How You Can Help
There are numerous ways in which you can help support our mission. These fall into four categories:
Donate, shop, fundraise or volunteer.
Donate, shop, fundraise or volunteer.
I. WAYS TO DONATE TO THE LONGEARS SAFEHOUSE
1. Direct Contributions to Help With our Routine Expenses
The Longears Safehouse is a federally recognized 501c3 organization, and all donations to us are tax-deductible. Our EIN number is 46-0907101. Your donations have a direct, positive impact on our work and the accomplishment of our mission.
You can donate to us by
Zelle ([email protected]; no fees!),
Venmo (@Longears-Safehouse)
PayPal Giving Fund
Regular PayPal (reaches us faster than through PayPal Giving Fund)
Check to The Longears Safehouse, PO Box 993, Estancia, NM 87016 (no fees!)
Through our Facebook page or through this website.
For example:
Donate $720 for 30 bales of bermuda hay
Donate $680 for our most recent or a future farrier bill
Donate $336 for a bundle (14 3-string bales) of bermuda hay or 2 bundles of straw
Donate $168 for one bundle (21 2-string bales) of straw.
Donate $50 for a full hoof trim (all four feet)
Donate $30 for a tube of Dormosedan gel sedative (some of our guys need it for trimming)
Donate $25 for a bag of low starch senior feed.
Donate $24 for one 3-string bale of bermuda hay.
Donate $20 for a bag of timothy pellets.
Donate $16 for a tube of deworming paste.
Donate $12 for a bag of training treats (Saddle Snacks).
Besides cash, you can also directly donate hay, straw, other feed, or other valuable items. You can even donate vehicles, trailers, buildings or real estate - anything that we can either use directly or sell. Such donations are called donations-in-kind.
Contact us if you think you might have something useful that you would like to donate!
Finally, check out our Amazon Wish List for supplies that we routinely need:
The Longears Safehouse is a federally recognized 501c3 organization, and all donations to us are tax-deductible. Our EIN number is 46-0907101. Your donations have a direct, positive impact on our work and the accomplishment of our mission.
You can donate to us by
Zelle ([email protected]; no fees!),
Venmo (@Longears-Safehouse)
PayPal Giving Fund
Regular PayPal (reaches us faster than through PayPal Giving Fund)
Check to The Longears Safehouse, PO Box 993, Estancia, NM 87016 (no fees!)
Through our Facebook page or through this website.
For example:
Donate $720 for 30 bales of bermuda hay
Donate $680 for our most recent or a future farrier bill
Donate $336 for a bundle (14 3-string bales) of bermuda hay or 2 bundles of straw
Donate $168 for one bundle (21 2-string bales) of straw.
Donate $50 for a full hoof trim (all four feet)
Donate $30 for a tube of Dormosedan gel sedative (some of our guys need it for trimming)
Donate $25 for a bag of low starch senior feed.
Donate $24 for one 3-string bale of bermuda hay.
Donate $20 for a bag of timothy pellets.
Donate $16 for a tube of deworming paste.
Donate $12 for a bag of training treats (Saddle Snacks).
Besides cash, you can also directly donate hay, straw, other feed, or other valuable items. You can even donate vehicles, trailers, buildings or real estate - anything that we can either use directly or sell. Such donations are called donations-in-kind.
Contact us if you think you might have something useful that you would like to donate!
Finally, check out our Amazon Wish List for supplies that we routinely need:
2. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
According to Charles Schwab, "A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can be a great way to reduce required minimum distributions (RMDs) and optimize the tax benefits of giving.
For retirees who've accumulated significant savings in their tax-deferred accounts, the onset of required minimum distributions (RMDs) at age 73 can have serious tax consequences. That's because the higher the balance in your tax-deferred accounts, the higher your RMDs—and potentially your tax bracket.
If charitable giving is part of your financial plan, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can further your philanthropic goals and help reduce the tax hit from your RMD.
What is a QCD?
QCDs allow individuals age 70½ and older to make tax-free donations directly from an IRA to a qualified charity, potentially satisfying all or part of their annual RMDs. Generally, you can make a QCD from any tax-deferred IRA account, such as a traditional IRA, inherited IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and SEP IRA. However, a direct transfer of a QCD from a SIMPLE or SEP IRA can only be done if the account is inactive—meaning you're no longer contributing to it. That said, the IRS does not allow you to make a charitable contribution from a workplace retirement plan, like a 401(k).
What are the QCD limits?
For tax year 2024, you can donate up to $105,000 ($108,000 for 2025), and you can also use up to $53,000 ($54,000 in 2025) of a QCD to make a one-time donation to a charitable remainder trust (CRT) or charitable gift annuity (CGA). For married couples, you can each donate up to your individual annual limit.
Are QCDs tax deductible?
A QCD doesn't offer a tax deduction, but the QCD amount isn't included in your taxable income either. In some cases, the tax benefits of a QCD could outweigh the charitable deduction you would have received from donating cash or other assets to an eligible charity.
Let's look at an example of when a QCD could make sense. Say you're 75 years old and single, and you need $125,000 in income this year to cover your living expenses. Your RMD for the year is $110,000 and you'll receive another $50,000 from a pension and Social Security—pushing your total taxable income to $160,000. That leaves you with an additional $35,000 of income that you don't need.If you're charitably inclined, you could donate the excess cash to your favorite charity and write-off the amount on your tax return. But by using a QCD to transfer the $35,000 directly to a charitable organization, you could potentially pay $4,080 less in income taxes.
Charitable donations: Cash vs. QCD
Taking your full RMD and then donating cash could result in a higher tax bill than if you were to give through a QCD.
Scenario 1
Take full RMD and donate $35,000 in cash
Pension and Social Security Benefits: $50,000
RMD: + $110,000
QCD: $0
Adjusted gross income: = $160,000
Itemized deduction: – $35,000
Taxable income: = $125,000
Estimated taxes due: $22,847
Scenario 2
Donate $35,000 of RMD directly to charity using a QCD
Pension and Social Security Benefits: $50,000
RMD: + $110,000
QCD: – $35,000
Adjusted gross income: = $125,000
Standard deduction: – $17,000
Taxable income: = $108,000
Estimated taxes due: $18,767
Note: Illustration is for example purposes only and is not intended to be tax advice. Itemized deduction assumes the cash donation only and does not include other deductions. Tax calculations are estimated using 2025 federal tax brackets, do not reflect state taxes, and assume that 85% of Social Security benefits are taxable. In 2025, the standard deduction for a single filer age 65 and older is $17,000 ($15,000 standard deduction plus $2,000 additional standard deduction).
Bottom line on QCDs and taxes
You don't necessarily want to give away money just to get a tax break. But if philanthropy is already part of your financial plan, a QCD can be a great way to optimize the tax benefits of giving. Your financial advisor and tax professional can help make sure your giving strategy aligns with your retirement goals as well as any changes to tax rules."
(Please note: A key requirement to reduce your tax burden is to make sure the QCD distribution is made payable directly to our organization. If the funds go to the account owner first (i.e., you), and then are distributed to our charity, the distribution will be a taxable event to the account owner and will not qualify for preferential QCD tax treatment.)
3. Planned Giving
You can create a legacy to ensure a lasting impact for the donkeys and mules of New Mexico. Making a monetary gift in your will or living trust, known as a bequest, can guarantee that your legacy endures. You can either bequeath a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after all other provisions are specified. We strongly recommend that you consult your tax attorney, accountant or financial advisor to help you include The Longears Safehouse, Inc. in your estate or trust planning.
II. WAYS TO SHOP TO BENEFIT THE LONGEARS SAFEHOUSE
Yes, you can help us simply by shopping!
1. You can shop at our online store or you can visit LOS RANCHOS ANTIQUE MALL, where our volunteer d'Alary occupies booth D13 and sells some of our merchandise along with her own artwork.
2. Or you can shop at Smith's Food and Drugs or at Kroger's!
Here is how it works:
Visit http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/inspire. Once logged into your Smith's Food & Drug account you can search for The Longears Safehouse either by name or number LS051 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
Requirements:
*Customers must have a registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card account to link to our organization.
*If you do not yet have a Smith's Food & Drug rewards card: they are available at the customer service desk at any Smith's Food & Drug
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your organization until after your participants register their rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
What a great way to help us put hay into our feeders!
3. Join iGive and have a long list of online stores donate a small portion of the proceeds from your purchases to our cause. It's very easy!
1. You can shop at our online store or you can visit LOS RANCHOS ANTIQUE MALL, where our volunteer d'Alary occupies booth D13 and sells some of our merchandise along with her own artwork.
2. Or you can shop at Smith's Food and Drugs or at Kroger's!
Here is how it works:
Visit http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/inspire. Once logged into your Smith's Food & Drug account you can search for The Longears Safehouse either by name or number LS051 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
Requirements:
*Customers must have a registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card account to link to our organization.
*If you do not yet have a Smith's Food & Drug rewards card: they are available at the customer service desk at any Smith's Food & Drug
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your organization until after your participants register their rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Smith's Food & Drug rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
What a great way to help us put hay into our feeders!
3. Join iGive and have a long list of online stores donate a small portion of the proceeds from your purchases to our cause. It's very easy!
III. WAYS TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE LONGEARS SAFEHOUSE
Did you know? You can create your own fundraiser for us! You can do so online, e.g. on Facebook or you can do your own GoFundMe for us.
There are also other types of fundraisers that you can organize for us, both online and offline. For example you could connect to a Pampered Chef consultant to find out how you can host an online sales fundraiser party to benefit The Longears Safehouse. Or you could look into hosting a real fundraiser party. For example, last October one of our board members did a fundraiser event at her home, offering dinner, drinks, and life music, and a raffle. Tickets were $50 per person, and the event brought in around $2,500 in total - almost enough to cover our monthly feed costs at the time.
Contact us if you have an idea about a fundraiser!
There are also other types of fundraisers that you can organize for us, both online and offline. For example you could connect to a Pampered Chef consultant to find out how you can host an online sales fundraiser party to benefit The Longears Safehouse. Or you could look into hosting a real fundraiser party. For example, last October one of our board members did a fundraiser event at her home, offering dinner, drinks, and life music, and a raffle. Tickets were $50 per person, and the event brought in around $2,500 in total - almost enough to cover our monthly feed costs at the time.
Contact us if you have an idea about a fundraiser!