Donations, Taxes and RecognizeGood

When you donate to the Samaritan Center and other charities through RecognizeGood, you receive the benefit of knowing you’re helping to make a difference in the world. But you’re also receiving the benefit of a deduction to apply to your taxes.

Here are some answers to common questions about charity and tax deductions. RecognizeGood provides this information for your convenience. As always, consult your own tax or financial advisor before making personal financial decisions.

  1. When I make a charitable contribution on RecognizeGood, is that contribution tax-deductible?
    Absolutely! Every single charity featured on RecognizeGood qualifies for 501C-3 non-profit status from the IRS — and that means every donation you give counts as a tax-deductible donation. When you make a donation through our site, be sure to save and/or print the confirmation e-mail you receive from RecognizeGood for your tax records. When you make a donation, this gift is tax deductible to you, but when your honoree chooses the charity to receive your donation, he or she does not receive any tax deductible benefit.
  2. I want my giving to be deductible for this tax year. Do I need to make a donation by a certain time?
    Yes. Any donation you made on or by December 31, 2009 will qualify as a deduction for 2009. Any donations made in 2010 (even at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day) go towards the 2010 tax year. So if you’re looking for a tax benefit for this year, you’ll want to make that donation before December 31, 2009. The good news is that you can donate on Recognize Good any day of the week, 24 hours a day. So it’s easy to get in that last-minute donation while you are recognizing an act of kindness or charity.
  3. When I donate, will I get a receipt?
    When you donate through RecognizeGood, you will always receive a confirmation e-mail, which will serve as your receipt. You also can print the confirmation page that appears on your computer screen after you’ve completed your contribution—that can also serve as a receipt. You should always keep a hard copy of your receipt for your tax records.
  4. I’ve heard that some donations aren’t fully tax-deductible, even if they’re to an IRS recognized charity. Is that true?
    Some contributions can be tax-deductible for less than the donated amount if the charity provides you with something of substantive value in return. At RecognizeGood, we streamline the giving process so that 100% of your donation is tax-deductible – no worries about what’s deductible and what’s not.