FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As the end of the year approaches, there is still time to help a favorite charity.

Cincinnati, OH – December 28, 2011 – The Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Cincinnati is offering these helpful tips for year- end giving to ensure that last minute donations reach the intended charitable organization. Year end donations also offer valuable tax deductions as long as the donation is going to a recognized charity.

Here are five guidelines to follow:

• Ensure that the organization is a qualified charity with the IRS. Only donations to qualified charitable organizations are tax-deductible.
• Financial contributions are deductible in the year they were made. For example, donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2011 count for a deduction on your 2011 taxes. This is true even if the credit card bill is not paid until 2012. Also, personal checks count for 2011 as long as they are post marked in 2011 and clear, shortly thereafter.
• Get a receipt for all non-cash donations. For all donations of property, including clothing, furniture and household items, ask the charity for a receipt that includes the name of the charity, date of the contribution, and a reasonably detailed description of the donated items.
• Ask your intended charity for guidelines on larger donations including stock and personal property. The deduction for the donation of a motor vehicle, boat or motorcycle is usually limited to the gross proceeds from its sale. This rule applies if the claimed value is more than $500. For more complicated gifts, it is also recommended you seek advice from your financial advisor.
• Maintain donation records and receipts for five years for tax purposes.

“Year-end giving to an organization such as St. Vincent de Paul is not only easy and beneficial for tax purposes, it’s also beneficial for the community,” said Liz Carter, executive director, St. Vincent de Paul-Cincinnati. “We’ve continued to see an increase requests for assistance not only at our Outreach Center in the West End, but also through our volunteer groups serving suburban neighborhoods. We’ve served many families this year who have asked for help for the first time.”

Area St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and Donation Centers will be open through New Year’s Eve until 8pm accepting last minute donations, including clothing, toys and household items cleaned out to make room for new Christmas gifts.

For financial gifts, donations can be made online at www.SVDPcincinnati.org or by calling St. Vincent de Paul at 513-421-HOPE. Online donations can be made 24 hours per day any day of the week.

Donations to St. Vincent de Paul provide assistance to local families across Cincinnati with clothing, furniture, household items, food, medicine, rent and utilities. For more information, please visit www.SVDPcincinnati.org.

About St. Vincent de Paul:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) has been helping Greater Cincinnati and Hamilton County residents in need with the basic necessities of life for more than 140 years. The organization works personally with those in need, regardless of race or creed, to bridge the spiritual, emotional and material gaps in their lives through home visits provided by neighborhood-based volunteer groups, and groundbreaking initiatives like the Charitable Pharmacy as well as our network of seven food pantries and seven thrift stores and donation centers across Cincinnati. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to be a leading community service organization, recently recognized by The Better Business Bureau (BBB) as a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics winner and by The CincinnatiUSA Regional Chamber of Commerce as Non-Profit of the Year. For more information, visit www.SVDPcincinnati.org.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     # # #