The holidays have arrived. As the charitable giving season comes into full swing, people are opening up their wallets more so than in years past. This means hundreds of charitable organizations across the U.S. are hoping to tap into your generosity for charitable contributions.
The holiday season is certainly the time of year that many Americans feel like giving back to those in need. For many, donating to the less fortunate is a part of the season’s celebration just as much as lights and carols. Three times as many people make charitable donations during the holidays vs. non-holiday months. That being said, don’t let the holiday spirits lead you to make donations blunders.
Giving Center would like to offer you some quick tips for making smart charitable donations this season.
Pick your passion
This first step in donating to a charity is to find one. Think about the causes that fire you up: What change you would like to see? Which injustice would you right if you had the ability to?
Think about everything from saving the oceans, to aiding those less fortunate, there are charities for nearly every cause. Once you decide on the charitable mission you would like to focus on, choose whether you want to donate locally, nationally, or even internationally. There is no right or wrong answer.
Make sure your charity is legitimate
Find a charity worthy of your gift. Charity scams run by rip-off artists who prey on the good intentions of others tend to be big business this time of year. Some so-called charities are not even IRS registered tax-exempt organizations. They are a front to siphon money into someone’s pocket. Look for a trustworthy 501(c)(3) charity, like Giving Center, to guarantee your charitable donation will go to a good cause.
Look out for excessive administrative expenses
Make sure your donation will be put to good use. A charitable organization should spend at the very least 65% of its money on mission programs and activities related to its cause.
65% may be the minimum, but you can find many charities that go above and beyond this.
Make your money work harder
Once you have made a few donations to different charities, your mailbox may likely begin to fill up with solicitations. It can be very tempting to spread the wealth out and give a little here and there. In actuality, your donation may go further if you center your donations on one charity.
Keep in mind that each organization will have handling and processing costs associated with collecting your donation.
Donate directly to charity
You should never make a donation to a telephone solicitor. The solicitor may not even be legitimate.
Be wary of telephone charity scams that use similar-sounding names to those of better-known organizations. They may also say they are raising money for specific causes that are designed to tug at the heartstrings, like supporting military families, or veterans.
In this instance, your donation will be used to profit the person calling.
Give more than money
Do not forget that your chosen charity can likely use more than just money. In addition to the usual items you think of when making a charitable donation, charities can also benefit from your time. Many charities, like Giving Center, can use extra muscle when collecting pickups. Soup kitchens can often use hands to serve food. Environmental groups can utilize feet to survey land. If you have a useful skill, like Web design or marketing, you may be able to donate those services.
When you volunteer, it is a win-win. Volunteering equals less money a charity needs to spend on hiring help, and it gives you a chance to make a difference.
