Charitable donations of artwork can create a positive impact where it matters

Nonprofits and charity organizations often expect to artists and other creatives to donate artwork for silent auctions and events. Every bit an artist, what is the best way to contribute to causes you care most?

There are means to maximize both your contribution and ensure that you are making informed decisions well-nigh the future of your business organization. Make sure your charitable contribution goes the furthest past keeping these things in mind:

Donate Something Awesome

The item you lot cull to donate should be something you're excited about and brings y'all pride. Your selection will be a representation to all those attention about your quality of work and generosity.

Think carefully near what you donate, simply know that it doesn't accept to exist a masterpiece y'all've poured thousands of hours into.

Inquire about what other types of art will be featured and try to get a handle on the show'due south aesthetic. Perhaps you even have a piece that is topically related to the cause—for example, depictions of nature for an environmental charity.

Exercise Your Research

Make sure your generosity is informed. To ensure an organization volition brand the most of your donation, utilize a website like Clemency Lookout or Charity Navigator to acquire more about them. These resources provide insight into charities' internal structure and spending. Taking the time to look into a charities' practices is an important office of effective philanthropy.

In addition, research the upshot itself. Don't hesitate to ask the organizers about everything from the expected attendance to how your work will exist displayed.

Use It for Feedback

In some means, the pressure is off when information technology comes to donating artwork. If yous are an early on career creative person, utilise this opportunity to explore how people answer to your work. If you lot are more established, use it as an opportunity to attempt out a new artful on a group of interested buyers.

Altruistic artwork can requite you a chance to experiment, increase word-of-oral cavity exposure, and gain feedback from a large grouping of people. In fact, donating artwork was the launching basis for artist Anne Marie Zanetti!

Price it Right

Pricing items for a charity auction tin can be challenging. It tin can be a blow to your ego to come across empty bid sheets and unsold inventory to collect at the end of the night. You'll desire to set the price low enough to invite the showtime bids, but loftier plenty that the piece of work isn't undervalued.

Tip: In general, price the detail at or well-nigh the market price and rely on a sense of competition and charity to open up people's wallets. Information technology'southward likewise a practiced thought to ask those coordinating the sale about a suggested toll range. Remember, they also want your slice to sell for the highest possible price!

Not certain how to toll your work? Get some concrete formulas hither and read up on the do'southward and don'ts of pricing your donation.

Capitalize on Promotion

There's a reason you lot don't meet many artists anonymously donating original works of art. Charities rely on your fine art to assistance promote the result, and information technology's okay for the event to promote your fine art! Donating art is an opportunity to abound your audience. That'southward part of what makes collaboration betwixt artists and charitable organizations so rewarding.

The cause your art is supporting also communicates to potential patrons that you share common values. Fifty-fifty if they don't win a behest war over your piece, they'll certainly recognize your work in a gallery or at an art fair in the future.

Tip: While many organizations hope exposure for donations, make sure you go specifics on how this volition happen and how you can help. Enquire near their mailing listing, if they demand any images for promotional materials, and send them all the links to your website and places that their attendees can observe out more than about y'all.

Think Locally

Local charities oft have the greatest demand for donors and serve those in your immediate customs. You may even have firsthand knowledge about their affect, and so this can exist a expert way to contribute to something you're really passionate about. In addition, local organizations often prefer to feature artists who hail from the area.

The Lesser Line

Art is your work and livelihood, so make certain that charitable giving is a sensible proposition for your business — including when it comes to taxes. Unfortunately, when donating a piece directly to clemency artists can only deduct the cost of materials, instead of the market value of the piece. If yous'd like to donate to clemency and as well need to maximize your deductions, consider donating the profits from the sale of 1 of your pieces instead of the slice itself. This allows you to deduct the entire value of the slice as sold at market place value.

Don't be agape to apply this strategic approach to charitable giving. Inquire if you tin get the contact details of the buyer from the organization from which you donated. Attend the event if possible and network with those in attendance. While in that location, exist open up to the feedback yous hear (and bask in the compliments). Higher up all, know that y'all're giving back to something you intendance near and take pride in knowing that you lot're making a departure.

Trying to decide which slice to donate to that event side by side calendar month? Easily review your entire catalog and pick something perfect using Artwork Archive's organizing tools for artists.