Three ways property can help
An outright gift. A house, a commercial building, a condo, or land, given to OnlyFuego and either used for the mission or sold with proceeds going to it. This is the path with a fair-market-value deduction.
A storefront on loan. An empty retail space, for a season or a year. This is what our Charity Pop-Up is waiting on: iconic donated pieces, an empty window, and admission paid with a garment. Free or below-market rent is not tax-deductible under IRS rules, and we will tell you that plainly rather than let you find out at tax time. What you get instead is public credit as the partner who made it happen.
A bargain sale. Sell the property to us below appraised value. The gap is generally treated as a gift, and you still take money out.
What we promise, and what we don't
We will look at every offer seriously and reply within a day. We will be honest about whether we can take it. We cannot promise to accept a property sight unseen, because a gift with back taxes, a lien, or an environmental problem can cost a small nonprofit more than it gives. If we say no, we will try to point you to a charity that can say yes.
Please talk to your own tax advisor. We can tell you how we would use a gift and sign the forms a recipient signs. We cannot give tax advice.
What we would do with it
A storefront
The Charity Pop-Up, or a lending closet where people borrow interview clothes for free and honorees pick up something to wear on their night.
A warehouse or studio
Storage for the collection, a photo space, and room to process donations instead of doing it out of a house in Milwaukee.
A house or land
Sold, with proceeds split across the charities on our Honor Roll and the lending programs. Your gift funds years of work.
What we need from you to evaluate a gift
The address and type of property, roughly what it is worth, whether there is a mortgage or lien, how it is currently used, and your timeline. If it is a storefront on loan, the square footage, the neighborhood, and how long it could be available. That is enough for us to give you a real answer.
Start the conversation
Tell us what you have in mind. A real person replies within 24 hours.
Questions people ask
Can I donate a building or land to OnlyFuego?
Yes, we can accept gifts of real estate, but we evaluate every one before saying yes. We look at title, any mortgage or liens, environmental history, taxes and carrying costs, and whether we can use or sell the property responsibly. Some gifts we will have to decline, and we will tell you quickly if so.
Is a gift of real estate tax-deductible?
Generally yes, at fair market value, for property you have held more than a year. For a deduction over $5,000 the IRS requires a qualified appraisal and Form 8283, which we sign as the recipient. Please confirm the details with your tax advisor; we are a clothing nonprofit, not a tax firm.
Can I just let you use my empty storefront for free?
We would love that, and it is exactly what the Charity Pop-Up needs. One honest caveat: the IRS does not allow a deduction for donating the use of property, so free or reduced rent is a true gift of goodwill rather than a write-off. We will credit you publicly as a space partner.
What would you do with donated property?
A storefront becomes a Charity Pop-Up or a lending closet for job-interview and honoree clothing. A warehouse or studio becomes storage and a photo space. Anything we cannot use directly, we would sell, with proceeds going to the mission.
What is a bargain sale?
Selling property to a charity for less than its fair market value. The difference between the sale price and the appraised value is generally treated as a charitable gift. It is a common middle path when someone wants to help but needs some money out of the property.