How to Donate to Charity Safely: A Simple Guide for Giving Tuesday and Beyond
The end of the year is when many of us feel most generous, and it is also when charity appeals are at their loudest. Emails, phone calls, social media posts, and collectors at the door all ask for help at once. Most of those appeals are genuine. A few are not, and it can be hard to tell the difference when a message is emotional and urgent.
The good news is that checking a charity takes only a few minutes, and you don’t have to become suspicious of every request to do it. This guide covers how to check a charity before you give, the red flags to watch for, the safest ways to pay and keep records, and what to do if something feels wrong. It draws on guidance from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US tax authority, and UK charity regulators. It is general information, not legal or tax advice, and it names no specific charities.
Why Careful Giving Matters
Giving Tuesday and the giving season
Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after US Thanksgiving, which makes it Tuesday, December 1 in 2026. It began as a response to holiday shopping, when two organizations joined forces to promote giving, and it spread through social media. It is not an official public holiday in the US. Because many charities run appeals around it, it is a good moment to be prepared.
Fraud and generosity happen side by side
UK regulators gave some figures in a joint statement for Giving Tuesday in December 2025. They cited City of London Police data showing 561 charity fraud reports in the previous year, with total losses of £2,160,169. These are only the cases that were reported, so the real number could be higher, and I haven’t seen comparable figures for the US or elsewhere in the sources I read. The point is not to alarm you. It is that a small amount of checking helps make sure your money does what you intended.
The goal is confidence, not suspicion
Most charities are honest, and many depend on public donations. The aim of this guide is to help you give with confidence, so that your gift reaches the cause you care about.
Check the Charity First
Search the name with a few extra words
The FTC suggests searching for the charity’s name together with words such as “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam.” This takes a minute and can turn up warnings. If you want to find charities in an area you care about, you can also search for the cause along with phrases like “highly rated charity.”
Use the official registers
Official registers are one of the most reliable tools.
- In the US: The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether an organization is a qualified charity, which matters if you want your donation to be tax-deductible. The FTC also suggests checking with your state charity regulator, since most states require charities or their fundraisers to register.
- In the UK: The Charity Register, available through gov.uk, lets you check a charity’s name and registration number. According to the regulators’ statement, most charities with income of £5,000 or more must be registered. They also suggest looking for the Fundraising Badge, which shows a charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
- Elsewhere: Many countries have a national charity regulator. I haven’t researched each one, so search for your own country’s official register.
Try independent rating groups
The FTC also points to independent charity-rating organizations as another way to learn about a charity. I won’t name any here, but a quick search will find them. Treat ratings as one input, not the final word.
Look for specifics
A genuine charity should be able to say what it does and how donations are used. The FTC lists vague, emotional appeals with no details on how the money will be spent as a red flag. If you can’t find a clear answer, consider giving to a different organization.
Watch for look-alike names
Scammers may use names that closely resemble real charities. The IRS makes the same warning, adding that fake websites may use names that look familiar. Double-check the exact spelling of the name and the web address.
Red Flags to Watch For
These warning signs come from the FTC, the IRS, and the UK regulators.
Pressure to give now
The FTC puts it simply: “Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation.” The UK regulators advise that you shouldn’t feel pressured to give on the spot. If someone insists you act immediately, that alone is a reason to pause. A real charity will still be there tomorrow.
A thank-you for a gift you never made
The FTC lists this as a red flag. A message thanking you for a donation you don’t remember making may be an attempt to get you to pay.
A “local” number that may not be
Caller ID can be faked. The FTC and the IRS both warn that scammers can make a call appear to come from a local area code or a trusted organization.
Requests for cash, gift cards, or wire transfers
The IRS says plainly that legitimate charities do not ask for gift cards, cash, or wire transfers, and the FTC lists these as the ways scammers typically ask for payment. Payment methods that are hard to trace or reverse are a major warning sign.
False promises about tax deductions or prizes
The FTC warns about claims that a donation is tax-deductible when it isn’t. It also says that promising sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a donation is illegal.
Unexpected emails, texts, and links
The UK regulators advise caution with unexpected emails, social media posts, and links. If you want to give, type the charity’s web address yourself, or use a link you have checked, instead of clicking one in a message.
A note on unsolicited contact
The IRS notes that some legitimate charities do contact people without being asked, so an unsolicited request isn’t proof of a scam. It does mean you should check before giving.
How to Pay and Keep Records
Choose a payment method that protects you
The FTC advises paying by credit card or check, and not by cash, gift card, or wire transfer. As a general point, not from the FTC page, cards often offer some protection if something goes wrong, though the rules depend on your country and provider, so check your card’s terms.
Give through channels you trust
Go directly to the charity’s own website or use a method you’ve checked. Before you click a donation link on a social media post or crowdfunding page, the FTC says to confirm who will receive the money. The FTC has a separate article on crowdfunding and fundraising platforms, which I haven’t summarized here.
Be careful with cryptocurrency
The FTC advises watching for scammers if you donate using cryptocurrency. Crypto payments are generally hard to reverse, so double-check the recipient before you send anything.
Keep a record
The IRS advises getting a receipt for every donation and keeping a record. Then check your bank and credit card statements to make sure the amount is correct. The FTC adds that you should look out for anything that suggests you’ve been signed up for recurring donations that you didn’t agree to.
Check tax rules for your country
Tax treatment of donations differs widely. The IRS tips I read apply to the US, and I haven’t researched other countries’ rules. If you want to claim a tax benefit, ask the charity how it works where you live, and confirm with your tax authority or an adviser.
Give Well, and Know What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
Decide your giving plan in advance
Rather than responding to whoever asks first, consider choosing a few causes you care about and setting an amount you’re comfortable with. This is my suggestion, not from the sources, but it makes it easier to say no to pressure and yes to the causes that matter to you.
Ask the charity directly
The UK regulators suggest researching how a charity uses its funds before donating. You can also email or phone the charity, using contact details from its official website, and ask how donations are used. A genuine charity should be glad to answer.
Consider giving time and skills
Money isn’t the only way to help. Volunteering your time or skills can be just as valuable, and many charities welcome it. This is also a good way to see how an organization works from the inside.
If you think you’ve been scammed
- Stop and don’t send more money. Contact your bank or card provider straight away and explain what happened.
- In the US: Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state charity regulator. Include the fundraiser’s name, phone number, and what they said.
- In the UK: If an appeal seems illegitimate, the regulators say to report it through the Stop! Think Fraud website.
- Elsewhere: Contact your national police or consumer authority. I haven’t researched each country’s reporting system.
A short checklist
- Pause. Don’t be rushed.
- Search the charity’s name plus words like “complaint” or “scam.”
- Check the official register for your country.
- Look for clear details on what the charity does and how funds are used.
- Watch for look-alike names and spoofed phone numbers.
- Never pay by gift card, cash, or wire transfer.
- Pay by card or check, and type the web address yourself.
- Keep receipts and check your statements.
- Report anything suspicious.
Giving safely doesn’t mean giving less. A few minutes of checking can help make sure your generosity reaches the people and causes you wanted to support.
