Favorable tax policies can be an added incentive. As in 2020, 2021 tax advantages for charitable contributions offer donors significant deductions.
Never in my fundraising career have tax advantages been the primary reason for a donor’s giving, but they sure do add incentive, and for those who need one more practical reason to do what their heart is leading them to, tax deductions are important.
For taxpayers who don’t itemize and instead file the simplified tax form, the maximum single person’s deductible contribution is $300 and a couple’s is $600 when filing jointly. But for folks who do itemize, the tax deduction can be 100%. In other words, if a motivated giver contributed all their taxable income to Bird Alliance of Oregon, they’d owe zero dollars in federal taxes—and likely experience a unique state of joy and bliss, since giving is very satisfying.
Bird Alliance of Oregon is especially fortunate this year because our generous donors, mindful of climate change, habitat degradation, the needs of wildlife, and the importance of environmental education, have stepped forward to help fund the capital campaign. But it’s our regular annual giving, most of which comes at the end of the year, that allows us to provide educational programs, do advocacy, keep the lights on, and the buildings and grounds maintained. We are grateful as a staff for the generosity of our donors. Members can also be grateful for each other, because it takes a widely embraced commitment to keep Bird Alliance of Oregon strong, vital, and able to make the impact our members and donors expect and our planet deserves.
