9 Tips for benefit concert donors

For over forty years, the benefit concert has served as one of the most easily recognizable forms of aid for charitable organizations.

 

It all started back in August 1971 when George Harrison called a few friends – Ringo, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, to name a few – to play at the world’s first benefit concert.  The Concert for Bangladesh played from Madison Square Garden with ticket and recording sales helping to raise $18 million. These stars likely didn’t realize they were forever changing charitable giving in time of a disaster.  Concerts are now a popular vehicle for causes around the world to raise visibility and funds.

 

“Music is a universal pleasure that cuts across cultures and backgrounds,” says H. Art Taylor, president of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.  “Music is a unifying experience – it’s a natural choice for charities to turn to benefit concerts as a means to raise funds.”

 

Before you buy your ticket, here are 9 tips for benefit concert donors:

 

• Check out the benefit concert charities.  Do they meet BBB Charity Standards? Visit Give.org for the latest BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluation information on national charities.
• Will gifts be restricted for a special disaster or event?  Don’t assume unless specified.
• Do the charity sponsors have the skills and experience to carry out the promised charitable activities?
• If the benefit concert tickets are being sold at their fair-market value, then none of your ticket purchase will be deductible. See IRS Publication 526.
• Don’t assume merchandise sold at the concert (e.g. t-shirts, etc.) will benefit the participating charities unless they are authorized and specify otherwise.
• Watch out for ticket scalpers. The inflated ticket prices they charge will not provide more benefit to the sponsored charity.

 

For more information on how to donate wisely, including evaluations completed by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, visit Give.org.

 

 

This post is brought to you by the Give.org