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 Under Illinois law, charitable organizations, along with
professional fundraisers, are required to register and file annual
financial reports with the Attorney General’s office. Potential
donors may then access this information, including income,
expenditures, program details and administration costs, before
giving to a charity.
“There are many wonderful organizations making a real impact in
communities across Illinois, but it’s important to take time to
research an organization before you donate to ensure your
contribution will be used to further the charitable mission you want
to support,” Madigan said.
Madigan offered the following tips to research a charity before
donating:
Ask how much of your donation will go to the charity and
other detailed questions, including whether the organization is
registered and how much of your donation will be used to pay
fundraising costs. Solicitors must give you this information if you
ask.
Pay close attention to the name of the charity. Some
fraudulent charities use names that sound or look like those of
legitimate organizations to mislead you.
Do not pay in cash. For security and tax record purposes, pay
by check, credit card or a format of payment in which you have a
record. Be sure to write the full official name of the charity on
your check - do not abbreviate.
Request written information. A legitimate charity will
provide you with information outlining its mission, how your
donation will be distributed and proof that your contribution is tax
deductible.
Do not donate if the solicitor uses high-pressure tactics,
asks for payment in cash or insists on sending someone to pick up
your monetary/financial contribution. These are all hallmarks of a
scam.
If you receive an email or text message asking for a
donation, confirm that the request is from the charity, and not an
imposter, by contacting the charity or visiting its website.
Be cautious of “look-alike” websites. These fraudulent
websites will often ask for personal financial information and may
download harmful malware onto your computer.
Don’t assume that charity recommendations on Facebook or social
media are legitimate and have already been scrutinized. Research
the charity yourself.
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Madigan also noted additional national resources for researching charities:
GuideStar National Database of U.S. Charities: GuideStar provides
detailed profiles of more than 640,000 nonprofit organizations nationwide. Its
searchable database is sponsored by the nonprofit Philanthropic Research Inc.
For more information, visit www.guidestar.org.
Top-Rated Charities: The American Institutes of Philanthropy (AIP) rates
more than 400 charitable organizations using a variety of criteria, including
percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs. The AIP website lists those
charities which have received their highest rating, grouped by topic. For more
information, visit
www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html.
Philanthropic Advisory Service Reports: Sponsored by the BBB Wise Giving
Alliance, this site provides evaluations and profiles of charities that solicit
nationally or have national or international program services and includes
descriptions of programs, fundraising methods and finances. For more
information, visit www.give.org.
To obtain financial information, learn more about an organization, or find out
if a charity that has solicited you for a donation is registered, visit Attorney
General Madigan’s website or contact her Charitable Trust Bureau at 312-814-2595
(TTY: 1-800-964-3013). To report possible charity fraud, you can submit a
complaint via Madigan’s website:
www.illinoisattorney
general.gov.
[Office of the Attorney General Lisa
Madigan]
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