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eBay Giving Works – Buying to Benefit a Nonprofit Organization

eBay Giving Works is the dedicated program for charity listings on eBay. When you buy items marked with the charity icon , part or all of your purchase will support a certified nonprofit. Information about the benefiting organization and the donation percentage is displayed on the item page. To easily search for eBay Giving Works listings, please visit the eBay Giving Works page.

MissionFish is the nonprofit eBay has chosen to administer the eBay Giving Works program. MissionFish's valuable service and support includes: managing the nonprofit directory; verifying nonprofit eligibility; collecting and disbursing sellers' donations; providing sellers with tax receipts; and tracking donations online.

After the listing ends, you pay following your seller’s payment instructions. MissionFish collects the resulting donation from the seller then forwards the gift (minus a small deduction to cover processing costs).

Note: When you buy from a nonprofit selling on its own behalf (Direct Selling), you pay the nonprofit directly. Therefore, MissionFish does not process a donation for this kind of transaction, and there is subsequently no deduction.

Generally, you cannot claim a tax deduction for the money spent on an eBay Giving Works listing. However, if the item you purchased was sold by a nonprofit organization, and the item description clearly states the fair market value of the item, and you pay more than the fair market value of the item (not including shipping), then you may be able to claim the amount paid that exceeds the stated fair market value as a donation to the nonprofit organization.

Note: eBay is not a tax advisor. You should consult your accountant or legal counsel about your specific circumstances.

Example: Seller A lists a big screen TV at $200 and elects to donate 60% of the final sale price to support a nonprofit. The TV sells for $1,000.

Seller's Share

Amount

Nonprofit’s Share

Amount

Gross payment from the buyer

$1000.00

Gross donation amount

$600.00

Donation amount

($600.00)

MissionFish deduction

($72.50)

eBay.com fees*

($34.16)

Net proceeds for the seller:

Plus a tax receipt for $600

$363.84

Net proceeds received by the nonprofit organization

$527.50


*Actual fees may vary.

See more sample transactions.  


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