Tips for Wise Giving
Donating to charity is a generous and rewarding act. When you decide
to give, there are several points to consider to ensure your donation makes an impact.
Allison Gwinn from Parade Magazine offers tips for wise giving in her article "Chairty Do's and Dont's."
Gwinn recommends putting quality thought into choosing a charity. Do not feel pressured to give to a charity just because you were asked. Research charities' websites and use online tools such as
charitynavigator.org,
guidestar.org, or the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (
give.org) to review charity ratings and financial stats. Gwinn also suggests contacting the charity to ask questions, or visiting the facility in person.
She also warns donors not to spread themselves to thin. It
is better to give a larger amount to a couple of charities than to give a little to many charities. This is due to administrative and fund-raising fees that are taken out of your total donation. Fees like these will eat up smaller offerings.
Finally, Gwinn suggests going in with family, friends or co-workers to make a group donation. This is helpful for donors who feel like they may not have enough to give on their own, or for people wishing to make a bigger impact for the charity of their choice.
Click here to read Gwinn's full article on parade.com. An extended version of the article was printed in Parade on December 6, 2015.
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