Look it up. It's complicated. Charitynavigator.org lists 100 or more of them, all independent organizations. Some important things that site says in their blurbs (and every blurb is different):
"This organization is not eligible to be rated by Charity Navigator because it does not meet our required tax status of being a 501(c) (3) public charity.
"Contributions are not deductible.
"Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations)."
Or, on one of the organizations that actually has 501C3) status:
"This organization is not eligible to be rated by Charity Navigator because it is not required to file the full IRS Form 990. It is required to file a form 990-N." (In that case, donations would be deductible, but you might not be able to get assurance as to how they were spent.
So... even if the organization is legitimate,
Is the organization in your state?
Are donations tax deductible?
What exactly do they spend their donations on?
If the organization is legitimate, they will be happy to answer your questions. But they might not be legitimate.
For over five years, I have used the following strategy: ask them to send me a brochure, and a donation card. Over 90% of them don't. And then you know that something is wrong
They have called my home several times and I do not answer. Caller ID states "General Auto In". They leave no message. One of the MANY unsolicited calls I receive every frickin day. Sadly, my blocker is full.
Long pause at beginning of call... Then a guy came on the line saying he was from the general order of police something... I asked that they remove my name from their list.
Look it up. It's complicated. Charitynavigator.org lists 100 or more of them, all independent organizations. Some important things that site says in their blurbs (and every blurb is different):
"This organization is not eligible to be rated by Charity Navigator because it does not meet our required tax status of being a 501(c) (3) public charity.
"Contributions are not deductible.
"Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations)."
Or, on one of the organizations that actually has 501C3) status:
"This organization is not eligible to be rated by Charity Navigator because it is not required to file the full IRS Form 990. It is required to file a form 990-N." (In that case, donations would be deductible, but you might not be able to get assurance as to how they were spent.
So... even if the organization is legitimate,
Is the organization in your state?
Are donations tax deductible?
What exactly do they spend their donations on?
If the organization is legitimate, they will be happy to answer your questions. But they might not be legitimate.
For over five years, I have used the following strategy: ask them to send me a brochure, and a donation card. Over 90% of them don't. And then you know that something is wrong