Make your integrity transparent
In the wake of disaster (bombings, tornadoes, floods, etc.) many kind-hearted people quickly offer help. Unfortunately, that compassion turns some people into easy prey for the bogus charities of scam artists and criminals.
Once bitten, donors may become twice shy, so transparency is imperative. Be proactive:
- Encourage your donors to do their research before contributing. Victims may need immediate relief, but wasting money on fraudsters won’t help them.
- The internet makes quickly finding basic information about a charitable organization easy:
Donors can check the IRS website to confirm an organization’s tax-exempt status.
Sites such as Charity Navigator provide information and ratings of bona fide charities.
Google the organization’s name, along with key words such as “scam,” to see whether negative reports were ever posted.
- Follow the above steps for your own legitimate organization. If you discover inaccurate information anywhere, take steps to correct it.
- If your organization provides disaster relief, supply your representative(s) with identification and a means for victims or donors to contact you to verify your agent’s authenticity.
Full transparency is the best way to assure donors you’re spending their gifts as they intended. Make finding more information about your organization easy…and your fundraising will likely become easier, too.
Online Stewardship helps churches and nonprofit organizations manage their fiscal commitments and accountability. Let us know if we can help you: Lynn@onlinestewardship.com or 904-398-4747.
