As 2015 ticks to a close, charities wait for last-minute surge in donations

Charities in New Jersey are hoping for an increase in end-of-the year contributions.

 

They’re counting on the fact that many donors wait until late in the year to give to charity, said Linda Czipo, executive director of the Center for Non-Profits.

“The main motivator is that people are feeling generous,” she said. “They’re thinking about the spirit of the season, and they want to share it with the causes and the charities that they care about.”

Tax considerations are another reason that prompt some people to make charitable contributions at this time of the year, Czipo said.

“If you itemize on your tax returns, you can deduct the value of your charitable contributions from your taxes,” she said. “But plenty of taxpayers don’t itemize and they are very, very generous as well.”

While they have been increasing, Czipo said, charitable contributions in New Jersey are still not back to the level they were before the Great Recession.

“Things were certainly tough during the recession, and charities are making their way back,” she said. “Unfortunately, the demand for the services that charities provide continues to outpace the ability of charities to meet that demand. The resources aren’t keeping pace with the rising demand.”

The donations help charities provide services ranging from job training to assistance with housing, food, and health care.