• HOW TO ensure your donations are going to the right place?

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    Date: 2012.03.22 | Category: Community, Developmental Disabilities Trust, Recycling | Tags: ,,

    Here are some tips to ensure that your donations are benefiting the intended recipient. These tips were taken from the CityNews Toronto article, Where Do Your Charitable Donations Really Go?

    **Ask for a copy of their annual report and get some written information before sending anything.

    **If you’re being solicited by phone, ask if they’re calling from a marketing organization. Many charities farm out their fundraising to companies who do the calling, and some of your money may be going to pay them for their trouble. Some legitimate places also take your money to pay for administrative costs as well as helping the needy.

    **Don’t give in to high pressure tactics. Reputable charities may play on your sympathy, but they shouldn’t turn the screws to make you give.

    **Never send cash or make a cheque out to the person asking for your donation.

    **Check to see if physical charities, like clothing donation drop-off boxes, actually give those donations to the needy or resell them for a profit.

    **Keep a record of what you’ve already given. Charities often send out multiple appeals throughout the year and you may have forgotten who you’ve already donated to.

    **Beware of claims that all proceeds go to charity. Sometimes that means after expenses are covered.

    **Get the organization’s registration number, which is required by law. If you want to check on a charity, call Revenue Canada at 1-800-267-2384, or you can search for them online