Tips on Choosing Charities

* Request an annual report or detailed written information on the group’s exact name, its purpose, how much of each dollar it spends on programs, how it pursues goals.

* Be wary of sound-alike names chosen by groups that hope donors will confuse them with venerable charities. Names with “cancer,” “heart” and “children” are especially popular.

* People are under no obligation to send money in response to gifts such as greeting cards or personalized mailing labels.

* Verify that charities with local names actually conduct local activities.

* Groups that offer to send a legitimate courier service to pick up a check or cash may be trying to circumvent mail-fraud laws.

* Verify whether contributions are tax deductible if that is important to you. Donations to some “tax exempt” organizations are not. Claims of having a tax ID number are meaningless.

* Give by check or money order instead of cash, and don’t give a credit card number to unfamiliar groups by phone.

* Most states require charities to register. Registration can be checked at offices of the attorney general or secretary of state.

* Ask whether you are being solicited by a professional fund-raiser and, if so, how much goes to that outfit and how much to the charity itself. If doubts persist, check with the charity to verify the legitimacy of the solicitation.

* Check a charity’s IRS Form 990, which groups are obliged to send for a nominal fee and must make available in their offices for free.

* Contact charity watchdogs by phone or Internet:

National Charities Information Bureau, 1-212-929-6300, or https://www.give.org

Better Business Bureau’s Philanthropic Advisory Service, 1-703-276-0100, or https://www.bbb.org

GuideStar: 1-800-421-8656 or https://www.guidestar.org

American Institute of Philanthropy: 1-314-454-3040. No Web address.