. This deduction saves you thousands on your tax return, and even on top of that you have the joy and thrill of knowing that your timeshare just changed someone's life for the better. From disaster relief to humanitarian aid your donation will make a difference. If this sounds like something that you need or you know of someone that might be in need of these services please give us a call at 1(888)90-DONAT or you can visit our website at www.idonate.com. Don't forget all our services for timeshare donations are absolutely FREE!

I don't think there is a country more venerable to a hurricane than Haiti. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and is located right in the middle of hurricane alley. Having been hit 3 times this season by Gustav (killing 13), Hanna (killing over 500) and Ike (killing 60); this nation is in great need of help. The death toll will rise as the water recedes and as the victims must cope with the polluted water.

How can we help?

Servant Christian Community Foundation has several partner ministries that specialize in disaster relief. Right now these aid ministries are in country trying to meet the basic needs to the thousands of victims. If you would like to donate a non cash donation or a cash donation to benefit some of the ministries that are aiding the victims please go to:
(For Non Cash Donations) http://www.idonate.com/
(For Cash Donations) http://www.servantchristian.com/

You can also call our office at 913-310-0279 and we can let you know how you can help.

If you aren't sure what ministry to give to you can look through a comprehensive list of different ministries and their specialties by going to "The Treasure House"
http://treasurehouse.servantchristian.com/th/ir/donor.asp.%20%20

Please specify in your comments what ministry that you would like to benefit with your donation. I know that the devastation in along the US gulf coast is bad but in the nation of Haiti, the devastation is much worse because there is little government infrastructure to help during times of need.