IN-KIND GIFTS
Gifts In Kind International Works with Corporate Donors to Help Thousands of U.S. Communities

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, Gifts In Kind International and more than 100 corporate partners shipped 280 truckloads (valued at $27 million) of new clothing, personal care products, cleaning supplies, and many other necessary items to hard-hit communities. When children’s hospitals needed toys for young patients, Gifts In Kind worked with a major toy manufacturer to provide this urgent dose of joy. When community charities searched for computers and software to enhance their abilities serve people in need, Gifts In Kind and its corporate technology partners delivered.

Each year, the work of Gifts In Kind and its corporate partners benefits thousands of communities and millions of people in need. The organization is the world’s largest charity that focuses on new non-cash (products and goods) donations from the private sector. Gifts in Kind’s mission is to expand and enhance the charitable outreach of corporate donors in order to empower worthy community charities with the necessary resources to help people in need. The organization accomplishes this by linking thousands of companies, including nearly half of the Fortune 100 consumer & retail product corporations, with more than 200,000 community charities in America and throughout the world.

Founded in 1983, Gifts In Kind:

• Helps corporations organize and manage their non-cash donation programs—contributions include technology, education supplies, clothing and shoes, personal-care items, furniture, toys, and much more.
• Screens and qualifies community charities to receive donations.
• Handles the logistics of product donations from corporations to thousands of community charities.
• Ensures thorough accountability by regularly monitoring and reporting to donors about who received their donations, how their contributions were used, and how the communities and individuals benefit.

Today, 49 percent of all corporate donations are in the form of non-cash contributions, an increase of nearly 300 percent during the last 20 years. The growth in Gifts In Kind International mirrors this important trend. In 2004, Gifts In Kind and its local affiliates generated and delivered nearly $800 million in donations. In its 23-year history, the organization has surpassed $6 billion in donations.

What’s driving corporations to dramatically increase their non-cash donations? Companies are receiving four major benefits, according to Richard Wong, the president and CEO of Gifts In Kind International.

Accountability—Charitable giving by many corporations now is being directed by “Baby Boomers” and/or “Gen Xers.” These individuals want more hands-on experiences and demand greater accountability for their donations than previous generations. Corporations can more easily track their non-cash donations and gain a better understanding of the direct impact their contributions have on people and communities.

Visibility—Non-cash donations often bring corporations closer to the communities and people they serve. Feedback, responsiveness, and visibility dramatically increase. Communities have a greater understanding of who’s helping them and the products they are receiving.

Efficiency—Gifts In Kind can manage all distribution logistics of new non-cash donations in American and throughout the world, thus reducing companies’ overhead revenue logistics and freeing up employees and resources for corporate priorities. Corporations can donate available products, and Gifts In Kind and its network of 200,000 local charities can deliver the items to millions of needy people across the country and throughout the world.

Tax Deductibility—Corporations can deduct up to twice the cost of donated property according to Section 170(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code if they contribute items such as clothing, medical equipment, supplies, food, medicine, etc. to charities that serve the ill, needy, and or minor children.

“It’s a wise business decision for corporations to make significant non-cash donations to charity,” said Wong. “It’s a win-win situation. Companies really see their donations at work and gain substantial business benefits. Charities receive the high-quality products they need to improve the lives of individuals in need.”

The seventh-largest charity in America according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Gifts in Kind also is acknowledged as one of the most cost-efficient charities by Forbes Magazine, operating on less than 0.5 percent of its donations. Charitable Navigator, a leading independent charity evaluator, gave Gifts In Kind a Four-Star Rating (the highest grade possible) for the fifth-consecutive year—only 12 percent of American charities actually have received the Four- Star Rating for even two consecutive years.

For more  information on Gifts In Kind International, please call (703) 836-2121 or visit www.giftsinkind.org.