
Habitat for Humanity International
Builds affordable homes alongside families in need across all 50 states and 70+ countries.
Property donation is one of the most tax-efficient gifts available to Washington County owners, yet it remains one of the least used. A direct transfer to a 501(c)(3) avoids the capital gains tax a sale would trigger and produces a deduction tied to the property's full appraised value.
9
Cities & Towns
227,331
Residents
Donors who itemize can deduct the full appraised value of Washington County real estate, often the single largest charitable write-off available in a given year.
Every organization listed for Washington County is a pre-screened, IRS-qualified public charity equipped to accept real property.
Proceeds from your gift fund real programs — housing, youth services, food security — operating in and around Washington County.
Turn your property into a second chance at life.
MatchingDonors.com is a 501(c)(3) that connects patients in need of a transplant with living altruistic organ donors — the first organization to facilitate an organ transplant through the internet. Real estate gifts are converted into operating support, helping patients find a match in months instead of years on the national waiting list.
Real estate gifts routed to MatchingDonors.com receive prioritized handling — clear title transfer, fair-market-value appraisal, and a deduction letter inside 60 days. Proceeds fund the matching platform that has connected over 15,000 registered donors with patients in need.
See how much impact your property could make.
Vetted 501(c)(3) charities ready to accept real estate proceeds from donors across Washington County and the rest of Minnesota.

Builds affordable homes alongside families in need across all 50 states and 70+ countries.
Protects ecologically important lands and waters across the United States and globally.
Provides mentorship, after-school programs, and safe spaces for young people nationwide.
The largest U.S. hunger-relief network, sourcing food for 200 member food banks.
Delivers humanitarian aid, blood donation, and disaster recovery across the country.
Choose a city in Washington County to see local charities that accept real estate donations.
Qualified charities accept far more than single-family homes. Condominiums, multi-family buildings, vacant land, commercial space, and even fractional interests are all candidates for donation in Washington County.
Property with a mortgage, title complications, or deferred maintenance can still qualify — those details are worked out during the review stage, not before.
A transparent, four-step process ensures a smooth transition from property to philanthropy. (The exact process may differ between organizations, these are the general phases)
Your charity will conduct a preliminary assessment of your property's market value and suitability for donation.
Their experts handle title searches, environmental checks, and prepare all necessary transfer paperwork.
The property is officially transferred to the charity. You receive IRS Form 8283 for tax deduction purposes.
The property is sold and proceeds are distributed to your chosen charity to fund their mission.
Straight answers on donating real estate, the tax treatment, and what to expect.
Selling first triggers capital gains tax and sale costs, shrinking the amount left to give and to deduct. Donating the property directly skips the gain entirely and bases the deduction on full fair market value — usually the more efficient route for appreciated Washington County real estate.
Typically nothing out of pocket. The receiving charity generally covers title work, closing, and related costs, and there are no agent commissions on a donation.
Largely, yes. A donation avoids the public listing and price history a sale creates. The deed transfer itself becomes a public record, as all property transfers do, but the gift draws far less attention than an open-market sale.
Possibly. Charities accept properties with environmental questions but allow extra time for inspections and due diligence. Disclosing known concerns up front helps the receiving charity assess whether it can take the gift.
When the mortgage exceeds the property's value, a donation gets complicated and the usual deduction may not apply. The receiving charity reviews the loan balance early on so you know where you stand before committing.
Browse charities that accept real estate donations elsewhere in the state.