Donations to private charity

[Davex]

I'm considering donating some btc to a non-profit charity here in the US.  For tax purposes, would this work like donating stock, i.e. I would pay no capital gains on my donation, and then the charity would be able to convert the Bitcoins to cash without any tax consequences?

[DamienBlack]

I believe it would works exactly the same as donating any commodity. Food, clothing, bitcoins, they are all non-cash donations and all work the same.

[tirion]

I was wondering the same thing... what if i convert the bitcoins to cash first, and then transfer that to the charity?   I looked up the rules for shares, and its pretty confusing!

[tirion]

or alternatively,  what happens if i transfer BTC to mtgox or tradehill, and get them to bank transfer directly to the charity (so i am never actually holding any cash personally)?  and i mean real charities (Red Cross, whatever), not as a means to avoid paying tax