It is not too late!
You still have until December 31, 2018 to donate to a charity of your choice.
What you should know before you donate.
Charitable gifts made to most nonprofit organizations officially recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as having 501(c) (3) status are considered to be tax deductible contribution. Many entities that seem to have a charitable purpose are not officially recognized by the IRS as 501(c) (3) entities. Even if such organizations puts the money to good use or for a worthy cause, you are not be able to legally take a tax deduction.
Before making a charitable gift, take the time to be sure the receiving entity has the appropriate status for a legitimate deduction. Ask the organization to provide you with documentation of its charitable nonprofit status. An entity that has a 501(c) (3) approval will be able to provide you with a letter from the IRS stating it is recognized as a tax exempt entity.
Alternately, you may verify whether or not an organization is eligible to receive donations that are tax deductible by placing a telephone call to the appropriate IRS department. To get the information you need, call 800-829-1040.
They do not realize a nonprofit is not necessarily a charitable organization.” For tax purposes, the law classifies charities and nonprofits according to their mission and organizational structure. … Religious and charitable organizations fall under section 501(c)(3) and can receive tax–deductible donations.
Donate to charity. This is an easy one to do with a high feel-good factor. Unfortunately tossing coins (or even notes) in the bucket at the pub does not count unless you receive a receipt. The easiest way is to pay via credit or debit card so you gain a record acceptable to the United States Taxation Office. Just be aware it must be a registered deductible gift recipient and it must be a genuine donation. Purchasing raffle tickets doesn’t count.
When taking a tax deductible donation, the IRS will require a written receipt; a form of communication from the receiving agency; or a bank record of the gift, such as a cancelled check or bank statement. If you are using a bank record as your receipt, the document must specify the amount of the payment, the date it was posted or paid, and the name of the recipient. It is important to note the donor’s checkbook register, or any other type of documentation prepared by the donor, will not be sufficient to show proof of contribution.
The Hesser Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Foundation. We do not take salaries and out offices are donated so your money will go farther to help the children stay in school and for school supplies. https://www.thehesserfoundation.org/donate.