In today's climate, the need for charities and their support is greater than ever. Food banks, money advice, even dog rescue, are busier than ever. But how do you know which charity to trust? There's often media stories that will overblow an issue, and there are also issues that go unnoticed. Here's my personal take on why we can trust charities, and how to make sure your gift counts.
Many people want to bypass the charity and donate direct to beneficiaries, but this can be challenging and also an opportunity for fraud. Some of the typical scams you will find are social media posts that feature a person (usually a child) or animal in need of a wish come true holiday/urgent treatment etc, with an appealing picture and a link to a crowdfunding site. Even for a genuine appeal, some scammers will clone the story/site and set something up that is so similar you wouldn't realise you weren't supporting the cause you thought you were.
Another scam is around door to door collection bags (see the Sunday Post example). Many charities use collection bags to get stock for their shops or to sell on and make an income this way, but some bags may look like they come from a charity (and even add that they support a charity), but may in fact be a commercial company or even a scam.
Donating safely
Here's a couple of things you can do to check before donating to a charity or supporting a cause you've seen advertised in another way:
Collection bags and charity shops
- Make sure there is a registered charity no. on the collection bag
Make sure it matches the number on the charity's website
Photo from Sunday Post - Check on the charity's website that they do door to door collections
- If there's something that looks dodgy, then phone the charity
- If you can, take your donated goods directly in to a local charity shop - as well as ensuring your goods reach the right destination, if you pay tax the charity could claim Gift Aid on the goods you donate, making your donation go further.
Donating to a charity
If you know the charity personally, like a hospice or another local service, then this is great. It's easy to find out more because you will know someone who knows them well. But if you are not 'in the know', then you may want to find out more:
- Look on the Charity Commission website, using their search function. You should be able to find the charity easily enough. You can filter your searches by area or, if you know it, by using the charity's registered charity number (which must be displayed on their website)
- Type in your charity name or cause area (eg 'Pig Rescue' or 'Animal Rescue, Norfolk' for example) and a list of relevant charities will appear. With the first list that appears you can immediately see if a charity is late submitting its accounts which could mean you should look into them a little further
- You can look at the charity's accounts which will tell you a lot more - don't worry if you can't 'read accounts', they usually have good explanations of their expenditure and impact
- Search the web for any stories about the charity to make sure there are no current negative reports that should concern you.
If you receive a phone call from a charity asking for a donation, it must be a charity you already support - cold calling is not allowed in the UK. And if you don't want to be phoned, they have to respect your choice - just make sure they know your preferences (see below for some resources on how to stop mailings and calls).
Street and door to door fundraising
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| (C) Dogs Trust |
Most door to door and street fundraisers WILL NOT ask for cash (and may lose their jobs if they take it), so if they do, close the door/move on. You can always phone the charity to check, and make a donation then if you feel moved to do so; but let them know you met one of their fundraisers.
Donating directly
If you want to give a homeless person cash in the street, then that is your choice. If you want that homeless person to eat, then buy them a sandwich. If you want a homeless person to have the option of going into a night shelter, then donate to the night shelter.
If you see a social media post that really touches your heart - be very diligent in checking it out; don't just click and donate. If the post directs you to a JustGiving or Crowdfunder type page, firstly enter those sites separately and search for the cause independently. Secondly, search the cause catch phrase (eg 'Little Jonah needs a new heart') in your favourite search engine, with the word 'scam'.
Donating directly may feel like it's bypassing the 'overheads' of a charity, but charities are set up for good reason - because they are often the best way of delivering the service or benefit that you want to give to the cause you care about. I used the homeless example above - it's easy to donate directly to an individual in front of you, but how would you pay the staff in the homeless shelter who feed the guests? How would you go about funding something complex like medical research that needs scientific peer reviews? Charities are there to tackle some of the most challenging problems in our society and on the planet - they have huge responsibility and a huge impact.
If you are in doubt about any solicitation from a charity, then don't hesitate to look them up and phone them - they won't mind. Double check their website (and find it by a search, not using any links in an email) and give them a call.
You can trust charities
This might seem like a scaremongering post, but it isn't. I want to increase trust in charities and make sure that your good will gets to do the absolute best it can for a cause you care about. Fundraising is regulated - but like any sector, it can be abused. Take care, and please keep giving.
Useful resources
- Pakistan disaster - fake charity warning (updated 2 Sept 2022)
- The Charity Commission Register
- The Fundraising Regulator
- More scams - Action Fraud advice
- Charities can get scammed too
- Friends against scams
- Civil Society - includes reports on charities being investigated
