COLUMNS
December 26, 2009 Well, Christmas is over.
I hope you got what you really wanted.
If not, you're not alone.
This has been another challenging year for many of us.
The markets are up, but so is unemployment.
Almost everyone has felt the pinch, and that includes our pets.
All across the country animal shelters have reported an increase in surrenders of pets by their owners for economic reasons.
At the same time, charitable contributions are down, so animal welfare groups are really caught in a pinch.
They are taking in more dogs and cats and trying to adopt them into new forever homes, while at the same time finding they have less funding to do it.
This is a time of the year when making a contribution to a worthy cause can really help both the donor and the recipient.
The charity receiving the contribution gets an obvious benefit – funding to continue providing services needed by the community.
And the donor? They get a tangible benefit in the form of a tax deduction that can be taken when they file their tax return next year.
So the more money donated means more taxes saved.
They also have the satisfaction of knowing they are helping an organization whose mission they believe in and want to support.
If you're considering making a tax-deductible contribution here at the end of the year, there are a couple of things to consider.
If you're sending a check for the donation, make sure the check is dated by December 31st and that the envelope is postmarked by that date.
Then, even if the organization doesn't receive it until after January 1st, you can still deduct it on your 2009 tax return.
You can also donate stock or other securities, although you will have to check with your broker to be sure the transfer can be made in time.
If you are able, I encourage you to consider making a year-end donation to your favorite charity – whether it's Alabama Public Radio or another worthwhile organization, such as your local animal welfare group.
Everyone benefits, important services are supported, and for groups like animal shelters, your donation could literally be a real life-saver, when you're speaking of pets.
© Copyright 2012, APR - ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO
