Category: Charities

The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Walk Relay for Life is a great way to celebrate life for those who have survived. It is also a fun way to raise money for the research supported by the society.

The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s ‘signature’ fundraising event. An all-night event, teams of people take turns walking or running to raise funds for this cause. The walk boasts around 3.5 million participants.

It all started with Dr. Gordy Klatt who decided to raise money for his own American Cancer Society office by running a 24-hour marathon. The first year in 1985, he ran or walked around the track at Baker Stadium, University of Puget Sound for 24-hours, covering a total distance of 83 miles. Friends and family donated $25 to run/walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $25,000. From then on, the cancer walk, ‘Relay for Life’ has grown into a major event, with thousands of communities joining to fight cancer and help raise awareness and funds.

Once the 24-hour relay is over, the most important part – the ‘fight back’ ceremony is conducted. Following the mantra ‘Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back”, this 25th hour celebration is to honour those who have survived cancer, fought back and those who lost the battle.

If you want to support this cause, put together a team and participate in a local ‘Relay for Life’ event. Registrations only costs $10 and you can help raise funds. If you feel like donating some money to the ACS, rest assured it will go towards research, education and promoting quality medical care for those with cancer. If you need to contact the Relay for Life team, you can call them at 1-800-ACS-2345 or fill out the contact form on their website.

Donations to charities often ensure that those who are less fortunate have a home, food to eat and clothing; the basic needs for any human being. While large donations certainly help charities cope with their needs and undertake projects that make a bigger difference, smaller donations in larger quantities help organizations stay afloat and keep doing good deeds. One way of ensuring these smaller donations is to incorporate a easy to use web donation form.

These forms are generally simple and very easy to fill out. Some charities list their on going projects and provide the opportunity for donors to add funds to a specific project or cause. Most forms provide flexible payment options such as using PayPal, mail-in check or using a credit card. Different organizations require different details, but in essence, most forms are a two step process; fill the form and submit the donation.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are filling out online forms. As with any industry there are many scam artists who play on your conscience and take your money. It is always good to use a website of a repute charity or organization to donate funds to avoid being a victim of a scam. You should also always make sure that the payment gateways are hosted on secure servers that would protect your information from being stolen. You should also check the charities registration number and make sure that it is a registered charity. If the security is in place, your small donation will go towards making someones life better.

Many charity organizations accept used cars as donations. Most of these organizations sell the car and use the money for their charity work. Donating your used car, apart from the noble cause, can also provide you with tax deductions. Also most people prefer to donate their used cars to charities in order to avoid the hassle of trying to sell them.

Most charities have easy methods of accepting a used car and most have online application forms and fast processing. When it comes to taxs, you can claim the car’s fair market value if the car is worth less than $500 or is in good working condition. You can claim a deduction equal to the actual sale price of the car if the car is worth more than $500. However you should make sure that the charity is qualified and registered with the IRS in order to claim such tax deductions. Information can be found on the website or with the IRS. You should also remember that if the total donation is more than $500 you need to fill a separate form.

You can determine the value of the car by checking the blue book value. You should also take the cars condition in to consideration when determining its value. Most charities provide free pick up and tow from any location. While many charities accept used car donations for free you should keep in mind that some charities charge a small fee. To find charities that accept used car donations you can check the yellow pages or simply use a search engine to check online. Most charities provide online forms.

When organizing a charity benefit, the first thing you need to do is decide on a goal for the event. It could be the amount of money you expect to make, or the number of items you would sell, donations, etc. Next, you need to figure out what the benefit will be. It could be anything from a dinner to a fashion show, wine tasting, art exhibition – whatever you and your team decide on.

Team – organize a team and assign a person or group to a specific task. Schedule regular progress meetings and set up an achievable timeline for each task. Make sure everything is documented from start to finish – it could be your guide for the next benefit you organize.

Personnel – decide on whether you will use paid staff or volunteers for the event. Using paid staff could be easier in terms of handling the event and its success. Use volunteers who have been volunteering for a long time and can be depended on.

Invitations – put together a list of possible donors with mailing information and computerize it. It can also be used in the future. Send personalized invitations to corporation heads and local celebrities. Include a date and time for RSVP.

Advertise – in local newspapers, radio, television, internet to promote the event.

Costs – draw up a budget. Factor in location, equipment and staffing cost. Try to get local businesses to donate facilities and products you can use for your event.

Date and Time – ensure there isn’t any other high profile event happening at the same time.

Location – decide on the type depending on your event. Ensure the location is handicap accessible. Include a map and directions with the invitations.

Entertainment – look for local talent who could use your event as a method of free advertising.

Starting a children’s charity is not an easy undertaking and calls for dedication, determination and hard work. You would need to take the following steps to establish the organization. You need to carefully consider every aspect and follow all the rules.

Step 1 – determine the type of charity you want to create. If it is a charitable, non profit, it will then require specific paperwork and legal representation, and also accountable for reporting earnings and expenditures.

Step 2 – clearly define the purpose and mission of the charity. Start working on getting funding and volunteers.

Step 3 – draft the Articles of Incorporation. This document requires your charity to provide information on name, purpose, structure and other facts.

Step 4 – create bylaws for the charity, defining how it will operate, how decisions will be made and by who, etc.

Step 5 – file for non-profit status on the state level.

Step 6 – you need to apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number. This is used by the IRS to identify your organization.

Step 7 – file for IRS recognition. To enjoy non-profit status and benefits you must have the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws in place. State acceptance of your non profit is also necessary.

Step 8 – you need to appoint or elect a board. Every non profit charity needs to have a board of directors to oversee operations.

When setting up a children’s charity might it is recommended that legal guidance by sought and relied upon during the entire process.