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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