Charity

The mission statement of CharityCarDonation.com

CharityCarDonation.com has a simple mission: to make it possible and easy for people to help children and adults in need throughout the world by donating vehicles. Car donation programs are the lifeblood of many charities, and we’ve created a system that lets people nationwide donate their car and receive the benefits of doing good while receiving a tax break, whether you are making a car donation in Los Angeles or any other major U.S. city.

By giving us a call, you can donate a used car at no cost and free of any hassle. This helps charities get the most out of the vehicles that are donated – instead of having run their own program, they can rely on our expertise and reap the rewards of additional money coming in to help people in need. So if you have an unwanted vehicle, please help us fulfill our goals by making a donation today.

Kia dealership makes car donation to Akron Urban League

Many times when a business gets involved in making a car donation to a charity, they donate a used car. This isn’t the case with VanDevere Kia in Akron, Ohio, as NBA.com reports that the car dealership has made an auto donation of a new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV to the Akron Urban League in recognition of LeBron James winning the NBA’s MVP this past season.

The Urban League of Akron is involved with more than 25 programs designed to give inner-city youth a chance to grow and rise out of their environment. Among the programs sponsored are Assisting Children in Transition (for children whose parents have been or are incarcerated), ASSET (office skills training) and a Career Clothing Bank.

“Through direct services, research, advocacy and diverse collaborative efforts we continue to build stronger communities,” said Bernett L. Williams, President and CEO of Akron Urban League. “With this vehicle donation, we are able to advance our outreach and provide greater assistance to our local community.”

IRS rules on car donations have impact on charities

In 2004, the IRS enacted new rules on the amount of a deduction a person could take when they donate a used car to a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit. In the past, donors could deduct the full Blue Book value of the car. But the new rules meant that donors could only deduct the “fair market value” of the car or what it actually was resold for after it was donated if the car was worth more than $500.

The new rule meant a difference of hundreds of dollars or more in tax deductions for people who donate a car in Florida or any other state in America. And a survey by global accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP showed that it also had a dramatic impact on the car donation industry as a whole.

The survey showed that within the first year of the law being in effect, people making an auto donation of more than $500 dropped off by more than two-thirds. According to the report:

“The hope was that charities would still get the same number of cars they could auction for the same amount of money, and the only change would be the elimination of excess charitable deductions. That hope was clearly not recognized.”

Cash for Clunkers has mixed impact on car donations in Massachusetts

The impact of the recent Cash for Clunkers program on car donations in Massachusetts was mixed, according to a recent story by the Associated Press. Some local charities reported seeing fewer cars being donated to charity since the beginning of the government’s program offering $4,500 incentives for people to trade in their old cars for newer, more fuel-efficient models.

However, the program also led to opportunities in donating vehicles. Mike Muzzi operates the Good News Garage in Burlington, Vermont, which repairs junk cars and gives them to low-income families who otherwise would not have access to transportation. He said that Cash for Clunkers has led people to begin thinking about getting rid of their old cars, with some of these coming into his garage. In fact, he said that “some car dealers with potential customers who don’t meet stringent cash-for-clunkers requirements have sent business” to him.

“There’s no straight line we can draw between cash-for-clunkers and an increase in donations,” Muzzi said. “But we are experiencing an increase in donations. Last year was a record year for us, and this year is on track to do the same.”