Questions to Ask Before Donating to Charity
by Metro Editorial
Published: Tuesday, November 02, 2010
With the holiday season in full swing, thousands of people are again likely to donate money to charity. While the economy has yet to fully recover from the recent recession, charitable donations have arguably never been more necessary. As the Salvation Army noted in late 2009, charitable donations were on the decline while the need for charitable services was going up.
For those who can afford to make a donation this holiday season, it's important to ensure that donation is going to the right place. Charity Navigator, the nation's largest evaluator of charities, encourages potential donors to ask charities questions about their programs as well as their mission and goals before deciding to donate. The following questions should be asked of any charity before agreeing to support them.
What are the charity's long-term and short-term goals?
A charitable organizations should have quantifiable goals by which it can measure its successes and failures. A good organization will jump at the chance to detail its short-term and long-term goals to prospective donors.
What progress has the charity made toward its goals?
Nearly every charity has good intentions. While some might prove the rare bad seed, most do positive work. However, good intentions are not enough to warrant a donation. Ask a charity what progress it has made and is making toward its goals. A charity worthy of a donor's support won't merely be well-intentioned. A charity worth of a donation should have a track record of success and be capable of making a difference going forward as well.
Are the charity's programs up to your standards?
This is a question potential donors must ask themselves. Just because a charity has a mission prospective donors believe in doesn't necessarily mean donors will agree with how charities go about achieving that mission. If donors support the ends but don't support, or understand, the means, the decision to donate or not donate won't be easy. Learn as much as possible about the charity's programs before making a decision.
Does the charity inspire trust?
Donors should not support a charity they are not confident in. Regardless of how much faith potential donors have in a given cause, if the charity isn't trustworthy, donors are not likely to feel good about their donations or become repeat donors. If a charity seems worthy of a donation but donors remain on the fence, consult Charity Navigator or other evaluators to put any fears to rest.
Are you willing to make a long-term commitment?
When considering a charity, donors should look at it as a long-term commitment. Potential donors should look for an organization they can support for years to come.
To learn more about finding the right charity, visit Charity Navigator at
www.charitynavigator.org.
Peace, Happiness, L.O.V.E~~~
God Bless
As Always
:rollingpeace::angel::rollingpeace:
rovides free financial evaluations of America's charities.