What are the best resources to verify a charity?

Factual Questions
1

Are there resources to verify that a charity is legitimate. That it’s stable and won’t be closing it’s doors from mismanagement?

I’m thinking of smaller charities. In particular the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA). The web site looks good. But how do I check them out and see if it’s well managed and legitimate?

http://www.apparelyzed.com/support/usa/nscia.html

Choosing a charity isn’t easy. I’d like to know the money I give actually makes a difference. There’s so many scammers out there and it’s not hard to make a flashy web site. I want to check out any charities I support.

2

This charity says it’s a BBB Accredited Charity.
http://www.unitedspinal.org/about/contact-united-spinal/

http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/

Is that a good indicator?

NSCIA lead me to United Spinal Association. That’s the one with the BBB seal.

3

Guidestar

Pull up their IRS Form 990 (tax return)

4

Another way to vet charities is Charity Navigator.

5

Red flags should go up if a large chunk of donations end up going to pay salaries, overhead, etc. with not so much ending up actually funding its charitable purpose.

6

You can always ask the charity itself for information. Some documents (including the 990) must be given upon request, but most charities anticipate common questions and prepare some kind of user-friendly donor FAQ addressing their size, stability, achievements and the percent of funds that go to charitable purposes.

Naturally, you might want to check out a third-party source to be sure you’ve been given good information.

7

Thanks everyone.

Those links helped a lot. Just for fun I ran the big name charities through too. St Jude, Make A Wish, Easter Seals. Doesn’t hurt to check.

The big guys already get good donations. I rather help the smaller ones that I can verify.

8

This year for Christmas all the adults in my extended family agreed to pool the money we’d normally spend on Christmas and donate it to three charities. These are the three I’ll be recommending but it is a group decision. Some of my nieces & nephews want to give to, but we aren’t expecting them to give up all presents this year. :smiley: They are just kids.

Based on the GuideStar and Charity Navigator I found 2 really good charities that deal with spinal problems.

Spondylitis Association of America
Spina Bifida Association

Cure Internationl which deals with Cleft Platate, Club Foot etc. in third world countries

9

You’re asking two different questions.

For the first, check out IRS publication 78. They have an online site where you can verify the charity is tax exempt and in good standing with the IRS.

For the second, there’s no way to immediately find out other than contact existing donors. If the charity refuses to send you references then stay away.