Know what charities do with the money before giving

By Rosemary Heins, University of Minnesota Extension

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/11/2008) — Minnesotans provide strong financial support to many organizations that enhance the state’s livability. Most charities provide valuable services, adding to our quality of life.

Before making a charitable donation, find out what the charity will do with the money. Ask about the programs your gift will support.  Don’t judge a charity solely on its impressive sounding name.

You can also ask the charity or the professional fundraiser how much of the donation will actually be used to support the charity’s program, as opposed to fundraising and administrative expenses. Ask whether your contribution is tax deductible. Honest, legitimate charities should give this information when requested.

Don’t be swayed by emotional appeals. Don’t be pressured. Ask for written information.

If you decide to give, always pay by check or credit card, never with cash. Cash contributions can easily be lost or stolen. Make your check out to the charity, not to a company or the individual collecting the donations. In addition, never provide your credit card number unless you know the charity and you called the charity yourself.

Giving out a credit card number, account number or other personal information in response to an unsolicited phone call is like giving this information to a stranger. It can lead to identity theft.

After you have made a donation, keep all of your receipts and thank-you letters from the organization, as well as check information and credit card statements to use at tax time.

Any use of this article must include the byline or following credit line:
Rosemary Heins is a family resource management educator with University of Minnesota Extension.

Media Contact: Julie Christensen, U of M Extension (612) 626-4077, reuve007@umn.edu

NOTE: News releases were current as of the date of issue. If you have a question on older releases, use the news release search (upper left-hand column of the News main page) or the main Extension search (upper right of this page) to locate more recent information.

URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2008/charitiesandgiving.html  This page was updated Feb. 11, 2008 .
Online Privacy Statement.  Contact Information.

University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Copyright  ©  Regents of the University of Minnesota.  All rights reserved.