10 Best Car Donation Charities for Veterans
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10 Best Car Donation Charities for Veterans (FREE)

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Best Charities to Donate Vehicles to Veterans 2022

What is a Veteran Car Donation?

Veterans Car Donation is a charitable organization that helps veterans and their families in the process of giving their cars to charity. This program provides a way for people to give back for their service and help other veterans in need.

Veterans Car Donation provides its donors with tax benefits, which will help them save money on taxes. Donors can also get discounts at participating car dealerships, as well as other benefits such as free car washes from participating car wash chains.

Giving to charity isn’t just a generous act; it can also be a good tax advantage.

While you can offer presents and money to organizations, donating your car is a less well-known option. Not only may giving your automobile help you save money on taxes, but it’s also a terrific opportunity to help others because charity ranging from at-risk youngsters to animals in need also accept vehicle donations.

However, there are a few things you should do before handing over the keys, like as getting your documentation in order and double-checking that the charity you’ve picked is legal.

We’ll break down the greatest car donation charities by cause in this piece, as well as the qualities you should seek for in a genuine charity.

Best Car Donation Charities for Veterans

When you donate an automobile to a veteran, you become one of America’s heroes. Today, we’re assisting you in making a positive influence on veterans by highlighting the greatest organizations in the United States who now take this form of donation.

READ: How to Get a Donated Car from Church or Goodwill (FREE)

Not just for the soldiers and military personnel who participate in them, but also for their loved ones who suffer the heartbreak of not seeing their families together again. Wars have unforgivable repercussions, and individuals who fight for a cause do not always return in the same physical and psychological state as when they first entered the conflict. However, on the bright side, charitable groups help to recognize the veterans who have served our country.

Things to Know Before Donating Your Car to Charity

There are a few boxes you should check before handing over the keys to your automobile to ensure the charity is authentic and follows federal requirements.

To begin, you must adhere to strict IRS standards in order to deduct your vehicle. For example, the entire donation cannot exceed 50% of your adjusted gross income, and the gross revenues of the automobile sale can be deducted if you leave the sale to the charity.

Because the tax requirements are comprehensive, you should review them on the IRS website.

You must also choose your charity carefully and ensure that it is reputable. Not only should your selected charity be tax-exempt and registered as a 501(c)(3) organization, but you should also double-check its tax-exempt status on the IRS website.

It’s also a good idea to donate your car to a charity with an excellent track record of demonstrating how donations benefit their cause. You may look into a charity’s tax status, affiliation, and declared mission on a website like Charity Watch.

Here are the 10 Best Car Donation Charities for Veterans 2022;

  • Blinded Veterans Association
  • Vietnam Veterans of America
  • New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV)
  • Soldiers’ Angels
  • AMVETS National Service Foundation
  • Purple Heart Foundation
  • Vets Vehicles
  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation

 

1. Blinded Veterans Association

The Blinded Veterans Association, or BVA, was founded in 1945, near the end of WWII, with a group of 100 young men. At the Avon Old Farms Army Convalescent Hospital outside Avon, Connecticut, some of the huge group had recently lost their vision, while others were recovering from injuries.

The group met on March 28, 1945, to voice their support for their fellow veterans. The Congress invited the Blinded Veterans Association to speak and advocate on behalf of veterans who had lost their vision in 1958. Since that time, members of BVA have been working nonstop to achieve the organization’s mission and ideals.

The Blinded Veterans Association offers the following programs to former service personnel:

  • Educating veterans and the general public through personal contact, conventional media, and technology to raise awareness about blinded veterans and the various services that the organization provides in order to assist warriors and their families. BVA engages in forums and international issues on an annual basis, demonstrating that blinded veterans may live normal and productive civilian lives. Donors and supporters alike are given information on how to cope with blind people and what veterans face.

  • Annual Kathern F. Gruber Scholarships and Thomas H. Miller Scholarships are awarded to wives, children, and even grandchildren of blinded soldiers to assist them with their educational costs. The students are chosen by a committee based on their grades, and although though these scholarships are only valid for one year, the youngsters can reapply.

  • Operation Peer Support is a program that assists men and women who have returned to the United States blinded or with vision impairment as a result of their service in programs such as the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom. People gather in small groups to learn and debate various issues such as treatments, medical help, and rehabilitation.

As other charities featured in our article, we wanted to highlight this organization as well. For more information, the phone number 800-669-7079 is available.

2. Vietnam Veterans of America

Vietnam Veterans of America is a non-profit organization that was created in 1978 to assist Vietnam veterans and their families. The organization’s key objectives are:

  • To raise awareness of and provide support for all of the problems that Vietnam Veterans face.

  • To give this generation of veterans a new identity

  • to influence people’s perceptions of Vietnam veterans

The Vietnam Veterans of America has established many committees to assist Vietnam veterans in living a better life, including:

  • A homeless veterans committee is working to improve the living conditions of some of the country’s homeless veterans. Housing stabilization is a difficult endeavor, but the charity makes every effort to place veterans in programs where they may recover from disease and live in peace. Unfortunately, many veterans are unable to receive assistance because their voices are not heard, and once transferred to medical centers and housing, they are unable to be monitored for an extended period of time. Despite this, Vietnam Veterans of America continues to seek to provide homeless veterans with the housing they deserve.

  • The Economic Opportunities Committee oversees the financial opportunities that can and should be provided to veterans, including opportunities to start small enterprises and positions in the public and private sector.

It is well recognized that transitioning to civilian life is tough for veterans, particularly those who have been injured. As a result, donating to this organization is one approach to assist them in securing their future. Supporters and contributors interested in getting involved should go to the Vietnam Veterans of America website, where they may also donate to their veterans automobile donation program. Those who are interested can also phone the organization at 301-585-4000. Best Car Donation Charities for Veterans

3. New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV)

The New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) is a non-profit organization that helps homeless Veterans. The goal of this non-profit organization is to help veterans who are homeless. To help these persons reintegrate into society, get jobs, and live independently, NECHV provides a variety of programs.

This organization was founded in 1989 and is located at 17 Court Street in Boston. It has 59 inexpensive apartments, a female transitional dormitory with 17 beds, and over 300 emergency and transitional beds. The Veterans-only facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NECHV funds a variety of programs, but they all revolve around education, clinical assistance, employment, and housing.

NECHV is home to around 350 Veterans each night, according to the organization’s data, and it serves over 100,000 resident meals each year.

Making a donation allows you to be a part of this important endeavor. Contributions are critical for the stated goals to be met, just as they are for any other organization. NECHV is one of the organizations that accepts car donations. If you want to make this type of contribution quickly, go to their website to donate an automobile to veterans. You can reach them by calling 1-877-CARS-4-US (227-7487) Ext. 1438.

4. Soldiers’ Angels

Patti Patton-Bader started Soldiers’ Angels in 2003. When she discovered that her oldest son, Staff Sergeant Brando Varn, was one of the few soldiers who received a care package while stationed in Iraq, she decided to help. After she launched her effort, she received several requests for assistance from soldiers, battle hospitals, and service members’ families. Even though many individuals joined the cause, more needed to be done in order for troops to be supported. Patti used technology to construct a network that connects and informs all of the volunteers. Soldiers’ Angels grew into a multinational community of “Angel” volunteers eager to assist service men on duty in a matter of months. Soldiers’ Angels was certified as a nonprofit organization in 2003, and it is still growing.

Soldiers’ Angels has a number of programs to assist military personnel and veterans. Veterans who require assistance must complete an application form for the service they require.

Soldiers’ Angels offers a variety of helpful programs, including:

  • Benefiting Troops and veterans in VA hospitals

Soldiers’ Angels is one of the few organizations that collaborates with VA hospitals and medical facilities to find new methods to assist veterans. Soldiers’ Angels, unlike other charitable groups, helps veterans of all generations. The following are some of the services provided by this program:

  • Comfort supplies such as blankets, pillows, and hygiene kits are supplied during patient visits.

  • Veterans are invited to bi-weekly or monthly luncheons or dinners, which provide them with delectable food and friendly volunteer interaction.

  • VA medical personnel provide box lunches to homeless or low-income veterans who cannot afford to eat all of their meals.

    The mission of Soldiers’ Angels is “May No Soldier Go Unloved,” and the organization is always seeking for new ways to help service men and veterans. As a result, donations are required for the group to continue operating.

    Donors have the option of using PayPal or their credit card to make a gift. Volunteers are welcome, as are cars and other goods and services. Visit www.soldiersangels.org for additional information on how you can contribute, including how to donate your car to veterans through this group and more, or call 210-629-0020.

5. AMVETS National Service Foundation

The AMVETS National Service Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports veterans via various service projects. This foundation’s principal purpose is to assist returning veterans in reintegrating into civilian life.

The group was founded in 1948 to aid returning World War II veterans. The AMVETS National Service Foundation now supports a wide range of initiatives, including the National Service Officer, Thrift Stores, Scholarships, and Americanism, to name a few.

You can donate a car to veterans through this group, just like the rest of the organizations mentioned in this post. To donate through this link, contact the AMVETS National Service Foundation.

6. Purple Heart Foundation

The Purple Heart Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to assisting veterans in their transition back to civilian life. The Military Order of the Purple Heart, a congressionally established veterans’ organization, fulfills its purpose by raising funds and resources to support its activities and services.

We deemed this organization to be one of the most reliable automobile donation organizations because it was created in 1957 with the goal of offering advise, support, and advocacy to those warriors who sacrifice to protect the country. Veterans face a number of emotional, physiological, and financial issues when they come home. As a result, the Purple Heart Foundation works to ease their transition from the battlefield to civilian life.

This organization’s mission is to promote various programs that can help all veterans succeed, with the goal of ensuring that they receive the benefits and services they deserve. Education opportunities, disability compensation, scholarships, employment training, pensions, hospitalization and rehabilitation benefits are just a few of the programs available.

Every foundation, especially when it comes to fundraising, relies heavily on donations. Any type of donation, including car donations, is welcome at the Purple Heart Foundation. The organization has its own vehicle donation program for veterans, and the process is quick, simple, free, and tax-deductible. Many people contribute to the health of their community, however, if you are interested in contributing financially without doing much work, then go to purpleheartcars.org/donate and follow these three steps.

7. Vets Vehicles

Vets Vehicles collects donations for veterans in need. They are currently the top charity for used car collections in America, thanks to their tireless efforts in distributing donated cars.

The process is simple. All you need to do is: 

  • Call 888-VETS-VEHicles (888-838-7834) or fill out the donation form for your vehicle information.

  • Submit your details online to get a quote

  • Organize your paperwork to get your maximum tax benefit

The charity accepts donations of many different types of items, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, & more.

8. Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Disabled American Veterans is a group that supports wounded combat veterans.

They accept vehicle donations from all 50 states, and their pickup policies have been adjusted to ensure that they are safe during COVID-19. Every car pickup follows stringent standards, ensuring that drivers engage in a safe and secure manner when towing the vehicle, and you can even request no-contact pickup!

DAV accepts farm machinery and heavy equipment, as well as cars, trucks, and boats, by calling 833-CAR-4DAV (833-227-4328) or filling out their secure online vehicle donation form.

Other reputable charities accepting car donations to support veterans:

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation

  • AMVETS Charities

  • Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

  • Fisher House Foundation

  • Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Reputable Charities Accepting Car Donations to Medical Research

You can donate your vehicle to charity. Organizations such as fighting diseases like cancer and researching cures for Alzheimers, food allergens, and Down Syndrome are possible.

1. American Cancer Society

Donating a car to the American Cancer Society helps the organization fund cancer research, advocacy, education, and free patient services.

According to the charity, car donations can help them provide free trips to treatment, support calls, and free housing for cancer sufferers. The group, like the other charities on the list, welcomes vehicles in any condition.

Online or by phoning 1-888-227-5500, you can give trucks, motorbikes, boats, snowmobiles, trailers, and recreational vehicles to the society.

2. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has partnered with V-Dac to make it simple to donate your car online.

Fill out the online form or call 877-999-8322 to arrange for a free pickup anywhere in the United States if you have an unwanted car, truck, boat, or RV. The funds earned from your vehicle contribution will go toward providing support, resources, and education to persons afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as financing research to find a cure.

Other renowned medical research organisations that accept car donations include:

  • Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

  • ALS Association

  • Arthritis Foundation

  • American Liver Foundation

  • March of Dimes

  • PKD Foundation

  • Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation

  • CaringBridge

  • Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

  • Down Syndrome Congress, National

  • Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

 

Steps to Select a Legitimate Car Donation Charity

Step #1: Check if the charity is legitimate

The first step in entrusting your keys to a charity is to ensure that they are reputable.

Checking the charity’s registration status is the most critical step. You should double-check if the IRS has designated the group as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Now, it’s great if the charity mentions their charitable status on their website or on social media, but that’s not enough.

To double-check, go to the IRS website and type in the charity’s name. Here are the results of a Vets Vehicles search:

You should also look up the charity on sites like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch to check if it has a strong track record of delivering on its promises.

Step #2: Make sure a minimum of 80% proceeds go to charity

It’s not uncommon to be concerned about where charitable gifts are spent. How can you be certain that the charity will make the most of your donation and that it will benefit those in need?

Because many car donations now go through third-party websites or organizations, you must ensure that at least 80% of the vehicle’s entire worth goes to the charity of your choice—not the third party.

Step #3: Crosscheck all paperwork provided

Apart from helping a worthy cause, the most crucial aspect of your car donation is completing the paperwork correctly.

After all, if the charity to whom you donate your car does not supply you with the necessary documents, you will be unable to claim the donation as a tax deduction at the end of the year.

When it comes to car donation papers, the following are the most crucial factors to remember:

  • If your vehicle contribution is worth more than $250, the IRS requires you to have written confirmation from your chosen charity. Your name, vehicle identification number, and donation date must all be included on the paperwork.

  • If your car is worth more than $500 but less than $5000, you must complete Section A of IRS Form 8283 and attach it to your tax return.

  • You must receive an independent evaluation and complete Section B of Form 8283 if your car is valued more than $5,000.

It may seem like a lot, but if you need a rough market value for your automobile, the Hearst Black Book, Kelley Blue Book, or the National Auto Dealers Association can help.

When the charity picks up the automobile or you send it off, CNBC’s Andrew Osterland recommends that you sign over the title of the car to the organization and have a representative sign it as well.

“If someone is picking the car up, have them sign the title and take a photocopy of it,” he says.  

“People have been on the hook for liabilities on donated cars that were not properly signed over to a new owner.”

Step #4: Choose charities that don’t charge towing fees

The majority of the charities on our list will take up your automobile for free, which is exactly what you should look for when considering donating your vehicle.

Not only will it be more convenient than driving the car to the charity of your choice, but you’ll also save money because some charities charge removal or towing costs.

Step #5: Choose charities that accept direct car donations

Choosing a charity with whom you can directly communicate is the simplest method to ensure that you get the most out of your car contribution.

Although third-party contribution platforms are handy and claim that 80% of your money will go directly to the charity, most organizations now offer online donations as well as specialized customer service teams who can help you set up direct donations.

Donating your car directly to the organization is also the greatest approach to ensure that the organization receives the best potential price for it. While it’s inconvenient, some third-party providers sell cars at a lesser price since they aren’t as motivated as the charity to receive the greatest price for the vehicle. According to reports, certain attorney general offices have filed lawsuits against car donation program operators, accusing them of misrepresenting themselves as charity when they were, in fact, for-profit organizations.

The best advise we can give is to conduct your research and, if feasible, donate directly to your favorite organization.

Wrapping Up

Donating your car is a win-win situation for both you and numerous charitable organizations.

It’s not only convenient (you can even have it taken up from your driveway! ), but it’s also a terrific way to save money on your taxes. While donating your automobile is safe, you should do your research to ensure that the charity you’re considering is legal, has a good reputation, and will give you with the proper documents when it comes time to file with the IRS.

All you have to do now is hand over your keys if you’ve done your research and picked a worthwhile charity.

Reasons Why You Should Give Your Vehicle to a Veteran Charity or Organization

There are many reasons why you should give your vehicle to a veteran charity or organization.

The first reason is that you are helping a veteran in need. That person will be able to get back on their feet and have a new start.

Another reason is that you are saving the Earth’s resources by reducing the number of cars on the road.

A third reason is that veterans charities and organizations have been around for years and have built up trust with donors, which means they will take care of your car for you.

How Can You Find More Cars For Charity?

One of the most common ways to find a car for charity is to go on a car donation drive. This can be done in your own community or at a local school, church, or hospital. You can also post on social media asking for donations. Another way is to use online listings like Cars For Charity.

The best time to donate cars is during the winter months when people are not using them as much and there are more cars available for donation.

Why You Should Donate an Automobile to a Veteran Charity

Many people are not aware of the many benefits that come with donating an automobile to a veteran charity. This is why it is important to educate more people about this option.

This is because there are many benefits that come with donating an automobile to a veteran charity, such as tax deductions, free parking, and eligibility for a vehicle donation program.

What is the Difference between Auto Donations and Vehicle Donations?

Auto donations are donations made by a car owner while vehicle donations are made by the owner of a vehicle.

Auto Donations: Auto donation is the process of donating your car to charity. This is done through an auction site like eBay or Craigslist. The car will be sold to the highest bidder and all proceeds go to charity.

Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donation is when you donate your own personal vehicle, rather than selling it. This helps offset the cost of transportation for people in need.

How to Make a Vehicle Donation to a Veteran Charity in the US

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government agency that provides health care and other benefits to veterans. If you are in the US, you can donate your vehicle to the VA, who will then sell it and use the money to help veterans with their needs.

To make a vehicle donation, visit

https://www.vehicledonation.va.gov/ for more information.