Donating airline miles?

[Holding Pattern]

I have a credit card that I build up miles on. I got the card back when I enjoyed flying (No TSA) and now I simply don't enjoy flying but I've kept the card. I on occasion have used those points to help SMs who need to move across the state to support encampments or return from encampments when it turns out the logistical planning fell flat on its face.

Rather than me being the person generating tickets to move people, is there a wing or NHQ style "miles" bank we can donate such things to so that mission finance officers can utilize them to move people?

[Paul Creed III]

I am not aware of one but this is a neat idea. Might want to reach out to NHQ, https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/giving/contact-us, to ask about the donation.

[Eclipse]

Send mileage point transfers to "eclipse@sendmetovegasrightnowbeforetheyshutdownagain.com".

[AdAstra]

Contact Kristina Jones, NHQ's Chief of Philanthrophy:kjones@gocivilairpatrol.org

[GroundHawg]

This is a great idea

I donate mine to Team Rubicon and the US Olympic Team, so I dont see why CAP couldn't be a receiver organization. If we could get listed as a national organization, the miles could really make a difference to attendance at special activities and disaster response.

[NovemberWhiskey]

My understanding is that donation of airlines miles generally means "the airline will cancel the miles and make a cash donation to the non-profit in question". So the airline takes the liability for the outstanding miles off its books and also gets a charitable deduction against its taxes.

[fyrfitrmedic]

This is a great idea

I donate mine to Team Rubicon and the US Olympic Team, so I dont see why CAP couldn't be a receiver organization. If we could get listed as a national organization, the miles could really make a difference to attendance at special activities and disaster response.

Not that I rack up many these days, but TR gets all of mine. I've been a Greyshirt since just before the second Haiti mission in 2012, training responders.

[Eclipse]

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Gift_Acceptance_Policy_Approved_12__FCD21107A4FFD.pdf

"5. Airline Miles
To donate frequent flyer miles to Civil Air Patrol, it is recommended the donor
contact the airline. The IRS recognizes the donation of airline miles or points as a gift
from the airline to the charitable organization. Therefore, miles donated to Civil Air
Patrol are not considered tax-deductible by the individual donor. For further
information, consult IRS Publication 526 and/or a personal tax advisor."

[Eclipse]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/three-things-you-should-know-about-donating-points-and-miles-to-charity-11607113703

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/donate-points-miles-charity/

TL;DR - Miles and points donations wind up being a cash tax deduction for
the airline, which will likely go into CAP's general fund, vs. helping
someone get a free flight for a CAP activity.

It also appears that to donate miles with any regularity and for maximum
effect, the recipient organization would need to have an established relationship
with a Mileage Concierge or the airline to be able accept the donation.