| When you think of The American Red Cross what | | | | With the current financial climate causing many to |
| comes to mind? People dressed as Santa collecting | | | | hold onto their cash, these alternative donations are |
| money outside Wal-Mart? These holiday Santas are a | | | | increasingly important in bringing in funds and |
| regular part of The American Red Cross Christmas | | | | supporting major charities. Alternative donations |
| fundraising process and raise a lot of money during | | | | involve giving an item to charity, rather than money. |
| the holidays. However do you think that holiday | | | | For example, you can donate your car to charity. If |
| collections like this are enough to keep a large charity | | | | this program were to be successful then charities |
| like The American Red Cross or Goodwill Industries | | | | would have many vehicle donations in the coming |
| working throughout the year? Of course not. This is | | | | months, which will allow them to continue their |
| just a drop in the ocean compared to what they | | | | essential work. If you donate your car you will |
| need to keep doing their good work throughout the | | | | definitely ensure that essential charity work will still go |
| year. | | | | on. Of course, donating a car is not the only way to |
| Major charities require large amounts of money | | | | support a charity. Charities now accept all kinds of |
| throughout the year and rely entirely on public | | | | donations. Incredibly, some people have even chosen |
| contibutions. So what do they do? How do they raise | | | | to donate boats to charities too. |
| such large sums of money? They largely depend on | | | | Auto donations are becoming increasingly popular |
| major contributions by individuals and businesses, | | | | both with charities and the public. The advantage of |
| either in cash or in some other way. But in this time | | | | donating a car is that you can claim a tax break on |
| of economic downturn, people are not as willing to | | | | the value of the car. The value of the car is |
| hand out large amounts of money. Because of this, | | | | determined by the money raised by its sale. This is a |
| charities are becoming increasingly dependent on | | | | great way to support your favourite charity and |
| what they have termed alternative donations. | | | | recieve a financial benefit as a reward. |