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Grex > Agora35 > #116: Volunteer opportunity: Help the ACLU help you! | |
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other
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Volunteer opportunity: Help the ACLU help you!
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Oct 29 07:57 UTC 2000 |
The ACLU of Michigan is looking for help from people skilled in Windows-
based network and software administration, as well as web coding.
Donation of services can be deducted at applicable hourly rates from your
taxes, as ACLU is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Remember, the ACLU is fighting to keep Grex free and open (and extant).
Your donation of time helps the ACLU by allowing them to spend their
money defending the Bill of Rights instead of paying consultants to
manage their essential computer systems.
Please consider giving some of your time and know-how to this vital
organization.
Interested individuals can email Michael J. Steinberg at
msteinberg@aclumich.org or call 313/961-4662.
Thank you!
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| 11 responses total. |
mary
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response 1 of 11:
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Oct 29 12:53 UTC 2000 |
Not that I'd think it would deter some nice person from
helping out this valuable organization but are you sure
such a donation would be eligible for an income tax
deduction? It was my understanding that ACLU donations
were not deductible as the ACLU endorses specific
political candidates.
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tpryan
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response 2 of 11:
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Oct 29 17:37 UTC 2000 |
Do GREX staff get acknowlegement of donations of this kind
of help?
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rcurl
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response 3 of 11:
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Oct 29 18:08 UTC 2000 |
ACLU is not a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. I just re-upped, and
the material they sent said specifically that dues are not deductible.
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scg
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response 4 of 11:
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Oct 29 19:59 UTC 2000 |
Even if they are 501(c)3, is ones' own labor tax deductable? I would assume
that since you're not earning income while volunteering, you're lowering your
taxable income that way rather than lowering it by donating money.
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scg
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response 5 of 11:
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Oct 29 20:05 UTC 2000 |
I don't really have time to volunteer at the moment, and certainly not in
Michigan, but I did just join the ACLU again. This item reminded me that
while I was busy moving this summer I let my membership lapse.
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ric
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response 6 of 11:
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Oct 29 22:00 UTC 2000 |
Donations of time and service *ARE* tax deductable, but they are apparently
more likely to get you audited.
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rcurl
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response 7 of 11:
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Oct 29 22:52 UTC 2000 |
No. Donation of time is never deductible for 501(c)3 organizations.
However out-of-pocket expenses, especially for travel costs on behalf of
the organization, are. I drove 5600 miles on behalf of 501(c)3
organizations in 1999: not a bad deduction at ca. $0.13/mile.
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gull
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response 8 of 11:
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Oct 30 00:03 UTC 2000 |
I thought the IRS milage rate was $0.325/mile. Or is that something else?
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tpryan
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response 9 of 11:
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Oct 30 02:16 UTC 2000 |
There is a difference between deduction for business use
and deduction for chartiy use.
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other
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response 10 of 11:
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Oct 30 18:33 UTC 2000 |
Apologies. I have just been given the straight scoop on this.
There is an educational and outreach organization called the ACLU Fund, which
*is* a 501(c)3, but the ACLU of Michigan itself is not, because it uses its
funding specifically for political lobbying.
As for deductability, Rane has it. Expenses incurred in the donation of
in-kind services are deductable, but not billable time itself.
I hope that my erroneous information does not deter any potential support from
which the ACLU might benefit. Also, regardless of whether anyone among you
reading this are capable of providing computer technical assistance, I
strongly urge you to make a donation (membership is only $35/year) to the
ACLU, and help them help us.
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rcurl
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response 11 of 11:
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Oct 30 18:50 UTC 2000 |
Yes. Now that you mention the ACLU Fund, it reminds me that there is
also a Sierra Club Foundation, donations to which are also tax deductible.
The purposes of the Fund and the Foundation must have strong parallels,
since both were created to further ACLU and Sierra Club purposes apart
from endorsing candidates and supporting legislation. The Sierra Club
Foundations purposes start with:
"The Sierra Club Foundation is a public charity whose mission is to
provide financial support to the Sierra Club and other environmental
organizations for tax deductible work. We fund a range of environmental
projects which fall into the three general categories of public education,
litigation, and training."
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