Better Business Bureau tips for charitable giving during holidays
With the holidays quickly approaching, people often feel more charitable, especially after a difficult time like we experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The end of the year, particularly Giving Tuesday, which is Nov. 30, is a great time to give to charities you’re passionate about and wish to support.
This holiday season, the Better Business Bureau encourages you to give back, but give smart.
BBB offers these tips to consider when giving to charity:
■ Get the charity’s exact name. Thousands of charities have similar names and charities can be easily confused. Scammers also operate as charities with sound-alike names.
■ Check websites for basics, including a charity’s mission, program and finances.
■ Donate directly to the organization. Be wary of unsolicited emails, high-pressure tactics and heart-wrenching appeals.
■ Know how your money will be used. According to the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, a charitable organization should be spending at least 65% of its money on program activities.
■ Consider giving the gift of your time by volunteering at the organization you wish to give to if you are unable to make a monetary donation.
■ Contact the organization before you give goods or services. Also, check to see what the organization’s donation policy is and what items they do or don’t accept.
■ Consider setting up automatic donations to charities you want to support. Some employers will even do payroll deductions for some charities.
■ Know the difference between “tax exempt” and
“tax deductible.” Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return.
■ Do your due diligence when giving online. Be wary of “lookalike websites” that try to impersonate charities. Verify the URL in your browser before donating. Don’t enter any personal information on websites that aren’t secure. Look for “https” in the URL and the locked padlock symbol.
■ Donate with your credit card because if the charity turns out to be fraudulent, your credit card company offers some protections.
■ Get a receipt for your donation.
The BBB evaluates charities against its 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, which look at their finances, governance, effectiveness and fundraising practices. Contact the BBB by visiting Bbb.org or calling 937-222-5825 or 800-776-5301 for lists of BBB Accredited Charities and reports on ones you may be considering supporting. Sites like www.guidestar.org and www.charitynavigator.org can also help you gather info to help you choose where to apply your generous gifts.