Donating to a children's charity is highly rewarding experience. Giving back to a child in need will help future generations grow and reach their full potential. However, researching the charity is a very important aspect of the giving process. Review the charity's financial statements, check with the Better Business Bureau and verify the charity is classified as a non-profit organization to be able to write off the donation on your tax return.
Determine which charity you would like to give your donation. There are many local and national charities that focus on children but have different goals. Some charities focus on feeding children. Others focus on disadvantaged children and education and life experiences. Justgive.org has search options available that allow you to target your donations to work for children in your community.
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Verify the charity is classified as a nonprofit that is able to receive tax-deductible donations, typically a 501(c)(3) organization. Doing this will ensure that any donation you make to the charity can be written off as a tax deduction on your income taxes.
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Ask the charity to provide a brochure of their activities and their recent financial statement. Tax form 990 will be provided to you. The charity should be able to provide the form to you immediately if the request is made in person and within 30 days for other request types. Reviewing the tax form will show how the organization is using the funds that have been donated.
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Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any complaints outstanding against the charities you are considering. If there are complaints, review them to see how much merit there is to the complaint and if it is recurring.
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Pick the charity that best meets your criteria for activities and use of the funds for a children's charity.
Tips & Warnings
Donate using checks or credit cards. These types of transactions are easier to track if any issues arise. Do not donate cash.
Contacting a tax adviser or financial planner regarding your plans for donating can help create a plan to make sure that you stay within your financial goals and even help create a plan for funding future donations.
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