give or take

Scam artists prey on donors by posing as a person or an organization in need. Unfortunately, there are many of these scams in operation, making it di cult for donors to distinguish legitimate from fraudulent charities. Thankfully, there are guidelines to protect your money from going to worthless causes. Watch for these red flags when donating to charity.

WON’T TAKE A CHECK. Legitimate charities will not insist that you make a cash donation, nor make donations via wire transfer.

CAN’T BE REACHED BY PHONE. If a charity is genuine, they will have a working telephone number and an o ce with sta members available who are fully equipped to answer questions. You should be able to speak to someone in regards to how your money is being spent and what percentage of it goes to those in need versus the amount spent on administrative expenses and executive salaries.

SOLICIT DONATIONS VIA EMAIL. If you are inclined to donate to a charity, do not let unsolicited emails help you decide where to donate. Legitimate charities will also solicit via email. Delete the emails of companies you don’t recognize, and respond with careful skepticism to charities that reflect your values.