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Charitable organizations and non-profit groups abound because needs are so great in many parts of the world. The success of these groups depends on people like you, who have caring hearts. Compassionate people follow their hearts and frequently participate in charitable giving and non-profit fundraising specifically to help those less fortunate than themselves. Often, people who freely give to charity have suffered losses themselves and therefore truly empathize with others in similar plights. Other times, wealthy people put their riches to good use through charitable giving in sizeable amounts or even organizing and sponsoring non-profit fundraising events. So many good causes exist, yet unscrupulous people frequently take advantage of unsuspecting givers by creating scam organizations with fake causes, then abscond with the funds. These types of nefarious groups typically appear following natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, downturns in the economy, or other times when people are most vulnerable and gullible. How can you decide when an organization is legitimate and the cause is authentic, so you can participate in charitable giving? Warning Signs of a Fake Charity or Fund-Raising Group If you have a giving heart, but don't want your donations to go to waste with scam organizations or phony causes, carefully research an organization first. These are a few warning signs of a fake charity or fund-raising group, that should raise your suspicions, and prompt you NOT to provide any personal or financial information, or funds: • No identification or obvious forged identification. • Unwillingness to provide complete details of the "charity" such as name, address, phone number, email, or other contact information. • Defensive if asked to explain how/where donations are used or how much goes to operational expenses rather than directly to the charity. • Only accepts cash, or asks for personal checks made out to an individual, rather than the "charity" by name. • Unwilling to provide receipts for donations, or only gives generic receipts with no printed information about the "charity" provided. • Pressure to donate and attempts to cause guilt if you don't donate. • Unsolicited phone calls or emails asking for donations, especially if any of the preceding signs are present. • Online fund-raising sites or social media accounts with glaring errors indicating they are impersonating legitimate organizations or groups, such as the inclusion of any of the preceding signs. • Written propaganda (mail, email, or online) requesting donations, but full of errors: poorly written, spelling and grammar errors, incomplete sentences, non-sensical, and/or illogical. Remember, legitimate charitable organizations and non-profit groups will typically do the opposite of all these above signs. Never give out your personal or financial information to any individual or group that approaches you, unless you have initiated contact and fully trust the authenticity of the charity or non-profit group. You can check with organizations such as Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau, or your state's Attorney General to determine a charity's or non-profit group's status. Legitimate Causes Needing Charitable Giving Most charitable organizations and non-profit groups concentrate on one or more of three major networks of need: helping people, helping animals, and/or helping our planet. Once you have established which charities or fund-raising groups are legitimate, it's a matter of choosing which one, or more than one, you desire to gift with your donations. Numerous legitimate causes exist, and often have multiple sponsors who work on non-profit fundraising For example, some charitable organizations may include those raising funds for any the following, in alphabetical order: • Animal rescue and prevention of cruelty • Autism • Breast Cancer • Child Healthcare • Developmental Disabilities (other than, or in addition to, autism) • Domestic Abuse • Hunger • Literacy • Natural Disasters • Rain Forest • Veterans • Wildlife Preservation So if you have a giving heart, and you have established the authenticity of charitable organizations or non-profit groups, continue confidently with your charitable giving, knowing you are making life a little bit brighter and easier for those less fortunate than yourself. Charitable Giving Please Visit Our Online Mall
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