To the surprise of most people a lot of charitable organizations, more than we want to think, have become more than just a charitable organization. Some have become a business, and what do businesses do? They turn a profit. This does not necessarily mean that when and if you donate, your hard earned money that it will not be put to the use specified on the paperwork they hand you, but it does mean that you should do some research before plopping own your money. You do not want that money going straight into the pocket of a CEO or the like, you donate to those in need, not those in charge.
How to Spot the Business:
- If the company you are donating to cannot tell you in detail what your money is going towards, it is very likely it will go into the pocket of someone in charge of the so-called charitable organization.
- If you cannot find any information about the companies work on the internet other than the actual company website, the money you donate will not likely be used for the purposes you would hope.
- When researching the company, if you find a blog or the like with angry people who have donated in the past, you might need to reconsider. There is a reason that even one person would be annoyed with the company.
In today’s technological age, it is possible to make profit doing almost anything. With the invention of the internet, scams have been exploding. So we must make sure that if we are donating, the company we are donating to will use the donated money towards a real Charity. Charities can help the following year with tax deductions, but if you are not donating to a legitimate company you will not likely get the deduction you are hoping for.