Do Your Homework When It Comes to Giving

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan
Friday, March 11.

For most of us, disasters like the devastating tsunami in Japan stir compassion and an impulse to help -- and give -- in any way we can.

But there are others who use tragedies to spur the latest scams. While plenty of legitimate nonprofit organizations are collecting donations, beware of fraudulent ones out to steal your money instead of using it to aid victims.

In my home state of Illinois, Attorney General Lisa Madigan released several tips to verify if an entity is legitimately collecting money.

• Ask how much of your donation will go to the charity and how much will be used to pay fund-raising costs. 
• Pay close attention to the name of the charity (or misspelled words in the name).
• Ask questions about the charity. 
• Take caution when giving online. 
• Do not pay in cash. For security and tax record purposes, pay by check. Be sure to write the full official name of the charity on your check—do not abbreviate.
• Request written information.
• Do not donate if the solicitor uses high-pressure tactics, asks for cash payment or insists on sending someone to pick up your donation. 

Another good resources is http://www.charitynavigator.org/, where you can search for an organization if you question its legitimacy.

If you believe you have been a victim of a scam or want to report a suspicious solicitation, log on to your state attorney general's website or contact the office directly.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc.  With a background in print media, she has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how they can get media attention for their programs and efforts. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.