Choosing to donate my boat is simple

When I donate my boat, what happens to it?

Donating anything to charity is supposed to be an act that people can feel good about. Whether it’s a simple thing like dropping off food or clothing - or even money off with charity representatives during donation drives or a more complex one like filling out paperwork and handing over a vehicle, the donation will be truly appreciated. Charities rely on the generosity of donors and the hard work and dedication of the people that they employ in order to succeed… so what happens to the donations that are made?

For things like clothing, food and even supplies, they are often simply handed out to people in need. While money is spent in order to purchase these things or to supply the facilities with things that they need in order to continue working, tangible items are just that: useful, in the present, necessary. But larger things like cars, trucks and boat donations (http://www.rawhide.org) are slightly more complex when it comes to what’s done with them.

Boat donations are taken in by charities, and then the organizations will either hold onto them until they have enough to hold a larger auction, or they’ll sell them off one by one, making listings and providing the vessels to the people that want them. This sale will raise large amounts of money in a short time, giving the charities a lot of funds to disperse in the ways that they see fit. Boat donation charities are often lumped in with other types of charities; for example, the organizations that take in cars and trucks also commonly accept boats, in order to get the most out of donors.

The boats that are resold benefit donors by providing a tax break the next time people file, money to the charity, and an opportunity to own a boat for people that might not have been able to afford one through a private sale. This is good for all parties involves.

What is needed to donate my boat?

Ownership of the boat is necessary in order to be able to transfer the title of the boat to the charity. Without this, the donation cannot be made. This is important, and makes it so that each donation is legitimate, no issues throughout the process. Choosing to donate my boat doesn't have to be complicated - but it does have to be legal.

Prior information about the boat - the age, the value, the purchase date, maintenance records, where it was stored and used… all of this information is helpful to the charity in order for them to place a value on the boat when it is resold.

Information about the people making the boat donations is important, too. This allows people to get credit for their donations to charity, as well as ensures that when people go to file their tax forms, everything is as it should be. The information isn’t anything complicated, but it helps to keep the charity from operating outside of their guidelines, as well as to keep things perfectly legal.