WORD TO THE WISE: Make sure your holiday giving is wise giving

December is a critical fundraising month for charities. Many people make year-end gifts for tax reasons or to extend the spirit of thanksgiving and generosity to those less fortunate. The Better Business Bureau offers a few dos and don'ts when it comes to charity giving, both at holiday time and year-round.

DON'T succumb to high-pressure, emotional pitches. Giving on the spot is never necessary, no matter how hard a telemarketer or door-to-door solicitor pushes it. The charity that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow -- after you've had time to do your homework.

DO check out the charity carefully. Make sure you feel comfortable with how your money will be spent. Don't just take the word of someone else. Go to www.give.org to verify that a charity meets BBB Wise Giving Alliance's 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

DON'T assume that only "low overhead" matters. How much money a charity spends on the actual cause -- as compared with how much goes toward fundraising and administration -- is an important factor, but it's not the whole story. A charity with impressive financial ratios could have other significant problems such as insufficient transparency, inadequate board activity and inaccurate appeals.

DO be sure it's the right charity. With so many charities in existence, their names can blur in a donor's mind and similar-sounding organizations are common. Many phony charities purposefully choose a name that sounds familiar. Be sure to verify their tax-exempt status with the IRS at www.irs.gov.

DON'T assume the charity wants any item you donate. Worn out, unusable or unwanted donated goods cost charities millions of dollars each year because the organization has to bear the cost of tossing the unacceptable donation. If you have questions about an item's acceptability, call the charity and ask.

DO remember that unordered merchandise is free. If a charity sends you greeting cards, address labels or other merchandise with an appeal for donations, you are not obligated to pay for the items. These free items are funded out of the contributions received from donors.

DON'T accept vague claims. Statements such as "all proceeds go to charity" or "your purchase will benefit charity" are too vague. Look for a disclosure that indicates the actual or estimated amount of the purchase that the charity will receive to fund its programs.

DO consider easy text-to-give options. The BBB Mobile Giving Foundation makes it easy to give smaller donations (usually $10) to charities it has selected and monitor, including those providing relief to victims of natural disasters. Go to www.mobilegiving.org to find out more. Just remember that in times of natural disasters, text-to-give may not be the fastest way to get your donation to the charity of your choice.

Donors can check out BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluations on nationally soliciting charities for free at www.give.org. For more tips this holiday season, visit bbb.org.

Kelvin Collins is president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia. Questions or complaints about a specific company or charity should be referred directly to the BBB at 478-742-7999, www.bbb.org or by emailing info@centralgeorgia.bbb.org.