How to Choose a Charity
Julianne Shenk
January 23, 2017
JBS Nonprofit Consulting
When people ask what I do, their first question is usually, “How
do I pick the right charity to give to?” Here are a handful of the questions I
ask them in return.
1.
Do you have any specific charities in mind?
2.
Do you have a specific category of organization
in mind?
3.
Are you giving to fulfill a need, a desire to
help, or just looking to make a donation before the end of the year? (Believe
it or not…this is a legit reason people make donations, and I am okay with that…especially
if it ends up helping someone else in the end.)
4.
Is there a cause you are passionate about?
5.
Do you want to give time as well as monies?
6.
Have you done any research?
The list goes on. And on.
Here is what you need to do. First, research. Unfortunately,
charity scams are a big problem. A few
minutes in front of the computer can mean the difference between lining a
scammer’s pocket and truly helping a worthy and deserving cause. To coin a term from an older generation, “in
this day and age” all reputable organizations will have an online presence. This
could be a designated website, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, or an
Instagram account, among a host of others. A simple Google search of an
organization’s name will pull up the most relevant and popular searched sites
associated with it. If an organization does not have a site or a positive
online presence, this should raise some red flags.
Once you get to the organization’s site, look around. Try
all of the links. Look at their board of directors and/or staff, their mission
statement, look to see where their money goes, how much goes to the cause, etc.
Spend some time getting to know the ins and outs of the organization. Many sites,
FB pages, etc. have testimonials. Look at upcoming events and activities and
consider attending them. This is your hard-earned money; Know where it is
going, who you are helping and that it is indeed a legitimate endeavor.
If they are a local group, research their presence in your
town. Again, Google (or your favorite search engine) is your best tool. And
never, I repeat, never, be too timid to call the organization and ask
questions. Any reputable organization will be more than happy to provide you
with answers to your questions.
Second, do not feel obligated to donate to a charity by
phone or direct solicitation. Research. It all comes back to research. A phone
solicitor can easily call and ask you to donate to “The Red Cross Charity Group”.
Your first instinct is to think, the Red Cross, of course I will help! That
simple change in the name may slip by you and only later you discover that the
clever change in the name triggered your giving…to a scammer. Charity scammers
rely on word play (the addition of words, the rearranging of words, buzzwords,
etc.) to tug at your heart strings. Research.
Third, you may find that you do not have a lot of money to
give and you wonder if you can even help at all. You can. No amount is too small, but there are
other ways to help. Volunteer. Volunteering is the backbone of any organization.
A charity can have all of the money in the world, but without a volunteer
force, nothing gets accomplished. Volunteering is just as, if not more,
important than donations. *(Look back through my blogs…volunteering is my raison
d'etre).
In addition to donations and volunteering, you can be a “champion
for the cause”. Spread the word: post on social media, recruit friends and
family.
Disclaimer: Do not let my warning about charity scammers
scare or deter you from donating. It really does just come down to doing your
due diligence. Research, research, research. You are doing something good for
someone else. Make sure your money, time, support, and commitment go to where
it is needed.
