So the next question on everyone's mind is how do I know my money is actually going towards the cause? This is an important question because you don't want to donate to a charity and then be disheartened when you find out that your money basically goes to administrative fees.
If your charity is local, then you are able to see the difference your donation has made. As a donor you are able to request that your money go to a specific item or request proof that the donation was used properly. It is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints registered against this charity. In order to check to see if the charity is registered with the state, check the National Association of State Charity Officials.
If you are not donating to a local charity it is best to make sure that the charity is not completely new. Many fake charities spring up overnight in connection with current disasters and events around the world. These events are able to convince people to donate to their cause based on sypathy. A legitimate charity will supply you with the name, address, phone number and proof that your contribution is tax deductible.
Do not fall prey to high pressure charities that offer to send a courier to pick up your donation or request that you make a payment over the phone. If you feel that you are being pressured it is best to stop and do more research. Your money will be of use at any time, and you should not rush into donating without proper research. If you feel as though something is off, check the spelling of the charity you are donating to. Some false charities use names similar to that of large charities in order to scam your money. You can also call the actual charity to see if they are sending out requests in order to see if the request you received is legitimate.
Now that you think you have a legitimate charity, you want to know how much of your actual donation will go to the cause. There are many sites out there that will show you the percentage of the donation going towards the cause. A few of these sites are Charity Navigator or Charity Choices. These sites will give you an accurate representation of what your money is used for, along with consumer reviews.
Perhaps you've already touched on this subject in a previous blog. While I was reading your piece, it reminded me that we also need to be wary of local "fund raisers" for "worthy" causes. I recently learned that a money laundering scam was being conducted at a F.O.E. under the disguise of a fund raiser for a "sick" local mother.
ReplyDeleteThose make me so angry. There are so many people out there that genuinely need help.. these funds for the greedy make people skeptical and less willing to donate.
ReplyDeleteGreat points on being weary of scam artists, especially those who take advantage of a disaster, to gain funds. Quite frankly, scammers make me sick and there should be more serious consequences for them when they get caught.
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