Giving This Season? How to Check a Charity and Avoid Donation Scams
Note: Some future links on this site may be affiliate links. We never claim hands-on testing; guides are researched from the public sources listed in each article.
How we wrote this: A summary of the Federal Trade Commission's "Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams" and crowdfunding pages, its October 26, 2026 consumer alert on charity sweepstakes impersonators, and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search page (linked below), checked October 29, 2026. This is general information, not tax advice.
The end of the year is a common time to give, and requests come by mail, phone, text, social media and crowdfunding links. The FTC's advice is about making sure yours lands where you meant it to.
1. Do the research first
The FTC suggests two simple searches:
- Looking for a cause? Search it (for example "hurricane relief") along with phrases like "best charity" or "highly rated charity."
- Considering a specific charity? Search its name plus "complaint," "review," "rating" or "scam."
For deeper background, the FTC points to organizations that report on how charities spend money, naming BBB Wise Giving Alliance and CharityWatch. And it points to two official checks:
- Is the donation tax-deductible? The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search lets you check an organization's eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions (its "Pub. 78 data"), along with its exempt status, Form 990 filings and whether its exemption was automatically revoked.
- Is it registered in your state? Most states require a charity or its fundraiser to register before asking for donations. Find your state charity regulator at nasconet.org.
2. Pay the safer way
The FTC's rule: if someone wants a donation in cash, by gift card or by wiring money, don't do it. That's how scammers ask to be paid. Pay by credit card or check instead.
Two more habits from the FTC:
- Keep a record of every donation.
- Read your statements. Make sure you were charged only what you agreed to give, and that you weren't signed up for a recurring donation you didn't intend.
Before you tap a "donate" link online, make sure you know who is actually receiving the money.
3. Know the tricks
The FTC lists the tactics to watch for:
| Trick | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Rushing you | Pressure to give right now; the FTC says rushing you is something scammers do |
| A fake thank-you | Thanking you for a pledge you never made, so you'll "complete" it |
| Spoofed caller ID | A call that looks local because the caller changed the displayed number |
| Sound-alike names | A name very close to a well-known charity's |
| Vague, emotional claims | Lots of sentiment, no specifics about how the money is used |
| False tax claims | Saying your gift is tax-deductible when it isn't |
| Sweepstakes for donations | "Guaranteed winnings" in exchange for a donation, which the FTC says is a scam and illegal |
New this fall: in an October 26, 2026 alert, the FTC warned about callers who impersonate well-known charities and say you've won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you donated. The tell: the moment someone says you must pay to claim a prize, it's a scam. Real prizes are free. The FTC adds two cautions for checking a contest online: scroll past paid search ads, because impostors sometimes buy them, and don't trust caller ID, even if it shows a real organization's name.
4. Crowdfunding: who really gets the money
The FTC's crowdfunding page makes points many donors miss:
- The money goes to the campaign organizer, who controls how it's spent. That may be someone not closely connected to the person being helped.
- Platforms have their own rules and fees. Check what the platform keeps and when it pays out.
- Donations to individuals are not tax-deductible, even if the organizer plans to pass the money to a charity.
Its safety steps: give to campaigns run by people you know and trust; if a friend shared a request, ask them directly what they know; run a reverse image search on campaign photos (stolen photos and copied stories are a common sign of a scam); and if a charity is behind the campaign, consider giving through the charity's own website instead.
If something seems off
- Give somewhere else. The FTC's point: there are many worthy organizations.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and to your state charity regulator. Include the organization or fundraiser name, the phone number and what was said.
- Already paid by gift card? See gift card scams for the steps to take right away.
For other scams that peak this time of year, see the holiday online shopping checklist and package delivery text scams.