Guest Author - Jackie O´Neal

Michelle Singletarry of the Washington Post has described Charity Navigator as “ a leading charity navigator and donor advocacy group.” I’ve found Charity Navigator to be an important resource in researching the background of charities, and learning whether or not they function effectively. After exploring their website, I’ve discovered revealing tips about how to approach a charity with an inquiry, and exactly the most appropriate questions to direct to a charity before making a donation.

According to Charity Navigator, a reputable and efficient charity should be willing and prepared to verbalize their mission statement and goals fluently and in great detail, or at least sufficient detail to help the public get an understanding of the work they do in the world.
After posing a question and perhaps not getting a satisfactory response from a charity, the potential donor can be pretty much certain the lack of response is a good indication that the charity may be struggling to fulfill its long- term goals, and may not have the resources to be focused concerning it’s mission.

In addition, a reputable charity should be in a position to demonstrate progress towards the manner in which it is fulfilling its mission, and working on developing its programs to benefit the individuals it purports to assist.
Apart from accessing the resources available on Charity Navigator, potential donors can also take proactive action by making inquiries with the Internal Revenue Service, the State Attorney General’s office, and the leadership of the charity itself, to verify where monies are actually going, and request an Annual Report.

When it comes to giving charitable donations, trust is a key factor in one’s decision to do so. The potential donor reserves the right to do an investigation on their charity of choice. To be sure, Charity Navigator would be the first place to start.