Is this Charity Legitimate? Steps to Take to Ensure You are
Donating to a Legitimate Organization
Julianne Shenk, Nonprofit Consultant
JBS Nonprofit Consulting
August 1, 2017
I took
a break blogging over the summer, but did receive a few messages regarding
people’s apprehension to donate to nonprofits and the legitimacy of such organizations.
Per the National Center for Charitable
Statistics (NCCS), more than 1.5
million nonprofit organizations are registered in the United
States. This number includes public
charities, private foundations, and other types of nonprofit organizations,
including chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues.[1] Keep in mind this study says “registered”, not
legitimate. It is up to you to do the research and assure the legitimacy of an organization.
Legitimizing
an organization ensures that the monies that you are donating go to the cause,
organization, or fund you intend to help. Here are the steps you should take:
- Research
the organization: Use Google (or your preferred internet search engine) and
visit the organization’s webpage. Look for their mission statement. Look for
testimonials. Some sites will provide you a breakdown of where monies go.
- Look
for articles ABOUT the organization. Old articles are good for background
information, but make sure that newer articles are present as well. Be sure you
are using a source that you trust.
- Look
for the organization on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) Peruse
feedback left by others. Look at the interaction between the organization and
its followers.
- Call
the organization directly. Ask any question that you may have. This is your hard-earned
money and you want to be assured that the funds are going to the people, animals,
community, etc. that you intend.
- Understand
where your money will go. Some organizations will allow you to designate your
donation to a specific expenditure, while other organizations will apply
incoming donations to a specific or pressing demand.
- Verify
that the organization is a certified and IRS recognized 501 (c) (3). This will
ensure that your donations are tax deductible (if that is your desire).
- Use
your gut. If something feels off to you, pick another agency. There are
multiple agencies designated as nonprofits that serve the same or very similar
purpose (i.e., animals, children, homelessness, refugees, veterans, etc.).
- Ask
friends, family, and colleagues who they support. They may have done the
vetting for you! But, donate to an organization that you feel comfortable with
and whose mission you stand behind.
[1]
http://grantspace.org/tools/knowledge-base/Funding-Research/Statistics/number-of-nonprofits-in-the-u.s
