Cash

Cash, usually in the form of a check or credit card donation, is the most common form for a charitable gift. Cash gifts enable you, the donor, to claim income tax deductions of up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income in the year the gift is made with a five-year carry-forward period. The actual savings from gifts of cash will depend on the individual donor’s tax bracket. The higher the tax bracket, the less the cost of the gift. Employers may also have a matching program for charitable gifts you make.