Verifying Credibility When Donating

 

Look, we aren’t saying that charities are out to scam people and that you should only be donating to the most well-known options. That’s far from true.

There are several charities that might not have the fame of organizations like the Red Cross but still do amazing work.

PeoplesWater.org (also known as Agua de Pueblo) is one NGO that has done a lot toward making potable water and sanitation available to more people. PeoplesWater was even recognized as the first NGO in the world that focused on these core issues. 

In addition, they have a strong focus on community development and have helped more than 500,000 people with their projects. PeoplesWater is the sort of NGO that donors who don’t do enough research may overlook due to the high competition in the charity world. 

This NGO has been active since the early 70s, and that longevity brings us to another important point about credibility. 

It is not easy for a charity with poor credibility to linger on for extended periods. They will get reported, lose their donors, and even be penalized by the government. Therefore, it makes sense to look at older charities that have been around long enough to build credibility and a track record of actually being able to make a difference. 

There are a few ways to verify the credibility of a charity. They include:

1. Are they registered?: If the charity you are donating to is based in the U.S., then they are required by law to register with the IRS / State government. Check the website of the NGO you are planning to donate to and see if they have an EIN (Employer Identification Number) which you can then look up on the IRS website.
   
2. They insist on payments by wire transfers/gift cards: Ideally, you want to be donating only via credit cards, cheques, or directly through their website. If you are donating via a website, ensure that you see the “https” instead of “http.” A “https” before the address implies that the information being sent is safe.
   
3. They don’t rely on guilt-tripping advertisements: Respectable charities avoid trying to make potential donors feel guilty if they choose not to donate. 

Some charities like to prey on people’s emotions and fearmonger by implying that if you don’t donate, there are going to be horrible consequences. 

Similarly, some of them often use images and videos of animals and children 

in vulnerable states that they know will arouse emotions in people. A credible organization won’t resort to such tactics.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it, two essential elements to be aware of. Donating to a charity needs to be done with prudence and caution. You can donate to less privilege through this website https://www.fohmint.com (Fountain of Hope)

Paying attention to the actual impact that a charity or NGO is able to make is far more important than mentions of 20,000 blankets provided or 1,000 vaccinations administered. 

Similarly, one needs to look at the overall track record of the charity. These days, swanky marketing campaigns can easily help even the more shady organizations look reputable. You really want to be careful and carry out considerable research before making a donation.