Why Donate to Habitat for

Humanity of Greater Portland?

Habitat for Humanity is known for building homes utilizing hundreds of volunteers on each house.  But not everyone realizes that financial donations are just as important in completing those homes. 

Without financial support, there is no money for the necessary tools and equipment, building materials, and site supervision for volunteers.  So without donations our volunteers can’t build. 

We ask you to please help us keep our wonderful volunteers building homes, by making a donation, of any amount today.

Thank You!

Make a Donation Today

How to donate to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland?

Individual financial contributions can be made:

• Online with a credit card using our secure online donation form.

• With a check or Money Order payable to:

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland

PO Box 10505

Portland, ME 04104.

• By phone with a credit card by calling Nicole at (207) 772-2151

For more information about the other ways you can support

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, please contact our designated

staff member who will be happy to speak with you about your potential gift.

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Components Needed to Build a Home

We need your support today.

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. Nearly everyone is aware that Habitat relies heavily on volunteer labor and donated materials in order to complete a home. . But not everyone realizes that many of the costs to build require donated funds in order to complete.   . The challenge is that we have the land and volunteers lined up, and simply need the funds in order to build more homes.

In giving to Habitat you can feel assured that

your contribution is generating maximum benefit.

Habitat International consistently achieves the highest ratings in efficiency and flow through of contributions to program expenses by the American Institute for Philanthropy and

Charity Navigator. 

Contributions go towards building more homes, which directly benefits the recipient families,

who in turn help strengthen the local community.

We’re grateful for your support and promise to do the best work possible with your gift.

How far does your donation go?

At Habitat, your donation could help buy:

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Land Donations
Tax Advantages of Donating Land (or Other Non-Cash Property)

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Did you know you may receive a “double benefit” on your income

tax return by donating certain non-cash property to Habitat for Humanity?

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Many people are aware that contributing cash to a charitable organization generally

results in a deduction that lowers the donor’s taxable income by the amount

of donated cash.*  However, many people are not aware that donating non-cash

property instead may reduce the donor’s taxes even further.  This benefit occurs

because the deduction generally equals the market value of the property,

and the donor never pays tax on the difference between the market value

and his or her original purchase price.

Let’s review an example assuming the following facts:  Mr. and Ms. Donor own an acre

of land worth $20,000.  They purchased the land 15 years ago for $5,000.  The Donors’

combined federal and state income tax rate is 25%.  They wish to make a charitable

donation to Habitat for Humanity by selling or contributing their land.** 

Based on this set of facts, the Donors would be providing an asset worth $20,000 to

Habitat for Humanity in either case (cash or property).  As shown on the accompanying

calculations, by first selling the property and then donating the proceeds, the Donors

would reduce their taxes by $1,250. However, by instead donating the land itself, they

would reduce their taxes by $5,000 – a savings of $3,750!  The reason for the savings

is that the “gain” of $15,000 (representing the increase in value since they purchased the

land) is not taxed if the property is donated, rather than sold.**

The example above assumes the property consisted of land.  However,

the results generally will be the same if the Donors instead donated

stocks or mutual funds worth $20,000 that they had purchased for $5,000.

If you would like to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity, contributing

property instead of cash may be a good way to benefit Habitat for Humanity

and create significant tax savings for yourself. 

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If you would like to discuss this possibility further, please contact

Steve Bolton, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater

Portland, Maine, at 772-2151.

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*Other factors may affect the amount deductible, including the partial

phase-out of itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers or use of

standard rather than itemized deductions for individuals, and restrictions

limiting total contributions to a percentage of taxable income

(generally 10% for corporations and 50% for individuals).

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**For this result to apply, the property must have been held by the donor for over one year.

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