Whatever your charitable passion, you can find an organization supporting it. But how do you determine whether an organization is legitimate?
RED FLAGS
Watch out for these scam signs:
- Requests for unneeded personal information such as your Social Security number
- Pressure to donate immediately
- You can’t verify the organization’s name, address, and website yourself
DO THE RESEARCH
Use the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool to find information about the charity’s tax-exempt status and if the charity is eligible for tax deductible donations. The charity’s Form 990s posted on the site shows how much of the organization’s revenue is used for charitable work versus administrative expenses.