There are millions upon millions of charities out there and the new year is the best time to begin with a helping hand to those who needs it the most. True, charity should have no suspicion and other nuances but with the many fraudsters out there, one simply does not know whom they can trust to get their money to those they aim to help.

Best to get information from the many online charity organizations and web sites to get a glimpse at the scope and type of work the said charity does for your country of choice or target field. You can check out America’s Charities, Give.org, The Charity Navigator, Just Give.org, The Angel Network among some of the many charity resources out there that can help you in your quest to a more oriented and hassle-free drive to help others.

Ask your family and friends if they have knowledge in the area and to allow you to get more of the localized resources available. Don’t have much to give but still want to help and have spare time? Donate your time and help make the world a better place. There are many charities that allow volunteers to play parts in their various activities. Volunteer your services which may prove to be indispensable during their many outreach programs. Mostly any skills can have a place in charitable organizations, many of which rely on other people like you to provide the bulk of their manpower needs.

Still not sure who to trust? Ask the government social services organizations or other Non-Government Organizations on who they work with (many of them work in coordination with others to provide or make up for needed resources). Companies who have or sponsor charities are more likely to get help from the government in the form of many benefits which can be seen in the many tax-deductions and other perks.

Categories: Charities, Organizations, Websites | Tags: aid, charitable-organizations, Charities, charity, charity-tips

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Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause - especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

Technorati Tags: Charity tips, investigating charities, questions to ask charities, donation tips

Categories: Campaigns, Charities, Ideas, Organizations, Tips | Tags: charity-tips, donation-tips, investigating-charities, questions-to-ask-charities

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With Halloween just around the corner, it also means that the season of giving is practically upon us, so many of us are starting to think about ways we can give.

Well, without wanting to sound like a Scrooge, the fact of the matter is that there unfortunately are many scammy operations out there, or even simple red tape or massive overhead costs that makes it more difficult than ever for your money to actually reach those in need.

So my next few posts will be dedicated to some easy advice on how we can do the best we can to make sure what we give goes to those who really need it.

To start off, here are 4 simple tips when giving to charity:

1. Double check NAME of the charity. Some may just be named that way to confuse you to think it is a well-known charity with a similar name. Check their credentials online and visit the place yourself if possible. Other good ways to check out a charity is through your local charity registrar and or with the local better business bureau.

2. Remember that giving to charity is tax deductable. Keep records of all your charitable donations as well as costs you may have incurred while volunteering.

3. Always give by cheque - and make it payable to the charity, never to an individual. Stay away from cash donations.

4. When receiving an appeal in the post - check to see if there is the name and address of a reputable charity, and what they are already doing to solve the problem. Be wary of sob stories.

Technorati Tags: charity tips, investigating charities, donating tips

Categories: Charities, Ideas, Tips | Tags: charity-tips, donating-tips, investigating-charities

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