Do you want to donate to a charity that helps children in need? Charities help kids all over the world to rise above unspeakable situations most people will fortunately never experience -- hardships such as famine, domestic abuse, abandonment, homelessness, cancer, post-traumatic stress, and more. For many who want to donate to a charity, it can be tricky to choose which one is the right one where you can make the most impact to the cause with your donation dollars. The charity’s name does not necessarily tell you where or what your donation is going. A significant portion may be going to fundraising, and not to the cause. The top three charities with the most consecutive 4-Star ratings are The Children’s Aid Society, Kids Alive International, and the Boys & Girls Club of America. Read on to learn more about these worthwhile charitable organizations.
There are organizations, such as Charity Watch and Charity Navigator, which spend time evaluating nonprofit organizations. They look for how transparent the organization is to the public, how their money is collected and spent, and how they are governed. For example, to gain an A-rating from Charity Watch, an organization’s fundraising costs cannot exceed 25% of the income, and 75% must be used for its programs.
The organization helps from child conception through young adulthood. They offer prenatal counseling and assistance during pregnancy, help with adoption and foster care homes for more than 500 children a year, and invest in after-school and weekend programs to help enrich learning. The group helps with the arts for children, summer camps to help keep children safe, high school programs, college assistance, and job preparation training.
Kids Alive International is dedicated to keeping children alive and free from hunger, abuse, and exploitation across the globe. They take a Christian-based approach to helping to rescue children from orphanages, homelessness, and unsafe environments. They work to empower families through a partnership with their community to improve the care of children.
Boys & Girls Club of America offers programs in cities throughout the country, with educational opportunities, sports, art classes, health programs, leadership training, and more for children of low-income and at-risk households. Even better, this longtime charity offers programs for kids as young as 6 and older than 16. Donations to the Boys & Girls Club help to fund this wide range of important programs.
The 3 charities were giving 4-Star ratings by the charity evaluating organizations because they all use 85% or more of the funds raised for their programs, which means they each use 15% or less to run their organization. They are transparent to society and accountable for how their funds are managed. The majority of the donations received go directly their cause.
Don’t assume your donation to a charity is tax-deductible. Verify the organization’s tax-exempt status by checking with one of the charity review companies or the IRS. Verification takes a few minutes and is worth your time. Give directly to the organization you choose instead of the fundraiser that contacts you to make certain your donation goes to the organization of your choosing.
Yes, by requesting privacy. Let the charitable group know that you do not want your name or contact information sold, rented, or exchanged to other charitable groups. You can also request that the group not send you requests for another donation by mail, email, or phone solicitations. You may want to check the group’s privacy policy before donating.
Be aware that there are sound-alikes. Some low-rated charities choose names that sound like or resemble higher rated charities to improve their fundraising abilities. It’s another reason to give directly to the organization.