It’s “giving season” again – that period each year when many charities push their fundraising efforts into high gear.
You may receive phone calls, email solicitations, invitations to donate via social media, requests to “crowdfund” on behalf of a charity, or personal requests from friends and family.
Avoid becoming a victim of illegitimate fundraising requests with these simple tips:
Be skeptical. If you’re unfamiliar with a charity, it’s worth your time and effort to do a little research before opening your wallet. Websites like Charity Navigator or Charity Watch can help you evaluate the validity of charities. You can also use the IRS’s tax-exempt organization search tool to see whether an organization is truly a nonprofit.
Cut out the middleman. If you receive a request to donate from a person claiming to be a volunteer, explain that you’d like to do some research first (see tip #1). Then, instead of giving your donation to the volunteer, give your donation directly to the organization and let the volunteer know you’ve made your gift.
Check senders and links in email solicitations. Scammers can create very authentic-looking emails that link to realistic-looking websites. Before donating, look at the email address of the sender. Look up the website of the charity on your own, and make sure the donation link in the email…
