1. Choose a Cause You Care About

Whether you’re passionate about supporting cancer research, combating child hunger, aiding animal welfare, or contributing to disaster relief efforts, the first step is to identify the cause that resonates most with you. Once you have that decided, research the top-rated organizations to ensure your donation makes the greatest impact. A simple way to do this is by searching for your cause along with the phrase “best-rated charity” (e.g. “Hurricane Helene best-rated charity”).

2. Know Your Charity

We recommend taking caution when donating to a charity you’re unfamiliar with. Once you find a charity you’re interested in, it’s important to research it further by searching for the charity’s name along with terms like “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.” Pay attention to any red flags and use that information to decide if you want to move forward. Beyond reviews and complaints, it’s important to understand how your donation will be used. Charity Watch advises that, in most cases, at least 60% of your donation should go directly to the charity’s programs, with no more than 40% spent on fundraising and administrative costs.

3. “Tax Exempt” Doesn’t Always Mean “Tax Deductible”

It’s important to understand that not all charities claiming to support “good causes” are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. “Tax-exempt” means the organization is exempt from paying taxes, while “tax-deductible” means that your donation can be deducted from your federal income tax return. To confirm whether your donation is tax-deductible, you can use the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tool on their website.

4. Don’t Fall Victim to Solicitation

This may sound familiar to you. Someone contacts you asking for a donation. It sounds like a group you’ve heard of and you want to help. How can you tell if it’s a scam? Often times, the person won’t take “no” for an answer. They may even pressure you to donate right away. A legitimate charity will not pressure you. If you are unsure, ask the fundraiser for the charity’s exact name, website, and mailing address so you can research the legitimacy. Trust your instincts. This leads to our next tip…

5. Give Directly

6. Only Give Through a Reputable and Secure Service

When you’re ready to donate, choose your payment method carefully. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the safest way to donate is by credit card or check. Never pay with gift cards or wire money, as those methods are most common with scammers since they are difficult to track. If you’re donating online, ensure the website is reputable and secure before providing any payment information. Having “https” in the web address indicates that the website uses encryption to secure your information and is more likely to be a website you can trust.

7. Keep Records of Your Donations

After making a donation, be sure to take a screenshot of your confirmation. In the case that you don’t receive a confirmation email, this will be your proof of donation. It’s also recommended that you monitor your bank account with your Digital Banking app to ensure the correct amount is withdrawn; nothing more than what you agreed to donate.

It’s important that you are aware of potential scams and research the charity before you decide to make a donation. Don’t let the scammers deter you from making donations to legitimate charities; there are many worthy organizations that are in need of donations.

Remember, if you see any red flags, or if you’re not sure about how a charity will use your donation, consider giving to a different charity. You can also report any scams you encounter to FTC.gov/complaint.

For additional help, turn to the following organizations for your research: BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, and GuideStar.