On April 15, 2000, more than 30 million taxpayers who itemized deductions on their tax returns were able to claim tax deductions for any contributions made to their favorite charities. The effect of the deduction was to lower the taxpayers cost of giving one dollar by amounts ranging from 15 cents to almost 40 cents. But many taxpayers who contribute to charities were not eligible for a charitable deduction because they claimed the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions on their tax returns.