giving wisely to charity - 10 step guide giving with your head as well as your heart! prepared and...

Giving Wisely to Charity - 10 Step Guide

Giving with your head as well as your heart!

Prepared and presented by:Marita C Wenner

First 5 Steps:Research!

Second 5 Steps:

Evaluate!

©Bull, 2009Titre de la Présentation Title

Understand your values

Before you open your wallet,volunteer your time or look at a letter from a charity....know what is important to you!


Identify your preferences

Ask yourself:• What is important to me?

o The enviroment?o Education?o Hunger?o Animal welfare?o Helping sick children?o Religious causes?


Identify your preferences

• Where should the charity do its work?o In your neighborhood?o Region?o The Nation?o Internationally?

• Ask yourself if you want to support a large or small charity, a new or old one?


Do some research

Search charity databases to find charities that meet your criteria

www.charitynavigator.org

www.guidestar.org


Focus on the mission

1. Look at each charity's description (Mission Statement) in your search results, on its Web site, or in its literature.

2. Find the nonprofits that fit best with your values.


Eliminate charities that don't meet your criteria

Now you are ready to look more closly at these organizations!


Verify a charity's legitimacy

• Charity must be nonprofit and meet the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) criteria for tax-exempt organizations.

• All charities on mentioned web-link sites are legitimate.


Get cold, hard facts

A reputable organization will:• Define its mission and

programs clearly.• Have measurable goals.• Use concrete criteria to

describe its achievements.


Get cold, hard facts

Review charity's financial report:• How much money is actually

being donated to cause?• How much is going to operating

expenses?o Administrative salaries &

bonuses.o Fund raising expenses.


Compare apples to apples

Be sure to compare charities that do the same kind of work, especially if you are looking at their finances. The type of work a charity does can affect its operating costs dramatically.


Avoid charities that won't share information or pressure you!

Reputable nonprofits:• Will discuss their programs and

finances.• Don't use pressure tactics.• Are willing to send you literature

or direct you to their website• Will take "no" for an answer


Trust your instincts!

If you still have doubts about a charity, don't contribute to it. Instead, find another nonprofit that does the same kind of work and with which you feel comfortable, then make your donation!


Tips & Warnings

• Best charities tend to give a large percentage of funds to actual cause.

• Choosing a nonprofit charity helps ensure your donations are tax deductible.

• Be careful of sound alike names.


Tips & Warnings

• Best way to find out about a charity is to volunteer your time and experience how they help.

• Beware of scammers who pose as a charitable organization!


The End

Go Forth and Do Good!

giving wisely to charity - 10 step guide giving with your head as well as your heart! prepared and...

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