Vladimir Vladimirov | E+ | Getty Images
With the holiday season about to be in full swing, the giving spirit is likely to follow.
If you’re among those who plan to make charitable donations before the end of the year, it’s worth making sure you know exactly where your money is going and how it will be spent.
Charitable giving tends to pick up in November and December, with some donors motivated by so-called Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29 this year) or fundraising campaigns and others making sure they get their donations in by Dec. 31 to take advantage of a tax break for taxpayers who itemize their deductions.
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Most adults — 68% — say they plan to donate the same amount to charities that they did last year, according to a recent study from Edward Jones. More adults (17%) plan to increase their donations than decrease them (10%).
Last year, individuals donated a collective $326.87 billion to various nonprofits, accounting for 67% of all charitable giving, according to GivingUSA’s 2022 report.
Here are some tips for making sure your philanthropic money ends up where you want it to.
1. Avoid high-pressure tactics
Sometimes, charities will market matching gift campaigns that involve a deadline that’s fast approaching.
“It encourages to you to give without giving you time to research whether the charity will use your donation…
