Sept. 11, 2001, was one of the United States’ darkest days. That day, almost 3,000 people died in terrorist attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and suburban Washington, D.C.
Many of those we lost were first responders. Their surviving emergency colleagues are still dealing with the emotional and psychological trauma. Many also are facing illnesses, including cancer, that are attributable to their exposure to toxins released at the sites.
A national day of remembrance and service: Sept. 11 was officially designated Patriot Day in 2009 by a joint resolution of Congress. It is not an official, formal federal holiday. But numerous groups conduct ceremonies at the attack sites to recognize and remember those who died, were injured, or faced danger to help others during the terrorist attacks.
Those heroic efforts are why Patriot Day also is a National Day of Service. On each 9/11 (as on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), individuals volunteer to support programs not only in the affected cities, but across the country.
Unfortunately, AmeriCorps' website is undergoing renovations, so that national clearinghouse’s 9/11 Day search tool isn’t available to help you easily find opportunities to volunteer in your community on this year’s grim anniversary.
However, plenty of other national groups offer some suggestions.
The nonprofit Carry the Load has partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration office to organizes events at national cemeteries on 9/11. This year, volunteers will help clean headstones and beautify grounds in 60 VA cemeteries in tribute to our military, veterans, first responders, and their families.
You also can help support first responders and health care workers in your community. If there is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, in your area, find out how you can help it achieve its goals.
Tragedies like 9/11, as well as other disasters such as destructive major storms, also depend on medical services, which often run short of supplies. You can help on this year’s Day of Remembrance by donating blood at your local American Red Cross office or blood bank.
If you are in the greater New York City area, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum coordinates various volunteer opportunities. Also check with the nonprofit 9/11 Day, which founded and organizes the federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Taxes and your gifs money or time: If you can’t participate on Sept. 11 in a volunteer effort, most of these groups will gladly accept monetary donations to help them continue their work.
Financial gifts to organizations that are Internal Revenue Service approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit groups also could provide you with a tax deduction.
I know, you’re not giving to get a tax break, but taking it if you qualify doesn’t diminish your goodwill. And it might mean tax savings that you can put toward other charities that you support.
That’s not specifically true, however, for your volunteer efforts. The answer to the question, “Can I deduct the value of my time and/or skills when I volunteer for a charitable organization?” is no. Donated hours aren't tax deductible.
Still, Uncle Sam believes volunteers should get some tax benefits. The Internal Revenue Code lets you deduct the value of in-kind donations you make as a volunteer.
This includes things such as the office supplies you bought when you spent the day helping organize your favorite nonprofit's administrative and operational systems.
There also are the miles you drive your own car in volunteer service to a charity, like delivering meals to shut-ins or taking the community center's job training folks to interviews.
While many tax-deductible miles are adjusted annually for inflation, the amount for charitable driving is statutorily set and static at 14 cents. Yes, I agree, it's not fair. Tell your members of Congress that you want them to change this.
Know and follow the deduction rules: Finally, remember to follow the usual IRS rules for donating to ensure that you can claim these volunteer-related contributions as itemized deductions on Schedule A. For the 2025 tax year, that means you must itemize to claim any charitable donations.
However, in 2026 a charitable tax deduction for filers who claim the standard deduction will return to tax forms. Single taxpayers can claim on their 2026 tax returns that they’ll file in 2027 up to $1,000 of their eligible gifts. The non-itemizing charitable deduction will be $2,000 for married filing jointly taxpayers.
And taking any charitable tax breaks for which you qualify could help you continue your giving ways.
You can take tax dollars you save by deducting donations on 9/11 Day and keep the goodwill going by giving the money back to all the charities you support.
You also might find these items of interest:
- Don’t overlook alternative ways to give to charity
- New tax law gives and takes from charitable donors
- 5 ways to determine whether a charity is naughty or nice
