Requests for donations of my work for events

 As an artist, I receive numerous requests each year for donations of my work to various charitable organizations. So many, in fact, that I cannot possibly donate to all of them. I simply cannot afford it. This is my business...my livelihood...and I cannot "giveaway the store".

In most cases, I cannot take a tax deduction for the full value of any artwork donated. Generally, unless very specific and difficult to obtain information is provided to the IRS, artists are allowed only to deduct the cost of the materials...frame, art supplies, etc. used in THAT particular artwork. Even this is sometimes hard to document to the satisfaction of the IRS.

Therefore, I have a policy of not donating my work to support charitable organizations regardless of how good they are or how much I believe in them. I will possibly consider a cash donation, but never artwork.

The additional point to be made is that art auctions, which almost always sell work at "bargain" prices, train patrons to only buy art at less than full price. That is bad for my business and the businesses of every other artist.

Here are two articles that pretty well lay out why you should not be asking artists for donations and why artists should not be making donations. Click HERE for the first one and HERE for the second one.

Thank you for understanding.