Are you looking to buy a used car? If you are, your first thought may be to drive around your neighborhood or check out your local used car dealerships. While these are both great ways to go about finding a used car to buy, did you know that you have another option as well? You do and that option involves attending used car auctions.

When it comes to attending used car auctions, you should be able to find a large number of auctions to attend. It is not uncommon to find auctions that specialize only in the selling of used cars and then there are other auctions where a wide range of items are being sold, including used cars. Of course, the decision as to which used car auction you would like to attend is yours to make, but you may want to take the time to find the perfect used car auction to attend. Doing so may actually end up saving you a considerable amount of time and possibly even money.

When looking for a used car auction to attend, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration. One of those factors is the type of auction. As previously mentioned, there are auctions that only auction off used cars and then there are others that auction off used cars, as well as a number of other items. It may be in your best interest to attend an auction that focuses solely on used cars. When an auction focuses just on vehicles, you are likely to get a larger selection of used cars to choose from. In fact, it is not uncommon for a specialty used car auction to contain as many as fifty or even one hundred used cars!

Another factor that should be taken into consideration, when looking to find a used car auction to attend is the cost of doing so. In the United States, there are two different types of used car auctions that you can attend. There are those that you must pay a fee to enter and those that are free. You may want to think about sticking to used car auctions that are free to attend. When doing so, you are less likely to feel pressured into buying a used vehicle. Also, used car auctions are nice, but you are not guaranteed to find a used car that you want to buy. By only targeting free used car auctions, you are able to walk away free and clear, without having to spend any money, should you decide not to buy a used car.

Inspection is another factor that should be taken into consideration, when looking to find a used car auction to attend. If you were to buy a used car off the street or from a used car dealership, there is a good chance that you wouldn't do so without getting a good look at the car first; right? The same should be said for used car auctions. You will want to try to find a used car auction that allows you to closely examine or inspect all of the cars that they plan on auctioning. Many used car auctions require that you do so the day before or at another predetermined date and time. If you are planning on attending a used car auction, it is advised that you clear your schedule and attend an inspection session if one is offered.

In addition to being able to inspect all used cars before a used car auction, you may also want to find a used car auction facility that gives you information, ahead of time, about the used cars that will be auctioned off. Should a used car auction facility provide you with this information, it can likely be found on their online website and it should be free to access. Although it is not always offered, those who do provide information about the cars that they will be auctioning off often include pictures of the vehicle in question, as well as generalized information, like the vehicle's make and model and the mileage.

As it was previously mentioned, the decision as to which used car auction you attend is yours to make. In fact, you may even be interested in attending more than one used car auction. That decision is yours to make, but you should know that taking the time to find the perfect used car auction is likely to increase the chances of you being able to find the used car of your choice and for an affordable price.

A car donation can not only help you with your taxes but can help someone in need as well. At North Shore we do hundreds of car donations every year. Visit our website for more info.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after childbirth. It contains stem cells that can differentiate into many types of cells in the body. Umbilical cord blood stem cells hold significant potential in treating life threatening diseases and conditions, including cancer. They are able to regenerate immune system and replace damaged or diseased cells.

In early 2006, Dr. Felipe-Andres Ramirez-Weber was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia. A bone marrow transplant was his only cure for this disease. But there were no matches from his family members or other donors (given his Latino ethnicity) and his fate was looking grim. He decided to take part in a clinical trial with Delta-expanded stem cells at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and became the first patient to undergo expanded cord blood stem cell transplant in the world. He was given two units of cord blood but the stem cells in one of the units were dramatically increased from 200,000 to 13 million per kilogram of body weight. Ramirez-Weber was engrafted in half the time of a bone marrow transplant. He is recovering well and has been healthy since the transplant. He would not have been cured at a sooner time if not for the cord blood donated by someone else.

In another case, a twin boy was born with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), a rare and fatal disorder. Mason Williams' own body did not produce enough white blood cells to fight off even the smallest infection. Exposure to any germs could literally kill him. Both he and his twin brother, Peyton Williams were confined to their home which had to be completely sanitized at all times. Children with this particular disease rarely live to get to kindergarten. Although Peyton was healthy, he also had to be confined as he could not risk bringing home the germs from playing with other kids.

Mason was fortunate when a national search at Duke University hospital found a match for his stem cell transplant. A mother had donated her baby's umbilical cord blood at birth. In the beginning of 2002, stem cells extracted from the umbilical cord blood were transplanted into Mason. After much trepidation and a one year waiting period, the cord blood stem cell transplant was confirmed a success and Mason recovered fully from SCID. The stem cells created an entirely new immune system, thus enabling the boy to live normally.

These two cases are some examples of the life-saving potentials of umbilical cord blood stem cells. If you choose to donate your baby's cord blood, it can give someone else a chance at life that they may not have had otherwise. The decision is yours, and an important one. Be sure to think about the potential good this act can do for others.

Cord blood stem cells offer great potential for treatment of life-threatening diseases and debilitating conditions. They are less prone to rejection than bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells. Learn more about cord blood donation at

If you would like to give me money then please use pay pal donate. This is a free way to send money across the internet. It costs you nothing to send, pay pal donate only charges the receiving party a certain percentage fee for the transfer of the money. If you want to give me money in exchange you will get to post an ad on one of our sites. This is a cheap and easy way to get some exposure for your website. Your ad will stay on our site forever and the more money you give me the larger your ad will be.

I know it seems different that I am asking you to give me money but you are actually purchasing an advertisement on our site. Pay Pal donate is an easy way to give me money over the internet. This is also an easy way for you to get another link pointing to your website or blog. Again, the more money you give me the larger and more prominent your ad will be. You will actually be getting two links because I will add the advertisement that you purchase and I will also add a links page where there will be a link to your site and how much you bought your advertisement for.

Pay pal donate is a great way to give me money because it is free for you to do and you get a great deal on two links back to your website. Pay pal donate is easy to use and all you have to do is enter the amount of money you want to give me. Simple as that. Give me money now via pay pal donate.

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A great idea for a church fundraiser is putting together an annual 'Church Feastival' where good food, carnival games, auctions, and family fun combine for a wonderful fundraising event. The idea is to attract a broad spectrum of the local population to your fundraiser by having something for everybody.

The benefit to the church is that many newcomers will form a very positive impression of your ministry and facilities that will in time translate into a larger congregation. And of course, there's all the wonderful things you can do with all the funds raised by your 'Feastival.'

Getting started

You'll need to arrange for carnival games, inflatable amusements, plenty of good food, live music, tickets, and all the other seemingly endless tasks any large fundraising event requires. Always divide and conquer - split up all the major tasks among your organizing committee and don't overload any one person.

Approach local businesses and prominent congregation members for help with signature food items such as barbecue, fish fry, corn on the cob, regional specialties like oysters or Cajun shrimp, etc. Getting these items donated instead of purchased adds tremendously to the bottom line.

For live music, work with a booking agent who can line up the right talent for a church fundraiser crowd. You want quality entertainment that won't offend while still encouraging young and old to join in the fun.

Fundraising tips

There are lots of ways to raise funds with a big event. You can include additional fundraising activities like a bake sale, a cake walk, face painting, craft sales, and various carnival games.

Auctions can raise incredible amounts if you have desirable goods and services for sale. Group together related smaller items into larger gift baskets and offer those through silent auction bids.

Do all that you can to make it easy to bid. Tape down bid sheets, pens, and descriptions next to each auction item. Make sure the descriptions are typed in large fonts so no one has to pull out their reading glasses to bid.

For large dollar value items, use a live auction format and a professional auctioneer when appropriate. People will donate unusual and valuable items for a good cause, so put the word out well ahead of time to friends and local businesses about your auction fundraiser.

Publicity tips

To draw a big crowd, you have to get the word out about what a great event your 'Feastival' will be. Use your newsletter and email lists to send reminders to mark the day and create a sense of anticipation well ahead of the event.

You can also use flyers, roadside signs, posters and other traditional methods of attracting attention. Placing carnival rides where they can be seen by passing traffic is another good way to create interest.

Most importantly, put together a press release and distribute it to all the newspapers, TV and radio stations in your market. Make sure you put the most newsworthy aspect of your fundraiser in the summary paragraph up top. Include pictures for use by newspapers and offer live broadcast spots to radio stations.

Church fundraiser wrap-up

Make your 'Church Feastival' an annual event by creating the most fun, family-oriented day of entertainment possible. Publicize your event well ahead of time and also put the word out about how to donate goods and services.

Contract for carnival rides and inflatable rentals like a Moonwalk or jump house. Arrange for great live entertainment and large quantities of excellent food. Saturday or Sunday afternoons work best and remember to allow plenty of space for people to just spread out and enjoy everything.

Make your 'Feastival' your best church fundraiser ever!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for news and magazine publications about organizing fundraisers, having your own church fundraiser feastival and school fundraiser events. Find more church fund raisers on her website, FundraiserH

A great warm-weather fundraising event is a golf fundraiser. Hosting your own golf tournament is actually fairly easy and if done right, you can raise a significant amount of money. Here are some tips for maximizing your results.

Big turnout

Obviously, the bigger the crowd, the better you'll do with your tournament. Promote with quality posters at golf stores, your own offices, and other high-traffic, high-visibility locations. Use your newsletter and email lists as additional ways to get the word out.

Distribute a press release about your golf fundraiser to all your local media outlets. Describe your most noteworthy news angle in the summary paragraph and then get into the who, what, when, where, why, and how aspects.

Greens fee markup

Most golf courses will give you a substantial discount for a large group, particularly if you're scheduled for a weekday when traffic is low. You can charge the regular price and do quite well. Or, you can pocket the discount, markup the regular greens fee by $10, and do even better.

Hole sponsors

Contact local businesses and ask them to sponsor a hole. To attract eighteen sponsors, make it affordable, say $100 or so. Show them a mockup of the signs that will be placed for each sponsor and your event program where you'll list all your sponsors.

Corporate sponsors

For the biggest financial impact, approach large corporations and ask them to sponsor your event. Companies with headquarters or substantial operations in your area are your best bets. Price your corporate sponsorships at a reasonable level, say $1,000 for a smaller golf tournament, and you'll get a good response.

Put together a sponsorship request on your letterhead and be specific as to what's in it for the corporation, i.e. prominent signage at the event, corporate logo golf balls for all golfers, newspaper coverage, golfing slots for top executives, etc.

Ask around within your group to see if anyone has personal contacts at the management level. Managers often have discretionary funds available for reasonable promotional expenditures.

Player sponsors

Just like individuals get sponsors for Relay For Life walks, Multiple Sclerosis bike rides, and other types of event fundraisers, so should your players. Put together a sponsorship form and ask each player to raise at least $100 in pledges along with their greens fees.

Silent auction

Solicit items from local businesses and even offer to pay for some popular items that will attract serious bidding such as golf lessons from the club pro or a set of new irons.

On the day of your golf fundraiser, setup a couple of tables full of donated goods and services. Tape bidding sheets and descriptions of each item to the tables so that golfers can place bids one-handed.

Make sure to get the bidding started on each item and encourage everyone to bid. Do a last call for bids as everyone is gathering for the awards ceremony that wraps up your tournament, then announce the winners, collect the funds, and disperse the merchandise.

Hold a raffle

You can sell raffle tickets for quality prizes in conjunction with your event. They don't even have to be golf related, but it does help to have at least some prizes such as a new golf bag, free round, season pass to top course, etc.

Price your tickets so that you raise at least twice as much as your prizes cost. If your prize costs total $5,000, then sell 1,000 tickets for $10 each. You can make even more if you get prizes donated.

To increase sales, sell tickets to the general public and not just to your group of supporters. You can even set up a sales table at high-traffic locations like shopping centers. obviously, follow all local regulations concerning raffle ticket sales.

Cash bar cart

Load up the back of a golf cart with ice and cold drinks, then drive the course and sell your golfers what they want. Cold beer and sodas are the best sellers, but don't forget to include snack foods like pretzels and chips.

Catered lunch

Work with the club to offer a catered lunch to all your golfers or at least a boxed lunch of sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Depending on what you're offering, markup your costs by $2 to $4 per person and you'll do well. overcharging will actually cut into your total profits.

Summary

If done correctly, a golf tournament can raise a substantial amount of money. Leverage all these fundraising tips and you'll have a record-breaking golf fundraiser!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications on fund raising topics such as nonprofit fundraising, golf fundraisers and other charity fundraising events. Find more fundraising tips on her website, FundraiserH

If you are over 70 1/2 years old, want to make a gift for a special charitable project, but your only liquid asset is your IRA, I have good news for you.

On August 17, 2006, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA 2006) was signed into law. This nearly 1,000 page piece of legislation marked the most sweeping changes to the pension arena in 30 years.

Let me give you two common examples that contain problems faced by seniors solved by PPA 2006…

Roger and Claire are retired. Roger spent his working career in the aerospace industry. He was more than well compensated and over the years accumulated a very large 401(k) plan. When he retired, he rolled his 401(k) into an IRA. Other than their home, the IRA is far and away their biggest asset.

For years, Roger and Claire have been supporters of the Humane Society. Their local chapter is building an entire new wing on to their kennels. Roger and Claire would love to make a significant donation—somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $100,000.

Bill and Diane both worked during their entire careers. Mary taught 6th grade for 40 years. Bill was a career military officer. After his retirement, he spent another 20 years working in the private sector. Like Roger, Bill has a large IRA.

When Bill turned 70 1/2, he was required to start taking the minimum required distributions each year from his IRA. But Bill and Diane don't need the income; their other retirement income sources are more than adequate. Nevertheless, Bill must take these RMDs and pay tax on them as income.

Bill and Diane have been active in their church all their married life. Their church just bought a new organ. The church did not pay cash for the organ; the majority of it was financed. Bill and Diane would like to pay off the organ.

Both Roger and Claire and Bill and Diane are warm-hearted people. But, prior to the passage of PPA 2006, their generosity could have been thwarted by several things…

1. In both cases, their principal liquid asset was an IRA. Neither couple had other assets from which to make a gift.

2. If the large sums were withdrawn from their IRAs, they would be subject to ordinary income tax.

3. If given to a charity, rules which limit the amount that could be deducted as a charitable contribution would have to be followed. This means that they may still have to pay tax on a portion of their IRA withdrawals.

But thanks to provisions in PPA 2006, Roger and Claire can make their gift to the Humane Society and Bill and Diane can pay off their church's new organ using money from their IRAs and not pay any tax on the withdrawals. But they have to follow the rules…

1. First, you must be at least 70 1/2.

2. You can give up to $100,000.

3. This only applies to 2006 and 2007.

4. You can't withdraw the money from your IRA and then give it to your charitable cause. The transfer must be made directly from the custodian of the IRA to the charity.

5. These gifts, called IRA charitable rollovers, count towards your required minimum distribution for the year.

6. IRA charitable rollovers are not permitted for gifts to donor advised funds and supporting organizations. However, there are some exceptions that apply to funds held by community foundations: scholarship, field of interest, and designated funds qualify. So the first step is to contact your intended cause to see how they are classified and whether or not the law allows an IRA charitable rollover gift.

7. The gift must be a pure gift. In other words, there can't be any personal benefit strings attached like tickets to an event.

8. You don't have to report the IRA charitable rollover as income.

9. However, you don't get a charitable deduction for your gift. Sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

This new law is a real winner. In these two examples, the Humane Society is able to build new kennels and a church pays off an organ they thought they were going to have to finance. The donors were able to make it happen despite the fact that the only real asset they had was an IRA.

I do not dispense tax advice. It is imperative that you consult with your tax advisor and the charity to make sure it is qualified and that the gift is made in the proper manner.

Robert D. Cavanaugh, CLU is a 36-year financial and estate planning veteran and author of the free newsletter, "The Estate Preservation Advisor". For cutting-edge, easy-to-understand financial planning resources and techniques to increase your income, reduce taxes and preserve your estate, go to

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser is a tried and true fundraising event, but many groups overlook additional profit opportunities. Just putting together the spaghetti dinner is not enough.

You need to give people a strong reason to attend and then you have to provide them with multiple ways to help raise the needed funds. Here are some event tips on maximizing turnout and several fundraising activities you can easily add to your event.

Publicity

Many groups overlook the power of publicity and wonder why they didn't get a bigger crowd. Improve your turnout with a press release focusing on the most newsworthy aspect of your event.

A human interest story is always newsworthy, so be sure your summary paragraph details why you are raising funds and how they will benefit the recipient.

Newspapers, radio stations, and television stations all want to offer news stories that have widespread appeal and tug at the heartstrings, so be sure your press release has a newsworthy angle. Include pictures whenever possible because a good picture practically guarantees lots of publicity.

Ticket prices

Once your publicity campaign ensures a good turnout, make sure you price your tickets correctly. Too cheap and you won't raise enough funds. Make them too expensive and you'll price yourself out of the reach of many customers.

It's usually best to keep ticket prices fairly low and offer discounts for families, small children, college students, and senior citizens.

Donations

Place a large jug or bucket right next to the cash register and hang a large sign above it asking for donations. Attach a sheet of paper to the donation container saying something like 'Every Little Bit Helps' or 'Donations Always Welcome' or 'Make Checks Payable To.'

Oftentimes, you can raise as much in donations as you did with ticket sales. The key is prominent placement where wallets and checkbooks are already out. Even if people only donate their change from buying tickets, you are ahead of the game.

Silent auctions

At any fundraising event, silent auction items are a great way to raise money. Ask local business to donate goods or services and then place those items on tables where people wait in line.

Include a full description of each item in large, easy-to-read type. Tape down your bid sheets and pens so that it's easy for an adult to bid while using only one hand.

Raffle tickets

Conducting a raffle is another great way to fundraise at your spaghetti dinner. Take the best item or service that was donated and sell raffle tickets both before and during the event.

If you can't get a good enough prize that will attract more in raffle ticket sales than it will sell for, then consider offering a cash raffle. What you do is offer tickets where the prize winner gets half of the total raffle ticket sales and the other half goes to the cause.

Again, the best place to sell the tickets is right near the cash register where people already have money in hand.

Other fundraising ideas

There are lots of other ways to add fundraising activities to a spaghetti dinner. You can sell advertising space on the placemats. You can use local celebrities as waiters. You can ask local businesses to be sponsors of your event.

In certain cases, you could offer a cash bar or include a wine tasting as part of the event. You could ask a local celebrity chef to participate and cook a special tableside dessert for an extra fee or as a prize of some sort.

The key is to include as many fundraising activities as possible and extend your reach even to people who can't make it to the event through raffle ticket sales, silent auction items, etc.

Summary

You first task is to get as many attendees as possible, so use every form of publicity. A good newsworthy press release is one way to maximize turnout. Another is to promote heavily through newsletters, roadside signs, and word-of-mouth.

Offering raffle tickets and silent auction items are proven ways to raise more funds at any event. Providing an easy way to accept donations is often overlooked, but very worthwhile.

Include as many fundraising activities as possible and your spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be a resounding success!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications about donation request letters, conducting a spagetti dinner fundraiser ,and youth sports fundraisers. Find more ideas for fundraising on her website, FundraiserH

A new trend in easy fundraisers is promo fundraising or affiliate sales. Essentially, you are raising funds by referring new customers to businesses offering popular goods and services.

Among the most popular are Internet service providers, long distance service, cellular phone service, credit cards, flowers, magazines, and other highly competitive markets. Instead of spending money on advertising to attract customers, the businesses pay groups for each new customer referred to them.

How it works

Each type of promo fundraising is slightly different, but most follow the same approach. Your group registers as an affiliate of the company and promotes their product or service to your supporters. When a consumer you have referred takes the desired action, the company pays your group a referral fee.

Because these are profitable goods and services that often have an ongoing revenue stream, the referral fee or commission can be quite large. For instance, someone signing up for Internet service could earn your group a $25 fee.

Obviously, that's a lot of money, but there's always a catch. Not everyone wants to change their ISP or phone service at any given time. So, the key is to do promo fundraising on an ongoing basis, not just for a few weeks like a typical product fundraiser.

Four promotion tips

Since these are ongoing fundraisers, you need to keep putting the word out to your supporters about the deals you're offering. Many of these companies will offer a special introductory rate such as half-price Internet service for a few months or zero percent APR on a new credit card.

One way to drive business is to use your website. You can feature these relationships on your home page or in a special section. Provide as many details as needed and provide an affiliate link to the sponsoring companies site that ensures your commission.

Don't hide the fact that you're earning a fee for referrals. Stress that customers are getting special savings not available through other sources. Be sure to state that this is a fundraiser for your group and encourage people to take action now to show their support.

Another way to attract customers is through your newsletter and email lists. Prominently feature your promo fundraiser as something new you are trying. Point out that these are goods and services that people are already spending money on, so why not do it in such a way that it benefits your group.

A third way is to use flyers and posters with details about the products and services you are promoting. Always write these by describing what's in it for the customer and link them to your website. Example: Save 50% on Internet service. Special offer - only $9.95 a month. Limited time only!

A fourth way to promote is by using email signature files. Basically, you supply to all your supporters a four-line message containing an affiliate link to your offer. Ask them to attach it to all their emails and thus feature your promo offer. Just as in the flyer example above, emphasize the good deal and it's limited time window, so they must act now to lock in the savings.

New trends

Promo fundraising is gaining momentum as an easy fundraiser for schools and nonprofits. Websites are popping up that will handle all the details for registered groups.

You enroll your group and a special page is created for your exclusive use. You direct your referrals to that page and all signups are handled automatically by the website. An administrative login provides access to results and earned commission totals.

There are even email tools provided which assist your promotion efforts by allowing supporters to send details to their own list of personal contacts. This allows you to reach even more people and you can even use an ongoing message system to send follow-up offers.

Summary

Promo fundraising is an exciting development because it provides a way for groups to earn money by offering some of the most popular goods and services available. After all, who isn't using an Internet service or a cell phone these days?

These easy fundraisers are free and can operate on an year-round basis. You are offering substantial savings for products and services that people are already buying, so it's a win/win situation.

All you need to do is send customers their way. Get started with promo fundraising today!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications on fund raising topics such as school fundraisers, promo fundraising and other fundraisers for charity. Find more fundraiser ideas on her website, FundraiserH

What exactly is a cow chip fundraiser? It's a country-style fundraising event that combines guessing where a cow will answer nature's call with raising funds for your favorite charitable cause. Turn it into a big party with multiple fundraising activities and you'll be amazed how much you can raise!

How it works

Line up a location with a flat grass field and plenty of parking. A soccer field or high school football field are good choices. The field will need to be roped off and divided up into squares that are appropriately marked.

Each square is then sold for a set price and square numbers are assigned through a drawing system. Price your squares reasonably so all will sell, but high enough to raise considerable funds. For example, you could offer 500 squares for $20 apiece.

Offer half the total amount taken in as the prize for the winning ticket. In the example above, you would promote the $5,000 prize offered in your cow chip fundraiser.

The fun part of it is that instead of doing a drawing to select the winner, the winning square is the one where the cow leaves it first cow pie.

Fundraising event activities

Obviously, it isn't that exciting to just stand around and wait for the winner to drop, so you want plenty of other fundraising activities going on. Providing live music and food will help draw a much larger crowd.

For instance, you could have a pig roast or offer traditional barbecue. You can set up a stage area where a live band can entertain or even offer a battle of the bands.

Make it a family event by offering children's activities like face painting or an inflatable moonwalk. Have a bake sale booth.

Attract older children with fun events like a home run derby or judge a speed pitching contest with a radar gun.

Setup tables offering donated items through a silent auction or hold a live auction for popular goods and services such as spa treatments or vacation trips.

You can even hold a big raffle in conjunction with your event. Raffles featuring big prizes like a new car or a big screen television can raise substantial amounts all by themselves, so combining one with a big turnout event is a no-brainer.

Publicity

Due to it's unusual nature, a cow chip fundraiser is sure to attract media attention. Put together a press release kit a month ahead of time and get it to all the major media outlets in your market.

In your summary paragraph, highlight the prize and and how the winner is chosen, as that's usually the only part that's read. Give your event a newsworthy angle by including pictures of your blue ribbon cow or bull and your organizing committee.

Fun stories often make local newscasts, so play up the 'Let the Chips Fall Where They May' angle.

Offer a spot as Grand Marshal to a local television personality and have them announce the winner. This kind of publicity lays the groundwork for making this fundraising event an annual tradition.

Summary

By combining multiple fundraising activities with your event, you can raise incredible amounts of money. The key is to make it fun and draw a big crowd by getting lots of publicity.

Live music and unusual food are big draws as are family-oriented fun. Auctions and raffles can also be included to aid your cause.

The bottom line is that a cow chip fundraiser is the way to go!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications on fund raising topics such as nonprofit fundraisers, fundraiser event ideas and other fundraisers for charity. Find more fundraising ideas on her website, FundraiserH

Like it or not your non-profit organization is where it is today because of how much money you have been able to collect for your mission. If your 501c3 is where you want it to be congratulations you can skip this article, if it isnt read these quick 5 points to help you on your way to greatness.

For years small non-profits (and big ones too) could make an argument that:

- There is not enough (fill in the blank) in our city.

- We have asked everyone we know for a donation!

- Our office doesnt get the foot traffic that Non-profit X gets!

- We cant pass out anymore flyers than we already have.

- No one wants to buy our bracelets anymore.

The list of excuses goes on and on. With the rise of the internet the excuses can now STOP! Whether your mission is to Save the Yellowwood Tree in South Africa or you want to Save Chicagos Ellis Park you NOW have an opportunity to inform someone on the other side of the world (or in your backyard) of your charitable mission and (more importantly) offer them a way to help support your mission financially 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Here are the top 5 reasons to accept contributions on your non-profit website:

1) Sell more Tickets!

Is it time for your annual Holiday Gala or Summers Evening Dance? If so, you better sell all those tickets you have sitting on your desk as fast as you can! You can allow people to purchase tickets to your events anytime of the day without ANY interaction from you or your staff.

2) Get more Donations!

If you have spent hours opening envelopes stuffed with checks, went to the bank (go fast, the bank is about to close!), then had to write Thank You notes by hand to each of the donors, thats when it hit you I spend a LOT of time doing this. Now you can concentrate on other activities while your website securely collects the name and credit card information of your donors, when YOU are ready - you can then process the donations at any time.

3) Find more Members!

If everyone you know is already one of your Members, its time to look a little further for new members. Offering people a way to become a member online saves the member money (stamps, checks, post office run) and removes any Ill fill out the forms and mail it in after I read todays paper barriers. People should be able to join your membership at any level online. You online system should be able to handle membership renewals also.

4) Mr. Jones cancelled his 14 tickets 1 day before the event!

You instantly do the math in your head, it goes something like this HHHHMMM tickets are $45 a piece, if I knew other people that wanted tickets I could sell Mr. Jones tickets to someone else and bring in another $630!. Good idea! Your non-profit order processing application should have a Waiting List that would collect names and contact information of people that want tickets to your events if they become available.

5) Comparison contributions

Its a fact the average contributor compares two or more non-profits before making a decision as to which one to donate to. If a person compares a non-profit that has a website with online donation capabilities to the non-profit with the black and white OfficeMax printed flyer which one is the person going to contribute to? I hope you become the charity with the website and online donation capabilities!

If you press your left ear to the bottom right hand corner of your monitor you can hear people all over the world donating, buying tickets to non-profit events and becoming members of other non-profits online right now! Its time your organization became one of them! Its time to find a provider who will give your non-profit 360 degrees of secure online forms processing - it will be the best charity helper you can find!

I was only kidding about the left ear to the monitor thing!

Ian Anderson is co-founder of Intersection360. Some of Intersection360 products include: CharityHelper360 - secure forms processing for non-profits, WebEdit360 - an online website editor and more. To learn more, go here:

Scratch card fundraising is one of the easiest fundraisers for youth sports teams and school groups. The basic premise of a scratch card fundraiser is simple.

Instead of selling a product, you ask supporters to scratch off a dot on a scratch card and then donate the amount revealed. In return, they receive a sheet of valuable coupons for supporting your fundraising effort.

Scratch Card Designs

Scratch cards come in more than thirty different booklet designs including baseball, football, cheerleading, soccer, softball, band, and dozens more.

Cards are personalized with the name of your group on the cover and can even include a custom group logo for an additional fee.

Each booklet has two side flaps and folds into a convenient 4 x 6 inch pocket size. A tear-off pad of coupons is attached to the middle flap.

Raising Funds

A scratch card fundraiser provides an easy way to ask for a small donation to support your team or activity. The average donation amount is around $2 with each completed card raising $100 in donations.

Each donor receives a coupon sheet packed with discount offers from top merchants that are valued at up to $100. There's a coupon for 35% off on movie tickets, a free sub from Quiznos, a two-for-one meal deal from A&W, $3 off on an oil change from Jiffy Lube, and much more.

The valuable coupons make it easy for each seller to get a lot of donations because of the high perceived value of the coupons. After all, what adult wouldn't give a kid a few dollars when they could easily save twice that much by using just a couple of the coupons?

Sales Tips

There's an art to asking other people for money to support your cause. You need to do these three things:

1- Smile and look them in the eye. Hold out your scratch card booklet while doing this.

2 - Ask for their help and state why you are raising funds. Example: Can you help us with a small donation for new uniforms?

3 - Use the word 'because' since it is powerful psychological trigger word that subconsciously motivates people to answer your request for help. Example 'Can you help us with a small donation for new uniforms because the old ones are worn out?

Summary

Doing a scratch card fundraiser is easy and convenient because there are no products to deliver. Plus, the coupons reward donors for their support and that makes the kids feel good about their fundraising activity.

With a 90% profit margin, scratch cards are hard to beat for sports team fundraisers. Take some time and evaluate their appeal. You'll be positively surprised at how successful scratch card fundraising can be!

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications on fund raising topics such as school fundraisers, scratch card fundraising and fundraiser events. Find more fundraising ideas on her website, FundraiserH

Here are some fundraising event tips on raising more money when you do an event. The two keys are attracting a big crowd and providing multiple ways for them to support your group.

Getting publicity

Media coverage is essential to drawing a big crowd. Step one is putting together a press release describing your event with a newsworthy angle. Newspapers, radio and television stations are all looking for stories of interest to their readers, listeners, or viewers.

Follow the standard who, what, when, where, why, and how press release format, but focus your summary paragraph on the most compelling storyline behind your event.

That storyline might be the good work your charity does for a specific cause because human interest stories are always popular. Or, it might be the local celebrities that are attending or the live entertainment that is scheduled because those people are newsworthy in themselves.

Other news angles might be the fun aspect of the event, an unusual theme or setting, a grand prize drawing from a raffle, or an auction item which is newsworthy in it's own right.

Press release tips

Step two in getting publicity involves distributing your press release and accompanying photographs, preferably pictures focused on the newsworthy aspect of your event, to the media contacts in your market.

It's not enough to just send out the press release. Make follow-up phone calls to important outlets such as television stations and major newspapers.

Have a purpose behind the call. Offer interviews with key figures from your organization or event. With a television station, offer a strategic camera angle for a standup reporter such as one with a grand prize item in the background. If you have a celebrity tie-in, work that into your offer.

The key is getting substantial publicity that creates a desire in viewers or readers to attend your event.

Fundraising tips

You also want to ensure that your event raises the maximum amount possible from your attendees and that means leaving no fundraising opportunity unused.

Price your event tickets high enough to maximize revenue without sacrificing participation. If attendance is capped at a certain number, make sure you sellout well ahead of time. If your event includes activities in which not everyone will participate, offer tiered pricing that charges more for full participation.

Include a large selection of items and services in silent auctions spread around the perimeter of your event. For your best items, have a live auction conducted by a professional auctioneer.

Since raffles are always a great moneymaker, use raffle ticket sales to allow people who won't be present a way to win some of the prizes and support your cause.

Having a cash bar is another way to boost results. You can also offer an exclusive wine tasting or even a premium whiskey tasting if it better fits your event profile.

Gourmet dinners catered by exclusive restaurants are also very attractive event enhancements. Many people will pay a premium for meals with a celebrity chef tie-in or other prestige factor.

Summary

You always want to get as much advance publicity as possible. Play up the most newsworthy story angle you have in your press release and follow up with all the important media outlets.

Put together a premium fundraising event by including multiple moneymakers centered on your particular event theme. Include auctions and raffles because they provide significant income and allow corporations and non-attendees multiple ways to help your cause.

And most importantly, do everything you can to make your fundraising event truly a night to remember.

Kimberly Reynolds writes about fundraising event tips on her website. Find hundreds of other fundraising ideas on her website at www.FundraiserH

Brick fundraising works well for churches, hospitals, schools and nonprofit organizations. By using custom laser-engraved donor bricks, the group can reward it's supporters with permanent recognition in a prominent spot.

Brick fundraisers usually involve a walkway, entryway, or wall that incorporates the personalized bricks into the overall design. These projects are usually used to fund donations to a capital campaign.

Getting started

The first thing you need to decide is how large your brick fundraiser should be in terms of project area and design. The size and style of the project will determine how much money you can raise.

It's often a good idea to incorporate room for further growth or future add-ins to the project. For instance, a walkway made with custom bricks can be extended each year or a meditation garden can have additional plantings or benches added, each one offering new fundraising opportunities.

Next, you need to select the style and size of bricks for your project. Sizes range from small brick pavers designed to top an existing sidewalk all the way up to 16x16 paving stones in a variety of colors.

Obviously, your choice will depend on what style incorporates well with your project design and how much money you want to raise. You can charge more for the larger sizes because they allow more text and have higher visibility.

Publicity

Once you've finalized your project and set your prices, you need to get the word out to all possible supporters. Your newsletter and email list are a good place to start, but don't stop there.

You need major publicity to raise major funds, so put together a press release or media kit. Include the standard information found in every press release, but emphasize in your summary paragraph the beautiful nature of your project and detail why you're raising funds.

Include eye-catching pictures and design drawings because you want to stand out as a newsworthy story. Follow up your press release by calling all the major media outlets and offer them exclusive photo opps and onsite interviews.

Do your project in stages. That gives people more time to join in and also allows for additional publicity coverage. You can also offer big donors exclusive rights to personalize major features of your design, such as stone benches or fountains. Then feature those donors in follow up press releases. photo opps, etc.

Brick fundraising pricing

Donor pricing is going to vary widely by project design, brick size, brick placement, market potential, funds needed, and community interest. Charge what the market will bear, but consider multiple price points to attract the widest possible donor base.

By offering an affordable entry level price point, your project can quickly gather fundraising momentum. Word of mouth from proud participants will generate even more buzz in the community about your project.

Focus attention on personal contacts with potential large donors. Arrange meetings in their homes or offices where you can show design plans, project pictures, and offer exclusive naming rights to the highest visibility locations.

Publicize your largest donors in prominent ways because everyone loves to be recognized for their charitable contributions.

Summary

A design project incorporating custom, laser-engraved bricks is a great way to raise funds for any cause. They offer a beautiful way to recognize donors for contributing to a capital campaign.

Donor bricks can also be used for straightforward fund raising to pay for a new school sidewalk or church meditation garden. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Get started on a brick fundraising project today!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about brick fundraising on her website. Find hundreds of other fundraising ideas on her website at www.FundraiserH

Another great way to raise funds is a fruit fundraiser. This works well as a fall fundraising activity because the holidays are coming up and fresh fruit is a real family treat. Plus, moms love it because a holiday fruit bowl makes an attractive centerpiece!

Getting started

Your first decision is what type of fruit to sell. One big seller is citrus fruit. You can sell fresh oranges, oversized juice oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos, and other winter favorites. Or you can offer fresh apples in a wide variety of flavors.

Once you've made your selection, find a fundraising company that offers good prices and most importantly, high-quality sales brochures. Your customers are going to be ordering based on the pictures, the prices, and the sales pitch, so it's important to select a good supplier.

Sales pitch

For your sales pitch, you want your sellers to emphasize three things - your group, your cause, and asking for their help. It's not enough to just show up at someone's door with a brochure, say your church or school is selling fruit, and hope somebody buys something.

There's an art to a direct sales pitch when it's used for fundraisers. Here are some key tips:

1 - Look people in the eye as you smile and introduce yourself while extending your brochure.

2 - Clearly state the name of your group and name a specific reason why you are raising funds.

3 - Ask for their help and use the word 'because' as part of the request. The word 'because' is a proven subconscious psychological trigger word and using it will greatly boost your sales.

Example: 'Can you help us out because we really need those new uniforms?'

Fundraising tips

You can easily offer more than one type of fruit and even include foods that compliment them. Consider offering fresh pecans or other nuts. Certain types of candy or seasonal items also go well with fresh fruit.

You can also combine offerings from different suppliers in the same fundraiser. For instance, you can offer holiday poinsettias along with citrus products. Or, Christmas wreaths and trimmings also go well with November order-taker fundraisers for holiday delivery.

Calendars are another year-end top seller that you could include. Offering other choices creates additional revenue from incremental sales by offering another choice to those who don't like fruit, those want to help even more, or those who are willing to help, but don't want to spend that much.

If you have a small group, consider partnering with another group to reach minimum order requirements for best pricing. For example, a school club could partner with a church youth group and both could benefit from better pricing without overlapping sales too much or saturating the market.

Summary

A fresh fruit fundraiser can raise a lot of funds with the right sales approach. Work with a good supplier and make sure your sellers know exactly what to say to maximize sales.

To further boost sales, combine complimentary items with your fruit offering such as Christmas wreaths, poinsettias, or calendars. Usually, sales volumes are quite large because you're selling fruit by the box, case, or bushel. As a result, individual sellers will exceed several hundred dollars in gross revenue, making this a great way to raise funds.

Collect payment with the order and provide free home delivery within a scheduled timeframe. Then sit back and plan next year's annual fresh fruit fundraiser!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about fruit fundraisers on her website. Find hundreds of fundraising ideas on her website at

Charity credit cards have become increasingly popular over recent years, as people seek to support their favourite charities at seemingly no extra cost to themselves. When you take out one of these cards, a one-off donation of a few dollars is made by the card issuer to the charity linked to the card, followed up by a small percentage of everything you spend, again donated by the card company rather than the cardholder.

Cards are available covering a huge range of charitable organisations, from local to national and even international, and there is almost certain to be one that supports an area of concern to you.

All this sounds like a good deal for everyone involved, but is the picture as simple as that? The first drawback to a charity card is that the interest rates, balance transfer offers, and other deals are rarely as generous to the cardholder as those featured by other cards that compete under being a 'best buy' card. This may be a price you feel worth paying for the benefit the charity will receive, but you might in fact be better getting a cheaper card and donating the money you save to your charity directly.

Even putting aside the issue of higher interest charges, charity cards have another drawback - the percentage of what you spend that is donated is usually tiny, with 0.25% being a typical figure. Compare this to a typical cashback card which will pay between 1% and 2% of your spending, and it's easy to see that the card issuer may not be acting as generously as it appears. Again, by donating your saved up cashback directly to your chosen charity you might have a larger impact.

The other point to bear in mind is that the money charities get from the credit card companies isn't classed as tax-free, unlike direct donations, making it even less valuable.

So are charity cards a waste of time? In terms of actual sums donated they might seem so, but there are advantages to the charity concerned above and beyond the simple percentage donations. Firstly, by using your card you're helping to publicise the charity you're interested in, just by the simple act of handing it over to counter assistants, waiters and the like, who will notice an unusual card, as will your friends and colleagues.

Secondly, the charity is guaranteed that the donations will be made, however small. If you save up your cashback with the intention of donating it, there's always the chance that when you actually get the money you may have another pressing use for it, and the charity misses out.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the huge marketing muscle and advertising resources of the card issuer are put towards publicising the card and the charity, at least to some extent. This means that more people will probably end up donating in total, even if the individual figures are smaller, and the charity gets more exposure in general.

So in summary, while charity cards may not be the most effective way to donate to charity, and they certainly aren't among the most attractive cards on the market financially, they can still be a worthwhile option if you find a card supporting a charity you have an interest in helping.

Michael writes for credit cards review site Card Sense, which has sections on charity credit cards along with balance transfer deals, cashback cards and rewards schemes.

For improved fundraising results, take a little time and put together the right type of reward program, one that provides an appropriate level of reward for all participants. A little reward can produce a lot of motivation.

Be sure to set the initial reward level low enough so that at least 50% of your sales force gets a direct reward. Group awards will also stimulate additional sales, but not as much as individual rewards.

Use merchant prizes

Contact your local merchants for better prizes that mean more to your sellers. Work deals for movie passes, merchandise discounts, gift certificates, miniature golf, theater trip for top ten sellers, etc.

Structure rewards fairly

Design your program so that everyone is rewarded proportionately and is incented strongly toward winning one.

Prize preview

Show off what sellers can win for different levels of achievement. Build a "want" or desire in each of your participants to earn one or more of those prizes.

Personal goal

Motivate each salesperson with a self-selected personal goal stated in front of their peer group. Tie a reward to the achievement of that goal.

Recognition

Never underestimate the power of being praised before your peer group for doing a good job. Consider having a group awards ceremony. Award plaques are a nice touch, particularly if you can get them at a discount (remember the influence of your organization in other areas).

Offer valuable rewards

Give awards for success that really have value. Nobody wants junk. Skip trinkets and work with your community to come up with better prizes that don't subtract from your net profit. Example: $5 coupon for a local fun center such as miniature golf, bowling, laser tag, etc.

Progressive rewards

Offer ever-increasing levels of rewards. Allow roll-up combination of rewards into one big one. For instance, a seller might select a basic prize for each level of success or one larger prize for his ultimate success.

Party rewards

Ice cream, pizza, movies, a group trip… All of these and more can be great motivators and increase competition between sub-groups.

Use a wacky reward

Have key organizational figures promise to do something funny is the goal is met. Examples: The coach has to shave his head, the principal has to dance with the school mascot at the pep rally, all the second grade teachers will dress like clowns on Friday, the youth minister will sing off key a chosen song. Ask your sellers for suggestions!

Fun rewards

Offer a Cream Pie Attack party to all sellers reaching a certain level. Equip multiple tables with paper plates full of shaving cream to either attack each other or the coach, the youth minister, the troop leader, etc.

Big customer rewards

On sales from a catalog, consider motivating customers to make bigger buys by giving prizes for the biggest orders. Good coupons always work. Example: free car wash with a $50 order. Obviously, work with a local car wash on this promotion.

Volunteer rewards

Don't forget to reward your volunteers. You want them to come back, don't you? Select an appropriate reward for various levels of participation or at a minimum, do a reward party or luncheon.

Appreciation

Show your appreciation to all facets of your organization and supporter base. Be sure you do fun things that aren't fundraisers. For example: offer discounts on tickets to athletic events, group outings, parties, barbecue night, etc. These fun activities will help build the camaraderie useful for future fundraisers as well as for getting those volunteers to come back again.

Summary

The proper use of an incentive program will definitely maximize your results. Plan well to motivate your participants, encourage repeat business, reward your volunteers, and build your support within the community.

If you want the best results, don't settle for less than the best incentive program. Get your sellers imagining themselves winning awards and collecting rewards. Now that's motivation!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about fundraisers on her website. Find hundreds of fundraising ideas on her website at

An easy way to raise funds on an ongoing basis is with a recycle inkjet cartridge fundraiser. The process is simple and straightforward plus your group is keeping materials out of our landfills by recycling the used printer cartridges.

An estimated 350 million inkjet and laser cartridges and used cell phones are thrown away every year, so there are plenty of them available to be recycled.

Getting started

You need to signup with a company that handles the recycling process, preferably one that pays fairly for the common cartridges, not just the really desirable laser printer toner cartridges. Most of your recycling activity will be the inkjet cartridges for HP, Lexmark, and Dell printers, so you want to make sure you get good prices for those.

One company that I like is the Funding Factory because they've been in business for many years, pay well for the common cartridges, and provide pre-labeled (and freight prepaid!) collection boxes. Another plus for them is they also recycle cell phones, so you can include those in your fundraiser as well!

All you have to do is setup your collection locations, get the word out that you're recycling for a good cause, and you're in business. Once your box is full, then seal it up and ship it off. Shortly after it's received, the credit for your recycled printer cartridges will post to your account.

Increase donations

You can increase the amount of cartridges donated for your recycling fundraiser in several ways. First, you can setup collection boxes at multiple locations. Large office buildings are often a good place to approach for permission.

Second, get the word out in as many ways as possible. Include information in your newsletter, send it out to your email list, and get some publicity in the local media.

Publicity

A good way to get mentioned in your local newspaper, radio, or television station is by doing a press release. Each company does things a little differently, so be sure to send yours to the proper contacts.

Follow the standard press release format and tell who you are, what you're doing, when you're doing it, and why you're doing it. Play up the recycling aspect and gear the press release toward a one-day collection event at a high-traffic location and aim to get maximum publicity for that event.

Then mention that the fundraiser will be ongoing with collection boxes available year-round at selected locations. Provide full contact information and distribute to every media outlet in your area.

Summary

Doing an inkjet cartridge recycling fundraiser is easy plus it's good for the environment. Select a business partner that easy to work with and pays fairly.

Choose several high-traffic locations and place your collection boxes just inside the entrances. Publicize your fundraiser to increase printer cartridge donations.

Monitor collections and when full, ship off the donations to your recycling partner. And that's all there is to it.

Get started with your own recycle inkjet cartridge fundraiser today!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about recycling fundraisers on her website. Find hundreds of fundraising ideas on her website at

If you are over 70 ½ years old, want to make a gift for a special charitable project, but your only liquid asset is your IRA, I have good news for you.

On August 17, 2006 the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA 2006) was signed into law. This nearly 1,000 page piece of legislation marked the most sweeping changes to the pension arena in 30 years.

Let me give you two common examples that contain problems faced by seniors solved by PPA 2006…

Roger and Claire are retired. Roger spent his working career in the aerospace industry. He was more than well compensated and over the years accumulated a very large 401(k) plan. The plan grew nearly 500% during one 5 year bull market. When he retired, he rolled his 401(k) into an IRA. Other than their home, the IRA is far and away their biggest asset.

For years, Roger and Claire have been supporters of the Humane Society. Their local chapter is building an entire new wing on to their kennels. Roger and Claire would love to make a significant donation—somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $100,000.

Bill and Diane both worked during their entire careers. Mary taught 6th grade for 40 years. Bill was a career military officer. After his retirement, he spent another 20 years working in the private sector. Bill and Diane have more retirement plans than Carter has pills. Like Roger, Bill has a large IRA.

When Bill turned 70 ½, he was required to start taking the minimum required distributions each year from his IRA. But Bill and Diane don't need the income; their other retirement income sources are more than adequate. Nevertheless, Bill must take these RMDs and pay tax on them as income.

Bill and Diane have been active in their church all their married life, all 45 years of it. Their church just bought a new organ. It was a purchase of necessity inasmuch as the old (very old) organ was becoming hazardous to play. The organist had to be careful or the organ would start to smoke. So, needless to say, the church did not pay cash for the organ; the majority of it was financed. Bill and Diane would like to pay off the organ.

Both Roger and Claire and Bill and Diane are warm-hearted people. Their devotion to charitable causes and their church is representative of the many people who support charitable organizations which reach out to help people.

But, prior to the passage of PPA 2006, their generosity could have been thwarted by several things…

1. In both cases, their principal liquid asset was an IRA. Neither couple had other assets from which to make a gift.

2. If the large sums were withdrawn from their IRAs, they would be subject to ordinary income tax.

3. If given to a charity, rules which limit the amount that could be deducted as a charitable contribution would have to be followed. This means that they may still have to pay tax on a portion of their IRA withdrawals.

But thanks to provisions in PPA 2006, Roger and Claire can make their gift to the Humane Society and Bill and Diane can pay off their church's new organ using money from their IRAs and not pay any tax on the withdrawals. But they have to follow the rules…

1. First, you must be at least 70 ½.

2. You can give up to $100,000.

3. This only applies to 2006 and 2007.

4. You can't withdraw the money from your IRA and then give it to your charitable cause. The transfer must be made directly from the custodian of the IRA to the charity.

5. These gifts, called IRA charitable rollovers, count towards your required minimum distribution for the year.

6. IRA charitable rollovers are not permitted for gifts to donor advised funds and supporting organizations. However, there are some exceptions that apply to funds held by community foundations: scholarship, field of interest, and designated funds qualify. So the first step is to contact your intended cause to see how they are classified and whether or not the law allows an IRA charitable rollover gift.

7. The gift must be a pure gift. In other words, there can't be any personal benefit strings attached like tickets to an event.

8. You don't have to report the IRA charitable rollover as income.

9. However, you don't get a charitable deduction for your gift. Sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

This new law is a real winner. In these two examples, the Humane Society is able to build new kennels and a church pays off an organ they thought they were going to have to finance. The donors were able to make it happen despite the fact that the only real asset they had was an IRA. I hope this law is extended beyond 2007.

But like anything new, the name of the game is to communicate what is possible. The law was put into effect in late August 2006, so that didn't leave a lot of time for IRA charitable rollovers that year. If you, or anyone you know, has an IRA and would like to make a gift, make them aware of this new option. If you are involved in a public charity, help their planned giving officer get the word out.

I do not dispense tax advice. It is imperative that you consult with your tax advisor and the charity to make sure it is qualified and that the gift is made in the proper manner.

Robert D. Cavanaugh, CLU is a 36 year financial and estate planning veteran and author of the free newsletter, "The Estate Preservation Advisor". To subscribe and get the free video, "How to Sell Your Life Insurance Policy for More Than the Cash Value", go to

A lot of people donate money or items for charity because they want to share their blessings to the underprivileged. However, there are also some folks who do it just for the tax write off. Anyway, it does not matter what their intentions are because the important thing is that they shared their money to the needy.

As long as you have a receipt, you will get credit on your taxes for any money you give to charity. Any item you donate to charity can also give you tax credits and you can claim the full amount of any donation. A lot of people give car donations to charity when they have plans to purchase a new car.

Many people think that giving car donations to charity is better than trading in their old cars. An old car may not be worth much to a dealer but a charity can do a lot with it. The car itself may not be the only important aspect of car donations to charity. Those who run the charity have the option of selling the parts or the scrap metal for the cash needed to maintain the charity.

A lot of people still make car donations to charity, though they are less common than money donations. These kinds of donations happen a lot in the month of December because many people are after the last minute tax deduction. Do you know where to go for car donations to charity? If you don't, then you should call the local charities in your community to find one that will accept your car. They will be able to point you in the direction of someone who would love to have the car or truck you want to donate if they do not want it.

You should never forget to keep a receipt for your car donations to charity if you want to claim it on your taxes. Keep in mind that you can only claim it for the year in which you made your donation. It will not be a valid deduction if you try to claim it on the taxes you file for the next year. You can still feel good about the donation, even if you are unable to claim a valid deduction. You will always feel good if you have helped someone who is less fortunate than you.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Car Donations to Charity. Visit our site for more helpful information about Car Donations to Charity and other similar topics.

So you just got a new digital camera. Congratulations! What are you planning to do with your old digital camera? Many people just forget about it burying it in a drawer or somewhere around the house. There are better things to do with it, here are a few.

Digital cameras evolve all the time. New cameras have more megapixels, they have better lenses, electronics and software. It is very common to get a new digital camera every few years and sometimes even more often than that. Every time you buy a new digital camera you need to make a decision as to your old one.

You have many options for what to do with your old digital camera. Here are a few:

Put is aside: the simplest thing to do is just to put the digital camera somewhere in the house and forget about it. Many of us do just that. This is not the best solution though as your are wasting a perfectly good product.

Use it as backup: you can use your old digital camera as a backup for your new one. If your new digital camera breaks you can revert to the old one. Another option is to keep the old digital camera in a place where you would not normally store your camera. For example you can keep the old digital camera in the car. You can safely do that since you are less sensitive to the old camera getting damaged or stolen. By doing that you can take pictures when opportunity strikes and you do not have your new camera with you.

Give it as a gift: give your old digital camera to someone who can use it. For example give it to your kids or to other family members. Usually you would want to choose someone who can use it and for whom using your old digital camera will be a step forward relative to what they are using now.

Sell your old digital camera: One obvious option is to sell your old digital camera. Depending on how old it is and its condition you can get a nice sum of money for it. Getting any money is better than just throwing it away. You can sell it online on auction sites like eBay or you can use local classifieds.

Donate your old camera: you can donate your old digital camera to charity, to a local community center, to your kids' school and more. With some donations you will be able to get a tax receipt so you can also get some money back as tax deduction.

Continue using your old digital camera: This option is not obvious. Why would you keep using the old digital camera when you just paid for a brand new one? There are many reasons. For example in some scenarios your old digital camera might be more appropriate. If for example your old digital camera is a small pocket one while your new digital camera is a big digital SLR there are times when you would not like to carry the big SLR around but you would still want to capture experiences on digital film. In such cases using the old camera is a good solution.

The way of thinking is that you did not replace your old digital camera but got a new digital camera that complements It. This is not relevant of course if you bought the same type of camera but with better features. For example this does not make sense if you bought a brand new digital pocket camera that looks the same as your old one but has more megapixels.

The most important thing is not to forget about your old digital camera just to find it uselessly thrown in a closet somewhere after a few years. Digital cameras like other consumer electronics devices age fast. Their value drops significantly after a few years. Be conscious about your old camera. You can use it for a while as a secondary camera, you can later on decide to sell it or donate it or to do something else with it.

More information on digital photo printing and photography is available on - a site about Philips and digital photo prints Ziv Haparnas writes about technology and digital photography. This article can be published and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. Ziv Haparnas is a technology expoert.

Another unique way for nonprofit groups to raise funds is by selling items on eBay. The world's largest auction marketplace has some special guidelines for nonprofits to follow.

The program is called eBay Giving Works. There are two different fundraising approaches for nonprofits on eBay - direct sales of auction items by the nonprofit group or through Community Selling. In Community Selling, an eBay seller donates a portion of the auction proceeds to a specific nonprofit organization.

Direct sales

This approach is straightforward. You can sell just about anything on eBay including items that have been donated to your group. So, you can setup a regular process to list items for sale every week or just do monthly or quarterly auctions.

To get started, you must register with eBay by completing a simple online form and get an eBay seller ID.

All funds from your own direct auction sales come directly to your nonprofit as specified in your seller account setup. Net proceeds from each auction come through PayPal or if you wish, a check or money order is mailed by the winning bidder.

eBay Giving Works

To be included in eBay's Giving Works program, you'll need to verify your nonprofit status with MissionFish, eBay's nonprofit partner.

Details are on the site, but you'll be asked to provide a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter or other proof of tax-deductibility. You'll also need to send in a voided bank check to setup your monthly electronic funds transfer of donations raised from Community Selling.

MissionFish's support also includes a listing in the nonprofit directory for eBay Giving Works, collecting and disbursing sellers' donations, providing sellers with tax receipts, and tracking donations online.

Community Selling

Using the Community Selling approach, anyone can sell items on eBay and designate your group to receive anywhere from 10% to 100% of the net auction proceeds.

This works great if you have a diverse group of supporters spread over a large geography. Simply register your nonprofit, as mentioned above, and then ask your supporters for help by auctioning items on eBay.

Many times people have gifts they received, but have never used, or used items they'd like to get rid of. They can sell the items via the auction process and share some of the proceeds with your nonprofit.

Be sure to provide them with instructions on how the process works and include links to the eBay nonprofit FAQ page for additional details.

Summary

It's easy to sell anything on eBay. You just need something to sell and a digital camera to take pictures of it for your auction listing. Include a detailed description of the item, set your minimum price, and you're good to go.

Once the auction closes, collect payment from the seller, usually via eBay's PayPal subsidiary, and then ship the item. Repeat the process as often as possible.

Help your group out today by starting your own nonprofit eBay fundraiser!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about fundraising and helpful tips on fundraisers for, charities and other non-profit groups.

Organ donation has resulted from the advances in medical techniques that have made it a very viable choice. When the technology did not exist, it was not an issue. Today, an average of 74 people per day receive a life saving organ transplant, but at the same time, an average of 19 people die each day waiting for a transplant that never comes. The entire issue has raised serious ethical concerns and the debate over them rages unabated. As further advances are made in such areas as cloning, the ethical debate should grow more intense.

The ethical questions are complicated by an outgoing debate over the definitions of certain key terms such as life, death, human, and body. One example is the definition of the idea of brain dead. People have been confused over the issue because of the highly public cases of people recovering from comas even after many years. The distinction between the idea of brain dead and comatose becomes a matter that must be clearly defined. A family that is asked to donate body to science of a brain dead relative must be confident that there is no hope of recovering.

Other ethical issues of organ donation are considered bioethical. One important one is the idea of cloning. The technology that would allow the cloning of genetically matched clones for the purpose of body harvesting exists already. A recent science fiction movie addressed this exact issue. It told of human beings cloned and held in captivity until their organs were needed at which time they were killed and their organs harvested. This type of body donation is what many fear if cloning for the purpose of organ donation is ever allowed.

Another issue often raised has more to do with the economic exploitation of the donors. It is a common perception that the donors are poor and the ones receiving the organs are rich. This raises fear of an organ black market. In some places, such as the Indian subcontinent and Africa this has already become a concern. Another issue is known as xenotransplantation which involves the harvesting of certain compatible animal organs for use in humans. A whole new plethora of ethical issues surround this idea. Even animal rights groups have joined in this debate. There is no question that body donation and organ donation will remain a hot topic for many years to come.

Natalie Aranda writes about home and family. Organ donation has resulted from the advances in medical techniques that have made it a very viable choice. When the technology did not exist, it was not an issue. There is no question that body donation and organ donation will remain a hot topic for many years to come.

There are something like 92,000 people waiting for organ transplants, and the number of organ donations does not equal that total. Although an average of 74 people per day receive lifesaving transplants, another 19 per day die waiting. Yet the whole issue is clouded with myths and controversy.

Among the many myths of organ donation is the idea that many people in comas are allowed to die to harvest their organs. There is a major difference between brain dead and comatose, and no person in a mere coma will be allowed to die for body donation. It is another myth that doctors treating patients are sometimes influenced by the prospect of another patient in need of a transplant. The truth is that medical treatment teams and transplant teams are always different, and the medical team will fight to save life regardless of the organ donation status of the patient.

Controversy swirls whenever the decision to donate body to science is made. Ethical issues that involve such varied issues as economical factors or religious objections are often involved. These issues must be weighed against the value of life itself. Other issues such as cloning and the use of animal organs for transplants further complicate the issues. Many of these controversies are currently making news as the whole issue of bioethics becomes one of the major philosophical problems of modern society.

There are four different legislative approaches to the issue of organ donation. The first is called the consent solution. This allows organs to be taken only if the patient has consented to this procedure, usually in writing, during his lifetime. The extended consent solution allows next of kin or family members to give permission after the death of the patient. The dissent solution allows the organs to be taken if the patient has not specifically said they did not want it done during their lifetime. The extended dissent solution allows it to be done as long as the family does not specifically dissent after the death of the patient. Each of these approaches has been adopted by various countries around the world. The United States uses the consent solution.

Another worry about organ donation is the effect it has on the body, but this is another myth. Organs are removed by careful incisions and surgical procedures and the wounds are carefully closed. Open casket funerals are not affected by organ donation at all. Despite the continuing myths and the swirling controversy of this issue, the bottom line is that a large number of people have been given a second chance at life. In many cases what has been a senseless tragedy is turned around into a miracle by the body donation. The ethical issues are complex, and each person must make his own decision, but it is helpful to fully understand the difference between the facts and the myths in order to make the right personal decision.

Natalie Aranda writes about health. Among the many myths of organ donation is the idea that many people in comas are allowed to die to harvest their organs. Controversy swirls whenever the decision to donate body to science is made. Ethical issues that involve such varied issues as economical factors or religious objections are often involved.

How and why is e-waste from the U.S. and Europe dumped in developing countries?

When people "donate" or "recycle" electronics and computers, they do so with good intentions, and they don't expect their electronics to be part of the global dumping of e-waste. But many items and parts that are collected in the name of "recycling" are in fact being dumped.

What is going on?

According to the Basel Action Network, there are 500 40-foot containers of used electronics and computers are being shipped from U.S. and Europe to Lagos, Nigeria, each month. There are also large volumes of used electronics being sent to other developing countries such as China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Cambodia, and the Ivory Coast.

The vast majority of items in these shipments are NOT reused, recycled, or bridging the digital divide, because most of them are unusable. In Lagos, local officials estimate that 80% of these electronics items are thrown away immediately upon arrival.

Due to poverty and lack of environmental regulation and enforcement, these unusable electronics, which contain very toxic materials, are thrown in the swamp by local people or burned in open piles. This causes contamination of water and soil in the area and major health problems for the local population, including cancer and birth defects.

This is a very real problem. In areas such as Guiyu, China, the water has been undrinkable since the mid-1990's because the water is so contaminated from toxic e-waste dumped there.

Some "recyclers" will offer to take your old computers and electronics for free, but there is not enough value from the precious metals and other raw materials that can be produced through the proper recycling your used electronics.

So these "recyclers" do not recycle everything properly. These "recyclers" are only interested in those parts that they can take out and sell for profits. They don't really care about the environmental impact of the "processing" of their items.

After taking the most immediately valuable parts, they sell the rest of the obsolete computers and electronics brokers that represent companies in developing countries. These brokers are interested in the next level of salvageable parts and items and then sell the rest to the next set of brokers. Eventually, the most useless e-waste is sold to the poorest nations. That is how goods end up in Lagos, Nigeria.

That is how dumping occurs everyday.

To do your part to stop the global dumping of e-waste, ask direct questions. Ask a recycler or entity accepting donations what exactly they do to make sure that your old computers and other electronics are not sold to unscrupulous secondary brokers. Ask a recycler or entity accepting donations if they are willing to guarantee in writing that no part of your used electronics will end up as e-waste dumped in developing countries.

You need to make sure that they give a complete solution, and are not just reselling a few parts while contributing the global dumping of the rest.

James Kao is the founder/CEO of GreenCitizen, Inc, in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. GreenCitizen provides convenient, accountable, and safe solutions that make it easy for individuals and business to recycle electronics responsibly.

1. Read the Christmas story:

Take some time to sit down and read the biblical Christmas story with your kids. Use this opportunity to share with them how our Lord gave of Himself to come to earth as a lowly babe in a manager. The wise men's gifts to Jesus in this story are another picture of giving at Christmas.

In our family, we've often used this as a way to explain to our children why we give gifts to one another at Christmastime. We explain that just as the wise men gave precious gifts to Jesus to celebrate His birth, we give gifts to one another to remember His birthday. In all the excitement about presents and Santa, kids sometimes need a reminder of what Christmas is really about.

2. Let your children pick out gifts for each family member:

Allowing children to pick out the gifts they will give is a good way to get them excited about giving. It helps them to experience the joy of giving when their loved ones are opening gifts they picked out. If your child is old enough to receive an allowance or hold a job, you can deepen the experience for them by encouraging them to spend their own money.

Even very young children can begin to understand the meaning behind Christmas presents. The year our daughter was two, I took her to one of the dollar stores in town and allowed her to pick out items to give her father and grandparents. Christmas morning she was almost more excited about handing out the presents she was giving than she was about the gifts she was receiving.

3. Volunteer:

Giving is something that children can learn not only at home, but out in the community as well. Christmas is a good time to volunteer at a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen or church. Seeing others that are less fortunate and being able to reach out and help is a good lesson for kids to learn at any age.

4. Provide Christmas for a Needy Family :

Another way to show your children the joy of giving is to allow them to help you gather gifts, food and other necessities for a family in need. There are many ministries such as Angel Tree and Operation Christmas child that can help you connect with others that may not be able to afford Christmas presents. You can also check with your church to see if there are any local families that may have suffered a job loss or tragedy and need help this Christmas.

5. Collect non-perishables for local charities:

Some local charities rely on Christmastime donations to get them though the year. This is a great way to get the kids active and show them what giving is really all about. It is important for kids to understand that sometimes giving isn't about expensive gifts; it's about giving time and going out of their way for others.

The lesson of giving, when consistently taught, will last your child a lifetime. It's a lesson that compounds annually as it touches countless lives and is a beautiful reflection of what God gave each of us so many years ago, the gift of His only Son.

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, Hart is also the co-author of the upcoming book, Home Based Blessings, due out in early 2007 for Christian moms who want to work at home. Hart and her husband, Allen of (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children.

ShowTimeT Sets Green Standards

VANCOUVER, BC - (November 10, 2006)

SHOWTIME TICKET SERVICES DONATES ALL EXCESS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FOR RECYCLING AND REUSE.

Over 20 computer monitors, 10 computer terminals and various computer accessories were donated to Techno Trash Recycling as a part of ShowTimeTickets.com's ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible business practices.

Techno Trash Recycling deconstructs waste electronic devices and reuses the materials to build computers for donation to underprivileged families. They are active contributors to the charity Smile Africa, which promotes literacy and education for children in Africa. ShowTimeT is an avid supporter of socially aware causes and frequently contributes to organizations that channel aid from businesses to those in need.

According to Techno Trash Recycling, millions of still working electronic devices are tossed into landfills each year to make way for the latest technology. This electronic waste contains tonnes of harmful plastics and toxic materials such as mercury and lead.

"Environmental issues affect us all more and more each day, so we feel that doing our part is important," said Mario Livich, CEO and Founder of ShowTimeT "We feel that businesses need to be socially responsible and really should use their high visibility in the community to set a good example for all. ShowTimeT is proud to contribute to organizations like Techno Trash Recycling and be a leader for environmental activism in the business community."

ShowTime Ticket Services has been helping people create priceless lifelong memories for over 20 years. We are North America's #1 independent ticket agency. Our award winning website, ShowTimeT offers the largest inventory of Sports, Concerts and Theatre event tickets anywhere. Please remember to contact ShowTime at anytime to find out what is currently HOT, or what is NOT. With a promise of "Any Ticket, Anywhere!" you can be sure we have our finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry.

###

Mario Livich

ShowTimeT

835 Beatty St.

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tel: 604-688-5000 or 1-800-480-7469

mario@

Any Ticket, Anywhere ... We are Never Sold Out!

Looking for tips on organizing a wine-tasting fundraiser? Here are some ideas on organizing your fundraising event in order to maximize your proceeds.

Obviously, a wine-tasting event needs wine experts, so begin by seeking suitable merchant partnerships based not only on expertise, but also access to the best wines. After all, you have to be able to provide numerous bottles of expensive wine and there's no sense in paying anything near retail price.

Partner with a wine merchant or distributor who can not only help with supplying wine and expert advice, but can also help sell advance tickets to your event.

Organization Tips

Getting plenty of advance publicity is a must. Take the time to put together a press release and get the word out to local media outlets such as tv and radio stations.

Be sure to offer tickets through not only your organization, but also through participating merchants and other groups who support your cause.

It never hurts to have another nonprofit group plugging your fundraising event to their supporters as well. Strike an agreement to do the same thing for their fundraiser.

You will need a suitable place for your wine tasting fundraiser such as a reception hall or scenic outdoor setting. Arrange tables in a layout to suit the space and leave plenty of room for access to each table.

Experts can describe each tasting while wearing a lapel microphone and visiting each table. Use volunteers to bring a bottle of each vintage to all the tables prior to their discussion and have them handle the pouring.

To add a festive flair, consider providing live music with a string quartet or jazz group.

Profit Tips

There are many additional ways to raise funds at your wine tasting. One is to conduct both silent auctions and live auctions for rare wines and wine-related merchandise.

Run your silent auctions from an easy to reach spot such as the check-in table and always do a last call for bids. With live auctions of expensive wines, consider using a professional auctioneer in order to maximize bid prices.

Talk to your merchant partners about ways where both of you can profit such as offering gift certificates to their stores or special case buys on recommended wines.

Look for tie-ins with other merchants who offer related products such as wine glasses, gourmet food items, or travel trips to wine country.

For really large events, provide valet parking services and raise a few extra dollars.

Additional Event Fundraising

Auctions are an additional way to maximize revenue at your wine tasting event. You can offer bottles of fine wines via silent auction or conduct a live auction.

Raffle tickets are another great way to raise additional funds. They are a great way to offering an inexpensive chance at winning an expensive prize. Sometimes, you can even raise more money buy raffling off an item than by auctioning it to the highest bidder.

With a good-sized crowd, raffle off multiple items. You can use the approach where one fairly pricey ticket gives you a shot at multiple prizes. With a high-priced single raffle ticket being sold, you draw from the same pool for multiple winners.

Another approach is to keep the ticket price low and encourage people to buy multiple tickets. This way, the chance that an individual ticket will win is much lower, but people will often spend a greater amount on the lower-priced tickets.

And of course, a raffle allows you to sell tickets to people who can't make the event but would still like to participate in the fun.

Closing Tips

For a successful wine tasting, be sure to allow yourself enough lead time to successfully publicize and organize your fundraiser event. Get the maximum possible turnout by making tickets available at a discount for advance purchases and at a higher price at the door.

If your location is not well-known, be sure to provide directions on flyers wherever tickets are sold. Print a contact number on the tickets for any last-minute questions.

Do everything you can to make the night memorable. Decorate your location appropriately, provide live music and dancing, use a dedicated announcer, and serve plenty of unusual wines to compare.

Using a local media personality as a host is another great way to ensure a large turnout. It's best to route such requests through the program director of their employer.

Good luck with your wine tasting fundraiser!

Kimberly Reynolds writes about fundraising and ideas on having a wine tasting fundraiser event on her website. Find hundreds of fundraising ideas on her website.

A car donation center usually refers to a middle agent between you (the donor) and the charity you wish to help (the recipient of your donation). The car donation center handles all the documents required in order to make the donation, picks up the car and transports it, organizes charity car auctions and distributes the profits to different non-profit organizations that use these money to help different categories of disadvantaged people. Accepting car donations and turning them into money can be too costly for small charities. That is why many charities are collaborating with a larger car donation center that can cover many of the expenses such as transport and storage of the donated car.

Why should I trust a car donation center to deliver my donation to the charity I want?

First of all, you shouldn't trust a car donation center without checking it out. Because there are many cases of fraud taking place nowadays, you should check the credentials of the car donation center and see the list of charities that benefit from the auctions organized by the car donation center. You can check the charities supported by the card donation center by calling the IRS Customer Account Services division for Tax Exempt and Government Entities or see the IRS Publication 78, Cumulative List of Organizations, where you can find almost all charities in the United States. You should always check how much of the profit of the charity auction is kept as a fee by the car donation center and how much money actually go to the charity organizations. If the car donation center keeps more than 50% of the profit, you should think about contacting another car donation center.

Are there any hidden facts about used car donation that I should be aware of?

First of all, not every used car donation programs are functioning legally. Before you make your used car donation, you should check with the IRS if the charity is a non-profit organization listed under paragraph 501 (c) (3) in the IRS Publication 78.

Secondly, check out if the used car donation program is run in-house by the charity itself or by a third party. If a third party is operating the used car donation program, you should ask what percent of the profit made by selling the donated cars actually goes to the charity. Often, third-party operated used car donation programs produce small amounts of money for the charity. Smaller charities do not afford the costs of transportation and storage for the donated cars, not to mention the costs involved in charity auctions. This is the main reason why charities accept to have their used car donation programs run buy third-party brokers.

Donations and car evaluations

Another important thing before donating your car is evaluating it in a correct way. There are various guides on the market that offer elaborate instructions, in order to establish the valid value of your car, depending on its general condition, accessories, age and mileage. After making sure that you selected the correct charitable organization and the optimum evaluation, you should be aware of the fact that you are required to complete and attach an IRS form to your tax return, in case you are claiming a car donation that values 500 $ or above – for more info please visit C Donating a used car to charity is a great solution if you are planning to purchase a new car or if you are simply willing to contribute to a charitable activity. Knowing and following some steps before the actual car donation avoids further worries, as it makes the process a safe and fulfilling one.

For more resources on car donation in California please visit our website, where you can also access other free resources on car donation in Los Angeles and car donation in San Francisco