How Fleet Vehicle Donations Support Wisconsin Teens - Rawhide Youth Services

If you’re a small business owner or self-employed, donating retired fleet vehicles is a simple way to give back to your community. Whether your fleet includes passenger vehicles, cargo vans, or trucks that have reached the end of their service life, fleet vehicle donations to Rawhide Youth Services help fund programs that offer young people a second chance. 

In this post, you’ll learn how to donate fleet vehicles to Rawhide, what to expect from the process, and how your gift makes a real difference for young people in your community.

Benefits of Fleet Vehicle Donations

Financial 

Fleet vehicle donations to Rawhide offer significant tax benefits. Our donors often receive higher deductions because we carefully inspect and prepare each vehicle for sale. Other charities use third-party companies, which means less money goes to the charity and donors may receive lower deductions.

If your car sells for more than $500, you can typically deduct the full sale price. Even if it sells for less, you may still qualify for a deduction. We handle everything according to IRS rules, so you can be confident in the process.

Donating a vehicle can also be financially smarter than selling it, especially if it has been depreciated for business use. Selling can trigger depreciation recapture, which means the IRS may tax part of the sale amount as ordinary income—particularly if the sale price exceeds the vehicle's book value. By donating it to Rawhide, you may avoid those taxes while supporting a great cause. 

Community

Every donated vehicle supports Rawhide’s programs for hurting youth across Wisconsin. Your contribution makes a tangible difference close to home.

Personal 

The best part of donating your vehicle to Rawhide might be the sense of fulfillment you feel, knowing you’re giving a young person a fresh start. 

What to Look for When Donating Fleet Vehicles

If you’re new to fleet vehicle donations, the number of options can feel overwhelming. But not all vehicle donation programs are created equal, and some have more impact than others.

Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the right organization:

• Will your donation stay local?
  Some programs operate nationally and send vehicles (and proceeds) out of state. If you want to help your own community, choose a Wisconsin-based organization like Rawhide.
  
  
• Will the organization accept a non-functioning vehicle?
  Even if your vehicle doesn’t run anymore, it may still hold value through resale, recycling, or use in vocational training programs. Feel free to ask what happens with non-working vehicles!
  
  
• How much of your donation actually supports the mission?
  Some organizations may use donations to cover their administrative costs. At Rawhide, the majority of donations go directly to youth programs, so you know your gift is making a difference.
  
  
• Is the process simple?
  A good program will handle logistics like title transfer, towing, and documentation.
  
  

Why Donate to Rawhide?

Since 1965, Rawhide Youth Services has helped thousands of young people in Wisconsin overcome adversity through education, counseling, and residential care. Our mission is to help at-risk youth and their families lead healthy, fulfilling lives. 

We do this by providing:

• Residential care and transitional living services for teens
• Mental health counseling and therapy
• Alternative education through Starr Academy
• Community-based and outpatient programs
  
  

How Do Fleet Vehicle Donations Help At-Risk Youth?

Fleet vehicle donations directly fund programs that serve youth and families across Wisconsin. 

Here’s how:

• Some vehicles are resold to fund counseling, education, and residential care.
• Others are recycled or used for hands-on training, giving students real-world skills.
• All proceeds go toward helping young people find stability, purpose, and a way forward.

More than 79% of every donation goes directly to programs that support at-risk youth and their families. Vehicle donations make up 38% of Rawhide’s total support, so your contribution truly does make a difference.

Each year, Rawhide serves hundreds of young people and their families. They come to us facing real dangers — unsafe home lives, mental health struggles, trauma — and some teens just need a safe space to talk about their feelings. 

When you donate to Rawhide, you're giving young people the stability they need, and families the hope they need most.

How to Donate Your Vehicles to Rawhide

From sedans and SUVs to cargo vans, we accept nearly any type of vehicle and put them to good use through resale, recycling, or hands-on training in our vocational programs. 

Ready to Begin?

It takes three quick steps!

1. Tell Us About Your Vehicle
   Just fill out a quick form on our site or give us a call at 1-800-729-4433. We’ll walk you through the process, including title transfer.
   
   
2. Plan Your Pickup or Drop-Off
   Drop off your vehicle at one of our 175 Wisconsin locations. Alternatively, contact us to arrange a free pickup from anywhere in the state.
   
   
3. Receive Your Tax Receipt
   Once we’ve processed your vehicle’s title, we’ll send you a donation receipt you can keep for your records. Most of the time, your gift counts as a tax-deductible charitable donation.
   
   

FAQ

1. How does vehicle donation affect my taxes?
   If your vehicle sells for more than $500, you can usually deduct the full sale price. If under $500, you may claim up to $500 or fair market value, whichever is less.
2. Will I get a 1098-C tax form?
   Yes. Once your vehicle is processed and sold, Rawhide will issue IRS Form 1098-C so you can claim your deduction. If it sells for more than $500, you can usually deduct the full sale price.
3. Do I need to prep the vehicle before donating?
   No need to clean or repair it. Just remove your personal belongings and license plate, and have the title ready.
4. What if the car has brand-new tires — can I keep them?
   You can, if you replace them with other tires, but we recommend donating the vehicle as-is to maximize its value and impact.
5. Can I donate a vehicle without a title?
   Typically, no. A clear title is required for most donations. If yours is lost, we can help you start the replacement process.
6. How do I receive confirmation of my donation?
   After pickup and title processing, you’ll receive a tax receipt by mail for your records.
   
   

Other Ways to Get Involved

Learn more about how you can help Wisconsin teens lead fulfilling lives.