1. View Your Donation as an Investment. Any gift to an organization should be seen as an investment, and you want that investment to make a major impact on its recipients while also giving you personal satisfaction. An investment approach to a particular group or cause will ensure a more meaningful experience for you.
2. Do Your Homework. When selecting where to give, it is important to gather all the facts. Conducting thorough research prior to giving will help you separate legitimate charities from frauds, as well as reassure you that your donation is truly helping those who need it most. Resources such as the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and GuideStar can help you to verify the legitimacy of an organization. To avoid fraudulent charities, make sure your chosen charity does not engage in any of the following activities:
   • Send mail appeals disguised as bills or invoices
   • Offer very little or no information on actual day-to-day operations
   • Pressure you to give
3. Understand the Tax Benefits of Giving. An added benefit to giving is that most philanthropic donations are tax-deductible. To receive a tax deduction, you will need the proper documentation when filing your income tax returns. The IRS requires a receipt for each tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more. Depending on the amount or type of your gift, you may need to provide additional documents with your tax form, such as Form 8283 for each non-cash donation exceeding $500.
4. Decide How You Will Give and How Much. A financial donation is the most popular way to give, but there are other ways to help your favorite cause. Many organizations will accept property and goods, as well as your time. There are many options on how to give, including donating directly online, by mail, through payroll deduction or through a donor-advised fund. Additionally, find out if your employer will match your charitable gift. This will even further maximize your investment.
5. Track Your Donations. Once you have made your gift, mark your calendar with important dates of the organizations meetings and key events for the year. These are excellent ways to see your investment at work. Also, be sure to track the dates and amounts you gave payment methods and desired uses for your gift. You should automatically receive a receipt with an acknowledgement of your gift. If you dont, be sure to follow up. Dont rely on a cancelled check to count as your receipt.

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