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Mobile Home Donation to a Non Profit Organization

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Lydarose

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois

There is a donor who would like to contribute a 10 year old mobile home to our non profit organization. We are definitely interested in using it at one of our properties. The donor has requested that we pay all of the moving expenses and has also requested that we obtain an appraisal. We are happy to move this at our expense, but what about the appraisal? In the past, any expensive items donated the donor typically had the item appraised. What is the norm? As a volunteer coordinator who coordinates some in-kind donations, I typically deal with furniture and bags of clothing, not such expensive items. Would looking this up in a "blue book" guide be sufficient?

Thanks!
 


xylene

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois

There is a donor who would like to contribute a 10 year old mobile home to our non profit organization. We are definitely interested in using it at one of our properties. The donor has requested that we pay all of the moving expenses and has also requested that we obtain an appraisal. We are happy to move this at our expense, but what about the appraisal? In the past, any expensive items donated the donor typically had the item appraised. What is the norm? As a volunteer coordinator who coordinates some in-kind donations, I typically deal with furniture and bags of clothing, not such expensive items. Would looking this up in a "blue book" guide be sufficient?

Thanks!
Tell the donor any costs outside of moving the trailer would not be appropriate for your organization to bear.

It is not your place to maximize their tax deduction.

In reality a 10 year old trailer is probably a white elephant and they are trying to unload it on you.

That's not to say it is without use value for your organization.

Just that your costs should not exceed its value.
 

tranquility

Senior Member
No. For items worth over $5,000 an appraisal is necessary. It is the taxpayer's responsibility if he wants to deduct the amount, so, if you pay for the appraisal, he should reduce his deduction by the benefit gained by you paying for it.
 

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