|
|
|
| |
|
Home >
Security >
Donating Your Money |
| |
| Make sure your
donation is going to the right place |
| |
About
80,000 charities are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency,
so it may be hard to sort out which ones are legitimate. Many
new charities tend to appear in times of crisis or natural
disaster. Unfortunately, some are fraudulent.
Here are some tips on making sure your donation is headed to the
right place.
Ask for written information. Legitimate charities will
provide a brochure outlining their mission, how the donation
will be distributed and/or proof that your contribution is tax
deductible. If they are a registered charity, ask for their
latest annual report so you can assess where the money is going.
Ask for identification.
If you are solicited over the phone or at the door, ask for the
organization's name, address, phone number and material
explaining what they do and where the money goes. Do not give
right away. Once you have a phone number, give the organization
a call and ask if they have a phone or door-to-door campaign
happening.
Call the charity.
Ask how much of your gift will be used for those in need and how
much will go toward other programs and administrative costs. A
good charity should be directing at least 60 per cent or more of
its money toward services.
Be wary if someone
thanks you for a donation you don't remember making. This
method is used to corner people into giving. If you don't recall
that pledge, check your records first before giving.
Refuse high pressure
tactics. Legitimate charities do not coerce people into
giving.
Get a receipt with
the name of the charity on it.
Don't send cash and
never give your credit card number over the phone. For
security purposes, send a cheque payable to the charity, not the
person soliciting, which can be traced or cancelled if
necessary.
Similar sounding names.
Be on the lookout for phoney charities using names that look
like or sound like those of respected organizations.
Be firm when you don't
want to give. For the sake of the charity and for yourself,
reply with a firm "no" rather than a "maybe" if you are
solicited because that charity will contact you again. You will
feel bothered and they will be wasting time.
Do not donate if the
person over the phone offers to send a courier or "runner."
Legitimate charities will be just as happy to accept your
donation after you have had the time to check them out.
Tax Receipts. Be
sure to ask for one if you need it as charities may set minimum
limits for issuing one. They are not required by law to issue
tax-deductible receipts for all donations and those that do must
be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. A registered
charity must comply with laws governing its non-profit status,
must make its yearly financial statement public and be subject
to monitoring or auditing by tax authorities. Check the
department's website for a list of registered charities or call
the Charities Directorate toll free at 1-888-892-5667.
The Better Business
Bureau. You can call your local branch to check whether a
charity has had any complaints filed against it.
Charities bearing gifts.
Some organizations include free address stickers, greeting
cards, key rings or other "gifts" in their direct mail
solicitations. You are not bound to make a contribution to keep
the items and charities are not permitted to demand payment for
any unordered merchandise.
A privacy policy.
Legitimate charities will spell out their privacy policy
concerning the use of your name and other personal information.
They should have an option for you to decline promotional
material and for you to prevent them from sharing your name with
other charities.
Internet donations.
Make sure the charity site uses secure technology for online
donations. Before you enter any information such as your credit
card number or personal data, verify that the page requesting
that information is secure. The letters https:// rather than
http:// should precede the page's URL or internet address. In
addition, there may be an unbroken key or padlock symbol located
in a corner of the web page. If in doubt, contact the charity by
phone or e-mail before you provide the information online.
|
|
|
|
Source: CBC News Online |
|
 |
| |
|
mySeniorSite
Directories |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
It's
easy to stay up to date on the things that interest you.
Just 
