3 unusual items that can be donated to charity

Some charities accept tickets to sporting events, theater performances, concerts and other forms of entertainment. [Stock image]

Financial donations are often characterized as the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations and for good reason. Without the generosity of donors, many charities and nonprofit organizations would fold, creating a ripple effect that leads to job losses and an array of adverse effects on communities and individuals in need.

According to Define Financial, more than 80 percent of all donations to charities and nonprofit organizations in the United States come from individuals. In addition, Donorbox reports that 90 percent of the largest nonprofits utilize funding models built around a single source of revenue, such as individual donations.

With so much emphasis on raising funds, well-meaning prospective donors may be forgiven if they assume charities and nonprofits cannot benefit from non-financial donations. But nothing can be further from the truth, as many organizations accept and even rely on donations of items and services to meet their missions. With that in mind, individuals who want to give back but might not be able to afford financial contributions can consider these three items that can be donated to charity.

1. Unused personal time: This might not fit the definition most people have of an “item,” but unused sick, personal and/or vacation time likely does not align with many people’s notion of a traditional financial donation, either. If an employer is willing to participate, professionals who do not intend to use all of their sick leave, vacation time or personal days can arrange for those days to be converted to a financial donation to a favorite charity. The Internal Revenue Service even has a framework for leave-based donations that could offer tax benefits to individuals who make such contributions.

2. Artwork: Whether individuals have their own extensive collection or inherited a piece or pieces from a deceased friend or relative, artwork can be a tax-savvy donation. For example, Schwab CharitableTM notes that donations of artwork that donors have owned for more than one year may enable them to eliminate capital gains tax, claim a deduction for those itemizing their deductions and even reduce estate tax liabilities. Even if tax implications are not the primary reason to donate artwork, individuals should know that this unusual contribution can benefit both them and the charitable organization they choose to work with.

3. Tickets: Various charities, particularly those that cater to young people, accept tickets to sporting events, theater performances, concerts and other forms of entertainment. Individuals who are season ticket holders for a local sports team or those with subscriptions to community theater groups can contact local charities and arrange for tickets they won’t use to be included in silent auctions or offered as prizes at fundraising events.

Financial contributions may be the lifeblood of many nonprofits, but there’s no shortage of ways to give back to charitable organizations.