​On Friday, March 27, the U.S. Congress passed, and the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic stimulus package legislated to provide immediate relief for families, businesses, and nonprofits.

​New Deduction Available: Up to $300 in annual charitable contributions. This is available only to people who take the standard deduction (for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions). It is an “above the line” adjustment to income that will reduce a donor’s adjusted gross income (AGI), and thereby reduce taxable income. A donation to a donor advised fund (DAF) does not qualify for this new deduction. 

New Charitable Deduction Limits: As part of the bill, individuals and corporations that itemize can deduct much greater amounts of their contributions. Individuals can elect to deduct donations up to 100% of their 2020 AGI (up from 60% previously). Corporations may deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%. The new deduction is for gifts that go to a public charity, such as MADE IN THE STREETS. 
​
Required Minimum Distributions Waived in 2020 for Most Donors: Required minimum distributions (RMD) that would have had to start in 2020 do not have to start until 2021, including distributions from defined benefit pension plans and 457 plans. This change could de-incentive someone from making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their IRA in 2020. However, making a QCD this year to MITS is a great way for itemizers and non-itemizers alike to direct up to $100,000 from their IRA to MITS in a tax efficient manner.

​The inclusion of an expanded charitable giving incentive is a critical acknowledgement by Congress that the work of nonprofits like MADE IN THE STREETS is essential and important. Indeed, now more than ever street children in Kenya (and all over the World) are facing food shortages; a severe lack of medical attention; and continued fears about COVID-19.  They need your love and care more than ever. It is also the first time in history that Congress has passed this type of giving incentive in response to a disaster or national emergency. 

New Deduction Available: The bill makes a new deduction available for up to $300 in annual charitable contributions. This is particularly beneficial to people who take the standard deduction when filing their taxes (in other words for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions). It is calculated by subtracting the amount of the donation from your gross income. It is an “above the line” adjustment to income that will reduce your AGI, and thereby reduce taxable income.
To qualify, you would have to give a donation to a qualified charity, like MITS, before December 31. If you have already made your donation in 2020, that contribution counts toward the $300 cap. A donation to a donor-advised fund (DAF) does not qualify for this new deduction.

New Charitable Deduction Limits: Also included in the bill, individuals and corporations that itemize can deduct much greater amounts of their contributions.
Individuals can elect to deduct cash contributions, up to 100% of their 2020 adjusted gross income, on itemized 2020 tax returns. This is up from the previous limit of 60%. 
Corporations may deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%.
The new deduction is only for cash gifts that go to a public charity. If you give cash to, say, your private foundation, the old deduction rules apply. And while the organizations that manage DAF’s are public charities, you do not get the higher deduction for donating cash to your DAF. These new limits do not apply to gifts of appreciated stock. You can safely and easily make a cash donation to MADE IN THE STREETS through the MITS online donation portal.
If your assets are substantial enough that you can give more than your income this year, you won’t lose the deduction for the excess amount. You can use it next year, as has always been the case.
​
Required minimum distributions waived in 2020 for most donors: RMD for individuals over age 70½ are suspended until 2021. This includes distributions from defined benefit pension plans and 457 plans. The RMD is an attractive way for donors to make a significant charitable gift directly from their IRA to a charity through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) while avoiding taxable income. Though not required in 2020, the tax benefit of the QCD still remains.  All taxpayers, itemizers and non-itemizers alike, can still direct gifts from their IRA to charities in a tax efficient manner. 
For more information or to discuss the great tax deductions available to donors in 2020, please contact MITS Executive Director, Brad Voss, at brad@madeinthestreets.org.

Prefer to send a check in the mail? That's great!

Make checks payable to MADE IN THE STREETS and mail to the following address:

MADE IN THE STREETS
409 Franklin Rd
Brentwood, TN 37027

​The inclusion of an expanded charitable giving incentive is a critical acknowledgement by Congress that the work of nonprofits like MADE IN THE STREETS is essential and important. Indeed, now more than ever street children in Kenya (and all over the World) are facing food shortages; a severe lack of medical attention; and continued fears about COVID-19.  They need your love and care more than ever. It is also the first time in history that Congress has passed this type of giving incentive in response to a disaster or national emergency.

​Once you've opened our #GivingTuesday campaign, click the "become a fundraiser" button:

​​Create a fundraising team or set up a page as an individual:

​​Follow the next steps to set up an account and start fundraising!

Street Eats is a program to provide meals for street kids and street moms at the MITS Centre in Eastleigh, a neighborhood in Nairobi.

For many students and former street kids at MITS, receiving a meal is often the introduction in their story of transformation.

Your $5 covers the cost of one nutrient-rich meal. For the price of a latte, you can provide a full day's worth of calories to one living on the streets. $5 goes a long way!

At MADE IN THE STREETS, we believe student sponsorship is incredibly rewarding for both you and the students, but don't just take our word for it! See what one of our sponsors, Alex Lamb, has to say about her experience:

​Why did you decide to sponsor a student at MITS?
 
I decided to sponsor a student after visiting MITS. I was in graduate school for Marriage and Family Therapy at Lipscomb University, and my professor arranged for me and a classmate to use a mission trip to MITS as credit for a course. We were able to go to MITS and conduct group counseling with the new students that had recently arrived to MITS and who were adjusting as new students. It was in the group counseling sessions where I connected with many, but specifically with one of the students. I found out she did not have a sponsor yet, and I knew in that very moment I had to sponsor her.

As a sponsor, your monthly contribution plays a vital role in meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a student at MITS.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor like Alex or would simply like more information, click the button below!

Still have Christmas shopping to do? Want to make an impact on the lives of street kids? Why not do both at the same time?!

​Check out the options below and make your gifts go further!

Open for one more week, our Christmas store is a great place to get gifts for everyone on your list!

Did you know thousands of employers will match donations made to non-profits? Is yours one of them?

Talk to your HR department to find out if your company will double your donation!

The month of December includes some of the best seasons of the whole year.  December means winter weather season; the holiday season; and Giving Season.  As we close in on the end of 2019, there are some great giving opportunities that will make a lasting impact on kids who are currently living on the streets of Nairobi.

Monthly Partners are the Champions of MITS who go above and beyond to considerably impact the monthly operating expenses of loving and serving former street kids who are enrolled in the MADE IN THE STREETS boarding school program.  Monthly Partners can choose a monthly donation level that helps to cover the ongoing costs of food, housing, education, and mentorship, and more for each of the students seeking to change their life in the MITS program.  MITS Partners are paired with a current student and agree to donate monthly at one or more of four different levels ($25, $50, $75, $150).  Some partners even choose to cover the entire monthly expenses for one student ($400).  In addition to the essential financial support, MITS Partners also send and receive letters and updates from the MITS students, along with special news and fun surprises.

Prefer to send a check in the mail? That's great!

Make checks payable to MADE IN THE STREETS and mail to the following address:

Anyway you give, it matters to street kids; thank you for for generosity!