PerkStreet Financial

The following post is from our guest author, Phil Taylor from a blog we admire, PT Money.

More and more people are turning online and to their cell phones to give. I think this is great! It’s fast, direct, and safer than ever. A surprising 46% more in online giving was made in 2009 versus 2008. (source: Steve MacLaughlin of Blackbaud). Considering the economic situation last year, that’s pretty impressive. Part of that growth I’m sure comes from the increase in awareness and number of methods to give. If you’re looking for more ways to give (both your time and your extra money), I’ve got a few here you can explore.

Give Money Directly Online or By Text

If you know what organization you want to give to, simply visit their website and look for the donate or give button. Most non-profits have the ability on their websites to handle a few different payment methods: credit or debit card, text message, bank draft, etc. This is how my family ended up giving in 2009. We handpicked our favorite charities using CharityNavigator.org and visited the websites direct to make a contribution.

You can typically set this up as a one time contribution or set up a recurring charge for ongoing giving. Another way to give on an automated, recurring basis would be to use recurring payments feature from your bank’s bill-pay account.

Give By Shopping Online

There are many websites online where you can shop for items you need and a portion of your payment will go towards the charity of your choice. Two of the most notable are We-Care.com and GoodShop.com.

With every perk you earn using your PerkStreet debit card, PerkStreet makes a contribution to The Hunger Project, a non-profit organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger.

Give By Surfing the Internet

You can use the search tool-bars created by iGive.com or GoodSearch.com to give proceeds you earn from simply searching the Internet. These sites make extra money off of the ads they show you along with the search results. Then they share these profits with you in the form of a charitable donation to the organization of your choice. A very easy way to give.

Micro-Lend: Help Small Businesses Around the Globe

Another way to give online is to offer up your funds for an interest-free loan. At a site like Kiva.org your funds are used to help start a small business in a country where business loans are hard to get or non-existent. You get your funds back over time and you get the satisfaction of knowing that your money was put to good use.

Micro-Volunteer: Donate Your Small Chunks of Free Time

One very interesting way to give is to donate your spare time using the web or mobile application at BeExtra.org. They’ve synced up with several organizations in need of people who can micro-volunteer, on-demand, and on-the-spot using their computer or iPhone. You do things like tagging photos and answering quick surveys.

Remember the Tax Deduction

Remember that if you itemize, your cash donations can be deducted on your tax return as a charitable contribution. Be sure to keep a record of your donation including your canceled checks, credit card or bank statements, and the acknowledgment letters from the charity. Your records must indicate the name of the charitable organization, the date of your contribution, and the amount your contribution.

No related posts.