How do I become a tax-deductible charity?

Question

I want to raise some money to go over to India to carry out some health care work, but I need to raise some money to get there.

Is there a way I can become a tax-deductible charity so people who give money at my fundraising events can get some of it back?

Answer 1

No. A charity can't be set up to benefit one person -- you -- no matter how nice your intentions.

Buy a copy of "How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas" -- it has a lot of advice on fundraising for these types of individual "missions." Also look through the resolved questions of Yahoo, as questions about fundraising for these kinds of trips have been asked, and answered, oh-so-many times.