A guide to helping others in lean times

The holiday season is looking lean this year, and your wallet may be thinner than your generosity.

Even if you can’t afford to write a check, remember there are plenty of ways to help out a good cause. Donating property such as art or volunteering professional services are just a few options to consider.

In fact, more people are realizing their job skills may be of great use to nonprofit groups.

Any assistance will likely go a long way in today’s climate, with demand for charitable services sharpening as people struggle to make ends meet. That means your donations may count more than ever this holiday season. Contrary to popular belief, an American Express survey last year found donors are only slightly more generous during the holidays; only 14 percent said they boosted donations at year’s end.

So if your budget is tight but you still want to give, here are a few ideas.

Buy products to aid cause

Charitable giving can be a part of your everyday buying habits.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure partners with dozens of companies, including Lean Cuisine, Pepperidge Farm and Breyers Ice Cream, to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Several other groups, including the Global Fund and the American Heart Association, partner with companies to raise money, particularly during the holidays.

If there’s a specific cause you want to help, you might want to check out Goodshop.com. The site partners with hundreds of retailers to let users pick the group that benefits from their purchases.

The amount donated varies depending on the retailer: Amazon.com gives 1.5 percent, Barnes & Noble gives 3 percent and Zappos.com gives 6 percent.

Donate stocks or property

If you’re looking to give a stock, the preferred method for donation will depend on whether it grew in value.

“If it appreciated, the key is to donate it as a security rather than cashing it out first,” said Kim Wright-Violich, president of Schwab Charitable. This will let you avoid paying capital gains taxes on the stock’s appreciation. The donation can be written off at its fair market value.

Conversely, stocks that have lost value should be liquidated first, with a cash donation going to the charity. This will create a capital loss for tax purposes, which can offset any gains.

To give away property such as art or a car, either you or the charity will need to pay for a third-party appraisal, Wright-Violich said.

Generally, you can deduct the property’s fair market value as a charitable donation so long as the charity is not selling the property for cash.

Volunteer your services

The term “pro bono” is widely associated with legal services, but professionals in a range of fields have come to embrace its spirit.

“If you have a monopoly on a service, we think there’s a duty to help people who can’t afford it,” said Mark Schickman of the American Bar Association.

There are ways to help even if you don’t have any special professional training. Your fluency in English or other languages may be of use to an immigrant advocacy group. If you’re tech savvy, smaller groups may appreciate help setting up a Web site so they can accept online donations.

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT CHARITY DURING HOLIDAYS

With Salvation Army bell-ringers dotting sidewalks around the country, the holidays present ample opportunities to start talking to your kids about the importance of charity. Below are some ideas on how to parlay your own giving habits into lessons for your children.

> Let them pick the donation. If you’re collecting canned goods or toys to donate, let your child pick what to give. Ask him to think it through and explain why a needy person might appreciate the item he chooses.

> Have them do ‘pro bono’ work. If you’re doing pro bono work for a charity, let your child know she can donate her time as well. Whether that’s helping out an elderly neighbor or volunteering at a nursing home, give your child a few ideas on how she can get involved in the community.

> Take them shopping. Make it a point to bring children along when buying products that give a portion of proceeds back to charity. Explain why you’re picking that particular brand, and how purchasing it supports a cause.

> Help them save for a donation. As part of giving your child an allowance, discuss how much he wants to save, spend or donate. If donating hasn’t entered the picture yet, the holidays are a good time to introduce the discussion.

To make the lesson more tangible, try getting your child started with “Money Savvy Pigs.” The piggy banks have separate compartments for savings goals, including one for charity. The pigs are available at www.msgen.com.

If you want to link the talk to greater money management, introduce them to Web sites such as Sense & Dollars (senseanddollars.thinkport.org), which offers kid-friendly explanations and games about earning, spending and saving.