Quote:
Originally posted by viet_mom
Fifth, non-tax deductible donations are probably not being included in the figures. Example: support for foreign orphanages is not tax deductible but adoptive parents nevertheless shell out several thousand dollars per adoption just for the orphanage (which may or may not be misused by the orphanage director). In fact, most orphanages in Viet Nam are (sadly) keeping children there until Americans can once again adopt from VN, rather than give the children to families in France, Italy and Denmark, the other countries that adopt from VN. Orphanage donations from European countries are so much lower that the orphanage is better off financially waiting for the Americans to show up, with thousands in fees, giving out $100 bills to the caretakers like it's monopoly money. Americans feel such an obligation later on, too. Most end up continuing to send huge amounts of money forever. There are entire orphanages, and even small communities in third world countries being fully supported by the non-tax-deductible funds of Americans.
VM
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If it's a fee (e.g., there is a quid pro quo, like adoption services that lead to a baby), it's not tax deductible either for a US or a foreign orphanage. It no more belongs in a summary of contributions that do medical bills paid to tax exempt hospitals or amounts spent for knick-knacks in museum gift shops.
If it is a contribution, people should look for a US charity that will accept donations and funnel them to the Vietnamese orphanage. There are a bunch of charities that will do this kind of thing, resulting in the contribution being tax deductible. I don't know who might do it for Vietnamese orphanages, but have seen it in several other contexts. Look for a charity with a footprint in Vietnam, since the charity is responsible for making sure the money is being spent for good purposes.
