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A Guiding Hand for Safe Giving

When you hand over your hard earned money to any charity, you want to make sure that your donation will be used appropriately. There are many charities out there and while most of them are wonderful organizations, there are some out there that are nothing but scams. This is especially true after disasters and around the holidays. When you give, how can you make sure your money is going to help the needy? There is such a thing as safe giving and here are some tips to help you sort out the good from the bad.

Give to Charities you Know:

One of the biggest things you can do to ensure that your donation is being use appropriately is to give to organizations you know and trust. There are many big name organizations you have heard of and there are probably many trustworthy charities right in your neighborhood that you know helps those in need. These are names that you know and trust and you can feel secure knowing that you are giving to these charities in good faith. That is not to say that a charity that you have never heard of is a scam. There are many good organizations out there that you have probably never heard of. If you come across a new organization, just use caution when giving. Research it first to make sure it is the real deal.

Know about the Charity:

The next thing you can do is to know a little more about the organization you are giving to. Make sure it is a true charity and see whether or not it has registered with the IRS. Does the information it gives out have a list of the board of directors? A scam charity will not give this information out. In addition, does it give you valid contact information such as a physical address and a phone number? If you can call the phone number and talk to a real person, do so and ask plenty of questions if you feel something is not quite right. Also, check to see whether or not the charity has a mission statement and a website. Most real charitable organizations will.

Where Does your Donation Go?

You want to make sure your donation is used wisely. Ask plenty of questions, and even request to look at an IRS 990 form, which can give you all sorts of helpful information regarding the financial status of a charity. This can help you see exactly where your money goes. This will be very important information for you because you are giving to help those in need, not to line someone’s pocket book.

Pressure, Pressure:

Last but not least, never give in to pressure. Have you ever seen a homeless person sitting outside asking for money? They are hoping you will give them your spare change. However, a better way to help these people in need is to not give into their pressure. Instead, give your money to your local homeless shelter, where the money will be used to help buy food, clothing and shelter for honest people in real need. The same goes for giving to a charity that comes to your door, sends you an email or calls you on the phone. They are banking on you giving into their high-sales pressure. Of course, you know never to give out your personal banking information, or credit card information to anyone you don’t know. However, you are better off getting their contact information and doing a little research first. If you in fact find that that charity is worthwhile, then send them a check to their main office.