Have you ever donated points to a charity?

[iankh]

My synagogue is having a fund raising silent auction. I was thinking of donating a few nights at DVC as an auction item. Has anyone ever done this? How have you dealt with seasons? While I'd like to make the donation, I also don't want someone choosing times of the year when the points are the highest.

Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

 

[dgaston]

Maybe you could donate a fixed number of points.

 

[isyt]

I just did this yesterday at our schools tricky tray. I raffled off a Sunday-Friday stay in a studio for up to 4 people based on availability. It went real well. I get so excited wanting to share the magic that when the guy who won asked me if he could trade for Vegas it felt like someone stabbed me!!! I told him no of course and maybe he won't claim it but since it is based on availability he can't get xmas and Easter. Good luck if you set the terms it could be a nice donation.

 

[SylviaL]

I donated a Sat-Mon stay for a fundraiser last spring. My home is BCV so I picked Columbus Day weekend and booked a studio. I wrote a very detailed description--max guests, non-smoking not guaranteed, no daily maid service, etc. I also wrote that if that weekend did not work, to let me know by a certain date (30 days prior to my banking deadline) and I would work with them to find another time. The family that won the auction ended up joining DVC (prior to this trip) so they understood the limitations. Also, I was able to book another night for them which they paid me cash for.

Attached to the description, I printed out how much the studio would cost from the Disney site. I also attached information about DME and MNSSHP and the Food & Wine Festival.

 

[iankh]

I wondered if I could offer Sunday through Thursday and provide the seasons subject to availability?

 

[spiceycat]

yes you can - they are your points.

I got a summer week (father's day) for my donation.

 

[iankh]

yes you can - they are your points.

I got a summer week (father's day) for my donation.

Thanks. LOL. I keep forgetting that they are my points and I am donating them. I guess I can place whatever restrictions (albeit reasonable) on them.

 

[Geyser Gazer]

We donated 4 night reservation at BCV that coincided with the schools vacation as well as a reasonable point season. It was an auction and the highest bidder got a great deal considering rack rate, and the school got a little more that if we just rented them out.

 

[AFMom]

Just keep in mind - you are still responsible for whomever is in the unit. If they damage the unit you will be responsible for the damage just as if you had rented a ressie for cash or if a relative had stayed there. We rent our points out, and I have no problem taking this risk - but I do think everyone should be aware of it.

 

[tjkraz]

Also bear in mind that you cannot take any sort of tax deduction for donating DVC points.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We donated 5 nights (Sun-Thurs) in a studio to our son's private high school as a fund raiser. We specified the seasons and said "subject to availability". The school decided to combine it with donated FF tickets, and the family who got it was able to book the whole thing pretty easily, because they decided to go over teacher break the third week of October. I only had to make one call to MS to make the ressie, and I sent a lot of information about OKW on to the buyers. BTW, they had a great time and ended up buying DVC!