a bit about crowdfunding websites

Some charities, however, may not be as easy to verify using the formally mentioned guidelines. For example, crowdfunding platforms, such as GoFundMe and youcaring, allow people to raise money for everything from celebrations to life-threatening illnesses. Because these websites allow users to create their own page to describe why they are raising money, a few questions have been raised concerning this platform for giving.

ARE SCAM ARTISTS USING OTHERS’ TRAGEDIES OR POOR CIRCUMSTANCES FOR PERSONAL GAIN? Money donated goes to whatever person or cause is named, cutting down on fraud activity. With this being said, GoFundMe does allow for multiple pages—all headed by di erent individuals—to benefit the same cause.

HOW CAN I FIND AN OFFICIAL GOFUNDME PAGE? If you have reservations about donating money to random individuals outside of your circle of family or friends or people close to a particular cause, you might be able to find links to the o cial GoFundMe page through an o cial source, like law enforcement. Online news articles also sometimes provide links to the o cial crowdfunding page. GoFundMe also does its best to direct people to a main account.

WHAT IF A PAGE IS DECEPTIVE?

GoFundMe has reported that less than 1 percent of all campaigns are fraudulent. In the event of actual fraud, GoFundMe will issue a full refund thanks to the GoFundMe Guarantee.

CALL YOU DIRECTLY ON THE PHONE. Telemarketing is a great tool for scammers. If they dial enough numbers, someone will eventually donate. Many times, however, your money ends up in the hands of the people making the calls rather than the charity they claim to represent.

THANK YOU FOR A PLEDGE YOU DON’T REMEMBER MAKING. Scammers will often call to thank you, telling you that they “appreciate your pledge” and are now contacting you to collect. Similarly, they may send out a letter thanking you for your membership and end with a request for a donation. If you do not recall taking a pledge or becoming a member, do not make the donation.

Research

You may need to use these methods collectively in order to identify scams, as there is no proven, single method for doing so. Think of charitable donations as investments. You need to fully understand an investment before handing over your money. There are a variety of websites to assist you in your e orts, including:

› give.org

› guidestar.org

› charitynavigator.org

› charitywatch.org

Beyond Your Wallet

Money isn’t the only way to get involved with charity work. Challenge yourself to give back with these charitable acts.

REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR. Only 45 percent of American adults are registered organ donors. One deceased donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation.

HELP AN ELDERLY PERSON WITH THEIR YARDWORK. Mowing the lawn, weeding and pruning is hard work, especially for someone with balance or mobility issues. Lending your time is a tremendous help.

GET A HAIRCUT. Organizations, such as Locks of Love and Wigs For Kids, accept your locks to make hairpieces for patients who lose their hair due to medical treatment or a medical condition. Check each organization’s requirements for donation before your haircut.