Wednesday, April 6, 2016

How Much Of The Selling Price Of My Donated Vehicle Goes To The Local Chapter Of Make-A-Wish?


Car Donation Foundation (CDF), d/b/a (Wheels for Wishes), is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You receive a tax deduction for the total amount that your car sells for. See here for tax informationWheels For Wishes thanks you for your generosity and truly appreciates your donations. While the costs of turning donated vehicles into cash are high compared to other forms of charity fundraising, through your donations, CDF d/b/a Wheels for Wishes has donated over $30,000,000 to local Make-A-Wish Chapters since 2010. Proceeds from donated vehicles go to CDF, which in turn provides direct cash donations to other charities such as individual Make-A-Wish Chapters. The amount that your vehicle ultimately sells for is based upon its make, year, mileage and condition. These are the sales proceeds from your vehicle. CDF also has normal expenses involved in directly promoting the car donation program (advertising) and costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash (towing fees, auction fees, administrative costs). CDF's cash donations to Make-A-Wish Chapters are based upon the sale proceeds of all donated vehicles during a given month, less deductions for normal monthly costs such as towing, advertising, auction fees and administrative fees. Because of the difference in sales proceeds from one vehicle to the next and because of the costs involved in turning your donated vehicle into cash, the donation that CDF makes to Make-A-Wish Chapters from the sale of your individual vehicle can be a larger percentage for a higher value vehicle, or much lower for an older low valued non-running vehicle that is recycled. The lower percentage is a result of there being minimum fixed costs incurred to obtain, tow and sell each car. These fixed costs can sometimes be a high percentage of the selling price of a low valued scrap vehicle. CDF does receive a large number of donated scrap vehicles, which can bring the estimated average donation per vehicle percentage down. For the first quarter of 2016, the average percentage of the sale price donated to benefitting charities was approximately 32%. Car donation programs do have higher costs to promote and operate, compared to other forms of charity fundraising. If you are concerned about giving 100% of the value of your vehicle to a charity, the best way to do so is to sell your vehicle yourself and directly donate your sale proceeds to your favorite charity.

Make Car Donation A Leap Day Tradition

Plenty of traditions and superstitions surround Leap Day and Leap Years. People are bound to assign special meaning to such a rare event. One example of this is Bachelor's Day, celebrated on Feb. 29 in Ireland. Bachelor's Day dates back to the 1200s, and was designated as the date when it was customary for women to propose to men, rather than waiting for them to make the move. Over the years this became somewhat of a tradition.
If you'd like to make your own tradition, why not make Feb. 29 your day to donate a car? It's the perfect way to make the day special not only for yourself, but for all the lives you touch with your donation!

Enjoy The Benefits Of Donating Your Car On Leap Day

The nice thing about a Leap Year is that it gives you one extra calendar day that you wouldn't normally have. That's the perfect reason to use Leap Day as a time to get things done. If one of those things on your list is a charitable donation, you only need to set aside a few minutes to get it checked off.
Other benefits of donating your car to Wheels For Wishes include:
  • Free towing of your vehicle from nearly anywhere. Whether you're in Seattle,DallasManhattan or anywhere in between, we will pick up your vehicle.
  • An easy way to get rid of nearly any vehicle. We accept cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles and other vehicles. We can even accept vehicles that are no longer running.
  • A great way to give back to kids in your community. Your unused vehicle can become so much more when you donate it to Wheels For Wishes. Check which charity benefits from your donation in our Chapter Locator.
  • The maximum possible tax deduction. Since we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, you will receive a great tax deduction for making a donation.

Donate Your Car On Leap Day With 3 Easy Steps

Donating your car is easy and fast! Just follow these steps to donate your car:
  • Call 1-877-431-9474 or make your donation online with our car donation form. Our donation representatives are available to help with any questions you may have about donating your car. They will also schedule a time for your free vehicle pick-up.
  • Take out any personal items you want from your vehicle. There's no need to run it through the car wash, make repairs or fill the gas tank. We take care of all those details for you! Your car will be towed for free at your scheduled time.
  • Watch for your receipt to arrive in the mail. Save this for next year's taxes to claim your charitable tax deduction.

Celebrate Leap Year With A Car Donation

Since it only comes every four years, Leap Day the perfect time to do something different. If you've never donated a car, why not choose Leap Day? A car donation is the perfect way to make a difference in your community and help local kids. If you're looking for a special way to celebrate Leap Day, car donation might be perfect for you.

Donate Your Car. Make A Difference.

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children facing life-threatening medical conditions. When you make a car donation, proceeds from the sale of your vehicle donation through the Wheels For Wishes 501(c)(3) charity benefits your local Make-A-Wish®. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish as a whole has granted the wishes of more than 250,000 children around the world.

Meet Some Of The Smiling Faces...

Make-A-Wish Story of Michael, age 7

Michael, Age 7

"I Wish To Be An SF Giant..."
When Michael heard that his wish would be granted, he was on the waiting list for both a liver and heart transplant. Despite the gravity of his medical condition, he had a lot of energy, with a love of dancing and singing opera. When thinking about his wish, he said that because he lives with all women, he wanted his wish to be a "guy thing" and he wanted to be a baseball player with the San Francisco Giants. Although he had never been to a game, he was a huge Giants fan. On the day of his wish, Michael was welcomed as an Honorary San Francisco Giant at AT&T Park by former SF Giant Rich Aurilia who greeted Michael and served as his official escort for the evening. Aurilia gave Michael a personal tour and took him on the practice field for a chance to meet some of the players, including his favorite, Brian Wilson. Michael had a great time. "You could see the awe on his face," said his mother.
Exactly one week after his wish was granted, Michael's family got the news that both a heart and liver had been found for Michael. He underwent surgery immediately, and is recovering nicely. With his energy and spirit, Michael may yet one day become an SF Giant.
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Make-A-Wish Story of Stephen, age 18

Stephen, Age 18

"I Wish To Be A Nintendo Game Designer..."
Stephen was described by his wish grantors as a real "go-getter" with a great personality, who loves to draw. All Stephen has ever wanted since he was a little boy was to be a game designer for Nintendo. So, imagine the thrill of traveling to Seattle and having an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Nintendo campus, along with meeting several engineers who work on Stephen's favorite games. While on the campus, Stephen met the Treehouse Group, full-time gamers who took the time to play games on four huge screens with Stephen, and who were totally impressed with his expertise. Now that Stephen has returned home from his wish, he is more determined than ever to get his college education in computer game design, so he can pursue his goal of working at Nintendo. The master gamer who befriended Stephen during his wish shared with him that when he was four he announced to his family that he would work for Nintendo one day, and now he does. What an incentive for Stephen to do the same. According to Stephen's family, "His future is bright and this wish has meant everything to him!"
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Make-A-Wish Story of Hadeel, age 10

Hadeel, Age 10

"I Wish To Go To The Monterey Bay Aquarium..."
  • Hadeel is non-verbal, but shows her likes and dislikes in a variety of ways. She enjoys bright lights and colors, especially pink and purple, playing dress up and music, and sometimes will rock, bounce and dance along. Hadeel also loves fish and swimming. For her wish, her family agreed that a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium would be ideal for her, since she had never been there. After spending time exploring in Monterey, Hadeel and her family were given a tour of the Aquarium for her wish. The family reported that they could tell the wish was a very positive and exciting experience for her, because she was smiling and dancing to imitate the movement of the fish.


Car Donation and Non-Profit Charities

On this site, you choose any one of our 500+ 501-C3 non-profit charities you want to benefit from your used car donation and you receive a tax deduction for your vehicle donation. All charities are pre-qualified to ensure your donation is tax deductible. Once you submit your auto donation, our experts work to maximize the return on your donation,thereby providing you with the highest tax deduction allowed by law and providing the selected charities with the most funds to provide services, conduct research and outreach.
Simply complete our 'Donate Your Vehicle Now' form to the right, or call us Toll-Free at 1-877-227-7487 anytime, seven days a week to start our no cost, no hassle vehicle donation process. Phones are answered by our experienced and trained operators. You will be contacted by our towing agent who will arrange a speedy pickup. The towing agent will provide a pickup receipt and the charity you select will send you a tax deduction letter. After your vehicle is picked up by the towing agent pleaseComplete the Online Survey, so we can make sure we continue to be the best Vehicle Donation Center in the United States.
To learn more about how to donate a car, boat, motorhome, etc. and get answers to the most frequently asked questions, please click here.


Car Donation to Charity - Running or Not - Free Pickup

Welcome to Donation Line, one of the largest, most visited and trusted vehicle donation centers in America. By utilizing Donation Line to donate cars, trucks, boatsRVsmotorcycles and even donatejet skis and snowmobiles, tens of thousands of donors like you have supported several hundred charities including the Disabled American Veterans, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Fox Chase Cancer Center.
95% of donors who have completed our online survey stated that they would use Donation Line in the future and recommend Donation Line to friends and family.

Car Donation Steps




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You will be contacted by our Towing agent the same or following business day to arrange a convenient time for your vehicle pick-up. The towing agent will provide you with a pick-up receipt.

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Your vehicle is sold for the benefit of the charity you select, typically at auction or to a parts/salvage dealer if it is considered a junk vehicle.

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Proceeds from the sale are sent to the charity and your tax return ready letter will be sent to you by the participating charity.

Making a vehicle donation is faster, easier and safer than selling your vehicle and benefits a charity in need. Complete the Vehicle Donation Form now or call toll free 1-877-227-7487.
As an accredited Better Business Bureau member with an A+ rating, we ensure that all aspects of the vehicle donation to charity process are handled professionally and efficiently. This includes FAST,FREE pickup and IRS compliant tax deduction documentation. We accept any car donation, anywhere in the United States, running or not. In many states you can still donate your car to charity even if you lost your title.



Submit a vehicle donation in Alaska (AK)

Car Donation Service in Alaska (AK)

Alaskan residents should know that donating a car in the state of Alaska is not only a boon to charity, but getting old environmentally unfriendly cars off the road in the state known for its breathtaking views, can help preserve our environment. Removing cars thirteen years or older from our roadways can help keep Alaska's incredible snow caped mountains and frosty lakes and bays beautiful for future generations.

In AK, you can donate cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, yachts, airplanes, and most any other vehicle you can think of. Questions on what you can donate, feel free to call our customer service department at 877-957-2277 for more information. Nationally recognized charities use the proceeds from your vehicle donation to help fund important research, promote education about their missions and most importantly, save lives. If you are looking for a charity in Alaska, look no further than Car Donation Wizard, where we've aggregated the best charities to help you donate your car quickly and easily.

Car Donation Wizard proudly returns 80% of the net proceeds back to our charitable partners. That's more than any other vehicle donation program can say. So if you live in Alaska and are looking to donate a vehicle, let us help partner you with organizations doing the most with donations. Start your vehicle donation in Alaska today!

Cities and Towns in Alaska

Anchorage, Barrow, Bethel, CollegeFairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Keai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Palmer, Petersburg, Seward, Sitka, Unalaska, Valdez, Wasilla 

How do I release the liability of my donated vehicle in Alaska (AK)?

  • The state of Alaska DOES require a Certificate of Title in order to transfer ownership of your vehicle.
  • In order to complete your Alaska car donation, transfer your title by entering the name of our authorized agent, ADVANCED REMARKETING SERVICES in the buyer/purchaser field. Please PRINT and SIGN your name in the seller/owner field EXACTLY as it appears at the top of the title.
  • car donation title for Alaska donate a car to Alaska title


     https://www.cardonationwizard.com/state/50/car-donation-alaska.html


Tips for Donating a Car to Charity


A charity that uses a donated vehicle for transportation or hauling goods obviously benefits directly from such a donation. However, in many cases donated cars will be sold en masse, either by the charity itself or by a dealer to raise funds for the charity. In the case of a dealer, the charity generally receives a flat fee per car, sometimes as little as $45 per car.
Listed below are tips for donors who would like to donate a car to charity. Beware that the donor's tax deductions for car donations may be limited to the price at which the charity sold the car.
  • To receive the maximum tax deduction on your car donation, and to receive the satisfaction that the full value of the car benefits a charitable purpose, give it to a charity that will use the vehicle in its operations or will give it to a person in need. Otherwise, your tax deduction will not be based on the fair market value, but will be limited to the amount of money the charity receives from the sale of your car. If the charity you are donating to does sell the vehicle, ask what percentage of the proceeds they receive. See Car Donations: Taking Taxpayers for a Ridefor more.
     
  • Ask if the charity accepts car donations directly, without involving a third party. If possible, drive the vehicle to the charity instead of using a towing or pickup service. This will allow the charity to keep the full amount of any proceeds from selling the car.
     
  • Make sure the charity is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. Ask for a copy for your records of the organization’s IRS letter of determination which verifies its tax exempt status.
     
  • Be sure that you get a receipt from the charity for your car donation.
     
  • Be aware that non-cash donations are one of the most common triggers to an audit by the IRS, so you’ll want to document the value of the car and keep records of it.
     
  • If the car is worth more than $500, the donor must complete Section A of IRS Form 8283 and attach it to their tax return. Donors are required to file with his/her tax return a written acknowledgement from the charity. If the charity sells the car, the charity must provide the donor with a certification that the car was sold at "arms length" between unrelated parties and the sale price of the car within 30 days. In this case, the donor's tax deductions will be limited to the total amount the charity sold the car for. If the charity does not sell the car, it must provide the donor with a receipt within 30 days of the contribution. The charity may also be required to provide certification to the donor stating how it plans to use or improve the car and stating that it promises not to sell or transfer the car. Penalties are imposed on charities that provide fraudulent acknowledgements to donors.
     
  • If the car is worth $5,000 or more, an independent appraisal is necessary. The donor must also fill out Section Bof IRS Form 8283. For cars worth less than $5,000, use the Kelley Blue Book, the Hearst Black Book, or a guide from the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) to determine the market value. Make sure you use the correct figure for the date, mileage, and condition of your car. Picking the highest figure for your car model and year without taking into account other factors may not pass muster with the IRS.
     
  • Take pictures of the car and save receipts for new tires or other upgrades to verify its value.
     
  • Remember, it is the donor, not the charity, who is obligated to value the car and who will pay the penalties if an IRS challenge finds your figure inaccurate.
     
For comprehensive information of donating a vehicle, see the IRS' guide to car donations here.