How to Donate to a Charity Fund
Charitable donations are not only good for the community, they are good for the soul. According to Giving USA, approximately $300 billion was donated to charities in 2009, allowing that money to do good for people, animals and the environment. There are many ways to donate to a charity or a charitable fund.
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Instructions
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Consider the things you are most enthusiastic about and find a charity that fits that enthusiasm. If you have a loved one who has suffered from cancer, there are numerous charities designed to further cancer research, study prevention measures and offer palliative care. If you are moved by images of natural disasters, there are many organizations that help disaster victims start over after a catastrophe.
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Investigate the charities that interest you. There are numerous watchdog groups that study organizations to ensure they actually provide money to the intended parties and that their administrative costs do not outweigh their research or giving funds. These groups also investigate any patterns of legitimate complaints against charities. Some of the watchdog groups include the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, American Institute of Philanthropy or your state's attorney general's office.
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Contact the charity of your choice and ask for their contact information, mission statement and how they use their donations. Legitimate charities will gladly share this information with their donors.
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Determine if going on a volunteer vacation is possible. On a volunteer vacation you might build homes, teach English in a developing nation or provide nursing care to disaster victims. Because you will volunteer for a charity, you will likely be responsible for your own travel expenses.
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Consider donating your car to charity. Many charitable donations are tax-deductible and donating your car not only provides a charity with a car they can use or sell for parts, but it also nets you a sizable tax deduction.
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Volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, pet shelter, hospital or local charitable group. If finances are tight, donating your time is just as valuable to a charity as money.
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Tips & Warnings
Write a check to the charity organization (never an individual) or pay by credit or debit card to more easily track donations for tax purposes.
Ensure that your charity of choice has been around for a considerable period of time and did not originate overnight.
Be wary of similar sounding names for charities. Some scam organizations name themselves after legitimate charities to pilfer money away from actual charitable organizations.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit giving money image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
