Home
About Us
Blog
Newsletter
Sell Products
Fees
Sign Up!
Advertise
Marketing
Fundraising
Contact Us
FAQ
Links
FREE Download
Ebook Library

XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google

Charity Boat Auction Explains The Steps Necessary To Auction Boats Donated To Your Cause

Charity boat auction

can be instrumental in providing substantial funding for your charity or not-for-profit organization. The idea of developing a way to accept and auction boat donations may seem daunting and complicated. However, the process is actually relatively simple if you’re willing to put in the necessary effort.

If you’re considering accepting boat donations that you can sell at a charity boat auction to raise money for your non profit business, you’ll first need to address whether or not you have or can gain access to equipment necessary in order to pick up donated boats. When someone donates a boat, you’ll need to be able to set up arrangements with him or her to haul the boat from their property. You’ll also need a place where you can store the boat until it sells at auction. Then, there are delivery issues. How will you transport the boat to the winner of the charity boat auction? If your charity boat auction winner is local, you can simply deliver it to them the same way you picked it up from the donor. If you choose to sell to out of state residents, however, you’ll need to come up with a workable plan for delivery. These factors need to be considered and resolved before setting up a charity boat auction.

The next step is to locate potential charity boat auction donors. You can set up a website, run ads in papers, boating magazines, or other media, or solicit boat owners in your area, asking for boat donations. You can also utilize government seizure auctions where you can purchase boats at their auctions then re-auction them at higher starting bids. Whatever your approach, it’s important to explain to potential donors the importance of their donation and the many advantages they may receive by donating. Giving your boat away is a grand gesture, so give them the recognition they deserve in supporting your cause.

What are some rewards one can gain by donating a boat to a charitable cause? First, it can help an organization go a long way in funding its’ causes by providing necessary funds and assistance to those in need. If that’s not enough, though, to persuade a donation, let’s look at some more practical advantages. Boats can be rather expensive to maintain. Licensing, insurance, transporting them to the water or renting a dock area, are things that all add up. After a few years of taking on so many expenses just for a few annual trips to the lake or ocean, many boat owners may be ready to free themselves of the burden. By donating, they won’t have to pay to advertise their boat for possibly months and months or deal with people coming over constantly to look at it just so they can low ball them on the price! By donating a boat, you can earn what’s known as a “fair market value tax deduction”, which can sometimes be far greater than what you would be able to sell the boat for on your own. All it takes is a little paperwork and time for them to receive some wonderful tax benefits that can be applied on their next return.

Speaking of paperwork, you may be wondering what, exactly, you need to do to make the boat donation legal and official. First of all, it’s best that you set up a pre-made form that the boat owner can fill out regarding their donation. This will save you both some time and make the process more organized. Research “boat donations” online to check out different non profits that accept boat donations and look at their forms so you can get an idea of what information you’ll need to put on yours.

Next, you’ll need to assess the boat and arrange for pick up. You also need to create a donor’s receipt to give to your supporter once you receive the title. Remove the boat from their property and get it prepped for auction.

You’ll also need to establish a place where you can host your charity boat auction.  If you can’t afford to rent a space to do to them locally, you can host your auction online.  At Charitable-auctions.com, your not-for-profit organization can sign up free and utilize our IdonateToCharity.org auction website with no listing fees!  This is a perfect, user friendly venue, providing a variety of useful resources, that can help you create successful charity boat auction to support your institution.

 

Once your charity boat auction is over, you’ve received payment, and delivered the boat to the auction winner, you’ll then need to send the person who donated the boat a copy of the bill of sale, along with the required, appropriate IRS forms that they will need to file with their tax return.   Make sure you keep accurate records, too, for your organization’s tax purposes.

 

For more information, check out the IRS website at www.irs.gov and review the following publications:

  • Publication 526, Charitable Contributions
  • Publication 561, Determining The Value of Donated Property
  • Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions
  • Instructions for Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions

 

 For more information on how to run a Charity Boat Auction Click Here!


footer for charity boat auction page