34 | NOVEMBER 14 • 2024 

and ask them, too. Or see if the infor-
mation is on the charity’s website. 
What else does the charity spend 
money on? Some fundraising can 
be very expensive, leaving the char-
ity with little money to spend on its 
programs.
Are you raising money for 
a charity or a Political Action 
Committee (PAC)? Not every call 
seeking a donation is from a chari-
ty. Some calls might be from a PAC 
where donations are not deductible, 
and the PAC will use the money in a 
different manner than a charity would.
Will my donation be tax-de-
ductible? To be sure, though, look 
up the charity in the IRS’s Tax 
Exempt Organization Search. If 
donations really are tax deductible, 
the organization will be listed 
there. Remember that donations to 
individuals and PACs are not tax 
deductible.

RULES 
FUNDRAISERS 
MUST FOLLOW
Fundraising calls are allowed even 
if your number is on the National 
Do Not Call Registry. If you want 
fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to 
put you on the charity’s do not call list.
When a charity’s fundraiser calls to 
ask you for a donation, they have to 
follow some rules:
They can only call during specific 
times. They can’t call you before 8 
a.m. or after 9 p.m.

They have 
to disclose their name 
and purpose. They have to tell you 
the name of the charity and tell you if 
the reason they’re calling is to seek a 
donation.
They can’t deceive you or lie about:
• The fundraiser’s connection to the 
charity.
• The mission or purpose of the 
charity.
• Whether a donation is tax deduct-
ible.
• How a donation will be used, or 

how much of the donation actually 
goes to the charity’s programs.
• The charity’s affiliation with the 
government.
They can’t use a robocall or prere-
corded message to reach you unless 
you are a member of the charity or 
a prior donor ― and even then they 
must offer you a way to opt out of 
future calls.
Their caller ID has to be truth-
ful. The caller ID on your phone has 
to show the name of the charity or 
fundraiser, along with a number that 
you can call to ask to be placed on the 
charity’s do not call list.
If a fundraiser breaks any of these 
rules, that might be a sign of their dis-
honesty. It may be best to find another 
way to donate to the cause you care 
about.

HOW YOU PAY 
WHEN YOU DONATE
Here are some rules to follow when 
you’re ready to donate:

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