Viking Magazine - November 2012 - 27

Wise Giving Alliance, based in
Arlington, Va.
Consider these red fl ags
before giving:
LViX] dji [dg XVhZh d[
b^hiV`Zc ^YZci^in# Many
organizations have similar
sounding names. Make sure you
are giving to the right group.
2
3
4
9dc¿i \^kZ ^c id ZmXZhh^kZ
egZhhjgZ id bV`Z Vc dc " i]Z "
hedi YZX^h^dc# " The best giving
is with your head, not just your
heart, " says Weiner.
HiZZg XaZVg d[ dkZgan
Zbdi^dcVa VeeZVah that
don't provide much detail
about the work of the charity.
" It can be a ruse to get you
to react without thinking
further, " he says.
Add` XadhZan Vi kV\jZ
egd\gVb YZhXg^ei^dch. If
an organization is helping the
1
homeless, are they providing job
training? Healthcare? Shelter?
5
9dc¿i VhhjbZ ZkZgn
dg\Vc^oVi^dc Vh`^c\ [dg
bdcZn ^h V X]Vg^in# It may
claim to be " tax exempt, "
but contributions aren't " tax
deductible. " Be sure to ask if
the organization is a 501 (c) (3)
charitable group or contact the
Internal Revenue Service to fi nd
out if your donation will give
you a tax advantage.
To get a write off on your
taxes, request an offi cial receipt
for your tax fi les. If you get
a gift in conjunction with the
donation, such as a dinner or
concert, be sure to know the
fair market value to deduct that
from your gift.
" When a gift is solely based on
'the ask' and you don't look any
further, that's where you can be
disappointed later when the facts
are revealed, " says Weiner.
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LVXdc^V! B^cc#
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HXVcY^V & " +-.
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dg\Vc^oVi^dch i]Vi i]Zn
]VkZ Vc VhhdX^Vi^dc l^i]!
hjX] Vh i]Z^g X]jgX]! ad "
XVa ]dhe^iVa! dg i]Z Hdch
d[ CdglVn ;djcYVi^dc#
Gifts of Culture and Heritage
I
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[jcY dg \^kZ V bZbdg^Va YdcVi^dc#
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;dg ^chiVcXZ! ^c '%&& =Zae^c\ =VcYh \gVcih
lZgZ \^kZc id (. bZbWZg [Vb^a^Zh gZXdk "
Zg^c\ [gdb i]Z É ddY ^c B^cdi! C#9#
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i]Z^g ]Zg^iV\Z!½ hVnh Dahdc#
hdchd[cdglVn#Xdb K>@>C< CDK:B7:G '%&' 27
ask an expert
Viking Magazine - November 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - November 2012
