According to Wikipedia, “The Commission estimates that there are between 5,000 and 11,500 charitable organizations in the world today.” — but how are you supposed to know which are best, worth your time and worthy of getting a donation from your hard earned dollars?
The best way to approach this issue is to look up individual organizations online and see what you can find out. Thanks to Google having reviews and information on nearly everything, this is quick and easy.
However, there are some things you should be looking for and paying attention to. To help in this process, we’ve highlighted the following key areas to focus on.
Search for Donor Reviews and Feedback Online
One of the most obvious and easiest ways to get a first impression of a charity, is to look for reviews online. With so many different organizations available, there are plenty of ways to find donor reviews, company information and more… all with a simple Google search.
Some organizations may also have separate mission statements or review articles on the impact of their charity and how it’s making a big difference in the world.
The more information you can find, the better the options you will have for deciding if that specific charity is right for you.
Follow Your Preferred Charities on Social Media
The internet makes connectivity extremely easy. This is especially true with social media and following different charitable organizations online.
A perfect example of this can be seen with WE Charity, as they are easily found on both Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. And not only are they ‘on social media’, they are also actively updating their profiles with new updates, photos, and campaigns to inspire new activity and engagement.
If you are going to be looking for a quality organization to follow, make sure they have a nice social following in place.
Explore Charity History and Contributions Made
Along with company history, contributions and members of the organization, it’s important to make sure all of this information is accurate as well.
Using a site like Guidestar non-profit guide can help in this process, as they are always updating and listing new information for charities and organizations around the world.
Another benefit to searching through these types of review sites, is that they can also lead you to other useful information about the charity, their end goals and contributions made by bigger donors and organizations.
Contact the Charity Directly and See if they Respond
Some charities are larger than others. Some are small and local, while others will have multiple locations throughout the work.
No matter how big or small one is, it’s important that they reply to phone calls and emails they get. Once you find a charity of interest, be sure to look up their contact info and give them a call or shoot them an email.
After all, you wouldn’t want to contribute to something if they aren’t going to get back to you in a timely manner.
Every Charity is Great, but Some Are Better than Others
The creation and journey of every charitable organization is a unique and exciting one. Some start off with a bang, while others take some time to gain speed and get attention and donations from others.
No matter the back story, it’s important to put in the time and effort to try and find a charity that fits your needs, shares the same passion for a topic as you, and is also showing positive work and contributions year over year.
Having read through each of the tips and recommendations above, be sure to consider each of these when trying to find the best charity to donate your time, money or efforts to.