52 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 
J
N

GIFT GIVING

T

his is the time of 
year when charitable 
organizations pull at 
both your heartstrings and 
your purse strings. During this 
season, generous Michigan 
citizens are asked to give time, 
money or goods to charities 
that do important work in our 
communities. 
As donors, we must 
choose among the many 
charities asking for our 
donations. Although most of 
these organizations operate 
with charitable intentions, 
there are a number of 
“charities” in which little of 
your donation finds its way to 
a worthy cause, so you should 
educate yourself regarding 
the soliciting charity before 
donating. You have a right to 
know how your donation will 
be used. The many wonderful, 

legitimate charities in Michigan 
will gladly provide you any 
information you request.
Below are some of the tips to 
help you give wisely.

• You are entitled to 
answers to all the following 
questions before you 
donate: What is the name, 
address and phone number 
of your organization?
If a charity won’t provide this 
information or give you time to 
verify it, this should raise a red 
flag, particularly if the request 
for your money comes by 
telephone from an unfamiliar 
organization. You may always 
ask that information about the 
charity be mailed to you before 
you make a decision.
Website solicitations should 
give you a street address and 
contact information - don’t 

settle for a post office box 
number. If the solicitation is 
face-to-face, ask to see the 
identification given to the 
solicitor by the charity; and if 
you have any doubts, tell the 
person soliciting that you will 
need time to consider which 
charities you will be able to 
support this year. 

• Is your organization 
registered to solicit 
donations by the Michigan 
Attorney General’s 
office? What is your 
registration number?
Most charities, professional 
fundraisers, and police and fire 
groups soliciting in Michigan 
are required to register with (or 
be licensed by) the Attorney 
General; they also must file 
annual financial reports with 
the Attorney General. You 

can check an organization’s 
status at the Attorney General’s 
website or by calling (517) 
373-1152. 

Also, since not all 
organizations are required to 
apply for a registration, many 
legitimate charities will not 
appear on the list. (Churches, 
for example, are permitted to 
solicit contributions without a 
registration.) 
If you don’t find the charity 
that you are searching for 
on the list. The Attorney 
General’s staff can tell you if the 
organization is exempt from 
registration.
 
• How much of my donation 
will actually be used for the 
charity’s purpose?
Many donors are shocked 
to learn that, in some 
instances, less than 10% 

continued on page 54

MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE

’Tis the 
 Season to
Give

