Choosing a reputable charity

Dear Consumer Ed:

How do I know whether the money I am donating to a charity actually goes to the people I want to help?

Consumer Ed says:

First, make sure that the charity that is soliciting for donations is a registered charity with the Georgia Secretary of State.  You can do this by visiting www.sos.ga.gov, selecting “Securities,” and searching for the particular charity under “Charities and Paid Solicitors.”  Be cautious about giving to any entity that is not registered to solicit donations within the state.

You can research a charity’s donation history by visiting www.charitynavigator.org or www.give.org.

Related to: 

• Scams