Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- To determine how to tell if a charity is legitimate, always check its registration on trusted charity-checking websites.
- Look for red flags such as pressure tactics, unusual payment requests, or vague answers to your questions.
- Use reliable resources like IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, GuideStar, and Charity Navigator to verify charities.
- For individual fundraisers, ensure updates and details confirm the need is real since donations may not be tax-deductible.
- Checking charities helps ensure your donations support genuine causes, maximizing the impact of your generosity.
The quickest way to tell if a charity is legitimate is to look it up on a trusted, free charity-checking website before you give. Confirm it’s registered with the IRS, read what independent reviewers say about it, and watch for pressure tactics or unusual payment requests. It takes about five minutes, and it helps make sure your kindness reaches the people it’s meant for.
Why It’s Worth Checking
Most charities are honest and doing good work. But scammers know people are generous, especially after disasters and during the holidays, and they create fake charities or pose as real ones to take advantage of that generosity.
Checking first protects your money, and it also protects the real causes that need it. Every dollar that goes to a fake charity is a dollar that didn’t reach someone in need.
Step 1: Look Up the Charity on a Trusted Site
These free websites make checking easy:
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (apps.irs.gov/app/eos). This official IRS tool tells you whether an organization is registered as a tax-exempt charity. If you want your donation to be tax-deductible, the charity needs to be listed here.
Candid’s GuideStar (guidestar.org). GuideStar has profiles on a huge number of U.S. nonprofits, including their mission, leadership, and financial filings. Many charities also earn a “Seal of Transparency” by sharing extra details about their work.
Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org). Charity Navigator rates many larger charities on how they manage money, how transparent they are, and what impact they have.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org). The Better Business Bureau’s charity arm reviews charities against a set of standards for honesty and accountability.
CharityWatch (charitywatch.org). CharityWatch takes a closer look at how much of each donation actually goes to programs.
Your state’s charity registry. Many states require charities to register before asking for donations. In California, for example, you can search the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities. Search “[your state] charity registration lookup” to find yours.
A small or new charity may not appear on every rating site, and that’s not automatically a warning sign. But it should at least show up in the IRS search.
Step 2: Watch for These Red Flags
Be cautious if a charity or fundraiser:
Pressures you to give right now. A real charity will gladly accept your donation tomorrow. Urgency is a common scam tactic.
Asks for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash. Legitimate charities accept checks and credit cards. These other methods are hard to trace and nearly impossible to get back.
Uses a name that sounds almost like a famous charity. Scammers borrow familiar-sounding names to seem trustworthy. Check the exact spelling.
Won’t answer basic questions. Ask what the charity does, how your money will be used, and whether the donation is tax-deductible. Vague or evasive answers are a warning sign.
Thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember making. This is a trick to make you feel you owe them.
Promises prizes or sweepstakes winnings for donating. You never have to donate to win anything.
Contacts you out of the blue. Calls, texts, and messages can be faked to look like they come from a real charity. If you’re interested, hang up and contact the charity directly using information you find yourself.
Step 3: Give the Safe Way
Once you’ve found a charity you trust, a few habits keep your donation safe:
Go to the charity’s website yourself. Type the address directly or search for it, rather than clicking a link in an email or text.
Pay with a credit card or check. These methods give you a record and some protection if something goes wrong.
Keep your receipt. You’ll want it for your records, and for taxes if the donation is deductible.
Be extra careful after disasters. Fake charities pop up quickly after hurricanes, fires, and other tragedies. Well-known relief organizations are usually the safest choice in those first days.
What About Individual Fundraisers?
Crowdfunding pages for individuals, like someone raising money for medical bills or a family emergency, are a wonderful way to help. But they work differently from charities.
Donations to individuals are usually not tax-deductible, and the platforms can’t always verify every story. Before giving:
- Give to people you know, or to fundraisers shared by someone you trust.
- Look for updates, photos, and details that show the need is real.
- Check whether the organizer explains how the money will be used and who receives it.
- If something feels off, it’s okay to wait and learn more.
Checking Charities on Chances.org
At Chances.org, our Chances Offered directory features charities and organizations doing good work, and Chances Needed connects you with people and causes that could use a helping hand. When you click a listing, you go directly to that organization’s own website or fundraising page.
We encourage you to use the steps in this article for every organization, including the ones you find here. A quick check is always a good habit, and a legitimate charity will be glad you took the time.
Your Kindness Deserves to Count
Being careful doesn’t mean being less generous. It means making sure your generosity goes exactly where you want it to. A few minutes of checking can turn a good intention into real help.
And remember, giving isn’t only about money. If you’re looking for other ways to help, try one of our 50 random acts of kindness you can do today, many of which cost nothing at all.
Ready to give a chance?
- Browse Chances Offered to find a cause that speaks to you.
- Have a need or an opportunity to share? Post your chance. It’s free.
- Have questions? Chat with Chance, our friendly guide.
- Received kindness from a charity or a stranger? Share it on our Chances Received wall.
Give a chance. Change a life.
