Since Giving Tuesday’s formal launch in 2012, charitable organizations around the globe have received billions of dollars — including a record $2.7 billion haul in 2021 — from generous donors taking a break from holiday shopping to help the less fortunate.
But with hundreds of good causes out there, along with some not-so-good con artists looking to take advantage of others’ kindness, how do you decide which causes to support and which to avoid?
Fortunately, there are several sources out there, from the Better Business Bureau to websites that track charities, that can help you decide if you choose to give Tuesday Here are some tips on how to go about researching charities, and how to avoid falling prey to scammers.
• Are you dealing with a legit charity? To find out, you can visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits to search for a charity and learn whether it is a qualified tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3). You can do a similar search for Illinois-based organizations on the attorney general’s website at charitableviewer.ilag.gov.
• So, the charity you’re looking at is real, but you want to know that your donation is more likely to help others than pay for fundraising costs and administrator salaries. As a rule of thumb, look for a charity that dedicates less than 30% of its total spending to administration and fundraising expenses. To find information like that and other…
