The time of giving is upon us, which provides you with some opportunities for last minute deductions. It's true, charitable contributions are tax deductible, but it's important to note this doesn't apply to every single type of donation. The recipient must be qualified charitable organization. This means that the organization to which you're donating to must meet the requirements under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Basically, none of the organization's earnings can go to individuals/shareholders and/or they cannot participate in/influence political campaigns.