Charitable giving peaks during this time of year when many Americans love to be generous. But how do you know how your donations are being spent? Before making any donations, donors should do their research to ensure they’re choosing wisely, and there are tools to help make informed decisions. Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief – one of the nation’s highest rated and most reputable NGOs – shares tips on charitable giving, explain red flags and offer recommendations for charities.
charity direct relief
Here are some tips Thomas shared on the red flags donors should be aware of when getting phone or even email solicitations.

Urgency: You shouldn’t be made to feel rushed into donating – a reputable organization will understand if you need a few days to decide and do some research on the charity in question.
Vague Details: Don’t be afraid to ask exactly how your money will be used, and what percentage of cash donations goes to people in need (vs going to payroll or telemarketing). With the worst offending charities, only 2-3% of cash donations actually go to those in need.
The Name Game: Many organizations deliberately choose names similar to existing, well respected non-profits in an effort to mislead prospective donors into thinking they’re the same or affiliated.

In this interview, we find out more about Direct Relief, how can people sort through all the charities and pick the good ones, and what can charities do to win back public trust.

Do you have a charity that you support and would recommend to others? Share it in the comments!

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