charitable giving

Did Obama Buy Trouble Shopping for a Budget Chief at Walmart?

President Obama has nominated Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Matthews Burwell to be his new director of the Office of Management and Budget. The choice seems unlikely on its face, and a look into the details of her current job directing "targeted giving campaigns" makes it seem even odder.

These Are Most and Least Charitable States - but Why?

Earlier this month, Mint.com published a map of the most and least generous states when it comes to charity. Since then, personal finance writers have struggled to find a pattern to explain why some states give so much more to the less fortunate than others don't.

11 Easy and Great Ways to Save Money in 2013

With the prospect of higher taxes and federal budget cuts looming on Dec. 31, here are 11 easy ways you can save money and/or put a few extra dollars back in your pocket in 2013.

Slash Your Holiday Gift Bill By Tapping Credit Card Rewards

If you're looking for a way to save on gifts this holiday season, you might want to tap your credit card. No, not by charging up a big fat bill -- but by maximizing your rewards points. Here are six ways to do just that and in turn, stretch your gift-giving budget.

How More Women Can Become Philanthropists

This author believes that more women need to think of themselves as philanthropists and get more strategic in their giving, so that their donations will have the maximum impact. Here's how.

How to 'Cheat' on Your Taxes ... Legally!

Nobody likes paying the IRS, and we all wish there were just a few more deductions we could swing without arousing the taxman's ire. And there are: Here are a few deductions that, while they might seem to be a little out of bounds, are totally legal.

Ensure Your Charitable Gifts Give Back to You at Tax Time

If you gave money to charity last year, you're in good company. Charities received more than $290 billion in gifts in 2010. But as April 15 approaches, you'll want to know how your giving can score you a bigger tax refund. Here's what you need to know.

Don't Get Audited! The IRS's Dirty Dozen Red Flags

Even if you have nothing to hide, an IRS audit is no picnic. But have you ever wondered why some tax returns get intense scrutiny while most sail through the review process? Here are 12 red flags that could increase your chances of drawing unwanted IRS attention.

The Most-Often Overlooked Tax Deductions

Years ago the fellow who was running the IRS at the time told Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine that he figured millions of taxpayers overpaid their taxes every year by overlooking just one of the money-savers listed here.

How to Use Life Insurance to Donate to Charity

When most of us buy life insurance, we're thinking about one thing: Making sure our families are taken care of after we're gone. But in this season of giving, you might also want to think about setting up a policy to take care of your favorite charity.

10 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions

Years ago, the fellow running the IRS told Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine that he figured millions of taxpayers overpaid their taxes every year by overlooking just one of these deductions. Don't be one of those millions: Read on, and find out how to cut your tax bill to the bone.

11 New Rules for Fiscal Survival in a Weak Economy

That simple wait-and-see game plan we adopted when we believed recovery was just around the corner? Not cutting it anymore -- if it ever did. It's time for new strategies to win in the New Normal. Here's a rundown of ideas that once worked to which it's time to say goodbye, and the current wisdom for replacing them.