In the wake of natural disasters like the destructive hurricanes currently dominating the news, many people are sympathetic to the victims and want to help them.

There are plenty of pleas for help, ranging from BBB Accredited charities like the American Red Cross to crowd-sourcing sites set up to benefit individuals. But how do you know which are from legitimate charities that are able to deliver help to victims and which are likely to waste your donation – or even steal it?

Charities that ask for your money should be transparent about how donations are used. Before you donate, ask the charity what programs and services your money will support and how much of each dollar is spent on fundraising and other overhead.

Many charities include copies of their annual reports on their websites, and some include an IRS Form 990, which is the charity’s tax return. By looking at those reports, you can get a good idea of where the money goes.

Better Business Bureau has been evaluating charities for most of its 100-year history. St. Louis BBB uses standards developed by the national Wise Giving Alliance to evaluate local charities.

Reports on more than 14,000 charities are available at bbb.org, including more than 1,000 reviews of charities in eastern and southwest Missouri and Southern Illinois. St. Louis BBB also has an online guide to BBB Accredited Charities that lists more than 200 charities in the region that meet BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

Here are a few tips on making donations:

• If you are unfamiliar with an organization, don’t hesitate to ask the charity for written information about its programs and finances.
• Don’t succumb to pressure to give money on the spot. A charity that can use your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow. Watch out for appeals that bring tears to your eyes, but tell you nothing about how your donation will be used.
• Before making online donations, determine whether the charity’s website is secure and that it has a privacy policy concerning the use of your name, email address or other personal facts. (Secure sites’ addresses begin with https://.)
• When considering support for a cause-related marketing campaign, find the answers to these questions: What portion of the purchase price will benefit the charity? What is the duration of the campaign? What is the maximum or minimum total contribution? If the information is not on the item, check the organization’s website.
• Before donating used items, make sure they are in good shape to reuse. Donating junk puts an undue burden on the charity and does more harm than good. You may want to consider selling the item and donating the proceeds to a charity.
• Check out a charity at bbb.org or by calling 417-380-5074.

About BBB

BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews , dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb.org for more information.

Article contributed by Stephanie Garland, BBB Regional Director.