9 Murray Street, 3rd Flr
New York, NY 10007
212-349-6460
Before You Give
Ask Questions:
Ask how your donation will be spent. Legitimate charities will be able to provide specifics. Find out if your donation is tax deductible (the organization being “tax exempt” is not the same thing) and request a receipt with the charity’s name and identification number, the amount of your contribution and a statement that it is tax deductible.Look Them Up:
If you get a call or an email requesting a donation, it's a good idea to call the charity yourself and check it out. (Look up the phone number yourself, though. Don't trust a number they provide.) You can also research charities with your state Attorney General or charities bureau. Here's a list of helpful agencies and organizations, and their contact information:The Attorney General's office oversees the state's Charities Bureau. Their Web site includes advice for contributors and links to state laws regarding charities.
The Attorney General, New York State
www.oag.state.ny.us
Consumer Helpline: 1-800-771-7755
Crime Victims Hotline: 1-800-771-7755
Hearing Impaired: 1-800-788-9898
Three well-known private charity examiners are the American Institute of Philanthropy, Charity Navigator and Ministry Watch, which rates Christian organizations. The groups vary in the criteria they use and in the depth and breadth of their reporting, so it's best for consumers to check out new charities on more than one site.
American Institute of Philanthropy
3450 N. Lake Shore Dr. Suite 2802 E
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 529-2300
www.charitywatch.org
Charity Navigator
1200 MacArthur Boulevard
Second Floor
Mahwah, NJ 07430
201.818.1288
www.CharityNavigator.org
Ministry watch
2514 Plantation Center Drive
Matthews, NC 28105
(866) 364-9980
www.ministrywatch.com
GuideStar posts basic financial information about nonprofits online.
GuideStar
427 Scotland Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-4631
www.guidestar.org
To help ensure your contribution is tax deductible, you can go to IRS Publication 78 on www.irs.gov for a current list of all organizations eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable gifts.