Discussion:Donations-schedule C

I have a client, or should say "HAD" a client, whom did not come back last year. She called today and wanted a copy of her last return I prepared and proceeded to tell me why she has moved on. This elderly lady has a small cleaning business as her only income (reportable income anyway). She only owes each year a small amount of self employment, less than $500. Bless this little old lady as she donates all of her time to the local historical society. While her mileage and any monetary donations she makes are deductible, they do not help her. I explained this to her and apparently she is not happy. Other people tell her they deduct theirs every year. I know I am right her, other than the fact that she could deduct some of her donations on her business. But at what point do you say, OK, XXX amt $ was donated from her business and XXX amt from personal. This is a lady who shows a profit of $3000 on her cleaning jobs. Her donations are quite higher, and I dont feel comfortable taking $3000 of donations off of her schedule C. I suppose if she were to have a separate checking account and showed me donation checks from her business I could use them?? SHould I advise her to do so? My question to her was that I would like to look over her 2008 return to see exactly how this new preparer helped her deduct these donations. She is hopefully stopping by this week?