4 Must-Follow Rules for Donating to Charity

To maximize your donation (and avoid potential credit card fraud), never give your financial information to a solicitor over the phone. Many times, charities hire costly third-party firms to drum up money. “Returns can be pennies on the dollar,” says Sandra Miniutti of Charity Navigator. “It’s best to give directly.”

The Cost of Doing Business
While overhead is an unavoidable expense, larger organizations with $1 million or more in annual revenue should spend at least 75 percent of their budget directly on their programs, says Miniutti. For smaller ones, however, “it can take time to hit that level of efficiency, so just make sure the bulk of their money is going to programs,” Miniutti adds. “Don’t hesitate to ask questions.”