Be Wary of Excessive Pressure in Fund Raising. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it, and permit you time to collect information about the organization. Keep a Record of Contributions Throughout the Year. Keeping track of all donations, both large and small, is helpful at tax time and in responding to charities that send multiple appeals. Internet Appeals Require Careful Scrutiny.
Some Internet giving sites charge an administrative fee.
This should tell you what information is being collected about you and how it will be used. Look for visual alerts that indicate that appropriate security measures are in place, such as encryption technology for credit card transactions. Seek Out Additional Charity Facts. Don t hesitate to ask the charity for additional information such as a copy of its IRS Form 990. This is the annual financial form filed with the government.