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Timeshare donation; more difficult in tough economic times... (by KC):

I think that the stanleyf5 post above is good advice.

If a timeshare has any market value at all, it can be most likely sold by its' current owner, albeit perhaps only at a very low price. If the timeshare has no market value at all, charities generally won't accept such a "donation" anyhow --- unless you also pay them the monetary equivalent of one or more years of maintenance fees as well (which obviously helps them to financially "carry" that albatross while they attempt to sell it). Any given timeshare is only of use to a charity if the charity can then convert it into some cash to support whatever their particular cause might be. A charity, quite understandably, has no interest in taking ownership of a completely worthless timeshare and /or its' associated annual maintenance fee (and maybe special assessment) obligations. A charity obviously doesn't need or want that unwelcome financial liability any more than a prospective "donor" does.

Unfortunately, in the current economic conditions, charities have (understandably) become much more selective about which timeshares they will accept as a donation. Only an obviously marketable and desirable timeshare week will be accepted as a donation without additional fees having to also be paid by the donor, along with the timeshare itself. Some timeshares won't be accepted at all, period --- with or without additional fees --- usually because of ongoing financial or legal problems with particular facilities or "chains".

Timeshare donation is really only a "gift" when the "donation" actually has some value. Charities, whoever and wherever they may be, cannot afford to (and will generally decline to) just be a "dumping ground" for timeshares with no inherent value or marketability in the first place.