(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—As groups across the world recognize #GivingTuesday today (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine offered charitable giving tips for Ohioans who will donate to charity this holiday season.
“We encourage Ohioans to give generously to their favorite charities, and we know that many will do so,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We also want to make sure that donors’ contributions will end up in the right hands. Giving directly to a charity you are familiar with is often the best way to donate. If you aren’t familiar with an organization, check it out before you contribute.”
Attorney General DeWine encourages Ohioans to determine in advance which charity or charities to support. Developing a plan allows donors to research organizations before making payments and to respond to unexpected requests by explaining that they already have a donation plan in place.
Most charitable organizations that operate in Ohio or solicit Ohioans for donations must file with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and more than 36,000 organizations have filed.
The Attorney General’s Charitable Law provides oversight to make sure donations are not misappropriated and that charitable proceeds are used for charitable purposes.
Tips for researching charities include:
- Check compliance with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Visit the Ohio Attorney General’s website or call 800-282-0515 for help researching an organization.
- Verify the organization’s tax-exempt status with the IRS. The IRS’s Exempt Organizations Select Check can be used to verify if an organization has a valid 501(c)(3) or other tax-exempt designation.
- View the organization’s IRS Form 990 through the GuideStar website, www.guidestar.org. (A free registration process is required.) The 990 will include information on how the group raises and uses its funds and other operational details.
- Gather data from private watchdog groups. National watchdog groups include the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch.
- Do a basic Internet search to review a group’s accomplishments or questionable activity.
- Contact the organization itself and find out how your donation will be used. Get information in writing. Compare the charity’s written and web-based materials with the information you gather from other sources.
Donors should be skeptical of:
- Unexpected calls or emails seeking donations;
- Organizations that sound similar to other better-known organizations;
- High-pressure tactics;
- Refusal to provide written information;
- Requests for checks made payable to a person instead of a charity;
- Links in text messages or emails, which may contain viruses;
- Prizes in return for a donation; and
- Offers to pick up donations immediately versus in the mail or online.
Individuals who suspect questionable charitable activity should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840