Charitable gifts without tax motivation

Earlier on this blog, I reported on the Salwen family of Atlanta, Georgia who decided to make a significant charitable gift for non-tax reasons.

Keith Taylor has created a website, ModestNeeds.org, in which anyone may make modest contributions to help individuals who need assistance and for whom relatively small amounts make a huge difference in their lives.  Although donations do qualify for favorable tax treatment, that is not likely to be the motivation behind the donations.  Donors can contribute money and then elect how their funds are allocated after reading requests from individuals seeking assistance.

For more information about this innovative method of charitable giving, you may go directly to ModestNeeds as well as reading a write up by Matthew Craft,  Saving Lives, One Rent Check at a Time, WalletPop.com, August 8, 2008.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for bringing this charitable giving method to my attention.