Established in 2012, #GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a movement to help create charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season. Charitable organizations of all sizes are contacting potential donors by phone, email and mail at an even higher level. By doing a little research, we can avoid potential scams as well as ensure our money is given to charities we trust throughout the holiday season.
Suggestions:
- The safest and most efficient way to donate is to avoid incoming solicitations and donate directly to the charity you choose.
- Websites to research and investigate charities are: Charity Navigator, Charity Watch and Give.org. They verify the charity is legitimate, show how efficiently a charity uses donations, show the commitment to transparency and in some cases provide actual ratings.
- Check the charity’s website for recent financial reports, board of directors and mission information to ensure organization’s transparency.
- Ask the charity for the employer identification number so you can confirm it is a 501c3 which means it has been approved by the IRS as a tax-exempt charitable organization.
- Look for the charity’s IRS form 990 or 990EZ. This form provides information about how a charity spends and raises its money. These forms can be found at GuideStar.
- We are always here to help. Contact us if you have any questions or would like us to lead the process of researching the charity.