What to Know When Donating to Public Schools

When deciding to make a donation, one valuable place that some donors fail to consider is the local public school. There are a few things that you need to know and keep in mind before you decide where to make your donation.

What types of donations can a public school receive?

Public schools are eligible to receive many different types of donations. This includes supplies for classrooms, electronic equipment such as computers, sports equipment, furniture, or musical instruments. Schools can also receive monetary donations from individuals or organizations.

Where does the donation intention go?

The best way to offer to make a donation is in writing. This puts all the details on paper to look at for later reference and clears up any discrepancy that may occur. The school has the right to deny or accept the donation, and some districts require a meeting of the school board to make a decision. Booster programs are also potential programs to donate to, since they accept donations on behalf of the school board. An alternative option for a more direct link to an individual is to contact the treasurer of the school or superintendent.

Can I pick how the donation is used?

You can tell the district that you would like the funds to be used for a specific program or purpose, but you cannot have any impact on the school’s personnel. The board needs to keep a certain level of discretion over funding according to the laws and regulations of the district and board.

Is time an option?

Time is definitely one of the best ways that you can contribute to a local school. Volunteers are needed for coaching, bus assistants, or chaperones for events such as dances or book fairs. You might need to undergo a background check or fingerprinting, especially if you’ll be unsupervised while children are in your care.

Can I deduct it from my taxes?

A donation to a school is allowed to be deducted from your taxes as long as it is classified as an educational organization by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule applies to both monetary and property donations for tax purposes.

Ensure that you know the ins and outs of donating before you decide where to allocate funds or property.

Originally published at williamnakulski.org.