Tis the season…to give! Lots of folks think about donating to charities this time of year, not only because of the higher level of awareness with the holiday season, but also because of year end tax benefits. Hey, both reasons are legit, right? 😁💰
Anyway, most people know where they want to give, but what if you’re new to an area or looking to expand your giving horizons to something new? How do you know which of the 2 million charities in the US deserve your hard-earned dollars?
We found a great article that gives some great tips!
Here are Five Fast Facts on how to know which charities to give to:
- 📝 The List - Forbes puts out their list of top 100 charities each year. Keep in mind it’s not a list of the best charities…just the ones who get the most donations. In most cases, they’ve been around the block a few times and are the most recognized so they’re generally doing good work with the dollars they’re given.
- 💨 It’s About Efficiency - Something to think about is how efficient each charity is. How much of your donated dollar goes toward the actual mission rather than office supplies or giveaway mugs? The average on this year’s list is 87%. Now, if we could just get the government to be that efficient…
- 🔍 Extrapolate This - What if you’re checking on the local food pantry or a brand new cause that isn’t on the list? Or what about the 1,999,900 charities that aren’t on Forbes’ list? Compare it to the big boys on the list to see if they have similar efficiencies. If so, then they’re probably good to go. Make sure you’re comparing similar causes, though. The overhead for a charity that builds houses is probably a bit different than one that gives hugs on the street. 😉
- 👀 Looking For Some External Validation - There are some orgs that exist just to keep an eye on charities. The Better Business Bureau (give.org) and Charity Navigator are two really good ones. There should be a state office that regulates charities and oversees complaints, too.
- 💻 Do What You Always Do - Nowadays, anytime there are questions about something, we Google it, right? Do the same with charities! Include the charity name and the word “scam” or “fraud” to see if there are issues. Just make sure you’re getting them from a reliable source rather than someone’s tinfoil hat TikTok account with two whole subscribers (*cough cough* the parents *cough cough*).
🔥Bottom line: Some people give out of the goodness of their hearts, some people give for more materialistic reasons. We don’t judge. The money can help people no matter the spirit in which it was given! No matter why you give, now you’ve got everything you need to know to decide where to give.
What’s your favorite charity to give to?
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