MUST Ministries North Georgia non profitWhy should you choose MUST Ministries as your charity?

That’s a good question.  There are so many charities and nonprofits out there to choose from.  They all appear to do good deeds, have their heart in the right place, but how do you know which one will use your donation dollars the most effectively?  Here are just a few things to consider:

1)     How does your charity measure up?  Has it been rated by Charity Navigator or Standards for Excellence?  These are two independently rated sites that were created to help the public determine which nonprofits they can trust.  They review charities and document the financial health and transparency so you know where your dollars are being spent.   Don’t be fooled!  There are many sites that claim to do the same, but all a charity needs to do is become a paid member to get a good rating.

2)     Is your charity a 501(c)3?  The Internal Revenue Coded (26U.S.C. 501(c) ), provides that 28 types of nonprofit organizations are exempt from some federal income taxes, however, not all can receive donations.  A 501(c)3 identifies a public charity in the United States by the IRS.  In short, this allows your donation to be tax deductable.  Just because they say they are a 501(c)3 charity, doesn’t mean they are.  Be sure to do your homework to confirm their 501(c)3 status.

3)     Is your charity using a middleman to collect donations?  Did you know when you get calls for donations, many times a third party company is used and a percentage of the amount donated goes to that company?  Make your donations directly to your charity by donating online or mailing your check.

4)     Are you spread too thin?  While diversifying your portfolio when investing in stocks is a good thing, you want to do the opposite with your philanthropic giving.  Once you decide which cause you are passionate about, and find a worthy charity, concentrate your giving so it will make a bigger impact.

I have to admit, before I started working for MUST Ministries, I did not research my charity donations.  I would make donations to just about anyone who asked (if I had the money).  Because MUST has been awarded Charity Navigator’s 4 star rating 5 years running and is one of only 230 organizations in America to receive the Standards for Excellence award, I’m proud to say I work for MUST because I know my donations are used wisely.  How does your charity measure up?