How to Make Donations to Sheriff Associations

Support your sheriff

Sheriff's associations are there for the good of the communities. They create many programs for youth as well as programs for the defense and protection of citizens. It is worthwhile to take an interest in your community and give back to it. One way you can do this is through donations. To make sure your donation is used properly, follow these few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Check or money order Sheriff's association pamphlet Receipt

Instructions

1. Get information about the [[your local?]] association[[how? online? can you look up your local chapter in a telephone book or yellow pages?]]. Ask [[who?]]for a pamphlet or brochure explaining what the sheriff'ss ssociation is involved in and what it offers the community. This will help you decide if you want to support the association with a donation.

2. Give yourself time to think over the decision about donating. This step is necessary if someone solicits you for a donation on the spot. [[what about those phone calls to your home asking you to donate? if you think this is a scam, what should you do?]] Be aware that there is no immediate need for the money. It will not hurt the Association if you go home and make a decision to donate a few days later. Solicitors may not really work for the organization in the first place.

3. Talk with someone from your Sheriff's Association[[do they have an office you can usually visit? should you make an appointment to do this? they're probably very busy and may not be able to speak with you if you just drop in or call, correct?]] Find out exactly how a check or money order should be written out and what times someone will be in the office to give you a receipt.

4. Write out a check or get a money order from the post office. Do not pay in cash. If someone dishonest worked at the association, they could pocket your money. You will also have no record of your donation. Make sure you write "charitable donation" in the memo section of the check or money order.

5. Bring the check or money order in and have the clerk write you out a receipt. Place this in your filing cabinet so that you can find it easily at tax time.

Tips & Warnings

• If someone requesting a donation claims they work for the Sheriff's association, make sure you call the main office and check before you hand them a donation. Some Sheriff's Associations have websites that tell you all about their programs. You can even donate on their website.

• Connecticut, Alaska and Hawaii do not have Sheriff's Associations.