Before You Donate: A Practical Checklist for Checking a Charity
Before giving, verify the charity and fundraiser independently, understand what an IRS tax-status search can tell you, and confirm the purpose and payment details.
How to check a charity before donating
Separate the checks into three questions: who is receiving your money, what the appeal supports, and what the IRS records say about tax status.
Before you donate, write down the organization’s name and identify any person, company, crowdfunding page, or platform collecting money on its behalf. Find the organization’s website or phone number independently, review its program and donation information, and verify the specific appeal. If tax deductibility matters to you, use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to check relevant status and filing information.
These checks answer different questions. An IRS result can provide information about tax-exempt status and eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions. It does not establish that a particular fundraising appeal is genuine, measure the charity’s effectiveness, or guarantee that your own gift will be deductible. Confirm the fundraiser and payment route separately, then review the transaction before submitting it. [No inline citation markers.]
Identify the charity and the fundraiser
A campaign can support a familiar cause without being operated directly by the organization you have in mind.
Record the organization’s name as it appears in the appeal, the website or social account used, and the name of anyone asking you to give. If a caller, influencer, local chapter, crowdfunding page, or third-party platform is involved, clarify its role: is it collecting on the organization’s behalf, raising funds for a particular project, or asking you to support an individual?
Ask who will receive the money, how it will reach the intended recipient, and whether fees or other deductions apply. The payment page may name a platform or fundraising partner rather than the charity itself; that difference is not proof of wrongdoing, but it is a reason to understand the arrangement before paying. If you cannot get a clear answer, wait.
The Federal Trade Commission advises donors to research both the charity and the fundraiser. For an unexpected text, do not rely on its link as your only way to reach the organization. Find contact information independently and ask whether the appeal is connected to the charity. [No inline citation markers.]
Review the mission and intended use of the gift
Look for information that makes the appeal understandable, then ask about any condition that could change your decision.
On the organization’s independently located website, look for a clear explanation of its mission, the people or communities it serves, and the programs it says it runs. Specific descriptions of activities and locations are more useful for understanding the work than a broad slogan alone. This is a practical review, not proof that every claim is accurate; compare important details and ask the organization when something is unclear.
Read the appeal and donation page closely. Is the gift described as unrestricted, or directed toward a named program, location, or emergency response? Does the organization explain what it will do if a project raises more money than it needs? If the appeal promises a particular use but the donation form does not explain how that restriction works, ask before giving rather than assuming.
When comparing organizations, do not let one online review or one financial ratio make the decision for you. A percentage spent on programs, by itself, does not establish the quality or results of the work. Consider what the organization describes, how clearly it answers reasonable questions, and whether the information matches the specific campaign you are considering.
A useful question to ask
Try: “Is this donation restricted to the project named in the appeal, and what happens if the project is fully funded?” The answer can help you decide whether the gift matches your intentions.
Use the IRS search for tax-status information
Treat the IRS search as a records check with a defined purpose, not as a recommendation or a complete review of a solicitation.
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) lets users check tax-exempt status, filing information, and eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions. Search by the organization’s name or its employer identification number (EIN), if available. Compare the result with the organization’s details, such as its location and any legal or alternate name.
A result may use the organization’s legal name or an IRS-filed “doing business as” name rather than the name people recognize from a campaign. If the familiar name does not appear, check spelling, try another name, or search by EIN. The IRS notes that some eligible organizations may not appear in certain listing data, so a missing result alone does not prove that an organization is fraudulent or ineligible. [No inline citation markers.]
The IRS page lists September 10, 2026, as the latest posting date for its Pub. 78 data. That date applies to the listed data, not necessarily to every record or the page as a whole. Check the current IRS page when you search, since records and posting information can change.
An IRS listing is not an endorsement or an assessment of program quality, and the search does not verify that a particular person or campaign is authorized. Nor does a quick lookup settle the tax treatment of your individual donation. Tax rules and your circumstances matter; if you need an answer about your own return, check current IRS guidance or consult a qualified tax professional.
| Check | Useful for | Does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search | Tax-status, filing, and eligibility information in IRS records | That a fundraiser is genuine, that the charity is effective, or that your specific gift is deductible |
| Organization’s official website | The organization’s stated mission, programs, donation instructions, and contact details | That an outside appeal or payment page is authorized |
| Fundraiser or payment page | The stated purpose, collecting party, and proposed payment terms | That the recipient or claims are verified without an independent check |
Check the appeal and payment route
Verify the specific request rather than relying on the cause’s name, the page’s appearance, or pressure to act quickly.
Review the appeal for a named organization, a stated purpose, and a clear way to give. Urgent language, emotional images, and a polished page do not verify who is collecting. Treat pressure to act immediately, vague answers, or payment instructions that conflict with information you found independently as reasons to pause and check further.
If the request came by call, text, email, or social post, use the organization’s independently located contact details to ask whether the named fundraiser or campaign is authorized. Do not use only the phone number, reply address, or link included in an unexpected message. The FTC specifically advises caution with unexpected donation texts and recommends researching the charity and fundraiser. [No inline citation markers.]
Before entering payment details, check the recipient name shown at checkout, the amount, any stated fees, and the terms of the gift. If the page identifies a different recipient than you expected, find out why before proceeding. Charitable-solicitation registration and lookup processes can vary by state; a state-regulator check may be a useful additional step where applicable, but it does not replace checking the particular campaign and payment route.
Confirm the donation terms and review the transaction
Check the final payment details before submitting, then compare the receipt and account activity with what you agreed to.
At checkout, confirm the amount, currency, recipient, and whether the contribution is one-time or recurring. Look for monthly or other recurring terms, including options that may already be selected. If you intend to make a single gift, make sure the final review or confirmation reflects that choice.
Save the receipt or confirmation and note the organization, date, amount, and stated purpose. When your card or bank activity becomes available, compare it with the amount you agreed to and check for an unintended recurring donation. The FTC recommends reviewing statements for these discrepancies. If something is wrong, contact the organization or platform through its official support channel and ask your payment provider about its process for addressing the charge. [No inline citation markers.]
A practical decision rule before you give
You can take time to verify an appeal; a request for an immediate decision is not a reason to skip checks.
Use this sequence before submitting a donation:
- Write down the organization’s name and the fundraiser’s name, if there is one.
- Find the organization’s website or phone number independently and ask whether the specific appeal is connected to it.
- Review the stated mission, the purpose of the campaign, and any conditions on how the gift will be used.
- If tax status matters, search the IRS records by name or EIN and try legal or alternate names if needed; do not treat the result as an impact rating or fundraiser verification.
- Check the checkout recipient, amount, fees or terms, and whether the gift is one-time or recurring.
- Save the receipt and review the transaction afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Does an IRS search prove that a charity is trustworthy?
No. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search provides tax-status and filing information, including eligibility information for tax-deductible contributions. It is not an endorsement, an effectiveness rating, or confirmation that a particular fundraiser is authorized.
What should I do if I cannot find a charity in the IRS search?
Check the spelling, try the organization’s legal or alternate name, and search by EIN if available. The IRS notes that some eligible organizations may not appear in certain data, so one missing result is not conclusive. Contact the organization independently to ask about its records.
Can I assume my donation is tax-deductible if the organization appears in the search?
No. The search provides information about an organization’s status and eligibility, but it does not determine the treatment of your individual donation. Tax rules and your circumstances matter; check current IRS guidance or consult a qualified tax professional if you need help with your return.
How can I check a charity mentioned in an unexpected text?
Do not rely on the text’s link or contact details. Find the organization’s website or phone number independently and ask whether the appeal and fundraiser are connected to it. Wait to pay until you understand the recipient and payment route.
How can I tell whether my donation is recurring?
Read the donation form and final confirmation before paying, including any monthly or other recurring terms. Save the receipt and review your statement afterward to make sure the amount and frequency match what you intended.
Sources & further reading
Explore the original sources behind this article. Our editorial perspective is separate from the organizations we reference.
