Everything you need to know about making donations to non-profit organizations

Supporting a cause you care about should be easy… but sometimes there are questions you might have about how it works and where your donation goes. 

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about donations and other ways to make a difference. 

Q: Are there tax benefits to making a donation?

A: The short answer: Yes!

Financial donations made to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible by law. You should receive a receipt at the time of your gift that can be submitted when you complete your taxes. If you give monthly, you may only receive an annual summary of your giving.

As of the 2026 tax year, there is a deductible maximum of $1,000 (or more, if filed jointly) for standard deductions. If you exceed this maximum, deductions must be itemized. Additionally, different states have different policies for how donations are managed for state taxes.

Some support avenues, such as giving through a donor-advised fund or individual retirement account can offer different tax benefits, which are explored more in Pinky Swear Foundation’s Tax-Friendly Giving Blog. We are not tax experts and recommend you talk to your personal financial advisor to determine what the best avenue is for you.

Q: How can I still be a part of supporting a mission I care about if I can’t afford to donate?

A: Everyone has different budgets and financial capacities. Fortunately, there are many ways to support causes you care about without making a direct donation yourself. To make a difference without making a direct donation, you could consider fundraising, volunteering, and raising awareness through your social media. A simple interaction on a social post could be extremely helpful in getting the word out about the cause!

Another great option: Talk to your employer about whether they offer grants to charities. If they do, explore nominating the organization you care about for a grant. A recommendation to support an organization you care about can go a long way in the grant process!

Q: How can I give in honor of a loved one?

A: Donating in honor of a loved one is a beautiful way to celebrate someone’s impact in your life. It can also be a meaningful and unique holiday gift. At Pinky Swear, making a tribute gift is simple: select the option to dedicate your donation on any of our online donation forms.

After the donation is completed, you’ll have the opportunity to send a personalized email to the tributee or their family, letting them know of the gift in their honor.

If online giving isn’t your preference, no worries. You can mail a check to our Minnesota office with a note that it is in honor of someone, along with their address, and we can take care of notifying them or their family that they are in your thoughts.

Q: How does monthly giving work?

A: Giving monthly is a great way to make an ongoing impact for missions you care about. Many organizations offer a “set it and forget it” model.  At Pinky Swear Foundation, giving monthly is as simple as selecting a giving frequency and your preferred dollar amount on our online donation form, or notifying our team if you will be giving monthly from your donor-advised fund or by mail. If you are giving online, your gift will automatically be charged each month, and you can adjust your giving at any time.

If you are wondering if monthly giving is right for you, take a look at our blog: 5 Reasons to Become a Monthly Donor Today!

Q: What does 501(c)(3) mean?

A: 501(c)(3) is the national Internal Revenue Code for non-profit organizations, signaling that the organization provides a public service, like supporting families facing childhood cancer.

501(c)(3) organizations receive some benefits, specifically with taxes, but experience some limitations related to political or lobbying activity. Supporters of 501(c)(3) organizations receive benefits, too, as donations to these organizations can be tax-deductible.

Q: How do I know if an organization is using my gift appropriately?

A: Transparency is a green flag.

A good place to start is seeing if the organization has seals or badges on their website from third-party organizations like Candid that assess transparency and financial accountability. Organizations are awarded levels of transparency based on how comprehensive and measurable the shared information is. Pinky Swear Foundation earned Candid’s 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency for the fourth year in a row – the highest award level.

You can also look for an organization’s financial information on its website.

If you are having trouble locating the information you are looking for, don’t hesitate to contact a staff member with your questions. 

Q: How can I get involved with a childhood cancer non-profit?

A: There are many ways to get involved with a childhood cancer non-profit, including donating, fundraising, volunteering, and raising awareness.

Every organization has different needs, but a great place to start is by visiting their website and signing up for their email newsletter.

Most organizations include pages on how to get involved, ways to give, and how to start a fundraiser, but if you can't find what you are looking for, you can always reach out directly to staff to ask about the organization's greatest needs.

Here are a few different resources about ways to get involved at Pinky Swear specifically:

• Donate: Explore our Ways to Give page to learn about different giving options to provide support for families facing childhood cancer. Financial support continues to be our greatest need.

• Fundraise: See our Fundraiser web page and these top fundraising ideas for inspiration and to create your own online fundraising page. We have ideas for companies and families as well! 

• Volunteer: Pinky Swear has some unique volunteer opportunities: Card making for kids with cancer and to-go food donations for two hospital pantries in Minnesota. 

  Fill out this form to sign up, or to inquire about other opportunities to support pediatric cancer.
  

• Spread the word: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube @PinkySwearFoundation and repost, like, comment, and share more about the work Pinky Swear does and what it means to you with your network. 

Have more questions about how you can make an impact for a cause you care about? Comment below!