Charity review resources, such as the Better Business Bureau, government recognition, and private charity rating organizations, can help determine the suitability of a charity for donations. Local newspapers, service organizations, and affiliated churches can also provide recommendations. Non-profit organizations can offer information about affiliated charities.
There are several charity review resources that can be used to determine whether or not a charity is a suitable recipient of donations of goods, services, or funds. Numerous agencies screen charities to examine how their funds are being used, how efficiently they operate, and whether or not the charities have received any complaints. These reviews are freely accessible to members of the public who wish to review them.
If your country has a Better Business Bureau or similar organization, it’s often a good resource to start with when evaluating charities. Organizations that agree to join the Better Business Bureau (BBB) submit themselves to scrutiny, provide information about themselves, and provide an avenue for people to file complaints. The BBB may use ranking or numerical ratings to indicate how trustworthy a charity is, and typically also includes information about the financial organization, such as the percentage of donations actually going to the cause supported by the charity.
Checking the government’s status as a recognized charity can also help, as this suggests that a charity submits documents for audit by the tax authorities and complies with certain rules. However, being certified as a charity does not automatically make a reputable organization trustworthy.
Private charity rating organizations such as Smart Givers, Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy also rate charities and rate them, using their own criteria. Reports from these organizations can be very reliable and informative, and these groups also review charities whether or not they submit to the assessment, meaning that the pool of organizations reviewed is not self-selecting.
Another good source is a local newspaper or service organization. Newspapers often list charities they deem worthy or reputable during the holiday season to encourage people to donate, and their reporters may also periodically profile local organizations. Service organizations also provide charitable reviews and recommendations to asking members of the public, as do many churches. Some churches or service organizations are officially affiliated with particular charities which are usually thoroughly vetted, and these organizations can be a good resource for information about good places to donate.
Information about charities can also be obtained from reputable non-profit organizations. If a nonprofit organization won’t offer specific recommendations because it wants to encourage people to donate to it, rather than to another group, potential donors can consult charities with which the organization has been affiliated. If nonprofit A and charity B collaborated on a project, it is very likely that the nonprofit investigated the charity and determined that it was a worthy organization to work with, and therefore the charity is likely a good candidate for a donation.
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