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Did Google.org Steal the Christmas Spirit? (theregister.co.uk)
Google.org gives nonprofits roughly $100 million each year. But now the Register argues that festive giving "has become a 'Googlicious' sales push." Among other things, The Register criticizes the $30 million in grant funding that Google.org gave this Christmas "to nonprofits to bring phones, tablets, hardware and training to communities that can benefit from them most," some of which utilized the crowdfunding site DonorsChoose (which tacks a fee of at least $30 fee onto every donation). "The most critical learning resources that teachers need are often exercise books, pen and paper, but incentives built into the process steer educators to request and receive Google hardware, rather than humble classroom staples," claims the Register. theodp writes:
[O]ne can't help but wonder if Google.org's decision to award $18,130 to teachers at Timberland Charter Academy for Chromebooks to help make students "become 'Google'licious" while leaving another humbler $399 request from a teacher at the same school for basic school supplies -- pencils, paper, erasers, etc. -- unfunded is more aligned with Google's interests than the Christmas spirit. Google, The Register reminds readers, lowered its 2015 tax bill by $3.6 billion using the old Dutch Sandwich loophole trick, according to new regulatory filings in the Netherlands.
The article even criticizes the "Santa's Village" site at Google.org, which includes games like Code Boogie, plus a game about airport security at the North Pole. Their complaint is its "Season of Giving" game, which invites children to print out and color ornaments that represent charities -- including DonorsChoose.org. The article ends by quoting Slashdot reader theodp ("who documents the influence of Big Tech in education") as saying "Nothing says Christmas fun more than making ornaments to celebrate Google's pet causes..."
The article even criticizes the "Santa's Village" site at Google.org, which includes games like Code Boogie, plus a game about airport security at the North Pole. Their complaint is its "Season of Giving" game, which invites children to print out and color ornaments that represent charities -- including DonorsChoose.org. The article ends by quoting Slashdot reader theodp ("who documents the influence of Big Tech in education") as saying "Nothing says Christmas fun more than making ornaments to celebrate Google's pet causes..."
Coming from a teacher in a school building a $600,000 upgrade to the football field this is true.
However in our case the money was donated. By people that wouldn't have donated that money to classrooms.
That's a great explanation, except for one thing:
It is completely wrong.
The IRS long ago learned that the best way to deal with charitable donations is to allow only actual costs rather than retail price. Otherwise, you'd see people "selling" a $10 product for thousands of dollars, then donating it to a charity to get those thousands off their taxes.
So if Microsoft sells a copy of Windows for $1000, and donates it to a school, they are allowed to deduct ONLY that $5 that is actually development and maintenance costs. The rest of the profit they would have made is completely ignored by both parties.
I suggest you talk with a tax professional before you go around trying to explain how taxes work - it will save everyone time, and prevent the spread of false information like your post.