Be careful when giving to charitable groups

It’s no secret we Mainers live in a great place and enjoy a great way of life.

Our communities are safe compared with places that are “away” and our people are superfriendly, as evidenced by our always-present troop greeters at Bangor International Airport. Our citizens are very generous, even in tough economic times.

We like to give, but we detest being “taken” or hoodwinked by false premises. When giving to charitable organizations or causes, we want to know that the money we give, which is often very hard to come by, gets used for the purpose we intend and not subverted, pilfered, or used to overfatten the pockets of the administration of such organizations. Given the many causes that exist in our communities and beyond, how do we really know whether our charitable gifts are properly used?

Fortunately, with the Internet, clear and concise guidance and tips for how to give are readily available. Northeast COMBAT’s Web site, www.nc4betterbiz.org, provides in the “frequently asked questions” section three links to other Web sites that can be very helpful when making gift-giving choices, especially from agencies providing charitable services.

The old expression “charity begins at home,” while very true, is regularly expanded to mean our hometowns. When we are at the corner convenience store or neighborhood market, we cheerfully dig into our pockets and add to the donation jar on the counter. These needy families are people we know, or at least know about – the family recently burned out of their home or the local child who needs an expensive operation and whose family has little or no insurance to cover the costs.

In long-distance giving, however, the decision to give requires following some guidelines to ensure your generosity is well placed. Don’t be fooled by names of organizations that resemble well-known charities, and always donate by check or money order made out to the organization. Check with the Attorney General’s Office in the state the charity is located to be sure they are legitimate and registered.

Make sure that there is clear and concise information about how the money is spent and what percentage goes for administrative costs. Many agencies pay more for the cost of fundraising than actually gets to the person needing the service. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible or the agency is tax-exempt. Just because an agency is a tax-exempt organization does not mean that your donation is tax-deductible. Look for an IRS 501(c)(3) designation which corresponds to the 1954 section of the Internal Revenue Service Code. If you are unsure of the designation, call the IRS and ask the for the charity’s tax status. Always ask solicitors and volunteers as many questions about the charity as you feel necessary to make your giving decisions.

When solicited in person, on television, or by mail, don’t get pressured to give “right now.” Bona fide charities will welcome your check today, tomorrow, and next week. Be relaxed and donate in your own time frame, not someone else’s. If you feel pressured about giving, stop and check with Northeast COMBAT or the Attorney General’s Office for more information.

Try to find out if the charity spends at least 70 percent of your donation for direct program services. Lesser percentages mean more goes to fundraising costs and administration and less gets to what you are trying to support. If you are in a Sherlock Holmes mode, you may wish to examine a charity even more closely, including issues such as charity governance, effectiveness (some direct programs may work very poorly), fundraising practices, and charity Web site disclosures. A general Google search online may be very enlightening about your chosen charity. Remember, the time to check is always before the check is written and mailed.

We have seen over the last year that there are great needs out there, and many fine groups trying to help. The aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters both large and small have brought home the immense financial needs that are out there. At Northeast COMBAT, we encourage wise and informed gift-giving decisions. We encourage Mainers never to give to a charity until it hurts, but to give until it feels good.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.