Five ways to make sure your charitable contribution will get the job done right

Q: With Veterans Day coming up, I want to donate to an organization that really puts our veterans first. I have multiple family members who have served and I always try to give back as much as possible. I see so many commercials that are geared toward helping veterans, how do I know if they are legitimate? And how do I know if the money is truly going to the veterans, or in the pockets of the CEO?

A: Scammers like to prey on specific holidays, and may use Veterans Day as a way to con their victims with emotional appeals.

Not only do you need to worry about scammers, but you need to be certain the charity you’re donating to is legitimate, or acting in good faith.

There are a few things you can do to be certain your money is going to the right place.

Beware of sound-alike charities – Sometimes scammers will knowingly use names aimed at confusing the donor. Check a charity with BBB at www.give.org to see if the organization has met BBB’s 20 Standards of Accountability, which are standards designed to show that a charity is transparent about its operations and fundraising, and that it follows good governance practices.

Learn all you can about a charity before contributing – Ask for the organization’s IRS Form 990 and any printed documentation that shows how much of the contributions will be used for program services and how much will go for fundraising and management expenses.

Donate directly to the charity – Don’t go through a fundraising telemarketer or a direct-mail solicitation. This helps ensure that most of your contribution goes directly to the charity.

Don’t give money on the spot – A charity that can use your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow. Watch out for appeals that bring tears to your eyes, but tell you nothing about how your donation will be used.

Stay secure – Before making online donations, determine whether the charity’s website is secure and that it has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal facts. (The address on the page where donations are collected should begin with https://.)

When considering support for a cause-related marketing campaign, find the answers to these questions:

▪ What portion of the purchase price will benefit the charity?

▪ What is the duration of the campaign?

▪ What is the maximum or minimum total contribution?

If the information is not on the item, check the organization’s website.

To report a suspected charity scam or learn more about the latest scams trending in your area, go to bbb.org/scamtracker.