Tips In Choosing Genuine Charity Websites

Tips in Choosing Genuine Charity Websites

While there are genuine charity websites, there are also numerous scammers who would do anything to rob money out of innocent people. They do this by creating a bogus charitable organization so as to get cash donations from gullible individuals. This is one example of internet robbery that has been going on for many years now. It is thus important to be wary of online charities before making a donation. Here is a guide to help you choose legitimate charity websites.
When you are making a research on charity websites, always ask for their literature that they can send you via e-mail. There are also other charities that call people to make a donation and should you encounter this, again ask for informational materials to be sent to you. It will provide you the chance to scrutinize the charity prior to making a donation.
Know the finances of the charity by checking their reports. Charities usually give donors a status of their finances. They provide this upon request or display it in one of their web pages. The financial report would show the total amount of money donated and the expenses for operations and salaries. A good charity uses a small portion of the donations to administrative costs while the bigger part is to the cause itself.
It is best to give to a non-profit organization. This kind of charity usually click this site has papers with the bureau of internal revenue office of their country for it to be considered non-profit. Before you donate, ask a copy of such papers. When you decide on a non-profit organization, you shall receive a deduction from your tax.
Check a charity website from the website of the Better Business Bureau if it is located in the United States or Canada. This has a database that will show if the charity has any negative reports about it. If it is located in a foreign country, ask the government of that nation about the legitimacy of that charity.
Before making a donation to a charity, there are things you must first know. Genuine charities and non-profit organizations always make sure that donations given to them are tax deductible. This is to protect the donor and give what is due him. If the charity you have chosen does not have any form that will allow the donor to claim a tax deduction, chances are this is not a legitimate one.
Always study about a charity. Learn more about the organization and how they helped change lives of people. Know who are the other donors and try to communicate with them and ask them about their experience in donating to the charity. You can also ask people you know about the charities they give to.
Lastly, if you plan to give a monetary donation, never reveal your bank and credit card information to a representative of the charity who contacts you on the phone. This is a usual tactic performed by spammers.
These are the tips in choosing genuine charity websites that you can extend your help to so that you will know your donation was put to a good cause.