10 points expire Dec 1 - want to donate to philanthropy

[lynaaron]

Hello,

Does anyone know of a way I can donate my 10 points expiring December 1 to some charity (Give Kids the World, Make A Wish, etc)? I called Member Services and supposedly they don't have anything. The only thing I can do is make a reservation for someone using just 10 points and give them that reservation.

Because it's so few points, I don't want to do that. I'd rather put them into an account where other few points can be combined with others to create a magical vacation for someone in need.

Please let me know of anything.

Thanks, Lyn Thompson

 

[Disney Fanatic]

This is the 2nd time this has been brought up.

I think this is a terrific suggestion for DVC to have a "holding type account" that people can donate points to.

They can then wait until they add up a bit and then make a donation to a specific charity like "make a wish" or something similar.

Maybe since you have the points, you could call your guide and see what they can do.

 

[Daname]

I have 9 points to donate
dd

 

[brentm3]

I love the idea of donating points, but I just don't see DVC setting up a specific means for doing so.

I always figured that lost points were part of the plan to keep this system working, affordable, and profitable...they received money for something that was never used - an unclaimed "mail-in rebate" of sorts...

This is just what I thought, and I could be totally off on this. If I am right, setting up an easy to use donation pool would effectively be giving away their profits and/or funds for operating the system.

brentm3

 

[tjkraz]

I also doubt DVC would be able to do anything to help.

If the charities were wise, they would purchase a minimum contract so that they could accept transfers from members and manage the points themselves. Dealing with the different Home resorts and Use Years could be a hassle, but it seems it would be worth it.

 

[wtpclc]

Have you contacted Give Kids the World or your local Make A Wish? Maybe they have a plan. GKTW has a website that is found easily with a search (sorry, don't know the link). MAybe they have something.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Post your points for rent and give the cash proceeds to your favorite charity.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Post your points for rent and give the cash proceeds to your favorite charity.

I like this idea! Best wishes.

Bobbi

 

[lynaaron]

Hello,

Yes, I've called member services and they don't have anything set up. I've even emailed them twice hoping I'd get someone with a bit more "power" of sorts to create something like this.

I've also posted to rent my points, but again since it's only 10 points, it's hard to find someone that wants to rent just that many (and I certainly don't want to borrow points). So renting the points and donating to my favorite charity is out - although a good idea.

Since Give Kids the World has their own housing/location, they can't use the DVC points and I asked Member Services specifically about both Make a Wish and GKTW, but they couldn't help me there.

I can contact Make a Wish and donate the 10 points, but again it's so few points that without combining with other points, it's not a value.

Oh well...we tried.

Thanks, Lyn

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, it's true that Give the Kids the World has their own facility for the kids who are guests. However, they do take gifts of a reservation for some of their volunteers. We donated a weekend at OKW to GTKTW and the weekend was used by a volunteer couple.

Now, perhaps 10 points would "only" get a weeknight in a studio, but still, the volunteers live in Florida and who knows, someone may need a time to chill out.

Here's the information. There is someone very nice to answer your questions.

Bobbi

Give the Kids the World
210 S. Bass Rd.
Kissimmee Fl 34746

(407) 396-1114

 

[JimMIA]

Give Kids The World is a wonderful charity, but they are not a great candidate for something like this. They provide the housing at their facilities, not at WDW.

I'm not sure how DVC would set up something like that, if they had any interest. Seems to me they'd have to set up a 501 (c) (3) to accept the points or the member would not receive any tax break for donating. You don't get a tax break for donating to a for-profit corporation!

It's an interesting idea, though. American Airlines has a thing going on right now for service families. Frequent flyers can donate FF miles and American will match them. The miles go into a pool to be used for servicemen serving overseas and their families. I'm thinking about putting in 25,000 miles because, with the match, that would be two tickets for some deserving family.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

This is a great idea- I inquired a few years ago & Make a wish would only accept them if we had a confirmed reservation. I might try that again - I have 20 points that I would lose out on but would like someone to use.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm not sure how DVC would set up something like that, if they had any interest. Seems to me they'd have to set up a 501 (c) (3) to accept the points or the member would not receive any tax break for donating. You don't get a tax break for donating to a for-profit corporation!

Dontations of timeshare usage aren't deductible even when a 501 (c) (3) is involved. I've quoted the regs before and it is crystal clear that you can only take a deduction if you dontate your entire ownership interest in a timeshare. Donating a single year's useage or partial usage does not qualify for any deduction.

 

[thelionqueen]

I am not even a DVC member yet (have a contract though, so hopefully soon), but what could we as a DIS community do?

I was thinking (since I just bought a small contract) that someone designated could buy a small package solely for the use of banking donated points. The DISer who bought the contract could use the original points as their own and transfer into another account or something.

We could "put the word out" to charities, Make-A-Wish, etc. that this program is evolving, then could work something out on a bigger scale.

This may be wishful thinking and way too much trust, but I think a good idea. I know the major issue would be Who could be entrusted to manage the points the way intended.

Anyway, food for thought...would be great to be able to transfer the 1 or 5 points into an account and do some good. After a "few points here, and a few points there" I know they could add up quickly.

 

[goofy4wdw59]

.....

I've also posted to rent my points, but again since it's only 10 points, it's hard to find someone that wants to rent just that many (and I certainly don't want to borrow points). So renting the points and donating to my favorite charity is out - although a good idea....

Are these points transferable, or are they borrowed from your 05 use year? You may want to try a transfer if you can.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I am not sure why people think this can not be done. I have done it twice through GKTW.
The contact person is Tom Levesque over there. What you do is call tom and usually this is used as an employee perk/incentive. You put Tom Levesques name on the ressie and then your contact info to him and when they award it to someone They can have you change the name or in one case his name stayed on the ressie for privacy reasons.

AS far as not being tax deductable both instances I was able to do this... You can request a tax form for the retail value of the room. In my case it was BC retail value was listed as $272. I ddi not set that figure that is what was sent back to me.

Same deal with Make A wish. You can donate to Make a Wish of Maitland Florida. I believe that was donated under the directors name? They usually want 2 or more nights.

 

[tjkraz]

AS far as not being tax deductable both instances I was able to do this... You can request a tax form for the retail value of the room. In my case it was BC retail value was listed as $272. I ddi not set that figure that is what was sent back to me.

Just because the organization provides you with a form indicating that a donation occurred does not make you automatically eligible for an income tax deduction.

According to IRS Publication 526 under the heading of Right To Use Property it states:

"A contribution of the right to use property is a contribution of less than your entire interest in that property and is not deductible."

The publication goes on to provide a perfect example of a "vacation home" owner who donates her week to a church for auction. The example concludes that the owner is not eligible to take a deduction due to the "partial interest rule."

Only a donation of your entire DVC interest would qualify for a deduction.

I think it's admirable that people would donate DVC points to these worthy causes. But do realize that doing so is not a valid, legal deduction under current tax law.