Quick Answers...
I want to donate some money
for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
How do I know which
charity to contribute to?
Your donations to a charity can be of great assistance to people in desperate conditions. However, it is difficult to know whether or not a charitable organization is reputable and will put your money to good use. Following are some suggestions to help you decide which organization to give to.
Give to an established charity.
Make sure the organization you choose to donate to has been around for some time and has dealt with this type of disaster before. New organizations that are created immediately after a disaster may have difficulties until they are up and running. Check to see if the group you are giving to is a registered public charity with a 501(c)(3) status. Pay attention to charities that have names similar to well-established organizations; they may be phony.
Designate your gift.
When you donate money to a charity, you may often either
designate your gift to go to a particular project or allow
the charity to use the donation as they see fit. If you feel
uncomfortable allowing the charity to decide, or you want
your money to go to a specific purpose, make your wishes
clear. Give directly to the charity instead of to a
solicitor who may keep some of the funds to cover
solicitation expenses.
Avoid telemarketers and verify information.
It is difficult to evaluate a company when a telemarketer is pressuring you to give funds over the phone. If you are interested, ask the telemarketer to send you written information and avoid giving account or credit card information over the phone. Ask for identification if someone approaches you in person. If someone says he or she is collecting funds for a particular charity, call the organization to verify the information.
Do not send or give cash.
Always donate funds with a check or credit card. Include
the charity’s full name on your check. This will provide you
with more protection and a better record of your
transaction.
Research and follow up.
Ask questions, request information and follow up on your
donations to see how they were used. Do a Web search on the
company you are thinking about donating to or ask friends
and family if they know anything about the company. You have
the right to know how your money is being used. Use one of
the following Web sites to check out your charity:
http://www.fema.gov/
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/
Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96136,00.html
(to verify a charity's tax exempt status)
http://www.nvoad.org/
http://www.give.org
http://www.charitywatch.org
http://www.guidestar.org
http://www.charitynavigator.org
http://www.nasconet.org
(to find your state’s charity regulator)
Report fraud.
If you feel you have dealt with an organization that is not
using your funds properly, contact the Missouri Attorney
General http://ago.mo.gov/, any local consumer
protection groups in your area or the Federal Trade
Commission http://www.ftc.gov/
to file a complaint.
Sources:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt114.shtm
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/catid/68/cpid/310.htm
Suzi McGarvey, extension associate,
University of Missouri Extension
Reviewed by Brenda Procter, state specialist, Consumer and
Family Economics, University of Missouri Extension
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Last update: Tuesday, November 04, 2008
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