Comments on: The problem with Donating Art and the Solution http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html Create the career and life of your dreams Wed, 16 May 2012 22:49:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Maria Brophy http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-39646 Maria Brophy Wed, 16 May 2012 22:49:33 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-39646 Thanks for the question, Ivonne. In the U.S., the only tax break you can get for your artwork is what you spend on your materials. You cannot write off the amount of time that you put into creating the art. Typically, when you donate items or money to a charity, you must get a receipt from that charity. However, if you are just giving money to a family, then I don't think it can be written off on your taxes. It has to be an actual charity, set up under the tax codes, for it to be a write off. But, either way, it's very sweet of you to help this family out. What a tragedy for them. (I personally prefer to give my money directly to families and people who need it than to organizations that spend the money they collect on highly paid CEOs and overhead!) Thanks for the question, Ivonne. In the U.S., the only tax break you can get for your artwork is what you spend on your materials. You cannot write off the amount of time that you put into creating the art.

Typically, when you donate items or money to a charity, you must get a receipt from that charity.

However, if you are just giving money to a family, then I don’t think it can be written off on your taxes. It has to be an actual charity, set up under the tax codes, for it to be a write off.

But, either way, it’s very sweet of you to help this family out. What a tragedy for them. (I personally prefer to give my money directly to families and people who need it than to organizations that spend the money they collect on highly paid CEOs and overhead!)

]]> By: Ivonne http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-39519 Ivonne Tue, 15 May 2012 06:42:45 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-39519 Hi Maria: The young son of a family in our city was tragically killed in an accident in New Zealand while away as a student exchange, and apparently it's going to cost $20,000 to get his body brought home which the family doesn't have. I don't even know this family, but I'm willing to donate several pieces of art and let them keep all the money and (HOPEFULLY) they sell decently enough. I just want to be sure, since I'm donating all the money if there is anything I need to have in writing from them? You said no real tax breaks, so I don't need to worry about that or is there some sort of receipt I should get back? Hi Maria:

The young son of a family in our city was tragically killed in an accident in New Zealand while away as a student exchange, and apparently it’s going to cost $20,000 to get his body brought home which the family doesn’t have. I don’t even know this family, but I’m willing to donate several pieces of art and let them keep all the money and (HOPEFULLY) they sell decently enough. I just want to be sure, since I’m donating all the money if there is anything I need to have in writing from them? You said no real tax breaks, so I don’t need to worry about that or is there some sort of receipt I should get back?

]]> By: Robin M http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-37017 Robin M Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:11:29 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-37017 Thanks so much! Thanks so much!

]]> By: Maria Brophy http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-36986 Maria Brophy Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:54:47 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-36986 Robin, thanks for your comment. I think it's great if you can donate a % of your sales to your favorite charity. That's a great way to make a difference for a cause that you personally care about. Choose a % that you are comfortable with. We did an art show once and gave 20% of all sales to a foundation that we cared about. Everyone appreciated it, and we felt that we made a difference. Robin, thanks for your comment. I think it’s great if you can donate a % of your sales to your favorite charity. That’s a great way to make a difference for a cause that you personally care about.

Choose a % that you are comfortable with. We did an art show once and gave 20% of all sales to a foundation that we cared about. Everyone appreciated it, and we felt that we made a difference.

]]> By: Robin M http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-36979 Robin M Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:52:38 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-36979 Hi Maria- I turn to your site for much art business advice. I am having my first art reception at the end of March. I came across this opportunity while visiting a local museum. I am taking the plunge and putting my work out! I have 8 paintings hanging already. I will be sharing the show with 3 other artists. This is very exciting. I am working on pricing my art accordingly. But I am considering taking a portion of my sales and donating it to a charity I am passionate for. What are your thoughts on this? Not only do I want to make sales and support a charity, I also want to make it seem possible for other artists that have struggles in life that they can make this happen for themselves. Thanks! Robin M Hi Maria-
I turn to your site for much art business advice. I am having my first art reception at the end of March. I came across this opportunity while visiting a local museum. I am taking the plunge and putting my work out! I have 8 paintings hanging already. I will be sharing the show with 3 other artists. This is very exciting.
I am working on pricing my art accordingly. But I am considering taking a portion of my sales and donating it to a charity I am passionate for.
What are your thoughts on this? Not only do I want to make sales and support a charity, I also want to make it seem possible for other artists that have struggles in life that they can make this happen for themselves.
Thanks!
Robin M

]]> By: Maria Brophy http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-36532 Maria Brophy Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:32:34 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-36532 Thanks, Lori, that's a great idea! And the other advantage is this: the artist gets to develop a relationship with the buyer/bidder, which leads to more sales down the road. Thanks, Lori, that’s a great idea! And the other advantage is this: the artist gets to develop a relationship with the buyer/bidder, which leads to more sales down the road.

]]> By: Lori Woodward http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-36530 Lori Woodward Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:42:18 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-36530 Maria, thanks for the link and the mention. I want to add something here about how my friend, Monique Sakellarios handles fundraisers. She's a local celebrity and gets asked often. Monique now offers a gift certificate for her work or towards a print. It amounts to only a discount for the buyer, but makes her a profit, and it has worked very well, as she has gained new collectors and her work is not sold for less than retail price. The artist controls the discount, maintains a retail price,a nd only has to deliver the gift certificate to the event. I think it would work well if the artist had a color printout or brochure with the gift certificate offering. Maria, thanks for the link and the mention. I want to add something here about how my friend, Monique Sakellarios handles fundraisers. She’s a local celebrity and gets asked often.

Monique now offers a gift certificate for her work or towards a print. It amounts to only a discount for the buyer, but makes her a profit, and it has worked very well, as she has gained new collectors and her work is not sold for less than retail price. The artist controls the discount, maintains a retail price,a nd only has to deliver the gift certificate to the event.

I think it would work well if the artist had a color printout or brochure with the gift certificate offering.

]]> By: Kay http://mariabrophy.com/business-of-art/the-problem-with-donating-art-and-the-solution.html/comment-page-1#comment-36493 Kay Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:09:27 +0000 http://mariabrophy.com/?p=1606#comment-36493 this is terrific. I donated 2 small pieces this past year to a good cause and got a note back thanking me for the donation and here was proof so I could use it on my taxes but no where did they mention if the items sold or for what. Since I couldn't afford the black tie affair..I felt doubly cheated. I am going to use your contract if allowed, to help me the next time I get asked. Certainly I feel the donating artists should have at least been allowed to see their work hung!!!! I simply do not sell enough, yet, to donate much of anything and will be very judicious in choosing to participate in the future. Thanks for a great article. this is terrific. I donated 2 small pieces this past year to a good cause and got a note back thanking me for the donation and here was proof so I could use it on my taxes but no where did they mention if the items sold or for what. Since I couldn’t afford the black tie affair..I felt doubly cheated. I am going to use your contract if allowed, to help me the next time I get asked. Certainly I feel the donating artists should have at least been allowed to see their work hung!!!! I simply do not sell enough, yet, to donate much of anything and will be very judicious in choosing to participate in the future. Thanks for a great article.

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