We all know that just because you love money, it doesn’t mean you have to keep it all for yourself. There are so many worthy causes available out in the world today. There is a niche and a nook for everyone who is hoping to share their hard-earned money with someone who deserves a little help.
Finding Your Cause
So many opportunities to help financially exist in today’s world. We are lucky to have sites that allow us to quickly research different topics and find a corresponding charity. If you are having difficulty narrowing down your options, you should begin with paper and pencil and ask yourself the following: what do I love? Is it animals that you are passionate about? Do you love reading? Are kids what inspire you to work harder for a better tomorrow? Then ask yourself what particular aspect of that passion motivates you.
Charges for Donating
Crowdsourcing, funding and other online donating options are fantastic. You can see several options and the stories behind the need. However, with each different site comes different charges and choices.
Some sites have donation fees, and others have processing fees. Some have both. Some allow donors to give their money free of charge, but charge a processing fee upon payout. Others charge the donors and don’t charge fees. If you decide to use one of these sites, you can decide how you feel your funds are best used.
Legitimate Charities
No one wants to think that the charity to which they’d like to donate is a scam. Unfortunately, there are lots of people in the world who are out to make money, ethically or not. You really do need to take steps to protect your donation. Always make sure you know the full name, address and phone number of the charity.
When you receive a telephone call soliciting donations, make sure to ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser. If they are, make sure to ask the full name of the charity they represent, the exact amount of your donation that will go to the charity, how much of the money will go to the actual cause to which you are donating and how much the fundraiser will get paid.
In days past, it was suggested that all donations be made by check. This is still a very valid suggestion when paying via mail. However, crowdfunding sites have made it much safer, and much more convenient, to make donations via your credit or debit card or PayPal account. Again, just make sure you have researched the funding site, as well. They, along with the charity, must also be valid. You wouldn’t want an unethical charity and unethical funding site to have your banking information.
