We looked for a consensus among all three watchdogs. To help you discover charities that are worthy of your support and those to avoid, we’ve provided a list of organizations the top watchdogs agree deserve high and low ratings. (You can find more information about the rating methodologies used by the watchdogs on their websites.) “Charities that are A-rated generally spend at least 75 percent or more on their programs, so more of your money goes to causes you want to support,” says Stephanie Kalivas, analyst at CharityWatch.įor example, CharityWatch gave the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, which spent only 4 percent on its programs, an F, while the National Military Family Association, which spent 82 percent, received an A.Ĭharity Navigator focuses on financial metrics, accountability, and transparency. To become accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, charities must meet 20 standards, including adequate board oversight and strong conflict-of-interest policies, as well as the requirement that they spend at least 65 percent of their total expenses on their charitable programs and no more than 35 percent of their total contributions on fundraising.ĬharityWatch uses a letter-grade rating system that also looks at the percentage of overhead spent on programs, the cost of fundraising, and other measures of efficiency. Charities differ a lot in how much of the money they raise goes for programs instead of covering the expense of raising money. The best course of action before giving is to check out the charity with one or more of the major charity watchdogs, including the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch.īy doing this vetting, you can feel more confident that the group you’re donating to deserves your support. According to a recent report by the Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact, 17 percent of contributions were made during December last year. Vetting charities is especially important now because December is typically the largest month for giving. Some organizations may spend too much on administrative and fundraising costs or are outright scammers. “You don’t want to choose a charity by the name alone, since your donation may go to a questionable group,” says Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the charity watchdog BBB Wise Giving Alliance. But you need to look carefully at the organization to make sure you are sending your money to the right place. If you’re looking for tips on choosing a charity, you can vet the charities you’re considering by checking the websites of the watchdog organizations mentioned here.ĭuring the holidays, many consumers receive a multitude of donation requests from charitable organizations, as well as crowdfunding sites and other online giving platforms.Ī charity’s name may signal worthy a cause, such as feeding the hungry or supporting veterans.
Editor’s Note: Consumer Reports has not updated the specific charities mentioned in this story since November 2019.
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