Many of us have run into messages or ads for charitable organizations that just don’t feel right. Something about the language they use or their websites doesn’t instill confidence in us. These kinds of scam charities aren’t too common, but they do still exist. Unfortunately, that can make some people wary about making a much-needed donation in fear that it will go to someone they don’t intend it for. Read on to find out how to tell if a charity organization is reputable before you donate so that you don’t waste money on someone’s false claims.
There Are Multiple Legitimate Ways To Donate
One easy way to tell if a charity organization is reputable is to see how many ways you can donate to them. Dishonest charities and scams often insist that the only way to give to them is through cash, wire transfers, or gift cards, as these types of transactions are more difficult to track. Companies that pick up donations and organizations that let you donate via credit card or check are usually much more legitimate, as they have a paper trail of transactions to follow if something goes wrong. Legitimate charitable organizations will also often clearly spell out the kinds of items that are acceptable as donations rather than only asking for money.
They Tell You How They Use Your Donation
A good charity that you can trust won’t try to hide how it uses your donation. Multiple websites allow you to see how a given charitable organization uses its donations and how it divvies up the money. Plus, you can check in with the Better Business Bureau. Remember that some of your donations may go toward the upkeep of the organization itself. This is normal, but a reputable organization keeps the funds more focused on its charitable goals.
They Always Offer a Tax Receipt for Your Donation
It’s always a good idea to get a receipt for any donation you make for tax purposes, even if you think it’s relatively small. Even if you don’t want one, a reputable charity will always offer to give you one. If they don’t offer a receipt, it could mean that the organization doesn’t want you to have a record of your donation, which will make it easier for them to disappear with your money or items. Take the receipt and keep it somewhere handy for when tax season comes around again.
The few less-than-reputable scammers out there shouldn’t prevent you from offering help if you can give it. Take this information in and use it the next time you want to give back to others.
