Project Baobab

Many people would love to volunteer for children’s charities or other charities in their free time, but they are simply too busy to do so. As an alternative, you may be thinking about making a monthly donation of money to disability charities or other organizations. However, you may not be sure which charities you should donate monthly to. Before you begin making regular chirty gifts, consider researching the charities more closely.

Choose a Few Great Causes
Charitable giving gives you something to be proud of. Your hard-earned money will be used in conscientious and helpful ways to support causes that are dear to you. From health-related organizations to those supporting the environment, the homeless population, the poor and more, you can find a wide range of causes to support. Consider which causes or events have touched home with you recently, and look for organizations that support these causes. The information found on the Christian Blind Mission website is useful to help you gain a better understanding.

Research How the Funds Are Used
You likely will find a couple of organizations that you could make a monthly donation to. However, before you give chirty gifts, research how the organization uses the funds. Some organizations have a very top-heavy structure, and only a small portion of donations actually go to supporting the cause. Use the Internet to find an organization that will use your funds most wisely and in the most effective manner possible. Remember that some organizations will accept clothing, furniture and food donations as well. When you donate items rather than cash, you do not have to worry about how your donation will be used.

Ensure the Gift Is Tax Deductible
As much as you want your monthly donation to a respectable, established and meaningful charity to help the world in a positive way, you also may want it to benefit you as well. Many financial donations to approved charities are tax-deductible. You will need to confirm that your donation will be tax deductible. If so, most of these organizations will accept a donation payment through their website, and they will send you a receipt. You can file this receipt away with your other tax records, and you can use it to support your deduction in the event you are ever audited by the IRS.

While some people donate hours of their time each week to various charitable organizations, others donate their hard-earned money. Both are very honorable ways to support charities that are important to you. If you are thinking about making a financial donation, carefully research the charities before you make your first donation. These steps will help to ensure that your gift is used in the most effective way possible based on your personal interests.

Even with faithful roof repair and maintenance, your roof will deteriorate over time. The main reason for the deterioration is the roof’s exposure to the sun’s UV radiation. Here’s a look at how the different parts of your roof are affected.

Shingles
Asphalt shingles are made of a base layer saturated with asphalt and then embedded with reflective particles. The asphalt reacts to the sun, causing the shingle’s backing to weather more at the exposed edges than in the center. The result is cupped shingles that hold water instead of shedding it, rendering your roof unable to protect your home.

As the asphalt deteriorates, it also becomes less able to resist water. If your shingles contain an organic backing, they may even start to absorb water. If your shingles have started cupping, you are in serious need of a new roof. At this point, it’s time to call in a professional roofing company.

Sealants
Everywhere your roof is penetrated by a pipe, a skylight, or chimney, your roof is vulnerable to leaking. To prevent leaks, roofers use flashing and sealants to waterproof those areas. Unfortunately, the best sealants can stand up to the sun for about five years and must be replaced fairly often.

Flashing
Flashing is part of the waterproofing strategy used by roofers to keep roofing penetrations and valleys from leaking. Flashing also deteriorates much more quickly than the shingles. Different types of flashing weather at different rates. Exposure to rain and sun causes the flashing to corrode and fail. Deteriorated flashing is a common source of many roofing leaks.

Underlayment
Underlayment is a sheet of water resistant fabric applied under your roof’s shingles. Called tar paper or roofing felt, this fabric gets its water resistant properties from asphalt and loses its effectiveness over time for the same reason that shingles do, as was mentioned above. Some types of underlayment have no warranty while others are warranted for 10 to 15 years. When reroofing your home, it is important to use the underlayment recommended by the shingle manufacturer to get the full benefit of both.

Attic
An improperly ventilated attic can reach temperatures in excess of 150 degrees. The heat of the attic in combination with the heat of the sun beating down on your roof can accelerate the decomposition of the asphalt that waterproofs your roof’s components. When this happens, your roof will deteriorate faster than it should, causing you to need a roof replacement prematurely. Some manufacturer’s warranties are voided in cases where the attic is not properly ventilated.