donations

You Need to Get Rid of These 16 Household Items — Pronto!

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 15 May 2017 09:00:09 +0000

It happened again this past weekend. The cleaning bug sunk its teeth into me. I found myself emptying drawers, cabinets, and closets, and hauling bags of stuff to Goodwill. The rest I dumped in the trash.

Unfortunately, once I'd gotten rid of the usual suspects — clothes we don't wear anymore, books we haven't read in years, several metric tons of outdated magazines — I was left with the difficult-to-dispose-of items. These are the things that I want to get rid of, but I don't know how. Once I get to these items, I generally end up tossing them back into their drawers to deal with "later."

Of course, they tend to stay put for years because I never have figured out how to dispose of them responsibly. Until now. I've done extensive research and come up with the definitive list of things that belong in a recycling bin rather than in your home, and how you can get rid of them properly.

1. Old knives

My first set of kitchen knives were the cheapest knives Walmart had to offer, and they certainly were not great quality. However, I kept them for years, even after I'd invested in a decent set because I had no idea how I could safely dispose of them without potentially harming any of the people who handled my trash. I now know that you can wrap a knife's blade in butcher paper, then bubble wrap, and then tape it up in an appropriately sized cardboard box. Once it is safely packed in this way, you can throw it away — or more easily give it away to the Salvation Army or a soup kitchen without hurting anyone who might be sorting your donation.

2. Small appliances

Not sure what to do with the mixer whose beaters are missing, or the waffle iron with a frayed cord? Small kitchen appliances that are not in good enough condition to be donated need to be recycled, but it can be tough to know how to find a recycling center that will accept them.

If your appliances were manufactured by Hamilton Beach, the company will accept old and nonfunctioning products for recycling, although you are on the hook for shipping costs. For all other brands, you will need to find a local recycling center. The website earth911.com allows you to search for local centers that accept the appliances (or other items) you need to dispose of.

3. Worn-out linens

Holey sheets and bleach-stained towels may not seem of value to anyone. But local animal shelters often have a need for bedding, and the dogs and cats certainly won't care that Darth Vader has faded to invisibility on your old pillowcases. Alternatively, you can often give them to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or other local charities. They work with partners to recycle used textiles into rags, fiber for furniture or insulation, or clothing that gets repaired and resold in less developed countries.

4. Hangers

For some reason, hangers seem to multiply in closets when you're not looking. Plastic hangers tend to be harder to dispose of — they are often not accepted for plastic recycling, and most Goodwill stores will not accept them. However, other thrift or secondhand clothing stores are often happily to take your plastic hangers off your hands, or you can post them on Freecycle. Wire hangers can be returned to the dry cleaner.

5. Old bras

Even if you wear your bras until long after they have stopped supporting you, old lingerie has a tendency to take up space in your underwear drawer, since it can be tough to know how to get rid of it. The Bra Recyclers is a textile recycling company that will recycle your old brassieres and keep those over-the-shoulder boulder holders out of the landfill. Sign up with the site, and receive a label to mail in your expired bras.

6. Worn-out athletic shoes

I run between 200 and 400 miles per year, which means I need a new pair of running shoes about once a year. Unfortunately, that also means I have many pairs of running shoes still cluttering up my closet, because I don't want to just throw the old shoes away.

Thankfully, Nike has a shoe recycling program called Reuse-a-Shoe, which will accept worn-out athletic shoes from any brand and recycle the components. You can drop off old athletic shoes at most Nike or Converse stores.

7. Expired medications

Knowing what to do with the last three unneeded pain pills from having your wisdom teeth removed, or the bottle of medication your mother-in-law accidentally left behind on her last visit can be nerve-wracking. You can't flush or trash these items, because you don't want to risk getting the medication into the local water system.

In the past, you might have to wait for the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (generally in late April) to be able to safely get rid of expired medication. But there are now independent community pharmacies around the country that are authorized to take back medication year-round. You can find one near you at DisposeMyMeds.org.

8. Expired beauty products

Eye makeup should be replaced every few months to protect you from infection, and other facial cosmetics should not be used for more than 12 months. But simply throwing away old products can be potentially harmful to the environment, because they contain harsh chemicals.

Some cosmetics manufacturers — most notably MAC — will accept their own empty cosmetics packaging for recycling, and you can find a list of mail-in programs for recycling packaging from other brands of cosmetics at the site ecolife.com.

To dispose of the product itself, ecolife recommends scooping it all out of the container, then putting it in a sealed jar or other packaging that you can then send to the landfill.

9. Small bathroom appliances

If you no longer use your hair dryer or curling iron because it's not in usable condition, check out earth911.com to find a small appliance recycling center near you.

10. Burned jar candles

The last dregs of wax seem impossible to get out of jar candles, which means you might think you're stuck either throwing the glass jar away or holding onto it and its last bit of wax forever. But apparently you can freeze the jar, making it easy to pull out the remaining wax, and then recycle the clean jar.

11. Crayon stubs

There are pieces of crayons all over my house. They show up in couch cushions, in bathroom drawers, in my purse, and even in the kids' beds, on occasion. Rather than throw out the random crayon stubs (as I'm tempted to do whenever I find one), I can now start sending them to Crazy Crayons, a national recycling program that accepts used crayons to keep them from going into the landfill.

12. Appliance manuals

You used to have to hold onto the owner's manuals for all of your appliances, gadgets, and gizmos, just in case you ever needed to troubleshoot a problem. But the internet now has all of the information you need, so go ahead and throw these in the paper recycling.

13. Burned-out light bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled at The Home Depot. The mercury-containing bulbs should not be thrown away. LED bulbs are safe to throw away, but you can find a local recycler at earth911.com or recyclenation.com.

14. Used-up batteries

Neither conventional batteries nor rechargeable ones can be thrown away because they contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Rather than keep them in a drawer because you don't know to do with them, take your used up rechargeables to Best Buy for recycling, and take your conventional batteries to Batteries Plus Bulbs. You can also find a recycling station for conventional batteries at call2recycle.org. (See also: Where to Take Your Batteries, CFL Bulbs, and Other Hard-to-Recycle Stuff)

15. Unused electrical cables and wire

Every home has a tangle of wires that does not seem to belong to any particular device. Drop those bad boys off at Best Buy for recycling.

16. Outdated cellphones

You might have saved your old Razr or Blackberry as a potential backup in case you lose your current phone, but that was three or four current phones ago. If your early-2000s era cellphone is now a very shiny brick, take it to Best Buy for recycling. If your cellphone is still functioning, however, you may want to donate it to Cell Phones for Soldiers, which gives service members the ability to call home.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Ways Your Money Can Support Your Values

Emily Guy Birken — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:30:08 +0000

Giving to charity is an important line item in my family budget — but it's only one line. There are far more charitable organizations that I want to support than I can possibly give money to.

But what if there were a way to support your values without having to free up more money to give to charity? In fact, there is a way. You can do the same things you always do with your money — bank it, invest it, spend it on utilities, and shop — all while providing important financial benefits to the causes you care about.

Socially responsible robo-investing

I'll never forget the stricken look on my financial adviser's face when I told him I was uncomfortable with big oil, tobacco, or firearms as investments in my retirement portfolio. He took a deep breath and told me that I would probably have to be a little flexible about that if I wanted to maintain my passive investment strategy. The only other option would be to individually choose the investments I wanted so that my money was aligned with my values. Not only would that be expensive and time consuming (someone would have to do the stock picking), but it would not necessarily grow my money.

Passive investors like me now have the option of investing in funds that only go to companies we approve of. The new robo adviser OpenInvest offers investors the ability to personalize the specific issues they care most about. You simply create an "issue profile" that narrows down the types of companies you would either like to invest in or steer clear of. The robo adviser's algorithm then creates a basket of about 60 stocks that match your values and should match the returns of the broader market.

Your money grows just like it would with any investment, but you are supporting companies that reflect your values. (See also: 5 Stocks to Buy If You Love the Earth)

Cellphone activism

It's hard to imagine life without your cellphone — which makes it an excellent tool to help support your values. Simply changing your cellphone provider can make paying your bill part of your activism.

Whether your politics align left or right, you can switch to an activist cellphone carrier that will use a portion of their profits to fund important causes. Credo Mobile is a mobile and long distance provider that has donated $83 million to various progressive nonprofit groups since its inception in 1985. On the right, Patriot Mobile offers conservatives the opportunity to choose the organization that a portion of their monthly phone bill will be donated to.

In both cases, the mobile carrier allows you to keep your phone and phone number when you make the switch. You are already paying for your cellphone usage; why not have the money fund causes you care about?

Shop your values

Amazon has become the most convenient way to handle shopping in the modern age, but did you know it can also be the most convenient way for you to donate to charities you love?

AmazonSmile is exactly like the Amazon store you already know, with the exact same prices and fees, and the exact same login you already use. But when you sign on with AmazonSmile, you are allowed to choose any one of over a million 501(c)(3) charitable organizations to benefit from your shopping. Each time you make a purchase, AmazonSmile gives 0.5 percent of the purchase price to your charity.

While not all purchases are eligible for AmazonSmile, the vast majority are. In addition, there are occasionally limited-time special promotions that increase the donation percentage.

Once you have signed up with AmazonSmile, just make sure you start any Amazon shopping from that page to keep your donations going to your favorite charity whenever you shop.

#BankBlack revitalizes communities

You might remember seeing the rapper Killer Mike on MTV in 2016 asking 1 million people to open a savings account with a black-owned banking institution. That helped start the #BankBlack movement, which is credited with bringing $50 million in new deposits to black-owned banks over a six-month span in 2016, according to the Huffington Post.

But banking with a black-owned financial institution is more than just a hashtag. These institutions were once the only places where African Americans could expect fair treatment when discrimination was rampant in the banking industry. Nowadays, black-owned banks offer access to necessary banking services in distressed neighborhoods, while also providing economic revitalization.

Since black-owned banks specifically market to the African American communities that are disproportionately unbanked or underbanked — meaning they rely on check cashing services and pawnshops for their banking needs — opening an account with a black-owned bank is an excellent way to put your money to work for social justice.

The Blackout Coalition offers a map of black-owned banks and credit unions across the United States, so you can find one near you. Alternatively, if you are not in an area with a local black-owned bank, OneUnited is an online bank that is also the nation's largest black-owned bank.

Put your money where your values are

Not everyone has money in the budget to support the social programs they are most passionate about. But making a few tweaks to how you bank, invest, call, and shop will allow you to make the world a better place without spending any more money. You'll feel good about how your money represents your values, and your favorite causes will benefit from your choices. It's a win-win.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Ways to Give Back on #GivingTuesday Without Breaking the Bank

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 11:00:08 +0000

Get out your wallet and warm up your charitable spirit because #GivingTuesday is right around the corner. This worldwide day of philanthropy takes place on November 29th, (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) and marks the start of the charitable giving season. In 2015, over 700,000 people in 70 countries participated in #GivingTuesday, giving $116 million in online donations. However, in a time when money is tight due to holiday expenses, finding the funds to make donations can be challenging. The good news? You can still participate and get in the charitable spirit.

Here are 10 ways you can give on #GivingTuesday without breaking your budget.

1. Use Philanthropic Apps

Put your smartphone to good use and download apps that can help you give back without spending a dime! If you are active, download Charity Miles, ResQWalk, or WoofTrax to have the miles you walk or run earn money for charity. Or if you love taking photos, use the Donate a Photo app to share your photos and have $1 per photo be donated to charity.

2. Donate Your Rewards

If you earn rewards through loyalty programs or credit cards, why not use your points for good? Donate your frequent flyer miles that are about to expire to charity, or if you have a rewards credit card, you may be able to use your points to donate to charity. Some credit cards even give to charity when you sign up, or use your card.

3. Shop Socially Conscious Companies

Do some research before you start your holiday spending and give your business to companies that give back. For example, when buying a new pair of shoes for your kids, buy from TOMS to ensure that for every shoe you buy, one is given to someone in need. Or, if you have holiday travel plans and need a pet sitter, booking one through Sitting for a Cause (which, full disclosure, I own and operate) ensures a portion of the money you spend on your pet's care helps homeless animals.

4. Ask Your Employer About Charitable Benefits

Find out if your employer offers donation matching, and if they do, have them match any charitable contributions you make. Or see if your employer offers paid volunteer hours so you can give your time to a worthy cause. If your employer doesn't offer these programs, bring them up at your next review and see if you can get either option added to your benefits package.

5. Give Through Decluttering

Take a few hours to do declutter your home and get rid of items you no longer use. Have old blankets or towels? Donate them to your local animal shelter. Have tons of books collecting dust? Donate them to the library. Are extra clothes taking up space in your closet? Donate them to Goodwill.

6. Purchase Through AmazonSmile

Almost everyone uses Amazon to shop these days, but the next time you decide to make a purchase through Amazon, use AmazonSmile instead. You can select a charity you'd like to benefit from your purchases and each time you make an eligible purchase, .5% of your payment will be sent to your designated charity.

7. Give Your Expertise

Are you a superstar at social media, a pro at photography, or a whiz at writing? Use your expertise to help one of your local nonprofits. It's not uncommon for a charity's resources to be limited, so helping with their social media, contributing to their blog, or offering to take photos at their events (or for animal shelters, taking photos of their adoptable pets) can have a positive impact on their success.

8. Become a Foster Parent

If you have the emotional stamina, open up your home to a child or animal in need. Foster homes are always needed for children or pets who are waiting to find permanent homes. Especially when it comes to animals, having a foster home alleviates the stress of being in a shelter and opens up space for another pet to wait for their home, so you've helped save two lives instead of just one!

9. Give Parts of Yourself

Do you have long hair? Are needles not at all scary to you? Then give to help others! Charities like Wigs for Kids, Locks of Love, and Pantene Beautiful Lengths are always looking for hair donations to make wigs for those in need. Alternately, you can head to your local hospital or participate in a Red Cross blood drive to donate blood or platelets.

10. Volunteer

When money is tight, the simplest way to give back is by donating your time to a worthy cause. Volunteers are often the backbone that keep nonprofits running, so by taking the time to volunteer, you are enabling the cause you work with to keep making a difference.

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Here's How to Deduct Charitable Donations on Your Taxes

Dan Rafter — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:00:05 +0000

Donating to a reputable charity is a great way to help organizations that provide assistance to the less fortunate. As a bonus, these charitable contributions can also leave you with a smaller bill come income-tax time, since the IRS allows you to deduct a portion of your yearly charitable contributions on your federal income taxes. This means that your generosity can leave you owing fewer dollars to the IRS on April 15. (See also: 5 Important Tax Changes for 2016)

But as with most matters involving the IRS, there are rules you need to follow when claiming charitable contributions. And if your charitable deductions seem overly high for your income? That could trigger an audit.

The rule for charitable contributions, both cash and non-cash, comes down two simple principles: Don't lie about how much you're giving as a way to claim a bigger deduction. And when you do make your contributions, make sure to get receipts — and in some cases, appraisal letters — that verify your donations.

Be Honest

Bill Farmer, owner and president of HTI Tax Service in Lexington, Kentucky, gives this example: He recently worked with a couple who wanted to claim more than $11,000 in cash charitable contributions on a combined yearly income of just $61,000. The couple also had mortgage statements showing that they had paid more than $10,000 in interest and another $2,500 in taxes on their home.

Those three numbers alone — mortgage interest, taxes, and charitable contributions — equaled more than a third of their income, an unrealistically high amount. The couple also wanted to claim an additional $10,900 in contributions to Goodwill on top of this figure.

Farmer correctly told the couple that for donations of more than $5,000, they'd need to provide not only receipts for their charitable contributions but also a written appraisal stating how much the donations were actually worth. When the couple heard that, they asked Farmer to instead list their donation to Goodwill as $4,999, just under the limit.

"They were begging to get audited," Farmer said.

Common Mistakes

Unfortunately, such moves aren't that rare. Eric Meermann, a certified financial planner and portfolio manager with Palisades Hudson Financial Group's Scarsdale, New York office, said that charitable contributions are often a red flag when it comes audits. This is especially true for those contributions that are non-cash, such as when filers donate old clothing to the Salvation Army and claim that the donations are worth $4,000.

"Charitable contributions are open to mistakes," Meermann said. "If you donate a bunch of shoes to the United Way, how do you come up with an accurate value for that? The key is to be reasonable."

Cash Donations Are Easiest to Deduct

The IRS' rules for governing charitable contributions are rather strict, but cash contributions are easier to handle. If you write a check to a charity or make a donation to one with your credit card of less than $250, you'll need a receipt showing the date and amount of your contribution. If you don't have that, you can also rely on a cancelled check, credit card statement, or other bank record showing that you made the donation.

You won't have to attach this receipt or other documents to your income-tax return. But you will need these documents if the IRS later asks you to verify your contribution.

For a cash contribution of $250 or more, you don't have this leeway: You must get a written receipt from the charity describing your donation. Canceled checks or credit card statements aren't enough.

Non-Cash Contributions Are Tricky

Non-cash contributions are more complicated. For non-cash donations of up to $250, you'll need a receipt from the charity showing that you actually made the donation. The receipt must state the date and location of your donation, the name of the organization, and a description of what you donated. You won't have to attach this receipt to your income-tax returns, but you will need it if the IRS contacts you later asking for proof of your charitable donations.

If your non-cash donation is more than $250, you'll again need a receipt from the charity that describes what you are donating. But this receipt should also list whether you received any goods or services from the charity in exchange for your donation. The receipt must list the goods or services that you received and provide an estimated value for them.

If you donate more than $500 of non-cash contributions in a calendar year, you must also file IRS Form 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions with your income taxes. If the total value of your gifts is less than $5,000, you'll only have to fill out Section A of this form.

Really Big Contributions Require More Paperwork

If you are making a big contribution of more than $5,000, you'll need an appraisal letter. This holds true whether you are giving away a single item worth more than $5,000 — such as a valuable painting — or several items that totaled together equal more than $5,000, such as boxes of antique plates from your attic.

The person writing your appraisal letter must be a professional that the IRS lists as a "qualified appraiser." This professional must sign the Form 8382 that you attach to your income taxes.

If the IRS should send you a letter asking for proof of your charitable contributions, don't panic. Meermann said that if you do have verification of your donations, and you were honest about what you gave, you should have no worries.

"It's completely normal for the IRS to ask filers about their charitable contributions," Meermann said. "It doesn't necessarily mean anything bad is going to happen to you."

Have you ever run afoul of the IRS' tax and charity rules?

This article is from Dan Rafter of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Ways to Sell or Donate Your Airline Miles

Nick Wharton — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 15:00:46 +0000

Do you have a bunch of airline miles that you're not going to use? Hoping to get rid of them or help someone less fortunate? You've come to the right place. Here are six different ways that you can part with your hard-earned miles without violating the frequent flyer terms and conditions of airline loyalty programs.

Donating Miles

Good for you! You've decided to use your airline miles for a greater purpose. Note that donating your miles truly is an act of charity — that's because the IRS considers airline miles a gift to you from the airline, and donated miles are therefore not tax deductible.

1. American Miles for Kids in Need

(1,000 Miles Minimum Donation)

Your AAadvantage Miles can be used to give an advantage to children and families in need of help. American Airlines supports a variety of child and family focused charities including Miles of Hope, Miles for Kids in Need, and more.

Through these programs AA focuses on food, clothing, shelter, health, education, and employment. Their goal is to benefit organizations that provide a strategic focus on children and/or those afflicted by unexpected adversity.

For more information, call 1-800-882-8880 or visit American's Giving webpage.

2. United Charity Miles

(500 Miles Minimum Donation)

United Airlines works with a number of charities that focus on youth, humanitarian, health, community, and military aid. There are nearly 50 charities to choose from including American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Americares, and many more.

Check out the United donation page for the full list of Charities.

3. Delta Donate Miles

(Minimum Donation Varies by Charity)

By donating your Delta Miles you can help children and animals in need, struggling communities, and breast cancer patients. Delta has a wide variety of wonderful charities to choose from, but each one has its own minimum donation requirement.

With charities in the U.S., Latin America and around the world, you can put your points where they are needed most. Head to Delta's Donate Miles page and check out their comprehensive and well-organized list of charities which include Make A Wish, Habitat For Humanity, UNICEF, and many more.

4. JetBlue True Giving

(500 Point Minimum Donation for most Charities)

You can use your TrueBlue points to contribute to great causes all around the world. When you donate your points, they'll go directly to your chosen charity, and in turn, they will be able to use the points for JetBlue flights to help their cause.

With many different charities aiming to help youth, education, families, communities, and the environment, you'll be able to donate your points to where they are needed most. Points can be donated locally or globally to more than 2.5 million causes in the True Giving database.

Visit JetBlue's Charity Page for a full list of programs and start making a difference today.

Trading or Transferring Miles

Most programs will allow you to gift miles to other users. Check with your program’s options for transferring miles. If that’s not available, there are still other ways to move your points.

5. Redeem or Transfer Miles Through Points.com

You can trade miles with other frequent flyers through Points.com. You can also transfer miles between frequent flyer programs, or redeem miles into Paypal credit, merchandise, dining, or gift cards.

This may sound a lot like bartering miles, but airlines are okay with customers using Points.com because when you trade on this site, they're collecting fees every step of the way.

While it is perfectly acceptable to trade your points in at Points.com, it's definitely not the best way to redeem them. You will not get as much as your miles are worth and you will be charged hefty fees, similar to the ones that airlines charge.

If your miles are about to expire, or you're sure that you'll never use them, then this service could be right for you. But if you can use them on travel, you'll get much more bang for your buck.

6. Book Awards Tickets for Your Family & Friends

Technically this is still a grey area when it comes to frequent flyer program regulations, but it is perfectly okay to fly your friends and family using your points, if they just so happen to give you something in return at the same time, that's a complete coincidence... right?

Spending your miles on friends and family is a great way to use miles that would otherwise expire.

The Bottom Line

I personally have never (and will never) sell my air miles to a broker and neither should you. There are just too many risks:

Ticket confiscation;
Reservation cancellation;
Confiscation of all accumulated miles on your accounts;
Strongly worded emails and accusations;
Ban from rewards program.

You can trade in your miles, use them to help make the world a better place, or fly your family and friends around the planet for a visit. Don't ever let your points go to waste. Use Points.com or credit card donation services to ensure that you're making the most of your unused miles.

Have you ever donated or transferred airline miles?

This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Charitable Donations That Do the Most Good

Brittany Lyte — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:00:05 +0000

You don’t have to be as wealthy as Bill Gates to do good with your money. If fact, you can make quite a big splash in this world even if you can only afford to give a relatively small sum. The key is finding charity organizations that are using your money to the maximum effect. But with more than one million nonprofits registered in the U.S., it can be difficult to determine which ones will use your donation in a way that’s most impactful. Lucky for you, we’ve done the homework — read on for our roundup of the charities that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

1. Compassion International

In an in-depth analysis by Charity Navigator, this Christian child advocacy ministry earned the most consecutive four-star ratings, demonstrating fiscal excellence over time. That means the Colorado-based youth services charity is well-positioned to pursue and achieve long-term change; every dollar donated to Compassion International is well spent.

Founded in 1952, Compassion launched with a mission to provide Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education, and health care, as well as Christian training. Today, the organization aids more than 1.5 million children in 26 countries. You can donate in many ways, including via a $38 a month child sponsorship that provides health care, hygiene training, supplementary food, personal attention, guidance, and an opportunity to learn about Jesus. Compassion even organizes visitation trips for donors who want to see first-hand how their money is saving a life.

2. Carnegie Institution for Science

Ranking second in Charity Navigator’s four-star rating is Carnegie Institution for Science, which funds research in the earth, space, and life sciences. Headquartered in the nation’s capital, the 110-year-old nonprofit is dedicated to scientific discovery. Some of its greatest accomplishments include providing support to Edwin Hubble, who revolutionized astronomy with his discovery that the universe is expanding and that there are galaxies other than our own Milky Way, and the work of Andrew Fire, who won the Nobel Prize in 2006 for his and his colleagues’ discoveries related to gene silencing. Through Carnegie Science’s research support program, donors can choose to fund specific research projects, which helps make the giving process all that more personal.

3. Development Media International

Of the six million children under the age of five who die each year, two out of three could have remained healthy if their families made use of simple, inexpensive, or free interventions like hand-washing and anti-malaria bed nets. Development Media International is trying to fix this by using television and radio campaigns to spread these public service messages. So far it’s working — DMI’s media campaigns are actively reducing the global child mortality rate. In fact, the charity has the potential to prevent nearly 23% of all future child deaths, according to some forecast models, which has helped earn DMI a spot at the top of The Life You Can Save’s recommended charity list. Previous successful public service campaigns launched by DMI include those targeting leprosy, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and tuberculosis abroad.

4. Brother’s Brother Foundation

Since 1958, Brother’s Brother has delivered food, medicine, and educational supplies to people impacted by disease, poverty, and natural disasters — all from its humble headquarters in a run-down neighborhood in Pittsburgh. This family-run foundation is at the forefront of Forbes’ all-star list of the most committed, financially efficient charities in America. Over 99% of all donations to Brother’s Brother go to those in need, making this charity a great place to donate your hard-earned money. With just 16 full-time employees and $245M in annual donations, Brother’s Brother last year shipped 4,821,381 pounds of goods to 60 countries, including people affected by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

5. PetSmart Charities

When it comes to animal welfare charities, PetSmart is ranked highest by the three major charity watchdogs: the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch. That’s because the Phoenix-based charity has excellent ratings when it comes to financial efficiency, accountability, and transparency — the most important indicators of whether you should donate to a particular charity. In 2013, PetSmart used 90 cents of every dollar received to help save 400,000 animals by moving them out of shelters and into loving homes. PetSmart also spays and neuters about 285,000 animals annually, and funnels millions of dollars to animal welfare groups across the nation. As a donor, you can give money, or instead adopt a pet, thereby helping PetSmart achieve its goal of giving every animal a loving home.

What’s your favorite charity — and why?

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: 40+ Free or Cheap Ways to Give

Amy Lu — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 20:00:05 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on over 40 free or cheap ways to give, cool car hacks to try out, and ways to score discounts with customer loyalty.

You Should Make These 11 Easy Donations Before Time Runs Out

Tim Lemke — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:00:10 +0000

It's natural this time of year to feel a little more charitable. Many nonprofit organizations report that they see a surge of donations in the last month of the year, and there are some advantages to making donations before the calendar turns another page.

In addition to keeping with the holiday spirit, giving to charity before year's end ensures that you can get a tax deduction to count for 2014. In in some instances, corporations are in an extra giving mood and will match many cash donations. (See also: 15 Ways to Give to Charity That Fit a Holiday Budget)

If you're feeling charitable or just have some stuff you want to unload, consider these simple donations you can make before 2015 comes around. (Just make sure you keep good records for the tax man!)

1. Clothes and Household Items

There's a good chance you'll get some new clothes and other stuff for the holiday season. Now may be a time to donate some of your older (but still usable) items to a thrift shop or charity such as Goodwill. You'll free up some closet space and get a 2014 tax deduction in the process. This time of year, coats and other warm-weather items are especially needed.

2. Food

Local food pantries are always in need of donations, especially during the winter months. Drop off a few bags of canned goods, or get in touch with a charity such as Meals on Wheels to donate food to a shut-in. You're probably cooking a ton for the holiday feast anyway, so set some aside for a needy family.

3. Shares of Stock

If you've seen portions of your investment portfolio rise in 2014, why not share the wealth? Donating shares of stock is a great way to help out a charity because unlike a cash donation, the contribution may rise in value. You get a tax deduction by donating, and also avoid any capital gains fees you might have otherwise incurred by selling.

4. A Car

If you're thinking of buying a new car in 2015, consider donating your car to charity this year to get the tax benefits. Many charities will accept donations of cars, which they then sell at auctions and pocket the proceeds. Other charities turn the cars over directly to needy families. A car donation is tax deductible, and many charities will even go through the effort to pick up the car from your house free. Donating your car makes sense if you feel like you wouldn't get much for a trade-in anyway.

5. New Toys

It's almost impossible to avoid seeing the U.S Marines manning Toys For Tots stations all over the country. A donation of a new toy will help ensure a great Christmas for an underprivileged child. This year, Toys For Tots is looking to collect 7 million toys. Go to Toysfortots.com to find a drop-off location near you.

6. Old Building Materials

When my family built a new addition to our house, we donated some old windows and a sliding glass door to a local charity that recycles such things. It was a stress-free way to unload the items, and we got a sizable tax deduction. Contact the Building Materials ReUse Association to see if there's a charity near you.

7. Your Time

Rather than spending a day at a mall indulging in retail excess, consider taking time to help out at a soup kitchen, food pantry, or other charity. Better yet, consider making a commitment to volunteer not only during this holiday season but throughout the year.

8. Your Artistic Talent

This time of year, it's common for organizations to have parties featuring silent auctions as fundraisers. If you're an artist or photographer, why not donate a painting or photograph? It's a great way to direct money to a charity and perhaps also get some exposure for your skills. Similarly, a musician could volunteer to perform holiday music at a charitable event, or even offer free lessons.

9. Cash

This may seem lazy, but most charities are more than happy to receive monetary donations. In fact, sometimes money is the best gift to a charity because they know better than anyone what specific items they need. Donating cash could be as easy as dropping some coins into a Salvation Army pot, or writing a sizable check to another non-profit group.

10. Blood

This time of year, blood donations are often low because people are so busy. But it's a great way to give back in a way that won't cost you a dime. I make a point of donating blood every December 24 at my local Red Cross donation center. It gets me in the Christmas spirit, and there are usually free cookies. Go to RedCross.org to locate a blood drive or donation center near you.

11. Money to Your Future Self

This may not be a "donation" in the classic sense. But it's still a great idea to try to max out your retirement accounts by the end of the year. If you have an IRA, you can contribute up to $5,500 for 2014. Any contribution up until April 15, 2015 counts toward 2014, but why wait?

What will you be giving this year? Please share in comments!

This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Local Charities That Could Use Your Stuff

Mikey Rox — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:00:03 +0000

Most of us have go-to donation centers that we visit when we want to unload our old clothes, toys, and housewares — places like the Goodwill and Salvation Army come to mind — but there are lots of other places right in your neighborhood that will gladly take unwanted items off your hands and give them a new life and purpose. Take a look at these 10 often overlooked places for donations. (See also: How to Make a Noncash Tax-Deductible Donation)

1. Worship Centers

Worship centers are mostly funded by the offerings members provide at services, which are used to pay for general maintenance of the worship center and its utilities. There may be room in the budget for additional purchases the center needs, but donations of goods also are accepted to help keep the overhead low. Charitable donations ideal for churches and synagogues include musical instruments, snacks for children's services, used cars to transport disabled members, second-hand clothing and food for community members who have fallen on hard times, and toys to gift to needy children at holiday time. (See also: How to Choose a Charity)

2. Community Centers

The mission of community centers, especially in urban areas, is to keep kids off the street while giving them something productive to do with their time. Donations of educational materials — likes books and computers — are perfect for community centers, as are games and sports equipment like balls and bicycles. Call your local youth community center and ask what they need.

3. Emergency Shelters

While emergency shelters exist to take in anybody who needs a roof over their head due to any manner of extenuating circumstance, most shelters cater to the homeless population who need a safe place to sleep on a regular basis. Furniture and used clothing are excellent donations for emergency shelters, but toiletries — soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, and pastes — are even better, so those who require the emergency shelter can maintain good hygiene.

4. Libraries

Have boxes and boxes of books, CDs, or DVDs that you can't get rid of? Stop by your local library and ask if they'll accept your unwanted media. Chances are they'll be more than happy to take such valuable resources off your hands so the library can expand its selection of material. (See also: Reasons to Support Your Local Library)

5. Schools

Schools are publicly funded by the taxes we pay, but individual teachers often have to dip into their own pockets to buy something special for their classes — and sometimes to buy the basics. If you want to show your gratitude for the hard work that your son or daughter's teacher puts in on a daily basis, drop off a donation of kid-friendly items like musical instruments, sports equipment, games, books, and office supplies with which the teacher can enhance class lessons.

6. Food Banks

Don't throw away still-good non-perishables when cleaning out your cupboards or pantry. Instead, pack the items that you no longer want into a bag and drop it off at your local food bank. Your donation will feed one or more people in community for at least one meal, which should make you feel great about the good deed you did. Most will gladly accept non-food donations such as office supplies, too.

7. Animal Shelters

Animal shelters are often filled to the gills with animals for which they can't find a home — and it's not easy keeping them fed and clean 24/7. If you want to make life better for a local shelter animal in some way, top donations include food and treats, old blankets, and towels.

8. Children's Homes

What children's homes need most are new pajamas, socks, and shoes. Other donations can include clothes, toys, games, and books. Let's not forget, too, that there aren't just toddlers and teenagers living in these homes. Infants often live at children's homes, so donations of diapers are also much needed.

9. Women's Shelters

Women's shelters will accept everything that you'd donate to a children's shelter — since many women arrive with their children — but they also need items for the women themselves. Toiletries and hygiene products are coveted, but since many women's shelters try to help the women get back on their feet by way of employment, donations of interview-appropriate outfits also are ideal. Women's shelters are also great places to get rid of your old cell phone. (See also: How to Get Rid of Your Old Electronics)

10. VA Hospitals

Nobody likes to sit in a hospital bed and do nothing all day while they recover. But you can make a veteran's time in the hospital a little more bearable by donating items to your local VA hospital that will entertain or occupy the soldier as he or she rehabilitates. Books and games are great donations, but handheld video games and music devices — like MP3 players — will be much more stimulating for the veteran as they heal.

Do you have other unexpected places to give charitable donations? Let me know in the comments below.

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

20 Places Where You Can Always Shop for a Worthy Cause

Kelly Medeiros — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:00:22 +0000

Shopping can be even more rewarding when you know your purchase also goes to helping those in need. While some mainstream retailers promote socially conscious shopping through one-off charity products from time to time, plenty let you buy terrific products and promote the greater good all year 'round. (See also: Easy Ways to Support Charity)

1. TOMS

TOMS sells their signature shoes using the "one for one" mission, meaning for every pair sold, they donate a pair to a child in need. The company has already given over two million pairs in more than 60 countries, and has also expanded into eyewear using the same concept. TOMS continues to add new styles to their classic lineup, and products can be purchased at the company's site, certain department stores, and popular retail locations.

2. Novica

Novica, which works in association with National Geographic, boasts over 30,000 unique, handcrafted items for sale from artisans in developing nations. Sale proceeds help local artisans generate income to improve their quality of life. The site has many affordable finds, and offers unique jewelry, decor, art, and other handmade gifts, which usually come with the artisan's bio. (See also: Frugal Personalized Gift Ideas)

3. Product (RED)

(RED) products raise money for the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. U2 lead singer and AIDS activist Bono helped develop the concept, which partners the (RED) brand with many well-known retailers, like Apple, who sell designated (RED) products on their own sites. Up to 50% of the profits go to the Global Fund, and such products cost the same as non-(RED) items.

4. Everything Happy

Everything Happy sells children's products, like adorable animal blankets, stuffed toys, and clothing. For every purchase, the company donates a product to one of their designated hospitals, orphanages or Ronald McDonald houses, which you get to choose by using a registration code upon receiving your product. (See also: Donate Toys to Control Clutter)

5. FEED Projects

Fashion model, designer, and granddaughter of former President George H. W. Bush, Lauren Bush, started FEED after designing a bag to benefit the United Nation's World Food Program. Today, the company sells a collection of cool bags and totes, apparel, and accessories branded with the FEED logo. The sale of FEED products provides meals and vitamin supplements to children in need all over the world.

6. GreaterGood

The GreaterGood family of websites follows a "click to give" mission with eight individual sites selling products whose proceeds support a number of well-known women's, children's, health, animal, and environmental causes and institutions. There is a vast array of merchandise available, from apparel to home items to cause-specific goods.

7. SoapBox Soaps

Besides selling all-natural, gluten-free, vegan, and made in the U.S.A soaps packaged with all recycled materials, SoapBox Soaps also donates one bar of soap, fresh water, or vitamins to a child in need across the globe for every purchase made. Soapbox also contributes to shelters and nursing homes in the U.S. Products can be purchased at the company's site or found in many retail locations, including select Whole Foods Markets.

8. eBay Giving Works

eBay Giving Works functions just like eBay's regular buying and selling platform. However, sellers donate a portion of product proceeds to one of eBay's designated charities, which include many well-known causes. All charities supported are screened by PayPal's Giving Fund, which means your money only goes to legit organizations and always reaches its intended destination.

9. KNO Clothing

KNO Clothing sells stylish apparel and accessories all made from fairly traded, organic, or sustainable fabric. But it doesn't stop there. KNO uses 50% of the profits to help end homelessness, with each purchase providing an article of clothing to someone in need and supporting the work of the company's partners who provide housing.

10. Goodwill Stores

You may be familiar with Goodwill shops that resell donated clothing and home goods (there are 165 independent stores in the U.S. and Canada), but you may not realize what your purchase supports. Retail sales go towards funding job training, employment placement, and other community programs that Goodwill offers.

11. Ralph Lauren Pink Pony

Ralph Lauren has long promoted its Pink Pony Products. Ten percent of the purchase price of these products benefits the Pink Pony Fund of the Ralph Lauren Foundation, which funds initiatives for cancer care and prevention. Items include apparel and home goods, all with the trademark Pink Pony emblem.

12. Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages is one of the world's largest fair trade organizations that aims to sell unique, handmade products from disadvantaged artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Proceeds help skilled artisans to earn money for basic necessities and an improved quality of life. Products are sold in nearly 400 U.S. retail outlets or through the company's site, and include handmade jewelry, décor, apparel, and other beautiful gifts.

13. Best Friends Boutique on Wag.com

Best Friends Animal Society has opened an online store, called Best Friends boutique, which can be found on popular pet e-tailer, Wag (one of the Diaper.com sister sites). 50% of the proceeds from Best Friends logo items go towards helping the society run the nation's largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals, as well as their other no-kill shelter initiatives and programs.

14. Roozt

Touted by some as the Etsy for socially conscious shopping, Roozt is an online platform that offers a collection of hip brands from mission-oriented retailers. Roozt's philosophy, "bringing sexy back to giving back," allows retailers to set up storefronts on the site and offer cool products that make a difference. In addition, for every member who joins the site (membership is free), Roozt donates a meal to an American in need through their partnership with hunger relief charity, Feeding America.

15. B. toys

For every B. toy bought, ten cents is donated to Free the Children, which is an international charity and educational partner that has built over 650 schools around the world. B. toys are unique, educational products currently sold at Target and select specialty stores.

16. Giftback

Giftback works like many of the popular flower and gift basket sites out there, selling gourmet food and gift baskets, flower arrangements, and customized corporate gifts. However, 10% of every purchase is donated to one of Giftback's designated charities, which the buyer can choose from. The site is geared towards giving, so your recipient will not only get to see your gift card message, but will be notified that a portion of the gift was also donated to the charity you chose.

17. Charity Wines and Benefit Wines

Charity Wines teams up with professional athletes and celebrities who donate their name and image to a unique wine brand. Around 70% of the sale proceeds of these unique bottles go the athlete's designated charity. Wines are single runs, which means they sell out and there are only a few items to pick from. Not to worry, however, as they have a sister site, Benefit Wines, which follows the same concept using charitable causes on the label (primarily animal charities) and has a greater inventory selection.

18. Chilanthropy

Chilanthropy, named after the concept of "relaxing while being philanthropic," sells beautiful all natural candles and bath products. The eco-conscious company donates 5% of all candle sale proceeds to different environmental charities and organizations. Each candle is paired with a specific charity based on its theme or name and supports such causes as rainforest, coral reef, and forest preservation.

19. ASPCA Online Store

Check out the online shop of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for some great pet related products. They have everything from pet items to adult and children's clothing and accessories. A small portion of sale proceeds supports the ASPCA's work towards helping animals.

20. Charity Malls

Charity mall sites, like Goodshop and iGive, work with thousands of retailers online to designate a portion of your regular purchase to a charity of your choice. You can shop through the charity sites or use one of the charity site apps to have purchases automatically credited when you directly visit a merchant site. You never pay more for items, and the charity sites help you track how much you raise. It's important to note, however, that the percentage donated is usually pretty low — on average, 0.5% to 3% for most retailers.

These are just a sampling of the retailers out there offering products that give back. As a reminder, it's always best to do a little checking to make sure any do-good shopping goes to a legitimate cause and you know how much actually gets donated. (See also: How to Pick a Charity)

What are some of your favorite places to shop for a cause?

This article is from Kelly Medeiros of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Get Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:36:08 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Autumn, kristina, and Tom for winning this week's contest!

Everyone has items in their house or in storage that they don't need or want anymore. Whether it's an old TV that never gets used or items of clothing your kids outgrew, odds are you've either sold, donated, or thrown away things you no longer use or just don't need. Some people take the time to sell stuff on Craigslist or have a yard sale while others either donate or throw away their unwanted stuff.

How do you get rid of your unwanted stuff? Do you sell it on Craigslist? Have a garage sale? Donate it? Or do you just throw it out?

Tell us how you get rid of your unwanted stuff and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below

For extra entries (1 per action):

Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment on this article telling us you did, or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, July 23rd at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after July 23rd on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us how you get rid of your unwanted stuff and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Ways to Reuse a Comforter Bag

Tisha Tolar — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:36:24 +0000

If you recently bought a new comforter for your bed or have the plastic casing bed-wear usually comes in, don’t throw it out. Comforter bags are great because they typically have zipper access and are made of durable plastic. Some even come with convenient handles. Here are eight ways to get the most out of a recycled comforter bag. (See also: Waste Not, Want Not: Turning Waste Into Savings)

1. Donation Bag

I have placed an old comforter bag in each of my kids' rooms. Whenever they put on clothing and find it no longer fits comfortably, the kids know to refold the item and put it in the storage bag. This is a great, proactive way for us to avoid having to sort through all of their clothing drawers and closets every few months. When the bag is filled, we zip it up and give it to a family friend for future use. The clear bag makes it easy for them to see the variety of items so they can pull out what they need without a hassle. Thrift stores also appreciate the see-through bag when accepting donations.

2. Winter-Wear Storage

Snowsuits, boots, gloves, hats, and scarves can be stored in the plastic zippered bag, so they are easily located for next winter. Let kids decorate their own bags as an afternoon craft activity. Foam stickers can brighten up a plain plastic bag and give the kids something to do while you spring clean. The plastic bags will also keep dust and moths from attacking your winter gear.

3. Extra Sheet Storage

If you lack closet space and have no room for linens, employ a comforter bag as a storage center for extra sheets and pillow cases. You can fit a lot of sheet sets in one bag, and you’ll protect the sheets from dirt until you need to use them again. As an added benefit, toss in a used fabric softener sheet so you will always have nice, clean, fresh-smelling sheets ready for use.

4. Portable Toy Bag

Kids tend to have a lot of toys that live everywhere but the toy box. You can utilize the giant zippered bags to keep toys organized. The bag allows kids to transport their trucks, dolls, and stuffed animals wherever they want to play. The portable toy bag is also a great way to travel with toys. Kids can easily see what’s in the bag and perhaps resist the urge to dig everything out of the bag and spread it all over the back of your minivan.

5. Gardening Tool Storage

Gardening tools can rust if left out in the elements, but you can use a comforter bag for storage and protection from the rain and other seasonal elements. The bag also makes it easier for you to lug everything around the garden, and it can be quickly rinsed out with the hose when it gets too dirty.

6. Cleaning Catchall

Again, due to the ability to see through the clear plastic, a comfortable bag is useful as a catchall in your living space. Clutter that traditionally lies around your house can be tossed in the bag until it can be sorted later. Your family members can easily see what’s inside when they are looking for something specific and can grab their own items when it’s time to put things back in their rightful places.

7. Luggage

While it is hardly a fashion statement, the large plastic zippered bag can work well as last-minute luggage for your next road trip. Your family is likely to forget a lot of stuff on the way out the door, so you can utilize the bag as a last-minute catchall for travel. On the return trip, be sure to pack your dirty laundry in the bag so you can put it in the laundry room as soon as you get back and not have to sort through suitcases trying to figure out what is clean and what isn’t.

8. Shoe Storage

If shoes tend to clutter your home or your closet, consider using the bag as a shoe storage place. You can throw in your flip flops, sneakers, and other casual shoes to make room for the pricier dress shoes that need more tender loving care. The bag makes it easy to collect your shoes in one place if you are short on room.

There are probably tons more ideas you can think up for recycling household items that would otherwise go in the trash bin. While you may only buy a new comforter from time to time, you can start asking friends and family to save theirs for you and gather a whole collection of free bags for your storage needs.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Tisha Tolar of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Give? (Chance to win $20!)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:33:32 +0000

*** Congrats to our winners! ***

Comment #7: I give in a variety of - Submitted by gt0163c on January 26, 2010 - 13:43. I give in a variety of ways.
I haven't been personally affected by the economic downturn so I decided to up my financial giving to a few missionaries recently. These are people who are personal friends and who I can speak to openly about finances and, in many cases, they are hurting because donations are down across the board.

I've also done some "cookie packages" for the college ministers. I get together with a few friends and we bake up a bunch of homemade cookies, package them in individual ziploc bags and send them off to the college pastors and interns to give to their students. The responses that I've gotten back have been wonderful. The students love the cookies and the pastors get to say that there are these people who love and are praying for you who don't even know you. The time and monetary committment is small and who doesn't like cookies?

I also give with my time. I do a lot of volunteer stuff with my church, sometimes in places where others are more hesitant to serve (with the high school youth especially. I love them. Most other people love that there's someone else who loves them in this way).
gsusfreek @wisebread I helped at my church by putting in insulation, playing on the worship team. I also volunteer in the community. "#WBAsk" 6 days ago from web

Will you give more this year? Or are you just in "survival mode?"

Many people are making resolutions to give back to their communities and charitable organizations that have impacted their lives. Others are responding to the calls for aid in Haiti and are finding just a little more in their budget to help the cause. All of this is happening in spite of a down economy, job loss, and tightening budgets. How are we doing it? And are there tips to help others so that they have more to give?

We'd love to hear your tips for giving. It can be ways that you stretch the budget so that you have room for donations, how you stockpile freebies to give to the less fortunate, or how you are giving more of your time and talents during your own time of economic trouble. Maybe you're not even thinking of giving right now — and that's OK, too! We'd love to hear your 2-cents! (We encourage you to link to your own blog posts if you've covered a similar topic on your own site.)

Let us know your stories here in our comment thread or on Twitter, and you'll be entered to win one of two $20 Amazon giveaways. (Yes, that's right! We've doubled our prize money!) Dozens of readers have already won. You could be next!

Win a $20 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways — one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Friday, January 29th at 11:59 am CST. Winners will be announced after January 29th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings — once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Giving Back to Those Not Necessarily on Your Christmas List

Tisha Tolar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:49 +0000

As we rush to find the "perfect gift" for friends and family, we tend to get tunnel vision about the holiday season. No matter how tight our budgets or shopping time may be, remember still there are some people who would be thrilled to be in our shoes, amongst the chaos of family, friends, and festivities. Those without families, homes, money, or good health are not expecting much from the holiday season but you and your family can give them an everlasting gift — one you'll likely remember forever yet pay nothing much to give. There are many ways you can help or find money for charity. Here are some ideas to give this holiday season. (See also: Surprisingly Easy Ways You Can Support Charity)

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Sponsored by the Red Cross, Holiday Mail for Heroes allows the public to send holiday greetings and thanks to soldiers and veterans. Cards must be received by December 7, 2009. This is a great way to spread some gratitude and holiday cheer to those who may not have their families nearby to celebrate.

Cards That Give

When shopping for Christmas and holiday cards, check out Cards That Give, a website that combines the efforts of over 100 non-profit organizations who create and sell greeting cards for all occasions. Each purchases helps support the groups, which include humane societies and children's hospitals. Many of the organizations also create all-occasion cards so shopping and helping a good cause all year around is possible.

Welcome Back Veterans

Welcome Back Veterans will help you find information about sending greeting cards and thanks to veterans who have served our country. Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season is an excellent time to drop a note to someone who has made our country safer and allowed us the freedom to celebrate wonderful things.

Holiday Project

Holiday Project supports people in nursing homes, prisons and hospitals by visiting those who are confined during the holiday season. They are looking for visiting volunteers, help with wrapping gifts, and people interested in donating needed goods and money.

Volunteer Match

Volunteer Match is a one-stop shop for finding volunteering opportunities in your area. Simply plug in your zip code and the system will link you to the volunteer openings close to where you live. This is a great site to use all year around and you get a great overview of how your talents and skills can be useful in supporting others who are less fortunate than you.

This article is from Tisha Tolar of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ten Great Charities that Deserve Your Dollars This Year

Catherine Shaffer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:44:13 +0000

These are difficult economic times, but I'm getting tired of being told to spend my money on stuff, as if my personal saving habits are somehow ruining the economy. I'm no economist, and maybe I'm full of crap, but it seems to me that when I save money by putting it in a bank account or investing it in stocks via my retirement plan, I am directly addressing the core problem of the economy right now--liquidity--in a much more direct way than if I were to go to the dollar store and stock up on easter decorations that I don't want anyway. I have a different proposition. Instead of throwing money at retailers, let's throw it at people who really need it--the poor and disenfranchised who are most at risk in an economic downturn. Here are my top ten charity picks. I'd love to know what your favorites are, and will post a followup in a week or so with an updated list of recommended charities. [Update: and now there are ten!]

1. The Carter Center

This is an amazing organization founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter with a unique mission. Many of us are ardent supporters of disease foundations that seek to find a cure for a devastating disease such as cancer. The Carter Foundation seeks to bring known cures for terrible diseases to third world nations that cannot afford them. The Carter foundation is currently campaigning to eradicate guinea worm, a painful and dangerous parasitic infection, from the world. Guinea worm is easily prevented by filtering drinking water. However, many countries in Africa have been too poor to distribute simple coffee filters so that people can remove the worm larvae from their drinking water. The Carter foundation has made an amazing difference in saving millions of people from guinea worm at a cost of pennies per person. This is a very powerful use of your dollars, and if you have just a few dollars to donate, this is the charity that will stretch those dollars the most. The Carter Center has a five star rating on Charity Navigator, with a high percentage of donation going to actual program expenses.

2. Christian Foundation for Children and Aging

This is a child sponsorship charity with which I've had an amazingly good experience. For $30 a month, I sponsor a child to receive assistance through the foundation. Assistance includes education and basic needs. I am able to correspond with the child, and we have exchanged many letters and photos. CCFA gives you the option to choose a young child, an older child, or an elderly person to receive assistance, or you can choose the person most in need. I took the last option, and I promptly received a packet describing a child named Luis in Guatamala. I really wish I could publish the series of three pictures I received from the foundation, but that would not be considerate of his privacy. Luis was about 12, and in the first picture he looked very small for his age, was wearing ill-fitting clothes, and looked thoroughly miserable. A year later, I had a picture of a very handsome young man with a bright smile. Luis sends me wonderful letters which he always illustrates with colored pencil drawings. I am very proud of him, and I hope to one day take advantage of the CCFA travel program, which provides very reasonable accommodations for a visit with your sponsored child. Because of the differential in cost of living between the US and Guatamala, I am able to make a huge difference in one child's life while making a small sacrifice in my own. In fact, it's kind of embarassing, the gratitude that he has expressed, considering that $30 is an amount I can easily spend on nothing. CCFA also gets five stars on Charity Navigator.

3. American Red Cross

The Red Cross gets only two stars from charity navigator, indicating they need improvement in efficiency. Still, there's no other organization with the scope and vision of the Red Cross, and they are the only place you can donate blood instead of money. If you are able, consider giving at least a pint of blood to the red cross. The Red Cross does a great deal of disaster relief work. When my family was on vacation in Michigan's upper peninsula, in 2007, a major forest fire started within a few miles of our campground. We were not affected, but as it turned out, the Red Cross set up a tent with relief supplies near the firefighter's headquarters. Maybe they aren't the most efficienty charity working in this space, but I didn't see any other charities showing up at Four Corners crossings in da UP to offer relief to people who may be injured or displaced. I believe in this organization and will continue to support it. Some day, if my life calms down enough, I hope to become a trained Red Cross disaster volunteer in my community. (I looked at the training courses recently and sadly am not able to attend.)

4. International Committee of the Red Cross

This organization is doing critical relief work around the world. Right now, as we speak, there is a horrifying situation in Sri Lanka with tens of thousands of people trapped in a very small area, caught in cross fire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels. the ICRC is the only aid organization with any access at all to this region, so if youw ant to help, this is the place to send your dollars. This is a terrible situation. News media have not been allowed in, but there are reports that people are using sheets of plastic for shelter and that bombs are falling among the crowds. These are people who are going to need immediate and comprehensive assistance as soon as they can be extracted from the situation.

5. Habitat for Humanity

What can you say about Habitat? Great charity, doing great work. They don't just give away houses, they make people work their butts off for them. This is a charity that strengthens communities, puts people in homes, and doesn't wreck the economy while doing it. They deserve your support.

6. Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation

I was going to recommend St. Jude Children's Hospital, but when I did some research, they seemed to have an unacceptably high overhead as opposed to the amount of donations that actually go to research and helping people. Instead, consider Doernbecher, which has a similar mission, and a five star rating on charity navigator.

7. American Near East Refugee Aid

This is an organization helping another trapped group of people--civilians in Gaza. I have a solicitation from them right here in my incoming mail box, and after looking them up online, I feel very comfortable sending a contribution.

8. Your local church, department of human services, or animal shelter

There are some needs that are best addressed locally. Consider contributions to your church or your local animal shelter. (Do not contribute to the HSUS until you have researched the organization. You may not agree with their goals or tactics, and they are not normally affiliated with the "humane society" in your town.) Also check with your state government or county human services department about organizations that help foster children. Foster children are some of the most needy, most disenfranchised people in our society. Often there are not enough beds in foster homes for them, so they live in unstable, crowded conditions. Children who have not been abused when they enter care often end up being abused by the time they leave care, and due to frequent moves between homes, they have a hard time holding onto possessions. Many small charities collect money to purchase simple things like suitcases and Christmas presents for foster children. Children aging out of the foster system need a lot of help getting started in life, as well, and in this economy, it's not as easy for them to find jobs, much less go to college. You might also consider becoming a foster parent. It's not for everyone, but there is such a great need, and most people find it very rewarding.

9. Sanford Health, South Dakota

This isn't actually a recommendation for a place to donate your money, since they don't seem to be actively soliciting donations. Instead, I want to share with you this story of Denny Sanford's $400 million gift to Sioux Falls Health System. Unlike many philanthropists, Sanford did not dictate the research mission of the hospital when he made the gift. Instead, he solicited proposals from scientists for a project that would completely cure a disease within his remaining life span. He's kind of old, so it's going to be a horse race! The process was judged by scientists, and the winner was type I diabetes. Research at Sanford Health will focus on curing Type I diabetes through beta cell regeneration, as quickly as possible. I mention it here in case anyone has a significant gift or bequest and may be interested in joining Sanford in this mission, or perhaps using Sanford's process to start their own research institution or foundation! This is philanthropy done right. [Update: You CAN contribute to Sanford Health. Go to www.sanfordproject.com and click on "Make a Gift Online."]

10. Doctors without Borders

Thanks to the commentors, I can now complete my list of ten, which I started and got stuck at number nine. (Math and blogging don't mix for me.) This is another charity that introduces itself. Nobel-prize winning, courageous, important. I am a supporter and I hope you will be, too.

Now, go! Make a leap of faith. Give your money away, and it will return to you tenfold, or so the saying goes. With an ROI like that, we can have 1000% growth in our economy in no time. What are your favorite charities? What are the best? The worst?

This article is from Catherine Shaffer of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

donations

You Need to Get Rid of These 16 Household Items — Pronto!

1. Old knives

2. Small appliances

3. Worn-out linens

4. Hangers

5. Old bras

6. Worn-out athletic shoes

7. Expired medications

8. Expired beauty products

9. Small bathroom appliances

10. Burned jar candles

11. Crayon stubs

12. Appliance manuals

13. Burned-out light bulbs

14. Used-up batteries

15. Unused electrical cables and wire

16. Outdated cellphones

Like this article? Pin it!

4 Ways Your Money Can Support Your Values

Socially responsible robo-investing

Cellphone activism

Shop your values

#BankBlack revitalizes communities

Put your money where your values are

Like this article? Pin it!

10 Ways to Give Back on #GivingTuesday Without Breaking the Bank

1. Use Philanthropic Apps

2. Donate Your Rewards

3. Shop Socially Conscious Companies

4. Ask Your Employer About Charitable Benefits

5. Give Through Decluttering

6. Purchase Through AmazonSmile

7. Give Your Expertise

8. Become a Foster Parent

9. Give Parts of Yourself

10. Volunteer

Here's How to Deduct Charitable Donations on Your Taxes

Be Honest

Common Mistakes

Cash Donations Are Easiest to Deduct

Non-Cash Contributions Are Tricky

Really Big Contributions Require More Paperwork

6 Ways to Sell or Donate Your Airline Miles

Donating Miles

1. American Miles for Kids in Need

2. United Charity Miles

3. Delta Donate Miles

4. JetBlue True Giving

Trading or Transferring Miles

5. Redeem or Transfer Miles Through Points.com

6. Book Awards Tickets for Your Family & Friends

The Bottom Line

The 5 Charitable Donations That Do the Most Good

1. Compassion International

2. Carnegie Institution for Science

3. Development Media International

4. Brother’s Brother Foundation

5. PetSmart Charities

Like this article? Pin it!

Best Money Tips: 40+ Free or Cheap Ways to Give

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

You Should Make These 11 Easy Donations Before Time Runs Out

1. Clothes and Household Items

2. Food

3. Shares of Stock

4. A Car

5. New Toys

6. Old Building Materials

7. Your Time

8. Your Artistic Talent

9. Cash

10. Blood

11. Money to Your Future Self

10 Local Charities That Could Use Your Stuff

1. Worship Centers

2. Community Centers

3. Emergency Shelters

4. Libraries