16 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | AUGUST 2023
By eresa Rossetti, Resident
Every day on the news, on social media or from friends, family,
or neighbors, we hear of organizations and people in need of help.
Our inboxes, voicemails and sometimes texts fill up with requests
for aid due to natural disasters, animal shelters that need help,
children's charities, veterans' groups, etc. that need resources to
continue their work. How do we decide what charities to choose
and, most importantly, which are worthy of our money during
these tough times?
Perhaps you have certain ones you donate to frequently – your
alma mater, a hospital or research center that you or a loved one
benefited from, or a cause that is close to your heart for whatever
reason. But what about all the others, perhaps new to you, that are
requesting aid? How do we make informed choices to make sure
our money is going to a reputable charity?
In the wake of tragedies, one hit wonder "charities" pop up
begging for help. ese are usually local, and the vast majority
are individual scammers smelling an opportunity through local
press coverage and a quick website setup. In 2013, the Tampa Bay
Times put together a list of 50 charities that raised almost a billion
dollars, most of which wound up in the pocket of the fundraisers.
Google 50 Worst Charities if you want to see the list. You'll notice
that a lot of these "charities" have similar names to legitimate ones
we've know of for years. T hat's definitely on purpose!
If you receive a call from someone soliciting a donation, please
do not do this over the phone. Ask them how you can donate
online/by mail. Legitimate ones will tell you how. Hustlers will
not.
How do we sort it all out? Perhaps surprisingly, the IRS is not
the answer. Many non-profit organizations are registered with
them but the money they collect feeds them and not the people
you think you are helping.
ankfully, there is help available online. ese sites have
researched the charities, itemizing how much of the income (your
money) goes towards helping their cause, how much goes to the
salaries of the organization itself and how much of that money is
spent on advertising. ey provide enough info, for free, to make
an informed decision. e Better Business Bureau Wise Giving
Alliance (give.org) is one. I use CharityNavigator.org. Others to
check out – GuideStar.org, CharityWatch.org, and even Consumer
Reports.
Please take the time to do some research before donating your
hard-earned cash. (Who am I kidding - never give cash and make
sure to get a receipt!)
So Many People To Help… How To Choose?
