CHICAGO, IL – December 18,
2012 – Charity scammers strike after violent tragedies such as the Colorado theater shootings and now the Newtown school shooting. The Better Business
Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) is alerting consumers of the
possibility of phony charity solicitations, supposedly on behalf of the
families of victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown last Friday. The BBB recommends
donors avoid giving to charities or funds through unsolicited phone calls,
emails, texts or social media appeals.
“Many people are interested in helping others
by donating to a charity. Give wisely by checking on the organization before
giving and make sure that your donation is being used for it’s intended purpose
by a trustworthy charity.” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the
Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.
The BBB recommends asking
the following questions before choosing to donate to a specific charity:
Is this a charity
I can trust? Look at the appeal carefully; some charities
have similar sounding names. Don't be fooled by names that look impressive or
that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. Check with your
appropriate state government authorities (this is usually a division of the
state’s office of the attorney general) to verify the charity is registered to
solicit in your state. Also, visit the website of the BBB Wise Giving
Alliance (www.bbb.org/charity) to find
out whether a national charity meets the 20 BBB charity standards that address
charity governance, finances, fund raising, donor privacy, and other
accountability issues.
How will the
charity use my donation? Ask questions about how your donation will be used.
Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes but tell you little about what
the charity is doing about the problem it describes so well. For example, if
the charity says it’s helping the homeless, do they explain how (shelter, food,
medical care) and where this is taking place?
Watch out for statements such as "all proceeds will
go to the charity." This can mean that only the money left after expenses, such as the
cost of written materials and fund raising efforts, will go to the charity.
These expenses can be high, so check carefully.
Is my donation
tax deductible? If you
want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure
the organization is tax exempt as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. A charity appeal will usually include a reference
to this. To verify a charity’s tax status, access an IRS database of
organizations by viewing Publication 78 on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Consult your tax advisor for
details.
Can the charity
actually use what I’m donating? All charities
welcome the receipt of monetary donations, but some also solicit in-kind
donations such as clothing, food, and toys. If you’re planning to donate
items to a worthy cause, make sure you know the in-kind contributions your
charity prefers. For example, a food bank may prefer food items that are
not perishable such as canned goods, and a toy drive may be seeking new and not
used toys.
Am I feeling
pressured to give? Don't succumb to pressure to
give money on the spot, either immediately over the phone via credit card or by
allowing a "runner" to pick up a contribution. Take the time to
research the charity fully; the charity that needs your money today will welcome
it just as much tomorrow.
The Connecticut BBB has
provided some trustworthy charities to make donations to in this time of need:
Donations
may be sent to:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund:
c/o Newtown
Savings Banks
39 Main Street
Newtown, CT
06470.
Newtown Savings Bank collaboration
working with the United Way
and Red Cross:
Phone: 800-461-0672
Donations
can also be made online at https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/.
The Newtown Rotary Club: Donations
can also be made online at http://www.newtownctrotary.org/.
For more advice on giving
and to view reports on charities visit www.bbb.org/charity.
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As a
private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is
to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by
means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising
claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop
and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage
people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
