How to be a smart donor

Want to know how a charity spends its money but are afraid to ask? Don’t be.
Donors care about the community they live in – that’s why they participate in the CMC. So it only makes sense that they also want to know how their money will be spent.

Most agencies post financial information for donors on their Web sites.Click here for a list of federations and agencies is posted with links to their sites.

An informed donor makes smart choices. Here are some Web sites that will help you learn more about giving.

• Federal Trade Commission: Provides information on wise giving and how to file a complaint. www.ftc.gov/charityfraud
  
• IRS: Search charitable organizations for tax information. www.irs.gov
  
• Charity Watch: Tips for giving wisely and other helpful hints. ww.charitywatch.org
  
• GuideStar: Information on more than 1 million nonprofits. Also, important questions to ask yourself if you can’t decide on a charity. www.guidestar.org
• Charity Navigator: Evaluates the financial health of America’s largest charities. www.charitynavigator.org