- Ask solicitors for identification. Many states require fundraisers to identify themselves and the charity they work for.
- Request written information about the charity, including address and phone number. Then check with the BBB.
- Always make contributions with a check payable to the charity, not to the individual collecting donations.
- Find out how your contribution will be distributed. You should know what percentage of your donation is going to administrative cost.
- Never yield to high-pressure fundraisers and allow a courier to collect contribution immediately.
- Ask if state and local authorities license the charity. However, registration does not mean that the government endorses the charity.
- Find out if your contribution will be tax deductible. Just because a charity is tax-exempt, it doesn’t mean that your contribution will be tax deductible.
- Be wary of familiar-sounding names. Some illegitimate organizations operate using names that are similar to those of well-known, respected charities, in hopes that you will not be watching.
- Donate with your head, not with your heart. If you receive material that motivates you to donate, be sure that it tells you clearly what the charity is doing to aid in the issue, or remedy the problem.
- Frequently check watchdog organizations and keep records of where and how much you donate.
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