Charitable Guidelines

Disaster Relief


Tips on how to make the most of your donation dollars...

It's difficult to choose where to help and we'd each like to make sure our donations make it to their intended targets. As individuals, we also have preferences on what we would like to support whether it is medical assistance to elderly, animal rights or services to help children.  It's okay to choose a charity based on your preferences and the tips and links below may help you decide.


Give To An Established Charity

Find a charity with a proven track record. Avoid charities created specifically to deal with a recent disaster and related relief efforts unless you know and trust someone personally involved or can verify their arrangements. Even well-meaning new organizations will not have the infrastructure and knowledge to use your gift efficiently.


Avoid Telemarketers

Be wary of fundraisers who pressure you via phone or email. Never divulge your credit card information to someone soliciting you. Instead, ask the fundraiser to send you written information that you can use to research it's activities.

Research And Follow Up

Please, take the time to find a charity you can trust. Use several sources and learn about their rating methods so you can make informed choices.   Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out how your donation was put to use and if they need additional support to complete the recovery effort.
The Internal Revenue Service has valuable guidelines, a new disaster relief brochure and useful tips, including links to verify a specific organization qualifies for deduction.


Last but not least: Please remember that no one can do it all and it's okay to say "Not at this time" or "I've already donated."

 

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