AG Campbell Urges Caution on Giving Tuesday

In anticipation of “Giving Tuesday” and the upcoming holiday season, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is advising residents to make well-researched and informed decisions when donating to charitable organizations.

“I encourage our residents to give charitably when they are able, and it is important that people take the necessary steps to ensure their donations are ending up in the right hands,” said AG Campbell. “I advise everyone to review my office's guidance on charitable giving as they head into this holiday season to ensure they are well informed on what to look out for when solicited for donations.”

While some charities raise funds on their own, others pay professional solicitors to seek donations from the public. Charities and solicitors are required by statute to register with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). The AGO encourages consumers who are solicited for donations to ask questions so that they can understand who is contacting them and where their money would go. Specifically, consumers can ask whether the person contacting them is a paid fundraiser. Consumers should find out how much of every dollar they donate will go to charity as opposed to being retained by the professional fundraiser.

Consumers are encouraged to review the AGO’s Giving Wisely Advisory and the Donating Dos and Don’ts: A Guide to Charitable Giving for information, including tips on what to consider before donating to a charity. These guides can help prompt consumers with more questions to ask:

• Know your charity: Before you donate, verify the charity’s name, address, number, email address, and website, if available.
• Find out where your money will go: Ask how much of the money goes to charity and beware of statements such as “all proceeds go to charity” because terms like “proceeds” are not well-defined and could refer to net amounts after the fundraiser’s fee is deducted.
• Keep records: Keep any and all receipts and canceled checks, along with emails and texts, in case you have a complaint later – they also come in handy when filing your annual income tax returns, if you are eligible to deduct charitable contributions from your gross income.
• Don’t feel pressured: Take time to decide if you want to donate, a legitimate charity will tell you how it’s using your money to make a difference.
• Don’t pay by cash or debit card: Pay by credit card or check, especially if donating online. A record of the transaction will be created if you pay by credit card, and you may be able to stop payment if you later change your mind. Credit cards also provide more security for your donation rather than a debit card.

Under Massachusetts law, public charities operating within the state must register and file annual reports with the AGO’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division. These filings are available to the public online and provide valuable information about a charitable organization’s programs, activities, and finances. In addition, consumers may check with the IRS to determine if donations to certain organizations are tax deductible.

Individuals with inquiries or complaints about charitable solicitations should call the Attorney General’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division at 617-963-2101 or file a complaint online.