Make a holiday donation plan

Something about the holidays makes us want to add another gift to our shopping carts, whether it’s a can of soup for the hungry or a toy for a child in need. When it comes to giving back during the holiday season, there is no wrong way to go about it. But there are some things you can do to make sure your in-kind donation goes even further.

Know What’s Needed

Start by contacting your local charities, especially in the case of food collections, to find out what items they need most.

Paul Morello, public relations manager for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, says needs vary from one food drive to the next, but in general nonperishable items are best.

“Contact your local food bank to see what they are looking for,” Morello says. “Oftentimes, it will vary depending on what can they purchase or what they are getting at the time.”

If you are giving to a toy drive like Toys for Tots, consider giving a gift for an older child. U.S. Marine Corps retired Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, says the organization is always short on gifts for preteens and teenagers.

Also, if you’re giving a gift that requires batteries or a helmet, consider giving those along with your gift, he adds.

Donation Budget

Leading up to the season, it’s important to consider your overall holiday charitable giving budget. How much to give really depends on what you can afford and how much you’re comfortable with, says Sandra Miniutti, CFO of CharityNavigator.org, a nonprofit website that helps “guide intelligent giving.” There really are no rules, she says.

“Most research shows that Americans, on average, give about 3% of their income to charity,” she says. “We recommend donors sit down at the beginning of the year and make a plan and budget. Include how much you will be giving to your charity in your household budget for the year.”

Miniutti recommends giving a monthly donation to your favorite charity to help incorporate it into your budget year-round.

Many organizations offer a suggested donation amount, and often for good reason. Toys for Tots recommends budgeting less than $30 per gift.

“It’s important for us to not have one parent walk out with a $125 bike and another parent walk out with a $25 doll,” Grein says. “That doesn’t look quite even, so we try to encourage folks to donate in the $15 to $30 range.”

If you have an item you’d like to donate to charity but can’t find a place to take it, consider selling it yourself and giving the proceeds to the charity.

Make sure to save your receipts and make your donation by Dec. 31 to claim a deduction on your taxes.

Keep it Up

It’s also important to continue giving after Dec. 31, Morello says, adding that poverty is a year-round problem. “People are kind of geared toward thinking about it during the holidays, which is incredible and wonderful, but after the new year and Christmas, hunger remains,” he says