Many Ways To Give

It's not surprising that many Marylanders think of helping those less fortunate than themselves during the holidays. The period between Thanksgiving and the end of the year is often referred to as “the season of giving.”  While it's great that Marylanders are so willing to give during this “season of giving”, it's a fact that many people need help all year round.   Nonprofit organizations depend upon people's involvement to help serve the community, not only through the holiday season, but throughout the year.  Lisa Knickmeyer, the director of St. Michaels Outreach Center, a bilingual program of St. Vincent de Paul notes, “The generosity of the community during the holidays is greatly appreciated, however it is important that people realize that there are times during the off season where our shelves are bare.  After the New Year the amount of people giving decreases dramatically, but the needs of our clients do not.”  

“The Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to three fires each day – in addition to other disasters and incidents,” explains Ruth Tyler, Public Relations Associate at the American Red Cross.  These are just two examples of the thousands of nonprofit organizations that depend upon support from individual donors to provide services and assistance year round.  According to a recent study by the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (Maryland Nonprofits), which represents over 1400 nonprofits statewide, nine out of every ten Marylanders give money, time, or property to nonprofit organizations each year.  You may be surprised to know that the average nonprofit receives more support from individual donors than from corporations and foundations combined.  Vince Connelly, President of the Maryland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, noted, "It is important for individuals to realize how much their personal gifts of money, time, and property benefit people who need help the most."

WAYS TO GIVE

Is there more than one way to give to nonprofits during the holidays and throughout the year?  Yes, there are hundreds of ways that people can use their talents and time to help others in the community.  Nonprofit leaders like Joan McKee, Deputy Director for Development and Community Relations of Human Service Programs of Carroll County encourage people to “give in their own individual way.”  Many supporters of nonprofits come up with new ways to support charities as they go through their daily activities, clean the house, or enjoy their hobbies.  Donors are advised to obtain receipts when making charitable contributions, particularly for single gifts of $250 or more.  Receipts are generally necessary for donors who wish to deduct the value of contributions on their taxes.  

Here are a few ways that people can contribute to charities:

Donations of Cash

Cash donations are always welcomed throughout the year.  Organizations are not only looking for large cash donations, but small donations, too.  Smaller $5 and $10 contributions quickly add up to substantial amounts and account for a large proportion of funds received.    Ruth Tyler from the American Red Cross Central Maryland Chapter offered, “No donation is too small.”

Donations of Stocks and Other Marketable Securities

Many nonprofits accept donations of marketable securities.  "Donors reap tax advantages when donating long-term appreciated securities because they can deduct the appreciated value up to the Internal Revenue Service limits and avoid capital gains taxes," explains Ann Boyce, President of The T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving.  In order to take advantage of these tax benefits, donors should make donations of securities in kind (either by transferring the security electronically to the nonprofit's brokerage account or by donating a properly endorsed stock certificate) and allow the nonprofit or the nonprofit's broker to divest the securities.

Planned Donations

 Planned gifts include gifts through wills, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, or pooled income funds.  Jonathan Ackerman, Owings Mills Attorney and Past President of the National Committee on Planned Giving, states, “Everyone should consider a planned gift, whether during life or at death. Planned gifts can serve many valuable personal goals.  A planned gift can be small or large in amount, with such options as a gift annuity or a specific bequest under your will.”  He goes on to state, “It doesn't necessarily take a lot of money to do a lot of good.”

Donations of Personal Property

A large amount of donations to nonprofits are personal property donations, or “in-kind” donations.  These donations include but are not limited to: clothing, shoes, books, furniture, and other household items.  There are a variety of nonprofits that accept these types of donations.  For example, Goodwill Industries and other organizations collect personal property donations in locations throughout the area.  Last year over 479,521 people in the community donated millions of household items to Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, including “over 20 million pounds of clothing and textiles,” stated Lisa Rusyniak, Vice President of Marketing and Development for the agency.

There are also nonprofits that accept special kinds of personal property.  One Baltimore-based nonprofit, Suited to Succeed, depends on donations of women's business attire to support its workforce development program. Other nonprofits accept donations of unusual household goods.  Another nonprofit, Second Chance, maintains a 60,000 square foot warehouse for donated items like old windows, stained glass, tiles, and clawfoot tubs.   The agency makes donated items available for re-sale.  Human Services Programs of Carroll County (HSP) is the recipient of new, hand-knitted items created by a group of local women who meet on a weekly basis to knit.  HSP also works with a volunteer who “collects discarded bicycles throughout the year and refurbishes them at his home; he [then] donates shiny bicycles with new tires, pedals, and handgrips” to the agency's Holiday Shop, stated HSP's Joan McKee.         

Donations of Property

Some nonprofits even accept donations of “real property” such as land, buildings, autos, and boats.  Giving donations of this sort requires special paperwork and legal considerations.   Many organizations in the area, like the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland and the American Red Cross, accept donations of cars, trucks, and trailers.

Not all Nonprofits Need All Items