Contributions from others (besides you or your parents) for HXP trips may certainly be tax deductible*, provided that certain conditions are met. Please make sure to read the criteria below and to consult your tax advisor for more information before donating.
First, contributions must be made directly to Humanitarian Experience, a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For the Tax ID information linked, click here.
Second, while contributions may be made with an indicated preference for a specific use, they cannot be restricted to only such purpose, e.g., “Johnny’s HXP trip this fall.” Rather, the donor must understand— and be willing to donate despite the fact—that if Johnny is too sick to travel, or the trip is cancelled for any other reason, the donation cannot legally be returned. This is because as the donee organization, HXP is legally prohibited from operating as a “mere conduit” to receive and pass along donated funds. Additionally, if you donate an amount above the cost of the trip, the remaining amount cannot be returned.
Third, and on a related note, as the donee organization, HXP must exercise control over the funds and has a responsibility to assure that they are used for qualified tax-exempt purposes (e.g., if Johnny is too sick to travel, or his trip is cancelled for any reason, the donee organization must find other appropriate uses for the donated funds; simply giving Johnny the money as “his own” is legally not permitted).
The work of HXP affects over 80,000 people worldwide every year. We build hospitals, schools, nutrition centers, etc. in 64 global locations, all of which have a life-changing impact on people who don’t currently have access to health care, education, or other critical services. The Builders who go on our trips are certainly affected in their own lives by the service they provide, but when they solicit donations, it is to help HXP help the people that they are going to serve. The money you donate to HXP will still be used toward those humanitarian purposes, and is therefore still considered by the IRS to be a nonrefundable donation.
Once registered, every Builder will have a unique donation link that can be found in their Builder portal. When this link is sent to out to your friends and family, the money donated will go directly to that Builder. On the left hand side of the portal under “Paying for Your Trip,” it will take you to a page that says in the top right corner “Send this link to friends and family who want to donate on your behalf.” Under this sentence is the link that can be sent to others.
Friends and family are welcome to make a donation on a Builder’s behalf by writing a check with the full name and trip in the memo and mailing it to our office. Our mailing address is: 224 S 200 W Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.
Donations can also be made through Venmo to @HXP-Team. Once again, please ensure that the full name and trip of the Builder is included in the memo so funds can be allocated correctly.
If you wish to donate to a builder anonymously, contact us at info@hxp.org!
If you would also like to make a general donation you can do, click here.
*A certain portion of all donations and payments to Humanitarian Experience may be tax deductible; consult your tax advisor for more information.*
Company Matching
Many companies set aside a sum of money to donate to charities each year through matching donations! In other words, whatever you pay, they will match. Some companies consider matching donations for anyone, others only consider matching donations for their own employees. HXP is a registered 501c3 charity which means you can take advantage of company donation matches to help you pay for your trip.
*Make note that company matches may take 2-3 months to process and update in your account.
Each company has its own policy when it comes to matching donations, so it’s important to reach out to your employer to understand how they handle it. Typically, the person making the donation, or their parent, must be an employee of the company for the match to apply. Once you’re in the know, here are two common ways companies process matching donations:
- You donate first, then request a receipt. Your employer will match your donation based on the receipt you provide, sending the matching amount directly to us.
- You donate through the company, and they send us the matched amount. In this case, you pay the company, and they send the full matched donation to HXP.
If your company does do matches, reach out to your HR department. They will guide you on the specific process and paperwork needed to ensure your donation is properly matched.
Below are some large companies that match. Many small companies may also match if you ask!
- Home Depot
- Gap
- Old Navy
- Banana Republic
- Athleta
- American Express
- Pizza Hut
- KFC
- Taco Bell
- Disney
- Apple
- Adobe
- Microsoft
If you have any questions about donations or company matching, reach out to us at info@hxp.org.