How do you feel about donating your artwork to non-profit auctions and events. Donating art to charity should be a meaningful way for artists to give back to society, support causes they believe in, and gain exposure for their work. It can be a rewarding experience for both the artist and the benefiting organization, offering a unique way to contribute to the greater good.

I found this article online about the advantages of donating artwork:

Why Donate Art?

There are numerous benefits to donating art to charity:

1. Supporting Causes: 
   • Artists can directly contribute to organizations working on issues they care about, whether it’s environmental conservation, animal welfare, children’s health, or community development.
2. Raising Awareness: 
   • Art donations can help charities raise awareness for their cause by attracting attention to their fundraising events and campaigns.
3. Community Engagement: 
   • Donating art fosters a positive relationship with the local community and demonstrates an artist’s commitment to social responsibility.
4. Potential Tax Benefits: 
   • In some cases, artists may be eligible for a tax deduction for the fair market value of their donated artwork. It’s crucial to consult with a qualified accountant to understand the specific tax implications.
5. Exposure and Networking: 
   • Charity events and auctions can provide artists with valuable exposure to potential buyers, collectors, and gallery owners.

The question comes to my mind: Is it really worth it to donate art?

1. Often artists feel used. All fundraisers ask you to donate your art for free. There is no profit going to the artist. There is only the promise of becoming recognized or a little more well-known in the area. In my life experience the name recognitions or promise of exposure has not been worthwhile. I have had few , if any contacts that buy more artwork from me in the future.
2. There is no real tax-donation for the artist. It’s said that your donations are tax-deductible, they are, but not for the artist. If you bought a piece of art for $500. and you donate it to a charity, you can write $500 off as your tax deduction. If the artist donates his artwork, he or she can deduct only the cost of art supplies used to manufacture the piece. The deduction sum doesn’t include the artist’s labor, level of expertise, tuition loans, years spent learning, etc. Therefore, when the artist donates, he or she gives it away for real, which looks unfair to the artist at times, because the institution seems to “make money” using the artist. Few organizations that sold my art sent a “thank you” note to me. None of them shared the information on price the price it sold for, or who bought the piece or pieces.
3. Many artists feel that a donation of your art devalues your work, as it can be sold for any price and you have no control over it. Many artists may feel that it makes you look weak as an artist, because you are donating art, not selling your art.
4. The only reason to donate art is because it makes you feel good that you might be helping others.
5. One article I read suggested that you set the base auction bid and require half of that base price as a payment to you if your art sells. How many organizations do you think are willing to do that?
6. If you are a professional artist, you are likely already deducting your supplies expenses for your business. The IRS never allows “double-dipping.” This means that you already deducted that supplies expense, and you can’t deduct it again when you donate that work to charity.
7. If you deduct your supplies expenses as an artist (and I hope you do!), then you don’t get any deduction for your donated artwork. None ever!

How should you proceed with deducting those art donations?

Here’s what is recommend, to help you be generous without feeling exploited:

1. Create a donation budget. 
   • Decide what is a reasonable amount of artwork for you to donate each year. It might be zero. You get to decide. When you’ve donated your full budget for the year, say to the next organization that asks you to donate, “I’ve already met my donation budget for this year, but you can ask me next year.” This keeps you in control and helps you avoid feeling exploited.
2. Talk to the organization that’s asking you to donate.
   • Tell them that artists do not get a deduction for donating artwork. The organization should be aware of this, and they should never solicit artwork donations with the promise, or even suggestion, of a tax deduction. I would like it if they stopped sending out letters to artists listing the retail value of the work—it is very misleading.
3. Ask the organization if there are other benefits they can provide to donating artists. 
   • Publicity? Use of materials or facilities? Introductions to collectors? Even better, a share of the proceeds when your work is sold.

I have donated artwork for many years, and I always wondered why I never received a “Thank You” note even once in all that time. I have never been informed of the actual sales price of the piece I donated. Often I have attended the event and received an oral thank you from the buyer of my artwork. I have noticed that unless it used as a live auction item, it never sells for anywhere near what I would sell it for normally.

This year I offered a nice piece to a local non-profit as I am on the Board, and I was not contacted, so I assume they did not desire to have my art as a live auction item. I won’t offer any art to this group in the future. It would have been mannerly to at least tell me they were not interested in my free donation of a substantial piece of art. I’m starting to think I love painting and will “donate” my art to family, friends and local businesses that I enjoy!

Artists paint for many different reasons. I love to paint, so maybe someone will enjoy seeing something that could be mundane in a beautiful way. I like to express my feelings through my art. I dreamed about making a living by my art, but gave up on that a long time ago. I like what I do, and the satisfaction that maybe others will enjoy it!

Happy painting! Paint for your own pleasure. not because you think you have to please or appease anyone else.