Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Giving

The Holiday Season . . .

is a time for holiday cheer, shopping, family meals and gift exchanges. Holiday cheer also fires up the desire to give to charity. With so many causes and charities vying for your support, how do you choose which organization to receive your donation? And what should you look for in a charity so that your gift will make the greatest difference?

Before you give this holiday season, take charge and boost your giving I.Q. Here is the Charities Review Council's list of the top 10 ways to be a smart giver this holiday season:

1. Verify, verify, verify
Protect yourself by researching the organization to ensure that it is not fraudulent. Be aware of red flags such as names that closely resemble the name of an established charity, or web addresses that appear similar but don't match exactly to an official web address.

2. Check to see if the Charities Review Council has reviewed the organization
Organizations voluntarily participate in public charity reviews through the Council's Accountability Wizard which measures an organization's performance in four critical areas: Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity and Fundraising. These reviews, based on adherence to the Council's Accountability Standards, help charities demonstrate their integrity to the public. Visit the Council's online Giving Guide for a listing of reviewed organizations.

3. Look for the Charities Review Council's Meets Standards seal
Organizations that participated in the Charities Review Council's Accountability Wizard charity reviews and have met all standards are granted the use of the Meets Standards seal. The seal is a clear, concise and accessible indicator of the organization's continued commitment towards accountable and ethical practices.

4. Investigate the organization's mission statement and programs
An organization should have a strong mission statement that defines its cause, and a solid description of its programs, so you can be sure of what your money supports.

5. Ask how your contributions will be used
The Charities Review Council recommends that at least 70 percent of a charitable organization's total expenses be used for program services. Although fundraising and administrative costs are necessary to a well-managed organization, donors should expect that a substantial amount of their contributions be used for program services.

6. Ask the charity about specific results and accomplishments
You need to know that the charity you support really makes a difference. What outcomes has this charity seen through its work? Ask about specific results and accomplishments. Learn about the organization and the issue(s) it addresses. Inquire about the geographic location of the program services and activities.

7. Protect yourself
Avoid clicking on an e-mail link asking for your confidential information such as passwords, credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Do not provide personal information unless you know the charity and you initiate the contact. Anyone could call you and claim to be representing your favorite charity. Pay by check or credit card whenever possible. Cash can be lost or stolen. Make your check payable to the official and full name of the charitable organization.

8. Find out whether your contribution is tax-deductible
If an organization is labeled "tax-exempt," this does not necessarily mean that the contribution is tax-deductible. Ask an organization if they are a 501(c) 3 organization before you make a donation. All 501(c) 3 organizations can accept contributions and offer donors a tax deduction to the full extent of the law. Obtain receipts if you plan to request a tax deduction.

9. Protect your privacy
When you send a contribution, your name is automatically added to the organization's mailing lists. To protect your privacy and limit the number of appeals you receive from these mailing lists, write or call charities directly to inform them that you want to receive only a specific number of solicitations a year. You can also request that a charity stop contacting you. Charities are exempted from the national "Do Not Call List" and can still contact you by telephone. To request that an organization discontinue contact with you, you must inform the charity directly.

10. Demand accountability and transparency
If a charity that interests you has not been reviewed, ask them to sign up for a review with the Charities Review Council's Accountability Wizard. By inviting charities to demonstrate transparency through a review, you are letting them know that it's important to run their programs well and that you care about how they're managed.

The Charities Review Council is a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota with more than 60 years of experience helping the public make informed giving decisions. The Council is the only statewide independent resource of its kind for donors, offering information about charities, including local organizations. The Council is dedicated to empowering the public in making informed and thoughtful giving decisions by providing tools and resources, so that they can be more effective in helping charities advance their important community work. The Council publishes THE SMART GIVER newsletter three times a year. It includes the Giving Guide that lists charities that have demonstrated a commitment to openness by voluntarily participating in a charity review through the Charities Review Council. It is available to the public free of charge. In addition to the mailed newsletter, the Council also publishes a monthly electronic newsletter delivered right to your e-mail inbox each month.

To learn more about charities, to access resources on smart and safe giving or to subscribe to the newsletters, visit the Charities Review Council online at www.SmartGivers.org  or call 1-800-733-GIVE.

The following are some popular and well-respected local charities:

American Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter
www.redcrosstc.org

Make a Wish Foundation of Minnesota
http://www.wish.org/  

Second Harvest Heartland
http://www.2harvest.org/

United Way of the Twin Cities
http://www.unitedwaytwincities.org/

12/04/07