Hope for the Holidays Nestled away in the remote Andes Mountains, a group of women gather with needles, thread and bolts of colorful fabric. They’re chatting away as they meticulously craft dolls, blankets, quilts and other unique items to sell at the market. From their smiles, you may not realize that many of these women have suffered from horrific abuse and have come here to recover and learn to be independent in their communities. Now they’ve found safety and are learning how to make a living, but there’s something a few of them urgently need to create a new life for themselves. Eyeglasses. It’s a simple thing that you and I probably take for granted, but for these women in Peru, it’s the key to a new beginning. Fortunately, people like you donated to Americares, and we provided much-needed eyeglasses and over-the-counter items to support this life-changing program for vulnerable women and children. People just like you gave them hope for the holidays and so much more. You Can Send Hope (and Help) for the Holidays Even a small gift can make a world of difference and bring hope to places where there once was none. A year-end gift to Americares can bring a bright future into focus for vulnerable women and families around the world. With your generous year-end support, Americares can provide lifesaving medicines, aid and supplies – even simple items like eyeglasses, soap and toothbrushes – to make a huge difference in someone’s life. SUPPORT US Year-End Gifts Are Critical to Our Lifesaving Programs Although charities like Americares need funding all year long, a large percentage of donations are made between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. And while favorable tax benefits may be the biggest reason for year-end giving, it’s typically a season that people send hope for the holidays by extending goodwill to others through the causes they care about. Tips to Send Hope for the Holidays Maximize Your Year-End Giving Impact* Year-End Tax Benefits When you give to a 501(c)(3) charity like Americares, you can take an income tax charitable deduction. This allows you to reduce your taxable income and your tax bill while helping the world’s most vulnerable at the same time. Timing Is Important To make sure you’re eligible for year-end tax benefits, you need to donate sooner rather than later. If you plan to mail a check, send it early enough so that it is postmarked on or before December 31. If you’re donating via credit card, the transaction is official once the charge is made, not when you pay the bill. Make Unrestricted Gifts Unrestricted year-end gifts give Americares the flexibility to direct funding to the most critical programs and provide support to the families and causes you care about. SUPPORT US NOW Consider a Donor-Advised Fund A donor-advised fund (DAF) allows you to make a contribution to Americares and receive an immediate tax deduction. You can contribute as often as you like – especially during times when it makes the most sense for you. It’s a great way to address the tax implications of unexpected high earnings or year-end bonuses. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA Americares donors who are 70.5 or older are eligible to make tax-free donations from their IRAs, known as Qualified Charitable Distributors (QCD), regardless of whether they itemize deductions on their tax returns. To make it easy for you to calculate a QCD, Americares has partnered with FreeWill to provide a free tool to estimate how much you are required by law to withdraw from your IRA this year. GET MORE INFORMATION Give Monthly Give hope for the holidays – and then some! By signing up to make a monthly gift, you’ll join our Heroes for Health – a compassionate community dedicated to providing quality health care to the world’s most vulnerable children and families. When you give a little over time, your impact really adds up! So does the amount you can write off your tax return. MAKE A MONTHLY GIFT *Be sure to follow the instructions from your financial or legal advisor that manages your charitable giving. And then feel good knowing that you’ve helped make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable families while saving money on your tax bill! SUPPORT US How Do You Claim a Charitable Contribution Deduction? As always, consult your financial advisor for tax guidance, but here are a few tips to get you on your way. 1. Make sure the nonprofit is a 501(c)(3) public charity – like Americares. 2. Keep a record of the construction. 3. Organize your paperwork to itemize your deductions. How Do You Claim a Charitable Contribution Deduction? Charity Evaluators Choose a great nonprofit like Americares by researching Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. For four years in a row, Americares has earned a 4-star rating – the highest possible – from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. And Americares in an accredited charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and meets all twenty standards for governance, effectiveness, finances and fundrasing. You can trust that your generous year-end gift to Americares will be put to the best use and send real hope this holiday season! Americares Programs and Impact Americares creates unparalleled value for our supporters. More than 98% of our resources support health programs, and less than 2% is used for administration and overhead. Over the last 40 years, Americares has delivered more than $17 billion in quality medical aid and innovative health programs to 164 countries, including the U.S. Our goal is to make sure that people affected by disaster and poverty can access quality heath care and reach their full potential. Our teams bring hope and help all year long! Emergency Response Every year, Americares responds to approximately 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities. Access to Medicine We support more than 4,000 health centers worldwide, increasing access to medicines and improving the quality of life for 3 million people. Clinical Services Americares delivers and supports quality clinical services at Americares-run clinics and through emergency medical teams. We also help build the capacity of health workers in partner clinics to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Community Health Americares improves health by working with local clinics and hospitals to develop sustainable community-based health programs. We expand health care for mothers, operate mobile health centers and expand care and services around the world. Your Year-End Generosity Makes Hope for the Holidays Possible Americares generous donors make all our work possible. We can respond to more disasters, expand our health programs and save more lives because of the people like you that trust Americares to improve the lives of people in the United States and around the world. Our mission to save lives and improve health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential is only possible because of people like you! When you make a generous year-end gift to Americares, you can feel good that your donation is helping vulnerable families by going to a trusted organization vetted by charity evaluators and supported by donors nationwide. Send lasting hope for the holidays with a generous year-end gift to Americares today! SUPPORT OUR WORK Connect with us