All Giving back Articles

Feel that chill in the air? Old Man Winter is coming. Whether you live in Washington D.C. or Washington state, chilly weather is nature's way of telling you it's time to check up on a few things: your home, your car, your wallet and even yourself. So as you prepare for winter, here are a few tips to help ensure you and your loved ones stay safe, dry, snug and warm. Your home 1. Drain Read more...

Charitable giving is an important financial practice for many Americans, but with money tight in a down economy, you may find it more difficult to give to organizations that hold a special place in your heart than in the past. If so, you're not alone. According to a study by Glenview, Ill.-based philanthropic research organization Giving USA Foundation, the amount raised through Read more...

Many newlyweds opt for candles, champagne toasts and rose-petal-covered beds, but Meghan Courtney and Rich Shaner had a different idea of romance. Their honeymoon was a little dirty. And sweaty. And exhausting. And not at all what you're thinking. Courtney and Shaner, who were married Aug. 1 in Pennsylvania, honeymooned in Boulder, Colo., to help build a house with the Flatirons Habitat Read more...

It's no secret that charitable donations can help reduce your tax bill. But if you give something other than the typical cash, check or credit card donation, you'll have some added tax considerations. In recent years, the IRS has toughened many of its deduction rules, especially when it comes to noncash gifts. You'll encounter these more strict statutes if you donate household goods, Read more...

Each December, the "season of giving" expands beyond family and friends. Many gifts also are made to charitable organizations. These donations pay off not only for the nonprofits, but also for the giver, who might be able to use them to arrive at a smaller IRS bill. Some older taxpayers will find giving easier this year. Some folks who donate household goods, however, are going to Read more...

An article in last week’s New York Times reinforced a long-standing thought I have had about charity. The article, by Vikas Bajaj, pointed out that some cities—Boston, Minneapolis and San Diego among them—are “buying foreclosed properties to refurbish and resell them to developers and homeowners in an effort to prevent troubled neighborhoods from sliding into urban decay.” Read more...

I believe that nearly all work is good work, but many people want to do something that more specifically improves the world: Help hurricane victims, the sick, the environment, etc. Yet we don't want to take a vow of poverty. Here are some thoughts on how to do well by doing good. First, realize you can do well without a high income. Contentment comes primarily from doing honorable Read more...

If your mailbox seems especially full these days with requests for donations to the local homeless shelter, environmental causes and food banks, you're not dreaming. Many charities flood the mail with their year-end holiday pitches for your charity dollars. If you're like most Americans, you'll probably pull out your checkbook and send along some money. Every year, nearly 90 percent of Read more...

It's not too late to change the world. You can put your dollars to work to build healthy communities, promote economic equity and clean the environment by selectively choosing where you invest your money. Socially Responsible Investing considers your financial needs and an investment's impact on society. You'll earn competitive returns, but your money will also be working to improve the Read more...

I often marvel at the way computers have further complicated our lives and added to society's excessive commercialism. But recently I came across a computer-driven concept that accomplishes just the opposite effect. It's called Virtual Volunteering, and it's an example of what we can achieve when we use modern technology for the betterment of our community. I first heard of the concept from Read more...

Generosity at year's end is commendable, but it's also when unscrupulous con games surface to take advantage of those charitable urges. Make sure you're dealing with an up-front organization by checking with the Better Business Bureau Philanthropic Advisory Service. A bureau spokesman says reports are developed based on inquiries concerning particular charities or groups. The bureau encourages Read more...