In this modern day and age, there are numerous ways in which you can make that donation to your favorite cause. From using your checkbook to setting up a foundation or entering your credit card number online, there is definitely something for you.
If this is not enough, your donation can be made at all price points and packaged as per your preferences, convenience, and size of your pocketbook. In this simple guide, we will take you through some of the most remarkable ways to make charity donations without the hassle.
Use Your Checkbook
Donating to a charity by writing a check is one of the most common forms of philanthropy in the world. And this is understandable considering it is relatively simple and certainly direct. There is a good chance you might have trouble even finding your checkbook anymore, but you are still more likely to write a check to a charity rather than handing over your credit card to an online donation form. This is especially the case when giving a substantial amount.
While online giving continues to gain immense popularity every year, a check still works. Never should you doubt that your donation can make a difference even if it is small. For this reason, you feel freer to donate anything you find appealing.
Have a Private or Family Foundation
There is nothing wrong with setting up private family foundations for your charitable activities. While some private foundations are large and well known, most tend to be unstaffed and have less than $1 million in assets. Keep in mind the IRS has lots of rules for private foundations, including requiring that they give out a certain percentage of their assets each year.
Even if you run a small foundation, you’ll still need good legal advice and a team to hammer out objectives, to research charities and handle the finances. Either way, setting up a private foundation is the ideal way to ensure your charitable contributions entirely match your values and interests.
As a rule of thumb, ensure the charity your choose is reputable and you can see where its donations go. Donate via credit card or check. If you decide to donate online, make sure the webpage where you enter your payment information has ‘https’ in the web address. That means your information will be encrypted and secure.