When looking to donate to a charity it is important to look into the charity to determine if your money is going to a good cause. You also want to understand the types of charities out there. This can be difficult to determine but the best way is to understand the types of charities out there by doing the research.
Three types of charities are international charities, domestic charities, and religious charities.
International type charities work in countries and help those who are living in poverty.
Domestic charities work in the United States and focus on helping people living in poverty.
Religious charities are affiliated with a religion and work with communities living in poverty or those affected by a natural disaster.
Make sure to do some research before donating to a charity. You can do this by visiting the charity website and look into how the donations are being used. You can also reach out to other sources such as the Better Business Bureau and research any possible complaints or other customer feedback.
Donating is a great way to help your community and those in need. When you choose to do this you are helping make a difference in the lives of those in the community.
When looking into what charity to choose, you want to define what is important for you.
Are you looking for a local charity to help those in your community or are you looking for a charity that helps others throughout the country? Are you more interested in helping animals or people, or maybe a combination of both?
Once you have an idea of what is important to you, you can start looking for charities that match your interests and find more information about them through charity rating organizations like Charity Navigator. You can also ask your closest friends and family for recommendations.
Once you have the options narrowed down to a few, be sure to look at their website and consider making a call and asking questions to determine how the money you donate will be used and if it aligns with your values.
Things to keep in mind:
Check if the charity is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. This will allow you to potentially get a tax break. However you should consult with a tax professional.
Make sure the Charities mission aligns with your values.
Make sure the charity is transparent and you know where your donations are going.
Make sure the charity has a good reputation by looking at sources such as Charity Navigator or Guidestar, both very popular websites.
Ultimately you are the one who decides where you believe you money will be best put to use, there are thousand of places and organizations that you can choose to donate and many have great causes.
