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Unnamed: 0
150 [NAME], 23rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio  43215
[PHONE]
[PHONE]
WHAT INFORMATION IS IN THIS REPORT?
This Charitable Fund-raising in Ohio by Professional Solicitors Report lists charitable organizations that hired professional solicitors to conduct their fund-raising campaigns.  The majority of these professional solicitors use telemarketing as a means to contact Ohioans and ask for donations.
The information in this report is based on data submitted by charities and professional solicitors to the Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section.  The report lists fund-raising campaigns, which are arranged in alphabetical order according to the charity.  The columns, from left to right, list the following information about the fund-raising campaign:  the professional solicitor, the report cycle, gross campaign revenues, amount retained by the charity; and the percentage of donations the charity retained from the campaign (money the charity retained divided by gross revenue).
This report includes financial data submitted for 2009 and 2010 and also includes addresses for each of the charities listed in the publication. Additionally, there is an alphabetical listing of all professional solicitors (including addresses) that are on file with the Attorney General’s Office.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR CALLS ASKING FOR A DONATION?
First, keep in mind there are numerous charitable organizations that are deserving of your donation and trust.  These charities depend on public generosity in order to continue operating their programs and provide services that benefit our communities and countless Ohioans.
Whenever a professional solicitor calls asking you to donate to a charity, carefully listen to all of the information that is presented to you.  According to state law, the caller must disclose the following facts:
·        The caller is a professional solicitor.
·        The name of the professional solicitor (as on file with the Attorney General’s Office).
·        The name and address of the charity that will receive the donation.
Although the above information must be automatically disclosed, it’s important that you ask questions before you make any donation.  One of the most important questions to ask is:  “What percentage of my donation will the charity actually receive if I decide to give?”  According to state law, the caller is required to provide this information only if the consumer requests it – the law does not require it to be automatically disclosed.
To make a well-informed giving decision, there are other questions you should ask the professional solicitor before you make a donation.  Here are some suggestions:
What is the full name of the charity that will receive the donation?
Is the charity registered with the Attorney General’s Office?
What are some of the charity’s specific programs and services?
What percentage of the charity’s income is spent on these programs and services?
What percentage of the charity’s income is spent on administrative and fund-raising costs?
How long has the charity been in existence?
Can you send me information to review before I decide whether to give?
Always be wary of providing credit card information over the telephone on calls that you did not expect. Unfortunately, this is a scheme often used to commit credit card theft.
WHAT ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS THAT I SHOULD LOOK FOR WHEN I’M ASKED TO MAKE A DONATION OVER THE PHONE?
Unfortunately, there are scam artists who prey upon the generosity of unsuspecting Ohioans.  These unscrupulous telemarketers get rich by calling people and asking for donations to a charity that doesn’t even exist.  To prevent charitable fraud, do not give money over the phone if:
The caller is hesitant to answer any of your questions.
High pressure tactics are used.
The name of the charity sounds similar to a well-known, nationally recognized charity.
The caller requests that your check be made payable to an individual rather than the charity.
You are “guaranteed to win a prize” if you make a donation.
The caller offers to have a courier immediately pick up the donation from you instead of waiting to receive it through the mail.
A NOTE ABOUT DO NOT CALL CHARITIES
Because charities are not subject to the restriction of Ohio or National Do Not Call Registries, you might receive calls from professional solicitors requesting charitable donations even if you are registered on the Do Not Call lists.  However, if you ask not to receive any more calls on behalf of that specific charity, the solicitor may be subject to legal action if he or she fails to honor your request.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SOLICITORS?
Call the charity directly to ask questions and request brochures and financial reports.  If the organization is a national charity, call the local chapter or affiliate.
Call your local Better Business Bureau®.  The following chart lists their nine locations across Ohio along with their telephone numbers:
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAUS® IN OHIO
[NAME] (330) 253-4590
Canton (330) 454-9401 or (800)-362-0494
Cincinnati (513) 421-3015
Cleveland (216) 241-7678
Columbus (614) 486-6336
Dayton (937) 222-5825
Lima (419) 223-7010
Toledo  (419) 531-3116
Youngstown  (330) 744-3111
Contact Attorney General Rogers’s Charitable Law Section.  This section is a repository of information on charitable organizations and professional solicitors.  Financial reports, informational financial returns, registration statements, and contracts between charities and solicitors are all public records and can be obtained simply by calling the Attorney General’s office toll-free, at (800) 282-0515 or writing to:  Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Charitable Law Section, 150 E. Gay St., 23rd Floor, Columbus, OH  43215-3130.
Information contained in this report, as well as past reports on charitable fund-raising in Ohio by professional solicitors, is available on the Attorney General’s Web site www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov