Charities
How to Choose a Charity
The best way to start thinking about who you want to donate to is to make a list of issues that are of interest to you. For example, your list can include the environment, children, or the arts. Once you have a list, it acts as a general guideline for your next steps. It’s also a good idea to think about who your donation is going to help; local, national, or global.
It can also be a charity which is working to improve a cause that has touched you personally. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) is a very charitable organization which is spreading the word against drunk driving. Miracle Flights For Kids, for example, provides free air transportation to hospitals across America for kids who need medical care such as surgery.
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Cars
for Charity Directory
Also see and The Charity Guide and Charities Directory for a broad listing of charties.
When choosing a charity, think about what they do. That is to say, does the charity invest in research, do they take an active role in a particular cause, or do they advocate a cause? Again, think about the type of activity you would like to contribute to and is most important to you.
Another thing to consider when choosing a charity is whether to give to a small charity or a larger organization. In either case, your help will be appreciated. When giving to a small charity, it’s possible that your donation may be what the charity was waiting for in order to do repairs or buy new equipment. If you choose a larger charity, it is more than likely that your donation won’t be enough to find a cure for a disease, but along with other donations, it will have an impact.
Verifying Your Charity
Now that you have chosen your charity, it’s a good idea to check if your charity of choice is genuine. It’s hard to believe some people would try to make money by posing as a fake organization but it has happened before.
All registered Canadian charities are overseen by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA). Each charity also receives a business number. The CCRA website (www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca) has a list of charities you can search through in order to verify its legitimacy. You can also find any U.S. charities by searching through the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).
All registered charities make their financial statements public so if you are interested you can ask for a copy. Also make sure that you have the exact name of the organization and both the Canadian and U.S charities are recognized by the appropriate government body in their country.