Just a Reminder…
Posted by Mary Caraccioli | Filed under Lifestyle, money
At this time of year it’s easy to get so caught up in all the fun and celebrations that we forget about those less fortunate than us. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy many of us were given the jolt we needed to remember how vital it is to donate where we can. However, it shouldn’t take a disaster to inspire us to help others and give what we can. So here’s an easy way to make sure you don’t forget to give a little this holiday season… Head over to charitynavigator.com to get some great tips on how and to whom to donate this Christmas. Sandra Miniutti is the Vice President at Charity Navigator and she gave me a few pointers when we caught up for a quick chat:
‘It is important when picking a charity to consider what it is you’re really passionate about and be as specific as you can be about in what capacity you wish to help,’ says Sandra. ‘The next step is to do some homework and be sure that the charity you want to donate to is a legitimate organization that is a bona fide non-profit 501 (c) (3) Public Charity. You can check the IRS website to confirm this information or ask the charity for a letter of tax determination.’ This information can also be found at charitynavigator.com
You want to make sure the charity you are selecting is a three dimensional Donor so make sure you consider the charity’s:
- Financial Performance
- Transparency and Accountability to the public and their donors
- How Effective is the Charity? Do they have the ability to make a lasting change in people’s lives?
Consider all this information and then get to the giving! Remember others in your celebration of the holidays this year – you won’t regret it!
Tags: charity, donations, Holiday Season
