Every year you probably contribute towards certain chosen charities. Have you ever stopped to think though, that some portion of these contributions does not go towards charitable purposes? It is a possibility that you must consider. Keep in mind that there are over 700,000 federally recognized charities. Therefore, being cautious about where you donate your money is important.
Paid Fund-Raisers
Charities employ professional fundraisers who find them to be a far more efficient tool, as opposed to using their own staff and volunteers. They make money for the charity, while a portion of the money collected goes to them. When putting your money towards a charity, there is no harm in your asking if the collector is a paid fundraiser, and what percentage of your donation he pockets. Consider these factors before you decide where you want to donate your money.
Reducing Telephone and Direct Mail Solicitations
Direct mails requesting for donations can be sometimes overwhelming. Therefore, here are a few things you can do to make these requests more manageable. Firstly, contact the charities you usually donate to and request that they do not share your information with any other organization. Another thing you can do is to ask charities to limit their requests to perhaps once or even twice a year.
Concerning donation requests received over the telephone, you could take a quick look at the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule. They not only restrict calling times, but also require quick identification of the charity they represent and other relevant details. People, who do not wish to be on calling list, can opt to move to the ‘do not call’ list – if the fundraiser ignores this request, fines can amount to $11,000. The Federal Government’s National Do Not Call Registry is also worth looking at.