The earthquake and its aftershocks rattled through southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Here are the best ways to vet a charity before you donate.
A mission statement tells you the organization’s purpose for existing and plans to work toward a bigger goal.
“Do they have a proven track record for making an impact?
This should be very apparent on the organization’s website or in their marketing materials.”
Evaluating a charity means making sure its mission is in line with your values.
Most charities have a mission statement on their websites or printed on brochures.
It also means donations to the organization are tax-deductible and annual reports are published publicly.
Operating within a budget is important for any organization – charities included.
The first step in vetting a charity is reviewing fundraising expenses and administrative costs.
The more money that’s allocated towards administration costs means less money goes to programs and services.
Look for charities that have a low percentage of revenue going to administrative costs.
“We recommend that at least 70% should be allocated toward programs,” Scally says.
“Anything less and your donation isn’t being stewarded properly.”
it’s possible for you to check an organization’s annual report to see where its money goes.
Many post this publicly on their websites or you’ve got the option to useGuideStarto find the details.
“The important thing is doing your research and finding an effective organization that aligns with your passions.”
Evaluate transparency
Look for the groups that report back to you on their progress.
If a charity doesn’t want to share what it’s doing, that’s a big red flag.
Charity Navigator is a good resource for assessing a nonprofit’s transparency.
For instance,Feeding Americaallocates 96% of its program expenses to food procurement.
Compensation is important, too.
The IRS requires charities to report details about the CEO and the top five highest-paid employees.
you’re free to also find this on Charity Navigator.
Pay close attention to how an alleged charity handles donations.
The safest way to donate is to use a credit card on a secure website.
Never give personal and financial details over the phone.
