{"id":4486,"date":"2015-12-14T09:07:04","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T15:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=4486"},"modified":"2016-11-29T15:43:38","modified_gmt":"2016-11-29T21:43:38","slug":"how-to-avoid-holiday-charity-scams-which-charities-do-the-most-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/articles\/charity-fundraising\/how-to-avoid-holiday-charity-scams-which-charities-do-the-most-good\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Avoid Holiday Charity Scams + Which Charities Do The Most Good"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"thank_you_sign_616\"<\/a>While the Holidays are often associated with buying gifts, making New Year’s resolutions, and spending time with family, there\u2019s one other thing that people do now more often than at any other time of the year: give to charity. According to <\/span>Charity Navigator<\/span><\/a>, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist in \u201cintelligent giving\u201d, people are more charitable this time of year for two reasons: first, it is a time of religious and moral reflection that inspires many people to reach out to those who are less fortunate than they are, and secondly, the U.S. government\u2019s December 31st deadline to qualify for a charity-related tax deduction for the calendar year.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the giving spirit is rampant, one thing that many don\u2019t always think about, is fraud. Ken Berger, former CEO of Charity Navigator, <\/span>told The Huffington Post<\/span><\/a> that “the tendency of most donors is to give from passion, not necessarily from the head, and to give impulsively based on a story, not necessarily objective information. If your head <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> heart are not involved in a giving process, you may not give where the need is greatest, and you’re more likely to be ripped off.”<\/span><\/p>\n

While holiday scams and crowdfunding fraud are a growing issue, there are a lot of ways that you can keep your money safe, as well as make sure that you\u2019re giving to a worthy cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

A simple and effective solution, says Berger, is simply picking up the phone and calling the charity organization you\u2019re interested in donating to and asking what they’re doing, how the money will be spent, and what lasting impact their investments have on communities. “You want an organization that wants to inform you,” he said. “It may take extra work, but a little bit of research can protect you from scams.” <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are approached by a random organization, be sure to confirm the group\u2019s name to determine it\u2019s legitimate. Request that all material to be sent via mail and then go online to check out the group\u2019s web site. You can also get third-party confirmation about the organization by going to Charity Navigator or the <\/span>Better Business Bureau\u2019s Wise Giving Alliance<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission warns of an increase in fraudulent charitable solicitations for veterans and military causes, as well as calls on behalf of police and firefighters. If you\u2019re unsure, call the organization to verify a fundraiser\u2019s claim to be collecting on its behalf. Other red flags to be aware of include:<\/span><\/p>\n