Having concerns about the legitimacy of a charity should never be the deciding factor keeping someone from donating.
There are hundreds of charities that operate honestly and are in need of funds to help their causes. Moreover, there are very simple ways potential donors can research a charity if they have any suspicions. Here is how donors can determine whether a charity is real or a fraud.
Get Help from the Government
Federal and state governments have an abundance of useful information to help citizens make informed decisions, including details on charities. The Internal Revenue Service can supply a list of all registered charities in the entire country. More detailed information on local charities can be found at local government offices like the attorney general and city hall.
Visit the Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is known for holding organizations to high standards to protect consumers and that includes charities and their donors. Anyone can visit the BBB’s website to read reports and evaluations of numerous charities. They can also see which ones have been awarded endorsements in the way of charity seals by the BBB.
Research Online
The Internet has a wealth of resources for donors to learn about the charities they are thinking of giving donations to. Numerous charity evaluation sites can be found online that provide ratings and rankings of charities across the country.
They also publish detailed reviews online generated by their staff or submitted by users. Potential donors can read reviews about a national charity like Kars for Kids, as well as reviews about the charity efforts being offered from their local church.
Visit the Charity’s Website
Whether or not a charity is respectable can sometimes be quite obvious. By browsing their website, donors should be able to see explicitly the work that they do and what their mission is. A charity’s website should also have tell-tale factors like legitimate contact information such as a working phone number and recently updated content.
Contact the Charity
It never hurts to ask questions. Before donating money, donors should take the time to learn more about a charity by calling to ask questions about their efforts. Questions should cover the organization’s structure and whether a donation would be tax deductible, as all donations given to registered charities are. It is also recommended to ask for documentation. If a charity can’t or is unwilling to answer inquiries then it can definitely be considered fraudulent.
Volunteer for an Event
For potential donors that have the time, it could really worth volunteering at a charity’s events, be it a fundraiser or hands-on effort like building houses. This way any donor can see firsthand how the charity operates and whether it’s respectable or not.
Consider a Charity’s Solicitation
Another obvious tip-off to the legitimacy of a charity is how exactly they ask for money. If a charity only asks for cash in the mail or credit card information over the Internet, then it is highly likely that they do not have a donor’s best interest in mind.
Take these precautions and donate wisely. How do you research charities?
Image: CC Flickr.com/HowardLake
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