Pretend I donate a hundred dollars to NPR. I get a tote, mug, and some other stuff that I might value (i.e., otherwise purchase) at $50, but is nominally valued at $10.
I then get to deduct $90 from income on my tax return, and assuming I'm in a high tax bracket, I get to pay about $30 less in taxes.
Hence, I effectively donated $20 - while the recipient effectively received $90.
Not quite cost free, but not terrible. And yes, I know it's cheating to deduct the 'value' of the gifts - but it's the only semi-reasonable thing I can think of.
yeah, you can save a lot of money cheating on taxes if you don't get audited... but I don't think NPR is selling a more effective means of cheating on your taxes.
I think that the mooch bait is much more about having a way to show off "I am a generous and wealthy person, and I gave to this worthy cause" much like tipping heavily when you take your co-workers out to lunch. I mean, I don't really need another bag.
I then get to deduct $90 from income on my tax return, and assuming I'm in a high tax bracket, I get to pay about $30 less in taxes.
Hence, I effectively donated $20 - while the recipient effectively received $90.
Not quite cost free, but not terrible. And yes, I know it's cheating to deduct the 'value' of the gifts - but it's the only semi-reasonable thing I can think of.