How To Find A Good Charity

Let’s face it, when it comes to donating money to a charity you have millions from which to choose. There are many charitable organizations throughout the world, most of which are legitimate and founded solely to benefit the cause they represent.  There are also many organizations which may not be as forthcoming about where the donations go or whether or not they even go toward the cause.

With everyone keeping a close eye on where they spend their money these days, it is important to know how to weed out a bad charity. You don’t want your hard earned cash going into someone else’s pocket, however we can’t stop charitable donations all together or the real charities and causes they support will suffer. Let’s take a look at some ways to find the right charity.

Consider The Charity Not The Cause

Most people donate to a charity that supports a cause near and dear to their heart. Whether it be cancer research, saving abused animals or protecting children- you will most likely pick a charity based on who/what they serve. The only problem in this is that you don’t know for sure if your money is going toward the cause or the charity itself. To make sure your money goes to the right place, carefully investigate the charity itself.

What To Look For In A Charity

A good charity is just as concerned with where your money goes as you are, therefore you should look for the following things. The charity should allocate at least 75% of donations toward the cause versus administration, salary and fund raising costs. They should be vigilant in how much money they are spending to receive donations- a good charity will spend a quarter of the amount raised on fund raising….let’s say they raise $100, they should be spending less than $25 to raise that money. You should also be able to view their audited financial statements and income tax forms. If they don’t want to share this information with the public who supports their organization, then look for a charity that will.

Look For A Charity Rating

There are charity watchdog groups which provide ratings as well as the Better Business Bureau. Consider these ratings and do your own research. Just as many businesses use savvy marketing and advertising to entice customers, charitable organizations often do the same, playing on your emotions. By researching your choice before committing to a monetary donation, you can avoid making a decision based on your emotional reaction.

Donate Your Time

When in doubt, consider a local organization. Almost all charitable organizations can benefit from volunteers. By volunteering your time you are making a difference which you can see and feel each time you participate. Professional skills can be helpful as well- use your trade to help lower expenses for the charity.

Finding a good charity might seem like a lot of work, however it is an investment of time that is worthwhile. Many people might feel better by simply writing a check without looking into the charity, however if your money is not going toward the cause, it is not money well spent.