Tax-Deductible Volunteer Service Programs for US Taxpayers

Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3)  tax-exempt corporation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (see IRS Form 526). According to IRS rules, personal expenses for a 501(c)(3)  tax-exempt non-profit organization may be deductible if there is “no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation” involved. The purpose of the travel must be to perform a service on behalf of the non-profit organization. However, the deduction will qualify even if you enjoy the trip. See this link on the IRS website for more information.

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Global Volunteers cannot provide tax advice. Please consult with a tax professional before you claim any charitable deductions. We can offer some general guidance on this matter.

$1000 tax deduction for taxpayers who do not itemize

There is a new $1000 tax deduction for non-itemizers allowing taxpayers who take the standard deduction to deduct up to $1,000 in cash contributions to qualified charities, like Global Volunteers. This deduction is above-the-line, meaning it reduces taxable income before other deductions and credits are applied. This change is part of the 2025 tax law and is effective for tax years 2025 through 2028. It is designed to make charitable giving more accessible and appealing to a broader range of taxpayers, including those who previously did not receive a tax benefit for their charitable contributions.

Tax deduction for taxpayers who do itemize:

Global Volunteers service program fees, airfare, visa, etc., are tax-deductible for US taxpayers because Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3)  tax-exempt organization, and the volunteers do the work of Global Volunteers while they are in the community serving. On all of our service programs, every volunteer works, on average, eight hours per day, five days per week, to ensure they can claim this tax benefit.

The service program runs from the time of arrival in and departure from the host community, assuming a direct route and reasonable travel time. Daily travel time to/from the work project site and lodging cannot be included in the eight-hour requirement. However, we can and do include time every day for reasonable preparation and planning.

Deductible expenses may include:

Air, rail, and bus transportation

• Car expenses
• Lodging costs
• The cost of meals (excluding desserts and alcoholic beverages)
• Taxi fares or other transportation costs between the airport or station and your hotel
• Program-related materials and services

Deductible expenses may not include:

• Leisure-time or weekend activities
• Desserts or alcoholic beverages
• Personal shopping or gifts
• Any expenses incurred before the service program starts or after the service program ends (excluding transportation to get to the community and to get home)

“I was curious, so I prepared my individual taxes this year both with the Global Volunteers charitable deduction and without, and I realized that deducting the program fee, airfare, travel insurance, and visa would net me more than without that deduction. I always heard about the value of the tax deduction, but I really didn’t think seriously about it until I analyzed it this way myself. I’m looking forward to using the refund for my next service program this year. It’s like recycled money!”

– Esther Schak, 9-time Global Volunteer

A short-term volunteer vacation can be your most important and meaningful travel opportunity this year. Since 1984, Global Volunteers has engaged families, couples, seniors, and groups of all kinds in tax-deductible volunteer programs worldwide.  Join us to experience true cultural immersion while you give back to the world. We’re a long-standing and highly respected USA-based NGOs offering genuine development programs.  Our focus is on leveraging volunteers’ skills for the benefit of our community partners. Contact us to learn more about our service programs.