Anyone can participate in charity donations.
You have the best intentions when you donate money to a cause that is close to your heart, but doing so recklessly may result in throwing your money away. An estimated 10 percent of donations made to charities are misused each year, according to Elisabeth Leamy of ABC News. Do your homework before donating. Donors must choose wisely to get the most out of the philanthropic experience.
Research The Charity
Be very wary of charities that do not have a proven track record, especially those that just happen to pop up when a major natural disaster grabs headlines all over the world. Even if these new charities are created for the right reasons, they will not have the same ability to use donations wisely as more established organizations. If you are committed to giving your money to a new charity, spend time researching them to make sure its organizers run a legitimate operation. Ask for proof that the organization is a registered public charity and find the charity on the Better Business Bureau.
Say No To Telemarketers
Exercise caution when giving out your financial information over the phone, no matter how reputable the charitable organization seems. If the charity sounds worthy of your donation, ask the representative to send you a brochure with additional information; research the company yourself to ensure peace of mind. If everything checks out, send a check to the organization through the mail or use the charity's website to make a donation. This guarantees all the profits go to the charitable cause, instead of to any fundraising efforts.
Provide Specific Donation Instructions
If you want to ensure your money does not go the wrong causes within a charity, designate how you want your donation used. Charities sometimes ask that donors refrain from doing this and instead leave the application of the funds in the hands of its own decision makers. However, you may designate how you'd like your donated funds to be spent.
Pay Online
Whenever possible, donate directly to charitable causes online, either through their websites or secure, third-party pages. The speed of Internet payments means donations are instantly accessible to organizations, providing much needed relief quickly.
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