Ashley has partnered with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance with transplant-related expenses for both of her previous transplants with great success. The organization is a wonderful asset that allows her to accept tax-deductible donations while providing assurance to donors that the money is used only for the stated purpose.
What it is: COTA helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. It is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults.
As a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, COTA receives contributions to help offset transplant-related expenses. COTA then disperses funds to families to offset those expenses.
Tax info: 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of its patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
COTA FUNDS RAISED IN HONOR OF ASHLEY
The fundraising ticker published on this site shows the total amount donated to COTA in honor of Ashley since she began working with COTA back in 2001. The ticker only shows what has been raised.
Since 2001, COTA has supported Ashley through her journey to a double lung transplant and a kidney tranplant. COTA has assisted with transplant-related expenses, such as for several potential donors to be tested, including their flights and accomodations, for her second kidney transplant.
Unfortunately, that transplant was canceled one week before it was supposed to happen. Due to the timing, money was spent on plane tickets for family members to help her recover and the cost of long-term housing, which cannot be recouped.
Therefore, Ashley is starting over with fundraising for COTA.
WHY USE COTA INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING DIRECT DONATIONS?
A crucial part of the contribution process is to clearly state who is receiving the gifts and how they will be used. Financial contributors must know their gifts are contributions to COTA and not to the patient/family directly. Contributions to COTA will be used to reimburse transplant-related expenses, and are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Why is this so important? While it is highly motivating to promote helping a local patient’s family with expenses, if the family receives money directly it is considered taxable income and the contributor cannot receive a tax deduction.
Therefore, the public should not be misled to believe their gifts immediately go to COTA families. It should be clear that transplant families are the beneficiaries of COTA funds, and the community campaign is raising funds that can be used by transplant families as they need them throughout their transplant journey.