What Is a Quid Pro Quo Contribution?
I want you to understand that many nonprofit foundations and organizations depend on charitable donations from corporate sponsors and individuals to cover a significant portion of their funding needs. These donations come in various forms, from one-time gifts to ongoing business sponsorships in the community.
During the holidays, you've probably seen groups like The Salvation Army collecting donations from shoppers at retail stores. Usually, donors give without expecting anything back except a tax deduction.
But a quid pro quo contribution is different—it's a charitable donation where you, the donor, get something of value from the organization in return. The organization sets up an incentive to encourage the donation. It's essentially a tool to make fundraising smoother.
Key Takeaways
- A quid pro quo contribution to charity is one where the donor receives something of value in return.
- These contributions are meant to incentivize giving.
- When filing taxes, the donor must subtract the value of what they received from the total donation to determine the deductible amount.
Understanding a Quid Pro Quo Contribution
Let me explain how this differs from a standard charitable donation. In a typical donation, you get nothing back from the charity for your gift. The tax rules are straightforward too—with a regular donation, you can deduct the full amount if it qualifies.
For quid pro quo contributions, the deductible amount is only the difference between your donation and the fair market value of whatever goods or services the charity gave you in return.
Here's a tip: For the 2021 tax year, even if you take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, you could deduct up to $300 in charitable contributions if single, or $600 if married filing jointly.
An Example of a Quid Pro Quo Contribution
Consider this scenario: During summer vacation, Beth notices her daughter Lauren's school is raising money for a garden project to buy plants and materials. Beth is enthusiastic about her daughter learning to grow fresh produce and donates $75 to the school.
As a thank you, the school gives top donors gift certificates to a farm stand they'll set up at year's end to sell extra harvest. This makes it a quid pro quo donation because Beth got something in return. If the school just asked for money without offering anything, it wouldn't qualify as quid pro quo.
When tax time comes, Beth recalls the $75 donation and the $5 gift card she received. She can only deduct $70 on her itemized deductions—the difference between the donation and the gift's value. Without the gift card, she'd deduct the full $75.
The charity doesn't need to remind Beth about the $5 gift card. The IRS requires written disclosure only if the total quid pro quo contribution exceeds $75. Beth has to remember it herself and deduct accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a quid pro quo contribution? It's a charitable donation where the donor gets rewarded with something of value from the charity.
What is the purpose of a quid pro quo contribution? It allows charitable organizations to encourage donations that might not happen otherwise by offering something in return.
Is a quid pro quo contribution tax deductible? Yes, but with implications. You can deduct a regular contribution in full if you itemize, but for quid pro quo, subtract the fair market value of what you received from the total donation to get the allowable deduction.
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