Getting charitable help

We live in tough times. A slumping economy has driven up the unemployment rate in recent years. Too many people are struggling to find a job, stay in their homes and feed their families. There are options out there that can make a positive difference in your life, if you are in a tough situation.

If you turn to a charity for help, here is what you need to do to make sure your needs are taken care of right away:

1. Identify what you need.

Asking for help is a major step all by itself. It is not enough to simply ask for help though. You must identify what kind of assistance you need. Charities will have a difficult time assisting you unless you can be specific in in your needs. Virtually any nonprofit group is dedicated to a specific cause and if they know what your needs entail, they can direct you to the right place to get help.

2. Prepare required documents.

If you need help from a charity, you must be prepared to offer proof that you need help. If you want financial assistance in paying bills, for example, you must be prepared to present documentation like proof of residence, a valid ID card, past pay stubs and a copy of the bill you need to pay.

3. Save required documents.

Keep a personal record of all documentation related to charity assistance. This will serve as a safety net to convince potential donors of your need for assistance. Always be honest in conveying your true needs. If they do not believe your request is valid, you may be asked to provide proof that your current circumstances demonstrate a need for help.

Filed Under: Charities, News Tagged With: , , ,

Avoiding charity scams

Giving to a good cause is a noble act. That is one reason why charity scams feel especially heinous. Scam artists who participate in this sort of deception are preying on people making an effort to help those around them.

The effect of such scams can be damaging. Money and resources are diverted away from needy people who could truly use them. And people who started out with intentions of being a humanitarian are disgusted by falling victim to the deception and they turn away from charitable giving altogether.

Still, the fear of charity scams should not dissuade anyone from giving freely to help those in need. The best way to avoid scams is to use common sense.

The first rule of thumb is to do your homework. If a charity calls and solicits funds, check it out. Non-profit organizations must register with the Federal Government and these charities will be listed on government websites. If you cannot find any information on a charity, then it is time to be suspicious.

Another good idea is to make a charity do a written request for funds. Within this letter, you can have the charity specify what its organization is all about and what it will do with funds donated to its cause once they are made available. Creating extra work like that for a scammer can make them move onto their next “mark.”

Never ever make cash donations. Always donate through a check or credit card. Banks and credit card companies typically have safeguards in place to help prevent and prosecute fraud. Paying cash allows a scam artist to simply disappear and take your hard-earned money with them.

Finally, make sure the charity contacting you is a known organization. If they claim to represent a particular group, such as firefighters, or a particular cause, such as cancer, follow up on their claims. Contact the group they claim to represent and ask if they are affiliated with this charity. If it is connected to a particular cause, check with legitimate charities and ask if they are familiar with the organization in question.

Filed Under: Charities, Charity Scams Tagged With: , , , ,

Benefits of charity donation

Countless legitimate charities are out there, all supporting good causes. There are literally thousands of opportunities for a person to contribute time, money, energy or other resources to support a charitable cause.

If you have never given a thought to donating to a charity, this is a good time to start. There are so many ways that making a charitable donation can benefit you and those around you.

One good reason to donate to charity is that such donations can be written off when you file your taxes annually. There isn’t a soul out there who would not like a tax break. If you donate to charity, that money does not count toward your overall tax bill. So you can kill two birds with one stone by helping others while also helping yourself.

Another reason to donate to charity is to clean out items from your home that you no longer use. Many people have homes filled with clothes, toys, books and furniture they no longer use. Donating items such as these can be as useful and helpful as simply writing out a check to your charity of choice. In many cases, these things are still in good enough condition to be put to good use by families and individuals who do not have the funds to purchase such items on their own.

Perhaps the most important reason to make charitable donations is because it fulfills a grander purpose. You are helping people who are less fortunate than you because circumstances in their lives created that situation. It is a good thing to give back when you have the means to make a difference.

One thing you can do to make it easy is to donate to a charity that has helped you, your spouse, a family member or a friend in a time of need. The best way to repay an act of service like that is to return the good turn done to you. If you donate to a charity that helped you or someone you know, you are helping that organization also make a difference in other lives.

Filed Under: Charities, Donations Tagged With: , , , , ,

Charity Gives A True Sense Of Happiness

Every day people spend millions across the globe looking for happiness.  We buy movies, ornaments, books, alcohol and drugs, all in the search of happiness. It is the eternal quest for joy that drives the world forward. We buy and buy but we are never satisfied. It seems all the pleasures of the world, all the luxuries and all the comforts can’t satisfy our craving for more. Why is this? The reason is that most people are doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing to get true joy.

They spend more and more, in the hope that they can exchange the cash in their hand for happiness. They never realize that they can’t do that. The only real joy is in the joy of giving. Instead of using money for buying things, try giving it to someone who needs it to buy food or provide a roof over his or her children’s heads. That is true happiness. The feeling you get when you see someone else happy because of your help, that is the only kind of happiness that anyone can ever hope to have on this earth.

It is the same joy a mother has when she sees the child she raised reach great heights, it is the same joy a teacher has when he sees his student become someone greater than himself. That is the joy of giving. That is why charities are so important not only to the people receiving it, but to those who give it. It provides a helping hand to a desperate person who has no other hope and provides satisfaction that cannot be matched by any worldly pleasure to the person giving it.

Giving to a charitable cause gives you a true sense of happiness that stays in your heart even if your wallet is a little lighter.

Filed Under: Charities, News Tagged With: , , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »