Question: So who are you AIM Services, Inc. people really?                     

Answer:  We are a group of Christian men and women from various denominations who believe that the words spoken by Jesus in the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel are directed to each of us and compel us to help those in need by whatever means become available to us.  After many years of praying and meeting, we embarked upon a program that makes safe and reliable transportation available to those in need at minimal cost.

Question: How do I know you are not just another fly-by-night scam outfit?                     

Answer:  AIM Services, Inc. is a licensed non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Indiana, and we have qualified under the stringent rules of the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).  This means that the IRS has recognized AIM Services as a “public charity” and that all contributions made to AIM Services are fully deductible to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Code.  AIM Services, Inc. is also a duly-licensed used-car dealership under the laws of the State of Indiana and may conduct the business of a used-car dealership, even though we are totally non-profit in nature.

Question: What is your biggest need?                    

Answer:  We need cars donated to us that are in good working condition.  While we can do minimal repairs to the vehicles to bring them up to our standards of safety and reliability before we distribute them to our target clientele, we do not have the monetary resources to perform extensive repairs.  If you have a car that you would like to donate to AIM Services, Inc., call us at (260) 760-0681 to begin the process.

Question: What will you do with the vehicle I donate?                    

Answer:  Your vehicle will be thoroughly inspected by our licensed mechanics, who will indicate to us whether and to what extent repairs need to be made.  If necessary repairs are of a minor nature, we will incur the expense to repair the car and then locate a suitable candidate to receive the vehicle.  If the repairs are major and exceed the wholesale value of the car, we will sell the vehicle at a car auction and utilize the money to repair other more suitable vehicles.

Question: What tax benefits do I receive?                    

Answer:  The IRS has recently more closely scrutinized the deductions of vehicles to non-profits.  You are entitled to deduct the fair market value of any property that you donate to charity.  This must necessarily take into account the condition of the property and what you could reasonably expect to receive if you were to sell this property to a private individual.  In general terms, you must evaluate and determine the fair market price of the vehicle you are donating, and this can be accomplished by looking at prices for comparable used cars at websites such Kellybluebook.com and Edmunds.com.  AIM Services, Inc. will provide you an acknowledgment of your donation and indicate to you whether and to what extent repairs were made and, if known at the time, at what sale price AIM chose to sell the car.  From that, you should be able to determine the appropriate value to convey to the IRS in your tax return.

Question: How do you determine the recipients of your cars?                    

Answer:  We have a target clientele, which includes people who are seeking employment following a history of welfare dependency, alcoholism, drug abuse or marital abuse, those who are seeking a return to society following incarceration and those persons suffering from partial disability, handicap or mental impairment.  We strive to work through social service agencies, such as Catholic Social Services, Lutheran Social Services, the Y.W.C.A. and Vincent House (a shelter for homeless families).  We also consider appeals directly from the public or from acquaintances of those in need.

Question: How are you funded?                    

Answer:  We have received funding from The Lutheran Foundation, the Victory Noll Sisters and from private contributions from our Board members.  We also receive funding from payments received from those to whom we distribute cars.  We charge them no interest, but we do not give the cars away.  We require that they pay a minimum of $50.00 per month, that they have a valid driver’s license and that they have minimal insurance.

Question: Mobile repair service? At below market cost?                    

Answer:  We have chosen a mobile repair service to make it easier for our clients by having them avoid the hassle of getting their car to a repair shop. This service is provided at below-market costs and is only available to people with a referral from a social worker or church organization.

Question: What is the derivation of your name “AIM Services, Inc.”?                    

Answer:  Having begun as a Christian prayer group, the founders of this organization sought a name that had some Biblical roots. Consequently, the name is more correctly “aIm” rather than “AIM”, with the middle letter being a capital “i”. This relates to the Old Testament excerpt from the Book of Exodus, wherein God appears to Moses and instructs him to free the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. Moses asks God for some guidance as to God’s identity, that is, what it is he is to tell the Israelites about the person who is sending him to perform this task, and God responds: “I am who am”. Thus, “aIm Services, Inc.” makes reverential reference to this pronouncement from God, whom we have petitioned to guide us in the tasks before us as He guided Moses on his journey of faith.

Question: Do you have any paid employees?                    

Question: Why do you need my Social Security number?