One of the fastest growing sectors in the US economy is, unbelievably, non-profit or tax exempt organizations. These organizations get their funds primarily from donations given to them by supportive donors and use them for fundraising programs, activities, and of course expenses and general administration services. Causes and goals they support are usually related to poverty, education, and abuse, which are some of the most serious issues that affect the society every day. And because of this, these organizations wish to help uplift these sad realities by asking for help from the more fortunate through donations either in cash or in kind.
If you’re faced with several requests for donations and are feeling guilty and lost on what to do, don’t worry. You’re not the only one with this kind of problem. Most of the charities being held are honest and sincere in their cause, but we cannot ignore the fact that there are some charities with unknown or hidden agenda. They could be spending the funds on other things instead of the cause they so proudly announced and elaborated at your doorstep, so to be able to avoid making the wrong decision here are some very helpful tips in giving donations to charities and non-profit organizations.
· Get to know the charity and its history first before deciding on giving donations. Normally charities and non-profit organizations should introduce themselves and provide basic information about the cause they support and their activities, so don’t hesitate to ask for this information first before donating any amount to them. If the representatives cannot give you any information about what they do and what they are about, you definitely should say no as they could be scoundrels just using a good cause for their greedy agenda.
· Knowing where your money is being used is also an important detail to look into before giving donations to a particular charity. Ideally, 60% of the funds should go to program activities while 40% goes to fundraising expenses and administration. You can request this information from the people behind the organization in the form of annual reports, photos, flyers, and newsletters. Also, keep an eye out for charities that label mail and telemarketing expenses as “public education” because they may be using this to hide their actual fundraising costs.
· Do not give in to low tactics such as pressure and emotional appeal. Some charities would do this to their donors in order to get them to donate on the spot. They would either put pressure on you or they would use “sob stories” and crying to get you to donate immediately. Remember that responsible, respectable, and legitimate organizations do not do these to people they are seeking help from, so don’t be easily enticed or feel sorry if representatives use these tactics when asking at your doorstep.
· You can keep a record of all your donations in the form of receipts or printed copies. This is usually for tax purposes, so take advantage of the opportunity for tax deductibles by keeping bank records, receipts, and the like.
0 comments:
Post a Comment