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Before You Bestow...Be Aware.
By Shannon White
At a recent lavish event for a
well-respected nonprofit
organization, I started wondering
how much of the funds raised would
actually help a needy client succeed.
If the centerpieces were smaller and
the band played for free, would more
money be available? If the invitations
were donated by a printer or the
professional fundraiser waived her fee, could
my donation have a more substantial impact?
Before I give to any nonprofit organization, I make sure
it is in alignment with causes that I am passionate about:
women, children, and/or animals. And, if it fits within those categories, I visit www.
guidestar.org for more information. If it is on Guidestar, you can rest assured it is
legitimate. All charities listed are either registered with the IRS or meet the IRS criteria
for tax-exempt organizations.
In addition, you can view the most recent 990 tax forms on each organization. In
minutes, you can find out how much it pays the executive director and the three highest
paid employees, how much the last fancy ball made, and how many clients were served
over the past year. If you think things look lopsided, remember that the Better Business
Bureau recommends that at least 65 percent of all expenses are spent on
programming expenses.
Many organizations in our community are using well-intentioned gifts wisely, while
others are not. Spending a significant portion of an annual budget on marketing or
fundraising expenses seems wasteful and misguided.
For national organizations that send cute mailing labels and a request for a check, you
can find out more information through our state government. The Kentucky Office of
the Attorney General highlights the law that requires a professional solicitor who is
garnering donations on behalf of a charity. To ensure that there are no felon solicitors,
they are required to register with the Attorney General’s office, post a bond, and submit
to a background check.
Most importantly, the law requires a professional solicitor to tell you what percentage of
your dollar is actually going to the charity – but, only if you ask. This resource, at www.
ag.ky.gov, showed that some charities get one percent of donations and the solicitor
gets 99 percent. I won’t feel so guilty next time I choose to send my money elsewhere.
To ensure that your donation goes to a legitimate charity, give wisely. Ask questions,
gather information and donate only when you are satisfied that your money will be used
in ways you consider appropriate. Only when a large amount of funding goes to those
in need instead of enormous flower arrangements, can you be sure that your hard
earned dollar has made a difference in the lives of others.
For more information:
www.give.org
Sponsored by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, this site provides evaluations and profiles
of charities that solicit nationally.
www.charitywatch.org
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.
www.guidestar.org
Guidestar provides detailed profiles of more than 640,000 nonprofit organizations in
the United States. Search the database by organization name, keyword, city, state, zip
code, organization type or revenue size. Sponsored by the nonprofit Philanthropic
Research, Inc.
www.ag.ky.gov
Kentucky Government resource, including tips on charitable giving, active campaigns
being conducted in the state and a comprehensive charities page.
Shannon White can be reached at shannonwhite@iamtodayswoman.com
By Shannon White
At a recent lavish event for a
well-respected nonprofit
organization, I started wondering
how much of the funds raised would
actually help a needy client succeed.
If the centerpieces were smaller and
the band played for free, would more
money be available? If the invitations
were donated by a printer or the
professional fundraiser waived her fee, could
my donation have a more substantial impact?
Before I give to any nonprofit organization, I make sure
it is in alignment with causes that I am passionate about:
women, children, and/or animals. And, if it fits within those categories, I visit www.
guidestar.org for more information. If it is on Guidestar, you can rest assured it is
legitimate. All charities listed are either registered with the IRS or meet the IRS criteria
for tax-exempt organizations.
In addition, you can view the most recent 990 tax forms on each organization. In
minutes, you can find out how much it pays the executive director and the three highest
paid employees, how much the last fancy ball made, and how many clients were served
over the past year. If you think things look lopsided, remember that the Better Business
Bureau recommends that at least 65 percent of all expenses are spent on
programming expenses.
Many organizations in our community are using well-intentioned gifts wisely, while
others are not. Spending a significant portion of an annual budget on marketing or
fundraising expenses seems wasteful and misguided.
For national organizations that send cute mailing labels and a request for a check, you
can find out more information through our state government. The Kentucky Office of
the Attorney General highlights the law that requires a professional solicitor who is
garnering donations on behalf of a charity. To ensure that there are no felon solicitors,
they are required to register with the Attorney General’s office, post a bond, and submit
to a background check.
Most importantly, the law requires a professional solicitor to tell you what percentage of
your dollar is actually going to the charity – but, only if you ask. This resource, at www.
ag.ky.gov, showed that some charities get one percent of donations and the solicitor
gets 99 percent. I won’t feel so guilty next time I choose to send my money elsewhere.
To ensure that your donation goes to a legitimate charity, give wisely. Ask questions,
gather information and donate only when you are satisfied that your money will be used
in ways you consider appropriate. Only when a large amount of funding goes to those
in need instead of enormous flower arrangements, can you be sure that your hard
earned dollar has made a difference in the lives of others.
For more information:
www.give.org
Sponsored by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, this site provides evaluations and profiles
of charities that solicit nationally.
www.charitywatch.org
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.
www.guidestar.org
Guidestar provides detailed profiles of more than 640,000 nonprofit organizations in
the United States. Search the database by organization name, keyword, city, state, zip
code, organization type or revenue size. Sponsored by the nonprofit Philanthropic
Research, Inc.
www.ag.ky.gov
Kentucky Government resource, including tips on charitable giving, active campaigns
being conducted in the state and a comprehensive charities page.
Shannon White can be reached at shannonwhite@iamtodayswoman.com