[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]When you donate an object that can be worth thousands of dollars you want to make sure that it is going to the right place.  It would be unfortunate to donate a car, and the proceeds get squandered by a poorly run charity.  I’ve put together a list of the best places to donate your car to charity.  I’m sure there are a few others out there, but these few I consider extra special and rate very high on sites that analyze and monitor non profit organizations.  All of these charities are 501(c)3 and donations can be tax deductible up to the extent of the law.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]


[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

Best Places to Donate My Car to Charity

UNICEF Children First – This fund is used to provide aid for children all over the world.  They use about 90% of all donations for their mission.  Their current main focus is Iraq and Syria.  Along with these two war-torn nations they also provide funds for combating Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.  Actually 40% of all immunizations given were funded by the UNICEF.  They are attempting to make the third world safer for children by providing education and resources to combat child trafficking.  Children charities are always great to support.  Helping the youth of a nation not only alleviates hunger and illiteracy, but it also helps shape the future of that nation.  I would consider Children First to be one of the best charities for children.  Caryl M. Stern, President, compensation is a bit high at $521,000 though.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]Feed the Children – This charity is ranked a bit lower than the UNICEF due to their negative growth year-over-year.  Their primary focus is fighting child hunger.  This includes clean water which isn’t available to 783 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization.  These are some startling numbers.  Look at how far we’ve come as a nation and as a people, and we still have this far to go.  The money given to Feed the Children goes toward building wells, pipes, and filtration systems.  Kevin Hagan, the president and CEO, compensation is about $350,000 which is actually not to far out of the box for an organization this large.  This may see high to some but the total overhead expenses come in at under 3% which is very good.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]


[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

Days End Farm Horse Rescue – This is for the animal lovers out there.  They provide shelter and adoption of horses who are either mistreated or abandon.  I’m sure many of your are confused on why PETA, ASPCA, or Animal Rescue Inc aren’t my first choices.  The reason why I went with Days End is because they have great transparency, and they are seeing good growth.  The CEO receives $65,000 annually which might seem like very little, but it is a rather large portion of annual revenue.  Despite the administrative overhead being a bit high, their fundraising expenses are extremely low, which makes up for the high percentage of executive overhead.  I’m going to assume that the reason they are able to keep fundraising expenses so low is because they spend virtually nothing on advertising.  I actually didn’t know anything about them until recently.

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

Fisher House Foundation – This is a top notch military not for profit.  The Fisher House provides military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease, or injury.  They exhibit great transparency and their financials are in order.  They have about a 6% administrative and 2.5% fundraising expenses compared to revenue.  According to their website, they have served over 277,000 families which accounts for 6 million total days of lodging.  They currently have seventy houses in operation across the United States.  David A. Coker, President, brings in about $500,000 in annual compensation.

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]


[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

AMVETS National Service Foundation – This is for those who want to help out those who fought for America.  It seems that fundraising costs run a bit high in the military non profit sector, so 16% shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.  Then again, this is still much better than a lot of charities out there.  They have also been growing very rapidly which is always a good sign.  The new president is being compensated at a much less rate than the prior CEO at approximately $166,000.  It’s always good to see someone step in and take less than the person that preceded them.  If you are going to give your car to a military non profit, AMVETS wouldn’t be a bad idea.

[/fusion_text][fusion_text]Make-A-Wish Foundation – This non profit is focused on granting a wish for a child suffering from a life threatening health condition.  This charity is kind of a mix of good and average in regards to financial responsibility and fund raising costs.  Depending on what state your reside in depends on whether you want to donate your vehicle or not.  The reason I did include them is because they are a very large and well respected organization.  Plus I’ve always had a soft spot for children who goes through these terrible health problems.  It’s such a tragedy.  I would recommend using charity navigator or a similar site before donating.  The site is very handy, and it is where I’ve gotten some of my information.  If I ever do state specific posts, I’m sure quite a few chapters will wind up on the A list.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]If you are having difficulty selling your vehicle or if you just want it gone, this is a great way of going about it.  Some charities will even pick up your vehicle and tow it away for you.  Donating a vehicle allows you to potentially get a tax deduction, and you help out a charity of your choice.

Most of these statistics were taken from the 2014 fiscal year.  Charities can change at any moment due to changes in the board, executives, and strategy.  Please do your due diligence before donating anything.  Also, always contact a tax professional regarding matters of tax deductions.  Don’t make a mistake and lose out, because you did something incorrectly.  If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to ask.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]There are a few Catholic organizations that help the poor.  There are a couple of them are out there to do good, but there is one you’ll probably want to stay away from.  Charities can give anywhere from 10%-90% of the money raised to its mission.  This includes direct grants to organizations, countries, or individuals.  The organization may also start or fund a project either in the US or abroad.  Sometimes with charities administrative fees and other expenses can reach as high as 90% of annual earnings.  I put together a list of a few Catholic charities in which are national or international.  I understand that there are many local and regional Catholic charities, but it will require a lot of time to assemble.  It’s something I would definitely like to put together in the future.  Hopefully this list will allow you to make an informed decision on what organization to give your money to.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]


[/fusion_text][fusion_text]

List of Catholic Organizations that Help the Poor

Catholic Relief Services – An absolutely incredible 501(c)3 organization that assists in funding climate change, war-torn countries, and areas struck by natural disasters.  In 2015, a monstrous 93% of money raised went to their charitable programs.  This is an exceptionally high number.  Also, any amount given is tax deductible up to the extent allowable by law.  According to their 2014 990 filing, they sent money to seven different regions which includes Central, Southern, East, and West Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, Europe to Central Asia, and East & Southeast Asia.  The large majority of money spent was in Africa accounting for about 63% of total expenditures and investments in the region.  They are also the overseas arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Catholic Relief Services’s current project now to use $50 million over the next five years towards assisting those in the Gaza strip.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]Cross Catholic Outreach – Another great 501(c)3 organization where over 90% of money raised is going towards their mission.  With only about 5% of costs going to maintaining the organization, this is another great organization to place your hard earned money in.  All of the charity’s executives make less than $170,000 which is reasonable for an organization this large.  Their mission statement is “Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor.”  In 2014, 267 projects were funded expanding across 36 different countries.  Some of the current projects include establishing a better means for education in Ethiopia and Belize, and the assisting of orphans in regions of Africa due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]


[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Catholic Charities USA – Their main focus is combating poverty in the United States.  They have over 160 agencies across the country.  Personally I think the amount of 338,000 paid to Rev Larry Snyder is a bit extreme.  This is a perfect example of what I’ve talked about in a prior post.  You are going to be the leader of an organization that’s helping the poor, but you are getting paid that kind of money.  I’m sorry, but this makes it a bit difficult to believe in your mission statement.  Some may justify this pay with the amount of work required to run a charitable organization.  I don’t think their heart is in the right place if they can possibly accept that kind of pay from a charitable organization.  Apparently not everyone thinks like I do.  If you are to give any money to a Catholic charity, I would make it to one listed above.  Catholic Charities USA is a 501(c)3 so you can still get the tax benefit, but I’d like to think that people donate money to make a difference, and not just to potentially get a deduction on their tax return.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Unfortunately there are a lot of dishonest people out there, so always do your due diligence.  I know I’ve given a few small synopses above but this won’t cover it.  Give the charity a call or contact them via email.  Make sure that the person you speak with cares about the mission statement.  If you have a charity run by a bunch of people who don’t believe in it, it won’t go anywhere, and you’ll be squandering your money.  You want to put your money where it is going to do good and continue to grow.  There are quite a few sites where you can look into charities at greater depth.  I recommend Charity Navigator.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]