Whenever people are suffering, it’s natural to want to help. Donating money is one of the most popular and effective ways to provide assistance, especially for a cause that’s not geographically close to home. But the opportunity to help also comes with challenges including analysis paralysis, scammers, and budget constraints. Here are five tips to confidently give to causes you care about:
Seek out reliable charities
Feeling overwhelmed by decision-making can prevent you from getting started, even if you want to give. If you aren’t sure where to donate to support a specific cause, trusted organizations such as Charity Navigator and Give.org often release lists of highly-rated charities to give to when crises strike. This can be a great jumping-off point for the next tip.
Do your research
Once you have a list of potential charities, research each of them. Through Charity Navigator and Give.org you can quickly review information about a non-profit’s impact, transparency, and financial accountability. Additionally, take the time to read through their website and social media to learn more about their programs and services. Along with making sure your money will be well-spent, it’s also important to confirm that the charity’s mission and messaging resonate with you.
Avoid scams
Scammers take advantage of givers’ generosity. Avoid scams by taking a beat to verify the validity of a request before giving. For example, if you are skeptical about whether a text, phone call, or email soliciting donations is really from the well-known charity it says it is, look up the charity’s website directly and give there instead.
If you feel pressured to give, that could be a sign of a scammer. Avoid giving via cash, wire transfer, or gift card as these are less trackable currencies that scammers are much more likely to use. Donating via a credit card gives you the best layer of protection (although transaction fees may mean that the charity ends up with a slightly smaller cut).
Rely on connections
Crowdfunding platforms have become a popular way to give because these campaigns can quickly bring financial relief to specific individuals or smaller groups of people. However, there is a lot less oversight compared to giving to a non-profit, and because of that, it’s wise to limit your crowdfunding donations to causes that are one or two degrees of separation from you.
Check your budget
The instinct to give is a noble one, but it’s worth checking in with your budget before hitting the “donate” button. If your budget is tight, it doesn’t mean you can’t give, but you should think through what tradeoffs you might need to make. Can you pause a subscription this month? Can you commit to not dining out for a few weeks? Can you sell some unwanted items and donate the proceeds? With a little creativity, your donations can work for your cause and your budget.
