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Charities to heal your pain

Charities come in all different sizes, causes and host of other reasons. Some start a charity because of an ailment or for some other reason that affected a child or a family member. Whatever the reason there are plenty of opportunities to organize or to participate in a charitable cause.

Participation in a charitable cause brings enormous satisfaction to someone who experienced a loss. It could be the healing venue for those who are suffering. Keep in mind many others are going to benefit from it and may be able to avoid the cause that created a loss for you.

Besides the psychological benefits, charities bring more tangible benefits too. Your contributions and travelling expenses are deductible on your personal income tax return. This may be not much of a help for a person suffering from a loss, but should not be overlook when it comes to filing your tax return.

Look into local charities that are appealing to you and participate as much as possible. We all bring deferent talent to a charity that needs a diversified talent pool to successfully run a charity. So your experience and expertise may help the intended charity more than you think.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness

Over 670,000 spend the night every day without a home in the United States. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), more than 12 million Americans spend more than 50 percent of their annual income for housing.

The HUD indicates paying more than 30 percent of the monthly income for housing is not acceptable. It has become impossible for a family to pay a reasonable rent with one person of the family working. Lack of affordable housing is a growing problem in the U.S. The recent economic downturn made it more difficult for everyone due to loss of income, jobs and various other reasons.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to prevent and end homelessness in the U.S. It analyzes policy and prepares programs to address the homelessness in the country. It has a plan to end homelessness in ten years and work with the Congress and the Administration closely. The organization works in collaboration with public, private and non-profit organizations. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The National Citizens Committee for Food and Shelter which was founded in 1983 became the current organization in 1987. The Charity Watch rate the agency as an “A+”.

“Let’s Move Together”, the Annual Arthritis Walk

The Arthritis Foundation holds the Annual Arthritis Walk to raise funds for the cause and to promote awareness of the nation’s number one disability that impact 50 million Americans. It is the nation’s most common disability. Approximately 9,000 Americans die from the disability every year. More than half who suffer from the disability also suffer from heart disease and diabetes.

The Arthritis Foundation is the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to find a cure for the number one joint pain disability in the United States.

Since its inception in 1948 as the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation and renamed in 1964 as the Arthritis Foundation, this is the largest contributor for arthritis research in the United States and other parts of the world. It raises funds through annual walks, dinners, galas and other events. Every year the Arthritis Foundation supporters gather in Washington, D.C. to lobby the Congress to promote its causes. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia the foundation has approximately 50 local offices in ten regions.

Many types of arthritis including Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and others cost over $128 billion a year to the nation for treatment, due to loss of work and productivity and other economic hardships.

Obey state and local jurisdictional requirements when serving food to homeless

When the weather gets better, so does the urge to hold a picnic for the homeless and hungry. Many of the States and local jurisdictions in the U.S. have rules regarding food and serving food outdoors to unrelated individuals.

Most of the rules require that in order serve food, it has to be prepared in a commercial kitchen that holds a permit from the local jurisdiction or the state health agency. Also, they may require an additional permit to serve food at a public place or to feed the homeless. Check your local jurisdiction and the state for requirements and obey the law. Failure to comply with the state and/or the local jurisdiction’s requirements may carry a penalty as well as a ban on holding any events that serve food for the homeless and the needy.

Some argue that a charitable organization feeding homeless on a public park is a social issue rather than a health issue. They argue that local jurisdictions are trying to prevent homeless gather on highly visible public areas such as parks and downtown main transport corridors.

Jurisdictions argue that it is not about the homeless gatherings but their health and welfare.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognition of Charitable Organizations

Charitable organizations in the U.S. are recognized by the Internal Revenue Code. They are contained in Section 501(c) of the code. Many of us are very familiar with the 501(c)(3) designation among many categories included in the code. In IRS Publication 557, 501(c)(3) is defined as Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animal Organizations.

Generally they are non-profit associations or corporations and are tax-exempt unless they have unrelated business income which is subject to income tax.

The definition of a 501(c)(3) is clearly stated in the tax code. Anyone donating to any of these causes can get a tax deduction depend on their tax status. If a donor wants to know whether the intended charity is listed under the code, donor can review IRS Publication 78.

In order to obtain the status under the IRS code, an organization seeking the tax exempt status must submit Form 1023 along with the required fee to the IRS.

Before you make a charitable donation, check to see whether they are recognized by the IRS and make sure to obtain a receipt for your donation.