Cactus Village Community

Basic Rules to Follow if You Want to Donate Safely . . .

Jul 14, 2003

Basic Rules to Follow if You Want to Donate Safely and Avoid Fraudulent Charity Solicitations

1. Never give on impulse.
2. Never give cash.
3. Never give out personal information such as birth date, social security number, credit card number, checking account number, or other financial information to a solicitor on the phone, through the mail, or door-to-door.

4. Never give a donation to a charity that:

a) Offers to take your donation directly from your account by automatic debit;
b) Encourages you to send a donation by courier/overnight express;
c) Asks you to wire your donation. Always donate directly to the organization either in person (at an event sponsored by the charity) or donate through the United States Postal Service.
5. Never give a donation to an organization (charity or fundraiser) that refuses to provide information in writing. Review all written information before making a donation.
6. Ask the fundraiser if they are a volunteer or a paid fundraiser.
7. Know the difference between ?“tax deductible?” and ?“tax exempt?”. Tax deductible means you can deduct your donation on your federal income tax return. Tax-exempt means the charity does not have to pay taxes. Even if a charity is tax exempt, your donation may not be tax deductible. If you would like a tax deduction, ask the charity for a receipt stating that your donation is tax deductible. . . ☻