The amount of money raised through paid telemarketers also hit a 10-year low. That effort is paying off. But still nearly 100 organizations are using paid solicitors and most are seeing far too little of the money raised on their behalf. The report found that police, firefighter and ambulance related groups continued to account for most of the professional telephone soliciting among organizations in Connecticut. Blumenthal and Shiffrin said the survey also shows that some groups still receive little of the money raised.
Many charities have sound-alike names.
Ask how your donation will be used and where your donation will be used. Don't accept vague answers. Ask whether the person calling is being paid and what percentage of the donation will go to the organization. Never give cash or agree to have someone pick up a contribution. Blumenthal and Shiffrin commended Assistant Attorney General Paula Sullivan and Supervising Accounts Examiner Steve Eaton for their work on the report.