Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2018-2019 | Page 13

ON THE WEB ONLY
Get Serious
Read the full
stories at
comstocksmag.com
About
Giving
Caring about a cause is easy. Making
an impact is a bit more complex. From
identifying a campaign that aligns with your
values to discerning between subtly different
nonprofit models, deciding where to donate
hard-earned dollars can be a surprisingly
daunting task. Your dollar will go further
if there is more thought behind it. This
checklist provides a framework to make the
process a little bit easier.
Central Valley’s First Affordable Hous-
ing Community for LGBTQ Seniors
o o CONFIRM THAT THE CHARITY IS
LEGITIMATE (helpful websites include
Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and
GuideStar)
by Jessica Laskey
o o ASSESS THE CHARITY’S FINANCIAL
HEALTH USING THE ABOVE SITES
The Sacramento Rainbow Village nonprofit is set to break ground this summer for the Lavender Court-
yard, the Central Valley’s first LGBTQ-friendly affordable housing for seniors. The $18.8-million, 53-unit
housing community will be at 16th and F streets in Sacramento.
o o RESEARCH THE CHARITY’S
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
o o LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF
SCAMS at www.consumer.ftc.gov/
articles/0074-giving-charity
o o VISIT THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE WEBSITE FOR WHICH
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
o o MAKE AN ANNUAL DONATION
PLAN with organization names and how
much money you plan to donate
o o DETERMINE HOW YOU WILL
DONATE (NEVER SEND CASH OR
WIRE MONEY)
o o KEEP GOOD RECORDS on how much
you donated and which charities proved
reputable for future reference
o o WRITE OFF THE DONATION ON
YOUR TAXES (know the difference
between “tax exempt” and “tax
deductible”)
Stockton, Lagging in Literacy, Focuses
on Neglected Library System
o o DECIDE WHETHER TO SPEND ALL
YOUR RESOURCES WHILE LIVING OR
GIVE BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME
by Jordan Venema
A 2010 report of the most literate cities in the U.S. placed Stockton at the absolute bottom. The city had
climbed three spots on the list by 2016 — the same year voters passed Measure M, the Library and Recre-
ation Special Tax, approving $200 million for these services. Now $15 million is going toward building the
Northeast Stockton Library and Recreation Center in an underserved area of town.
SOURCE: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CONSUMER INFORMATION

comstocksmag.com | 2018-19 CAPITAL REGION CARES
13