Is it safe to donate to an organization who asks for a contribution over the phone?

Not all calls made for charitable contributions are a scam, but it is very important to perform some due diligence before you donate. Remember, you are not obligated to make a contribution at that moment, and you can take some time to do your research before making that decision.

 

Pre-Research Questions to Ask:

  • What is the charity’s exact name, web address, and mailing address?
  • How much of my donation will go directly to the program I want to help?
  • Are you raising money for a charity or a Political Action Committee (PAC)?*
  • Will my donation be tax deductible?

Things to Keep an Eye Out For:

  • Charity fundraising calls can only be made between 8am and 9pm.
  • They have to tell you the name of the charity and the reason for their call.
  • They cannot use robocalls or pre-recorded messages to reach you and they must give you a way to opt-out of future calls.
  • They need to tell the truth about the charity, the mission of the charity, if your donation is tax deductible, how the donation will be used, and if the charity has an affiliation with the government.

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