I've been thinking...

[Gophesjo]

So I've been exploring a number of ideas about niches for using timeshares in both business and ministry projects (I've been in full-time ministry for the last 20 years) for several months now, and I want to toss this out.

Missionaries who return to the US for furlough say it is no vacation, as they are generally busy running all around raising funds - or attending to overdue family matters - when they come. A valuable vacation for them would rather be a week of R & R/sabbatical in a location close to where they are deployed.

I have a 501(c)(3) that I have created for other ministry projects. If that 501(c)(3) were to hold title to TS weeks or points, those weeks or points could be used to provide R & R/sabbatical week accomodations for missionaries around the globe, using exchanges or points reservations.

Funds to pay the MF's for those TS interests could be solicited on a tax deductible basis from churches and people who want to support the objective of providing sabbatical time for the missionaries.

The tax exempt corporation could receive contributions of no longer wanted weeks or contracts from owners needing to off load their TS's. The corporation would probably be willing to receive those so long as the current year MF's were already paid, or the contributor were willing to pay (again, by making a tax deductible contribution) one year of MF's. (I know this violates the cardinal rule of TUG, but I'm saying one year, and not anymore, because it really would be our purpose to use the TS, rather than simply get rid of it like the pcc's do).

Missionaries deployed to Latin America could be provided a week in Mexico or the Caribbean - those in Africa in South Africa - those in Asia in Hawaii or in Thailand - those in Europe or the Middle East in Spain or Portugal.

If you see me doing this, know that my objectives are sincere, and it is not a ruse or an attempt to scam or defraud anyone.

By the way, the 501(c)(3) I have created is relatively new, and so, I do not have an IRS letter for it yet. As such, this won't happen right away (as most contributors would want to see the IRS letter before they make contributions to a tax exempt organization). I had put a classified out in Tug Marketplace, but realized it was premature, and so pulled it.

Any thoughts?

 

[ronparise]

I think it makes sense, I msure you can get folks to donate the timeshares and I imagine you can manage the exchanges to get weeks in the right locations at the right times

The key it seems to me is can you raise the money needed to pay the maintenance fees. The same economy that makes folks want to give away their timeshare rather than paying the maintenance fees has also put a damper on a lot of charitable giving.

I would want to start this off with a sizable bank account, ie raise the maintenance fees before you solicite the donation of timeshares

 

[Lee B]

It should work; just prepare to be inundated with offers. Determine the locations that you want and the number of weeks there. I think you would want places that are quiet yet near interesting things, and don't require excessive maintenance fees to cover overhead like fancy pools, grounds, shops and restaurants.

Think about alternatives to interval usage for when you have scheduled no missionary: maybe offer the week to a big donor or raffle it to members of your religious community.

Study the TUG advice about buying, even though you will receive intervals as free gifts, such as learn whether a big assessment might loom, or if the management has a greedy or lazy reputation.

Good luck!

 

[Gophesjo]

Thanks, Ron

The key it seems to me is can you raise the money needed to pay the maintenance fees. The same economy that makes folks want to give away their timeshare rather than paying the maintenance fees has also put a damper on a lot of charitable giving.

I would want to start this off with a sizable bank account, ie raise the maintenance fees before you solicite the donation of timeshares

Great admonition - the good thing about the model is contributions to cover even a small portion of any particular maintenance fee would be valued - i.e. no one person would be required to come up with the entire nut, so 10 or 20, or even 100 contributors could be providing one week to a particular missionary.

 

[Gophesjo]

Thanks, Lee

I think you would want places that are quiet yet near interesting things, and don't require excessive maintenance fees to cover overhead like fancy pools, grounds, shops and restaurants.

Think about alternatives to interval usage for when you have scheduled no missionary: maybe offer the week to a big donor or raffle it to members of your religious community.

Good luck!

I like your suggestion regarding places, and hadn't thought about what to do with unused weeks. Maybe RCI and the resorts (for RCI affiliated resorts) would allow us to convert them all to points at the $300 per conversion rate. I would not want to have to get into the business of last call getaways or rentals with this construct!

 

[DanM]

I like your suggestion regarding places, and hadn't thought about what to do with unused weeks. Maybe RCI and the resorts (for RCI affiliated resorts) would allow us to convert them all to points at the $300 per conversion rate. I would not want to have to get into the business of last call getaways or rentals with this construct!

Well, with RCI, even the weeks deposits are now points, or TPU. The issue would be combination fees. I suppose you could combine 50 at a time for $99 :hysterical: , or maybe get RCI to donate the combination fees.

I think it's a great idea and would happily give a decent timeshare without even worrying about taking a deduction just to have it go to a good cause, but I would be especially cautious about maintenance fees. With RCI you could consider setting a cost per point or TPU maximum above which you couldn't accept the donation. You may be willing to raise money to give someone a week's vacation at a cost to the charity of, say, up to $1,000 per week --but you don't want to pay $2-$3,000 per week.

I would also start small. Accept, say, five donations and see if you can use them and pay for them. Then add a few at a time. You don't want to wind up with 20 maintenance fee obligations and no ministers willing to take the time.

 

[funtime]

Good idea but start small - two or three timeshares at best. There are great Mexican timeshares that can be had for a song. Sadly some terrific Pueblo Bonito timeshares are in that category. A studio at PB is huge and would easily do for a couple or even one with one child. They can be had for almost free on ebay. Funtime

 

[teepeeca]

Since this sounds to be a worthwhile effort, I have another suggestion for you. Maybe solicit a donation of NOT the whole timeshare (you taking title to it) but accepting a week's usage of the timeshare, for a particular year.

This would be a "win-win" scenario --- you getting a week's usage for the missionary, and the actual owner of the timeshare "giving" the charity the usage. It could be an actual (one year usage) donation to the charity, with you paying nothing, OR, you (the charity) paying the actual maintnance fee for the use year for the timeshare.

How does that sound ???

Tony

 

[Gophesjo]

Alas - may not be doable this way

Since this sounds to be a worthwhile effort, I have another suggestion for you. Maybe solicit a donation of NOT the whole timeshare (you taking title to it) but accepting a week's usage of the timeshare, for a particular year.

This would be a "win-win" scenario --- you getting a week's usage for the missionary, and the actual owner of the timeshare "giving" the charity the usage. It could be an actual (one year usage) donation to the charity, with you paying nothing, OR, you (the charity) paying the actual maintnance fee for the use year for the timeshare.

How does that sound ???

Tony

I like this idea alot, but I am afraid it may be fatally flawed. I believe donating the use of the TS is not a tax deductible event. Also, if the donor were to rather contribute the money to us, with us then paying their maintenance fees, we could be running afoul of the provisions of the code that would forbid our distributing assets from the non-profit to, or for the use of, an individual (other than as taxable compensation or benevolence - as the R&R for the missionary would be). Thanks for the input!!

Joe

 

[Gophesjo]

Great input!

Well, with RCI, even the weeks deposits are now points, or TPU. The issue would be combination fees. I suppose you could combine 50 at a time for $99 :hysterical: , or maybe get RCI to donate the combination fees.

I think it's a great idea and would happily give a decent timeshare without even worrying about taking a deduction just to have it go to a good cause, but I would be especially cautious about maintenance fees. With RCI you could consider setting a cost per point or TPU maximum above which you couldn't accept the donation. You may be willing to raise money to give someone a week's vacation at a cost to the charity of, say, up to $1,000 per week --but you don't want to pay $2-$3,000 per week.

I would also start small. Accept, say, five donations and see if you can use them and pay for them. Then add a few at a time. You don't want to wind up with 20 maintenance fee obligations and no ministers willing to take the time.

Thanks for the idea - I'm thinking about where to look to get started.

 

[Gophesjo]

Great idea

Good idea but start small - two or three timeshares at best. There are great Mexican timeshares that can be had for a song. Sadly some terrific Pueblo Bonito timeshares are in that category. A studio at PB is huge and would easily do for a couple or even one with one child. They can be had for almost free on ebay. Funtime

I am going to take a look at this resort! Thank you,

Joe

 

[ampaholic]

-snip-
I have a 501(c)(3) that I have created for other ministry projects. If that 501(c)(3) were to hold title to TS weeks or points, those weeks or points could be used to provide R & R/sabbatical week accomodations for missionaries around the globe, using exchanges or points reservations.

Funds to pay the MF's for those TS interests could be solicited on a tax deductible basis from churches and people who want to support the objective of providing sabbatical time for the missionaries.

-snip-

Any thoughts?

I have given a weeks use to a local preacher - it went well. I don't think there is a more "under-vacationed" group than Preachers and Missionaries.

I thought about setting up a database to give usage to preachers who need a vacation - but I didn't want to own that many TS's my own self.

I think you could find support with congregations who send missionaries out.

Call it "Missionaries Vacation Program" (or MVP ) across the top. Then just say "Our goal is to set hard working missionaries up with a rest every so often" in the body and end with "please help with a dollar or two" at the bottom.

Simple - you need not even mention "timeshares" in your fundraising - they are just the "places", keep focus on the missionaries.

 

[Gophesjo]

Thanks!

I have given a weeks use to a local preacher - it went well. I don't think there is a more "under-vacationed" group than Preachers and Missionaries.

I thought about setting up a database to give usage to preachers who need a vacation - but I didn't want to own that many TS's my own self.

I think you could find support with congregations who send missionaries out.

Call it "Missionaries Vacation Program" (or MVP ) across the top. Then just say "Our goal is to set hard working missionaries up with a rest every so often" in the body and end with "please help with a dollar or two" at the bottom.

Simple - you need not even mention "timeshares" in your fundraising - they are just the "places", keep focus on the missionaries.

I now work for the denomination that I have been ordained and served with, and have asked our missions guys for some info to get started on the 'demand' side. I like your idea about MVP, and about not needing to be specific about the 'supply' side.

"Our missionaries are MVP's who could use a little TLC through our MVP!"

 

[chriskre]

I like the idea but think that you could accomplish this same thing with a mega renter of points from say Wyndham that could reserve the time for you when needed and not have the ongoing MF obligation.

I'm sure lots of offers will roll in to "give" their unwanted TS to the church.

I bought one of those units on ebay from a Theological seminary on ebay for $1.00. They actually gave a tax deduction to the owner who somehow convinced them that it actually had value. A savvy fleece of the flock. :annoyed: They were just happy to get it off the books before the MF's rolled in since they accepted two weeks and we took both.

Anyway, I don't think that now is a good time for any charity to take on such a risky proposition IMO. You could always try it out by renting and later on if the donations keep rolling in earmarked for this project then you could obligate your church to the MF's but I'd start cautiously.

 

[Gophesjo]

I posted on the Wyndham Board yesterday...

I like the idea but think that you could accomplish this same thing with a mega renter of points from say Wyndham that could reserve the time for you when needed and not have the ongoing MF obligation.

I'm sure lots of offers will roll in to "give" their unwanted TS to the church.

I bought one of those units on ebay from a Theological seminary on ebay for $1.00. They actually gave a tax deduction to the owner who somehow convinced them that it actually had value. A savvy fleece of the flock. :annoyed: They were just happy to get it off the books before the MF's rolled in since they accepted two weeks and we took both.

Anyway, I don't think that now is a good time for any charity to take on such a risky proposition IMO. You could always try it out by renting and later on if the donations keep rolling in earmarked for this project then you could obligate your church to the MF's but I'd start cautiously.

I was thinking about a major points system myself, so asked questions to start getting a handle on how Wyndham works. I hadn't thought about renting though. Working with renting and the points systems works best, I think, when you can move in the 45 to 60 days out window, and I am just not sure our missionary users won't need more time for planning to be away than that.

 

[Gophesjo]

Here's a radical thought

This morning I was thinking that I should ask the developers with unsold intervals if they would consider donating a week's use (some weeks' use) in those newer projects for a purpose like this. I was specifically thinking about three missionaries who have been working in the tsunami area of northern Japan for the past 9 months who would be majorly blessed by a complimentary week at Aulani. Anyone know who I could call at DVC? :whoopie:

 

[ampaholic]

You might also look at the model used by Timeshares for Vets .

It seems they only accept the "use" of the TS not ownership and they are able to "tax break" that use.

You might want to consider giving them the sincerest form of flattery. :whoopie:

 

[amycurl]

As to who to talk to at Disney, here's who I would contact:
Leslie Goodman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, Walt Disney Company.

Almost all of the company's extensive philanthropic and corporate volunteer efforts run through the office of Corporate Citizenship.

Once upon a time, I had the business card of her predecessor, but I seem to have lost track of it (I suspect my 5 year saw the logo and appropriated it out of my office...)

 

[Gophesjo]

Many thanks!

I will contact Leslie and see what happens!

 

[funtime]

Even if not tax deductible, may of us have many timeshares and would not mind donating one week at one of them for one year's usage with no thought of gain or tax deduction. Of course, if it could be tax deductible, so much the better! My sister and I just donated two weeks to two of my favorite organizations for a silent auction. But, do start small.

And - I did donate a beautiful timeshare week in Orlando to my secretary this year and while she loved it, she and her family could not afford to go to any of the parks including Disneyworld. WE all know those parks are expensive especially if there is a family involved. It may also break a missionaries' budget. For Florida locations, I would think more of coastal resorts as the beach is free. Funtime