The Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: Money Safety

Make the most of your holiday giving by choosing charities wisely. Some organizations maximize donations for meaningful impact, while others may misuse funds on administrative or fundraising costs.

Key Tips for Smart Giving

1. Research the Charity

Use charity watchdogs to assess organizations:
CharityWatch: Provides letter-grade ratings based on overhead costs and program spending.
Charity Navigator: Focuses on financial transparency and accountability.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance: Requires charities to meet 20 standards, including spending at least 65% on programs.

Tip: Look for consensus among all three watchdogs for confidence in your choice.

2. Verify Mission and Spending

Check if the charity's mission aligns with your values.
Ensure at least 75% of funds go to programs, not overhead or fundraising.

3. Avoid Telemarketers

Professional fundraisers often keep a significant portion of donations.
Donate directly via the charity’s official website.

4. Be Wary of Online Platforms

Crowdfunding sites and donation platforms may charge transaction fees (3% or more).
Opt for direct bank transfers or checks to maximize your impact.

5. Watch for Soundalike Names

Example:
High-rated: Breast Cancer Research Foundation (New York City).
Low-rated: United Breast Cancer Foundation (Huntington, NY).

High-Rated vs. Low-Rated Charities

Here’s a selection of charities across various causes based on watchdog evaluations:

| Cause | High-Rated | Low-Rated |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Animal Welfare | American Humane (D.C.) | Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue (MD) |
| Cancer | Breast Cancer Research Foundation (NYC) | Cancer Survivors’ Fund (TX) |
| Veterans | Gary Sinise Foundation (CA) | Disabled Veterans National Foundation (MD) |
| Youth Development | Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Atlanta) | Kars4Kids (NJ) |
| Environment | Sierra Club Foundation (CA) | N/A |

Tip: Use the watchdogs' websites for a complete list of ratings.

Practical Tips for Donating

Check Tax-Exempt Status
- Confirm tax-deductible status via the IRS website or the charity itself.

Request Privacy
- Ask charities not to sell or share your contact info to avoid future solicitations.

Support Smaller Charities
- Consider vetted, lesser-known nonprofits recommended by GiveWell, GlobalGiving, or ImpactMatters.

Donate to Watchdogs
- Watchdogs like Charity Navigator and BBB Wise Giving Alliance are also nonprofits and rely on donations to provide their services.

Bottom Line

Vetting your chosen charity ensures your contributions make a genuine impact. Focus on organizations with high transparency and strong financial accountability.