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ARTICLES BY JANET BANDERA

Charitable Conservation Easements A conservation easement is a legal agreement that a landowner makes to limit the type and amount of development on his property. For those that wish to preserve or protect our natural resources there may be substantial estate and gift tax benefits.

Terminating Outdated Charitable Vehicles What do you do with the charitable vehicles that seemed like a good idea at the time, but have outlived their usefulness either financially or emotionally? This column discusses options for those that thought they were stuck with something mom or dad put in place or that they implemented years ago at a different time in their own lives.

Fair Market Value & Charitable Contributions IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property, gives the basic how to on valuing charitable donations but, even the IRS admits in this Publication that it is often not a simple matter to determine the value of donated property. This article describes some of the most common methods of valuation for various types of property.

Vehicle Donation Programs: Are they Legitimate? Radio and television are full of advertisements soliciting charitable donations of automobiles. Automobile contributions can be a legitimate source of revenue for charities, but the donor must choose carefully among the programs and carefully determine and accurately report the value of the donation on their tax return.

Get Exempt-Stay Exempt: Part 1 This column addresses employment issues for exempt organizations.

Get Exempt-Stay Exempt: Part 2
In return for being tax-exempt and receiving tax-deductible contributions, Congress requires 501(c)(3) organizations to disclose information about the organization to donors and to the public at large. This column covers what must be disclosed, to whom and when, and the penalties for failure to comply.

A Not-for-Profit Directors Checklist Thinking about joining a not-for-profit board? What does a good board member do? Raise money? Stuff envelopes? A good board member helps the organization stay focused on its mission. Thus, the most important job of all board members is to be informed and to govern. This article addresses basic governance issues and what to look for on a well run board.

Private Foundation vs Donor Advised Fund Through either a private foundation or a donor advised fund, a donor can leave a legacy that continues for generations and involves his or her children and grandchildren in giving. This article contrasts donor advised funds and foundations.

What's Hot and Not in Charitable Giving? Charitable giving is a challenge given market conditions, the lack of appreciated stock and low annuity rates. But even in this environment, there are bright spots. We must simply look for giving plans that are positively affected by low rates. With that in mind, the author set out to determine what's hot and what's not in giving today.

Philanthropy and the Professional Advisor Another look at how professional advisors can help clients fulfill their philanthropic needs.

The information contained on this website is general in nature and based on authorities that are subject to change. Applicability to specific situations is to be determined through consultation with your tax advisor.

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