The Dos and Don’ts of Donating to Charity

If you’re planning to make a generous donation to charity, conducting research before you proceed is critical. With many charities offering life-changing benefits to individuals throughout the country, your donation can go a long way in supporting causes you hold close to your heart.

Unfortunately, there are many scams active in the charity world. Opportunists seek all types of donations — and use them to profit personally. If you want to ensure that your donation has a significant impact, it’s vital to understand the “dos and don’ts” of making donations.

Use this guide from the National Veterans Foundation as a resource to help you make better decisions when you’re next donating. Let’s get started!

The Do’s of Donating to Charity

To begin, let’s explore all the “dos” of donation to charity:

1. Do Check the Eligibility of Your Donation

Before you donate to charity, ensure that you’re making an eligible donation. Many charities have strict requirements for donations, as they have processes to generate revenue from your donation. If you donate an item that doesn’t meet their needs, you’re both wasting their time and your contribution.

Most charities will make it extremely easy to verify eligible donations. Make sure to explore their websites before you donate. If you can’t find any information, call their office to ask before dropping off a donation.

For example, at National Veterans Foundation, we don’t accept certain items, such as money, large furniture, TVs, and more. We make it clear on our “Acceptable Items” tab what type of donations we can process.

2. Do Check the Quality of Your Donation

If you’re planning on donating to a charity, do assess the quality of the items. If you donate poor-quality items, you will end up wasting the charity’s time and resources. For example, if you’re donating clothing, make sure there are no significant stains, holes, or defects before you donate.

3. Do Test Gadgets

The same quality rule of thumb rings true if you’re donating electronics or components that have a practical use. Donating broken items can be a massive hassle for a charity. Don’t use your donation as free trash collection — you’ll be taking away resources from worthwhile causes.

If you have gadgets sitting in your attic or storage, make sure to give them a test run before you donate them. Don’t assume that your electronics or appliances are working perfectly.

4. Do Check the Organization Is a Registered Charity

If you aim to help a charitable cause, confirm that your chosen organization represents itself correctly. The requirements for charities can vary on a state-by-state basis, so it’s a good idea to check your local regulations before you perform due diligence on a charity.

For example, in New York, most charities need to register at the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. This means that you can easily verify the legitimacy of your charity by touching base with this bureau.

Also, it’s essential to understand how the charity will use your donation. You should always ask questions about the number of funds provided directly to the cause.

In some cases, organizations primarily pay staff and administrative costs, which means that very little money reaches those who need it. By donating to a charity that displays a clear commitment to providing funds or items directly to those in need, you can rest assured that your donation is put to good use.

All organizations should have clear information about how they utilize donations. Don’t allow vague statements or commitments to cloud your judgment.

5. Do Ask About Tax Deductibles

Money and specific items are sometimes eligible for tax deductions. If you want to receive a tax benefit from your donation, you must verify that the organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. This is especially important if you’re planning on making a cash donation to a charity.

If you don’t seek clarification about tax deductibles, it might result in a nasty surprise when you file your taxes and realize that your tax deduction is not eligible.

6. Check Donation Pickup and Delivery Options

Many charities make it simple to donate. If you’re searching for a way to provide a donation to an organization quickly, check what donation pickup and delivery options are available. For example, you can ask if donation centers are open outside normal business hours for convenient drop-off.

While many charities have convenient drop-off locations, few go to the lengths of the National Veterans Foundation. We are happy to pick up your donation from your home or business. This means that you don’t have to take any time out of your day to donate to a good cause — we’re here to simplify the process.

7. Do Ask for More Information

Lastly, never hesitate to ask for more information if something doesn’t feel right. With the number of scams currently active in the charity world, don’t take someone’s word for granted. Make sure to look up information about the organization you’re donating to — and don’t let someone charm you into believing incorrect information.

The Don’ts of Donating to Charity

Now that you’ve assessed the “dos” of donating to charity, let’s consider what not to do when it’s time to make your next donation. It’s just as important to keep the below factors in mind when you’re planning a donation:

1. Don’t Succumb to Pressure Tactics

If an organization is pressuring you to donate, this is usually a bad sign. Sometimes, organizations give large commissions to their employees who seek donations. Not only does this result in unsavory pressure tactics, but it also means that a lot of your donation will be going to employees of the organization, not a worthy cause.

If someone is pressuring you into donating, tell them that you need to consider your options before you finalize any commitments.

2. Don’t Rush the Process

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when donating is to rush the process. If you act too quickly when you’re donating, you might benefit an organization that doesn’t have the correct intentions or social impact.

It can be tempting to make a quick decision if you’re trying to offload clothes, furniture, or other items. But remember how much of an impact you can have if you take the time to donate to organizations that will make good use of money or items.

3. Don’t Be Fooled by Good Branding

A lot of modern charities and organizations are extremely good at developing strong branding. Whether it’s sleek logos, attractive websites, professional advertisements, or any other elements contributing to a robust branding package, many organizations now utilize various tools to build trust with the public.

While charitable organizations often conduct these branding efforts in good faith, this isn’t always the case. Many charities with poor performance records use branding as a tool to generate revenue.

Just because a charity or organization has excellent branding doesn’t mean that it deserves your donation. Don’t be fooled by a professional image — make sure to double-check that your charity of choice is registered correctly.

4. Don’t Send Dirty or Broken Items

Sending dirty and broken items will take a lot of time for an organization to deal with. If you’re hoping to have a significant impact on your chosen cause, it’s best to wash items and double-check that they’re functional. Just a few minutes of due diligence can make the donation process much more manageable.

If you’re donating clothes, washing them before a donation is always a good idea. This will also ensure that you get out any stains that might potentially put your donation at risk. Don’t underestimate the importance of cleaning clothes before you make a donation.

5. Don’t Be Sold a “Sob Story”

One of the easiest ways that disreputable charities or scam artists solicit donations is by using sob stories. For example, if you’re told that the donation will help a specific person, this might be a way that an organization solicits sympathy and attempts to defraud you of your money.

Always ask clarifying questions before you believe any sob stories. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment when trying to make a donation that will benefit your community.

Donate to the National Veterans Foundation

If you’re planning on donating, consider the National Veterans Foundation. We’re a charity firmly committed to helping our nation’s veterans. We offer public awareness programs, outreach services, toll-free helplines, and a host of other benefits to U.S. veterans.

Unlike other charities, we make the donation process as quick and simple as possible. Schedule a time for us to visit your home or business, and we’ll collect your donation items free of charge. Call us at (855) 628 8387 or book your appointment on easydonationpickup.com.