After confirming that the organization to which you would like to donate is legitimate, it’s time to do some more research on it. For the United States, at least, there are multiple websites on which you can search organizations by name and learn more information about them. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) specifically recommends BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, and Candid as places to start.
When looking up a charity, many websites will allow you to see where their finances are going. Based on this information, you can determine if you would like to donate to that organization or if you feel that your donation would be better off going to a different organization.
In the U.S., Form 990 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can be a good tool for gaining insight into an organization too. “If you are really into the numbers, you can look up an organization’s Form 990 on Guidestar, which is a financial report that most accredited nonprofits are required to file with the IRS annually,” wealth advisor Holly Mazzocca also suggested to Self.
