Car charity donations this Christmas and Holiday Season

As Christmas and the Holiday season are right around the corner, many of us want to donate items from food to cars and money to help the needy.  There are thousands of charities and we see ads for many all over our newspapers, TV and similar.  Some are very familiar and have a great, longstanding reputation like the Salvation Army.  Some look very similar to nationally known charities but may not be all they seem to be.  How is one to make sure that what they give, whether it be a car or other, goes to those that really need it?

First, according to Consumer Reports, it is very important that you research the charity or charities you have chosen.  After Hurricane Katrina, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) was overloaded with thousands of complaints of fraudulent charities with names similar to real charities to siphon off funds.  That was a national tragedy that affected over 100,000 people and there were thousands that, unbelievably, found it in themselves to take advantage of the situation.  Rule number 1, look them up.  Go online and research the charity under Google.  Also look them up at the Better Business Bureau.  The Better Business Bureau not only keeps tabs on charities, but also rates them on what percentage of each donation actually goes to help the intended parties.

Restore your worn and dirty headlight lenses to new again!
 
This is very helpful as there are many charities and some have a nearly 80% flow through rate (like the Salvation Army) which is superb, and then there are similar charities where less than 50% (the Red Cross), or even 20% (the Allstate car donation charity – has a very bad rating with the BBB as most funds go to pay the CEO whom is a millionaire).  What this means is that every car donation or any large donation will end up having a value (car donations will usually be sold at a local wholesale car auction) and you want to know what portion of this value will go to salaries and such and after expenses and other items what percentage actually goes where it was originally intended.

No one wants some CEO to get rich off your donations.  You gave your hard earned money to help out those less fortunate than yourself.  Regardless what the charity is from St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital and the National Diabetes and Kidney Foundations to the Salvation Army there are many reputable and well established charities that will wisely use your car donations and similar, but you need to be careful as many celebrities and rich persons have found charities as a way to gain personal tax donations, tax shelters, money laundering and even relentless cash windfalls.  All charities on the surface seem to have a genuine desire to help those in need, but between what is portrayed and promised and what really occurs can be a huge, huge difference. 

New Lite headlight restoration kits are the ultimate headlight solution for cloudy headlights!
 
Research any charity that you would like to donate a car, money, or even your personal time in volunteering to. I know I don’t want to make some CEO rich while only 20% or less of my money goes to help children with leukemia, or other charities.  Look the charity up on Google under the keywords lavish parties and rich CEO’s.  Try and find out how much the CEO and other board members make.  This is why less than 50% of donations flow through at the Red Cross rather than 80% at the Salvation Army.  The CEO at the Red Cross takes a yearly salary of over $800,000 (might be over a million by now), whereas the equivalent of the CEO at the Salvation Army takes a salary of less than $30,000.  Annual executive compensation, bonuses and perks can take a huge chunk out of donations and in my opinion is against the idea of a charity. Be careful to not get so wrapped up in the cause that you get taken this Christmas and Holiday Season.



Purchase the best selling and most effective headlight cleaner available!


Article provided by MDWholesale.com headlight cleaner, headlight restoration and headlight repair.