How to donate your Desktop to reputable charity.
Desktop Donations: We show you how to avoid scams and check out a charity's credentials before you donate. December 11, 2006
http://kiplinger.com/features/archives/2005/09/charity.html
You may be feeling generous this holiday season, but unfortunately some people prey upon the good intentions of others. With a little research and a bit of caution, you can make sure your donation counts.
"Virtually no bona-fide relief organization requests funds by sending e-mail to people who are not already involved in that agency," advises the Coalition Against Unsolicited Email. If you receive an email solicitation, it's best not to open the message at all. And never click on any links in the body of the e-mail -- they could take you to a phony site designed to look like a legitimate one, and steal your credit card number or bank account info. To be safe, close the message and enter a reputable organization's Web address directly into your browser, such as http://www.redcross.org/ or http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/. Then, follow the links to donate online.
The experts at Charity Navigator also suggest you be wary of fundraisers who pressure you to donate over the phone. Ask phone solicitors to send you information about their organization so you can do your research first. Then when you feel comfortable, make your donation.
Edgar Dworsky, founder of the nonprofit Web site Consumer World, advises you "donate only to a charity whose name you recognize or through a group you recognize, such as a local bank or TV station or retailer." But, he cautions, beware of groups with names that sound like famous charities but aren't.
You could also visit Network for Good, which lets you donate to any registered charity in the U.S. that can receive online contributions.
When donating online, look for encryption technology on the charity's Web site in the form of a locked padlock in a corner of your browser. The URL should also start with the prefix "https://" -- "s" stands for "secure." And make sure you read the group's privacy policy.
Check out the charity
Before typing in your credit card information or writing a check, it pays to research the charity to make sure it is legitimate and that your money will go where you expect.
The organization's Web site should give you contact information and other details about the charity. In addition, find out who owns the group's domain name, says Shirley Rooker, president of Call for Action, an international, nonprofit network of consumer hotlines. You can do that at Network Solutions.
"That will tell you who is behind the site," says Rooker. "If all you get is a reference to an Internet Service Provider, be careful," she says. You can also ask for a copy of a charity's Form 990, the information return it files with the IRS each year. The 990 is a long document but it contains useful information such as how much income the organization received and from what sources, how much the group spent on programs, management and fundraising activities, who the board members are and how much top management is paid.
You can find many Form 990s at GuideStar, which allows searches of more than 1.5 million non-profit organizations recognized by the IRS. For help deciphering a Form 990, see to "How to Read the Form 990 & Find Out What It Means" by the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.
You can also check out charities through these online rating guides which evaluate organizations by performance, fund raising and governance:
American Institute of Philanthropy scrutinizes the numbers that nonprofits report on their tax returns, known as Form 990. It also reviews fund-raising pitches and other documents, such as audited financial statements. The AIP ratings also indicate whether charities have willingly submitted their financial documents to the group. The best get A's. AIP currently rates more than 500 charities and updates its ratings three times a year in a guide called Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report ($3 for shipping).
BBB Wise Giving Alliance is affiliated with the Council of Better Business Bureaus and currently rates about 500 charities. The BBB reports whether a charity has met all 23 of the BBB's standards, including effective governance, reasonable fund-raising expenditures relative to contributions and accuracy of solicitation materials. Its evaluations are based on a charity's tax return, audited financial statements and solicitation materials. You can read the charity reports at no cost on the alliance's Web site.
Charity Navigator is free and analyzes 4,600 charities. Founded in 2002 by retired ad executive John Dugan, the group analyzes such criteria as a charity's fund-raising efficiency and administrative expenses and gives the charity an overall star rating. The site also offers peer comparisons and charity alternatives.
GuideStar offers information about the programs and finances of more than more than 1.5 million charitable organizations. You can search for individual charities and causes, and view scanned Form 990s after a free registration. The site is maintained by Philanthropic Research.
Once you decide on a worthy charity, keep good records of all donations so you can deduct them on your tax return. (Search for charities with tax-exempt status on the IRS Web site.) You must itemize deductions at tax time to qualify for a write-off. Donations of more than $250 require a receipt from the charity. For more information on the rules of making charitable contributions, see IRS Publication 526.
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posted by LadyIrene @ 3/04/2007 07:55:00 PM
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