Making Charitable Car Donations in Detroit

Charities in the Motor City, birthplace of the automobile, have found a relevant way to raise money for their causes by trading tax deductions for used, donated cars. Two well-known and well-respected charities for children - Teddy Bear Cops and Special Olympics Michigan - are among the local car-donation opportunities open to Detroit area donors.

Teddy Bear Cops Car Donation Charity

Abused and traumatized children, as well as designated area charities, are the key beneficiaries of car and other vehicle donations made through this national program.

Charities that receive proceeds from the sale or auction of donated vehicles pledge to use a percentage of that income to send teddy bears to the Teddy Bear Cops program. In turn, Teddy Bear Cops distributes tens of thousands of plush, cuddly teddy bears to first responders - police, fire, ambulance personnel.

Those first responders then use the bears in the line of duty, passing them out to children they encounter who may have been victimized or traumatized in some way. The bear gives the child something to focus on, to hold onto, and often can prevent a child from slipping into a state of shock in a crisis.

The Teddy Bear Cops car donation process is fairly straightforward, but flexible enough to accommodate the various state policies governing auto ownership and title transfers. All charities involved in this program are qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits under the IRS code.

Here's how it works:

1. The potential donor fills out a form that's available on-line at www.givecars.com. The more completely the form is filled out, the more quickly your request can be processed.

2. A program representative reviews the completed form and then contacts you, by e-mail, to clarify any questions and give you additional guidance about your donation.

3. The program representative then provides you with the phone number of the towing firm responsible for picking up and placing donated cars in your area. You should have a hard copy of the car's title ready at this time.

4. Soon afterward, the towing company will call you, usually within 24 to 48 hours. You tell the towing company what is a convenient time for your pick-up.

5. The towing company retrieves your donated vehicle and takes the title to it.

6. You contact Teddy Bear Cops Car Donation to advise them when the car has been picked-up.

7. A Teddy Bear Cops Car Donation program representative will send you a receipt to file with your income taxes to prove the value of your donation.

All donor contact with program personnel is accomplished by e-mail. Donors coordinate vehicle transfers by phone with the program's designated, local towing companies.

Special Olympics Michigan Car Donation Fundraiser

Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) offers a slightly different process - and different benefits - to donors interested in exchanging their car for a tax deduction.

Under the SOMI program, you receive the tax relief, your donated car will be resold, if possible, and SOMI is guaranteed a minimum of 50 percent of the sale proceeds. If a donated car can't be sold, SOMI still receives $36 for your donation.

All proceeds support the Special Olympics Michigan, a sports-oriented program for intellectually disabled children and adults. Special Olympics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that began as a small sports day-camp, founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to the late President John F. Kennedy. More than a million Special Olympians a year are now served in more than 150 countries.

To donate your car, receive a tax deduction and help benefit Special Olympics Michigan, here's all you have to do:

1. Call SOMI's 24-hour car donation phone line at 1-888-777-6680.

2. An operator will take the necessary details of your donation over the phone.

3. SOMI's operator will pass along the specifics of your car donation to Central Avenue Auto Parts, their designated broker. This is the firm that tows your car, appraises it and determines its resale value.

4. You'll be contacted by telephone by a service representative from Central Avenue in order to arrange a mutually convenient pick-up time.

5. Detroit area residents will have their cars picked up within 72 hours. Others in lower Michigan may have to wait a bit longer, until there is another donor pick-up in your area.