Author: elegant

At the end of the year many are struggling to give to charity to take advantage of charitable giving deduction to lower their tax burden. People still are concerned about the legitimacy of many hundreds of charitable organizations. How can you tell a charitable organization is legitimate?

• If your goal is to get a tax break, then you should be looking at a charity registered under the IRS requirements. There are many charitable organizations for educational, religious, charity, veteran organizations, government and other purposes that are credible and meet IRS strict guidelines.
• Many legitimate charitable organizations accept goods, money, stocks and other forms of donations. Your gifted time and effort has tax deductible value when it comes to donations.
• Be aware of limitations such as no more than 50 percent of your adjusted gross income for giving. When it comes to giving to veteran related charities, limit is 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Farmers can deduct 100 percent of the value of land donated to a legitimate charity.
• Many tools to evaluate the legitimacy of a charity are available online. Using these tools you can find a charity that satisfies all your charitable giving goals.

The Ebola crisis in the West Africa in recent past is bringing the best of non-profit organizations. Many world leaders including the President of the United States are pleading for help from charitable organizations because countries alone are unable to handle the crisis. Non-profit organizations are making significant contributions to fight Ebola.

In Guinea where Ebola first started in March 2014, more than 2,400 people have lost their lives due to Ebola virus. It quickly spread to neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as one of the worst health crisis and so far it had claimed many thousands of lives in the region and elsewhere.

Among charities that jumped into help the West African nations, Doctors Without Borders, Wellbody Alliance and number of other organizations takes the center stage. The United States is sending over 3,000 trained military personal to treat as well as to train persons involved with Ebola. They plan to train 500 healthcare workers a week. Donations are also pouring in from other nations and non-profits. One United Nations organization estimated that so far more than $380 million have been pledged by nations, organizations and non-profits for the cause.

Ebola outbreak in the Western African countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leon in the recent past brought in many volunteer organizations to help with the humanitarian disaster. Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) is one of many volunteer organizations that are doing outstanding work in Ebola impacted West Africa at this time. Volunteer medical professionals who worked with the organization and acquired Ebola were treated in hospitals in the United States and were cured of the virus.

When a disaster strikes, the organization immediately go into action to save lives. Founded in 1971 by a small group of French doctors, MSF is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization provides humanitarian aid mainly in developing countries and war-torn part of the world. More than 34,100 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals as well as engineers volunteer their work under the banner of MSF. In addition to emergency medical care, they also provide relief for natural and man-made disasters, and fight deadly epidemics. They are engaged in more than 60 countries worldwide at any given time. More than 80 percent of funding for its operation comes from private donors. The annual budget of the organization is estimated at more than $400 million a year.

Since the latest Ebola outbreak in Western Africa in July 2014, more and more charities are donating and campaigning for more funds to fight the deadly disease. Since its outbreak in July, condition is getting worse by every passing day. Even though it started in Western African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, it is also spreading over to neighboring Nigeria and others. Chances are high for it to jump overseas. At this writing, the current outbreak has claimed more than 1,000 lives and continues to worry all countries around the world. Ebola virus is contagious and often deadly and spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected people and animals, even the death will not stop the spread of the disease, and there is no known vaccine, cure or treatment.

Among charities dealing with the current Ebola outbreak, the American Red Cross, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Samaritan’s Purse, GlobalGiving, MAP International, American Jewish World Service, Direct Relief and many others are out in the front. Save the Children is also working to stop spreading the virus, training healthcare workers, teaching people and communities how to limit the risks, distribute protective gear, and provide medical equipment.