Charity Check: Phone Solicitations
It's 6pm. The phone rings, and you answer as you usually do. Immediately the caller greets you and launches into an urgent plea for help: children are dying of hunger, women are dying of breast cancer, or an oppressed minority group needs your support.
"Can we count on your donation?" the caller asks.
Oh, your heart bleeds for this cause, as well it probably should - but don't get out that checkbook just yet, and giving a donation over the phone isn't a good idea either. Instead, take down the name and address of the charity and do a little charity check online.
While I have my arguments with watchdog organizations and the methods they use to judge efficiency, organizations like Charity Navigator, Guidestar, and the Better Business Bureau serve as excellent sources to ensure that the charity you want to donate to is legitimate. You can also check the website of your Secretary of State or Attorney General, as many will list charities and link to their registration and financial reporting paperwork.