Charitable Giving: Doing Your Due Diligence
Donating to charities is a win-win when filing taxes. You get to help a cause you care about and can claim dedications on cash contributions. But what happens when the charity you’ve given to is fraudulent? You’ve now donated to a false entity, haven’t helped the cause, and cannot write it off on your taxes.
With how easy it is to share information online, authentic non-profits can stretch their influence father than before. But it also means that fraudulent schemes can pop up and go viral just as easily. Situations like this can occur at any time, but they often pop up during tragedies.
In other cases, organizations have mishandled generous donations or don’t allocate funding properly.
Consider these tips to help confirm if the charity you want to donate to is making an impact.
Check the Legitimacy
Before donating, check the charity’s name against a credible database. The Canada Revenue Agency’s List of Charities can help you confirm that you can write off your donation. The List of Charities can help you find a charity’s contact and financial information. It also lets you see if a charity has been revoked, annulled, penalized, or suspended.
When researching charities online, check the URL. Many charity URLs end in .org instead of .com or .net. Also, double-check the spelling and look for missing or extra letters.
You’ve Got Mail
If you receive an email claiming to be an organization that’s seeking donations, report it as spam and delete it. If the email asks you to download any sort of file, do not download or open any attachments. There’s a chance that those files could be carrying a virus that aims to steal your personal information.
The only exception is if you receive an email from an actual organization that you have donated to previously.
Always Get a Receipt
Having confirmation of your donation is essential. Only Canadian registered charities and other qualified donees are able to issue official donation receipts that you can use for charitable tax credits. The ability to accept deductible donations is a key qualifier of a legit charity.
Transparency Matters
Even if a charity seems legitimate, it may not be effectively helping the cause(s) it represents. You have the right to ask to see annual reports and documentation to see how a charity allocates its funds. The Charities Review Council recommends that at least 65% of a charitable organization’s total expenses go toward its programs.
However, remember that many organizations wouldn’t exist without staff that provides expertise, runs programs, and maintains finances. Overhead is necessary, but just make sure that it’s not the only thing donations are being used for.
Report Abuse
If you believe a charity you’ve seen or have donated to is a scam, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
By spending a few minutes researching, you can help ensure your money is going to a worthy cause that will use it wisely.
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