The National Association of REALTORS® has reacted to the devastation in the wake of the Haiti earthquake by generously contributing funds in a few ways and providing a donation vehicle for members nationwide. 

They contributed $550,000 to charities that will help bring much-needed supplies and care to the people of Haiti.  Included in that sum is $100,000 donated by Lowe's NAR REALTOR® Benefit partner, which NAR then matched at $100,000. From that they donated $50,000 to The Harvest of Haiti, founded by REALTOR® Patrick Moore, a 2007 Good Neighbor Award winner from Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Moore is planning his 64th trip to Haiti on January 29. While in Haiti, Moore and his team will deliver six month’s worth of food to an orphanage in Anse Rouge as well as focus on helping residents in communities in and around Port-au-Prince.

NAR also is reportedly contributing $500,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which is supporting earthquake recovery efforts with immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors.

Want to contribute?
You may donate funds through the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.  To make a donation, go to www. realtor.org/relief, and complete the contribution form. The House and Senate voted to allow taxpayers to deduct charitable donations to Haiti on their 2009 tax returns, instead of having to wait until next year. President Obama signed the bill January 22. More legislation about donations to relief efforts in Haiti is expected, but current stipulations include:
 1. The donation must be made between January 12 and February 28;
 2. The donation must be money, not goods or services;
 3. The donation must be to a U.S. charity operating in Haiti, not a foreign charity;
 4. As always, charitable donations must be substantiated with receipts showing the name of the charity, the date and amount of the donation.
 5. Donations made by texting can be substantiated with the cell phone bill, if it shows the charity's name and the date and amount of the donation.

Charitable donations are only deductible for those taxpayers who itemize deductions. Taxpayers who use the standard deduction will not benefit from this legislation. This new legislation gives taxpayers the choice to deduct their Haiti contributions in either 2009 or 2010.