The holiday giving season is in full swing and Better Business Bureau (BBB) wants donors to be informed when they make donations of time and money.
“The holiday season is a time when most donors are their most generous. It is imperative that donors give to charities that are efficient and provide measurable outcomes,” said Carrie Rossman, director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust. “Donors now have many different ways to help the charities of their choice and we want them to understand what questions they need to ask and what to look out for.”
BBB offers the following tips:
Sound-a-Like Scams. Donate to the right charity, not one that just sounds like a reputable charity.
High-pressure pitches. A reputable charity will answer questions and inform you about their operations. Don’t feel pressured to donate on the spot.
Donate goods. If you donate goods, make sure they are in good condition. Giving unusable items in poor condition creates an undue burden on the charity you are trying to help.
Text donations. After you text message a certain number, the donation is added to your cell phone bill. While this is fast and easy, the donation can take months to reach the charity.
Don’t give cash. Always give in the form of a check or money order made out to the charity, never an individual (unless, of course, it’s a Salvation Army bell ringer).
Cause marketing. Many products claim a portion of proceeds go to a certain cause. Make sure there is a disclosure of the actual or anticipated amount of purchase that will go to charity.
Embedded giving. Many grocery stores give you the option to donate to a charity by adding that amount to your receipt. Make sure you know exactly which charity will benefit from your donation.
Online donations. Make sure you give through a secure website with “https” in the browser. You should also review the charity’s privacy policy to see how your personal information can be used.
Volunteer. If you don’t have the money to give to your favorite charity, consider donating your time. Few charities will turn down volunteers.
Telemarketing. When making a donation over the phone, make sure you are giving directly to the charity and not to a third party. In some cases a for-profit telemarketing company may be keeping a sizable portion of your donation.
Start With Trust. For more consumer tips and information, visit the BBB website.