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To verify a nonprofit, confirm its exact identity, check its federal tax records and applicable state registrations, review its programs and finances, and independently confirm any fundraising request. For volunteering, also assess the specific role, supervision, training, and safeguarding. No single registry, rating, or overhead figure proves that an organization is effective or that a solicitation is genuine.
Start by confirming who you are dealing with
Write down the organization’s exact legal or public name, website, mailing address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN), if available. Similar names can belong to unrelated organizations, so match the details across the charity’s own materials and official records rather than relying on a name alone.
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If a caller, text, email, or social-media message says it represents a familiar charity, do not use the contact details or payment link in that message to verify the claim. Find the organization’s contact information independently and ask whether it authorized the solicitation. Caller ID is not proof of identity.
Check federal tax records—and what they do and do not establish
Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) to look up the organization. The IRS says TEOS includes information on tax-exempt status and eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, along with available Form 990-series returns, Form 990-N filings, revocation information, and determination letters. The page was last reviewed or updated May 6, 2026.
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Match the record to the organization you intend to support; do not treat a similar name as a match. Check the contribution-eligibility information relevant to your gift. “Nonprofit” and “tax-exempt” do not automatically mean that every contribution is deductible as a charitable gift. Nor does federal tax status establish that an organization’s programs are effective or that a particular fundraising appeal is authentic.
Check state charity and fundraiser registration
Look up both the charity and any professional fundraiser involved with the appeal at the relevant state charity regulator. Many states require charities or fundraisers to register, but rules differ and some states do not require registration. The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) directory can help you find state charity offices.
Registration is a compliance check, not a rating or endorsement. Consider the rules that apply to the state involved in the solicitation, and ask the state regulator if a record is unclear.
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Look for concrete descriptions of the organization’s programs: what it does, who benefits, and what activities or outcomes it reports. If an appeal says a gift will support a particular purpose, find out whether donations are restricted to that purpose and how the organization handles funds raised beyond the stated need. Ask directly if the answer is not clear.
Review available IRS returns and financial statements. They can help you understand revenue and broad spending categories, but an overhead percentage by itself cannot show whether a nonprofit is effective or ineffective. Consider financial information alongside program evidence, governance, and the operating needs of the cause.
Use ratings and complaint searches as additional evidence
Search the organization’s name with terms such as “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” “fraud,” or “scam.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also points donors to evaluators including BBB Wise Giving Alliance, CharityWatch, Charity Navigator, and GuideStar/Candid. Their methods and coverage can differ, so treat a report or rating as one input—not a replacement for IRS records, state regulator information, or evidence about the organization’s own work.
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The FTC’s consumer advice puts the practical principle plainly: “To make sure your donations count, do some research before you give to a charity.”
Ask how the organization is governed and held accountable
Where information is available, look for board members, conflict-of-interest policies, regular meetings, and evidence that the organization can substantiate its public claims. Check whether regulators have taken action, and whether the organization explains how it responds to concerns.
The FTC’s September 2025 due-diligence guidance for professional fundraisers recommends examining governance and substantiation, among other checks. It is written for fundraisers, not as a universal legal checklist for every nonprofit; the records can nevertheless help donors frame useful questions.
Evaluate a volunteer role, not just the organization’s name
Ask for a written or clearly explained role description before committing. Find out who will supervise you, what training is provided, how to report a concern, and what safety or insurance arrangements apply to the work. A legitimate organization can still offer a role that is poorly defined or unsuitable for your skills, availability, or comfort with risk.
If the work involves children or vulnerable people, ask what screening and safeguarding measures are appropriate for that role and location. The U.S. Office of Justice Programs’ March 2021 guide addresses screening in youth-serving organizations and describes it as a layered process, with continuing supervision, monitoring, and rescreening during involvement. Screening should not be treated as a one-time guarantee of safety.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSafeguarding rules and available checks depend on jurisdiction. The Charity Commission’s guidance applies to charities in England and Wales; it is not U.S. law. Do not assume that a particular criminal-record check is legally available or appropriate everywhere.
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Recognize pressure tactics and verify payment routes
Pause and verify before giving if an appeal uses urgent pressure, a look-alike name, a vague emotional story with no explanation of how funds will be used, a guaranteed sweepstakes prize, or a claim that you previously pledged when you do not remember doing so. Be particularly cautious if cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer is presented as the only way to pay.
The FTC recommends safer payment methods such as credit card or check, keeping a record of the gift, and checking statements for the agreed amount and any unwanted recurring charges. For an online donation, independently confirm who receives the money. HTTPS encrypts information in transit; it does not prove that a website or recipient is genuine.
For crowdfunding, check who controls the campaign funds and whether the nonprofit knows about or endorses the campaign. A contribution may go to the campaign organizer rather than directly to the organization.
Compare organizations against your own priorities
When several organizations appear legitimate, compare evidence across the dimensions that matter to you rather than relying on a single score:
- Program fit: Does the work address the cause you want to support, and are the activities described concretely?
- Legal and solicitation checks: Do IRS records support the claimed status or contribution eligibility, and is the solicitation registered where required?
- Financial transparency: Are filings or statements available and consistent with the organization’s explanation of how funds are used?
- Governance and accountability: Can you find board or policy information and evidence that claims and complaints are taken seriously?
- Independent information: What do evaluators or credible complaint sources report, and what are the limits of their methods or coverage?
- Volunteer fit and safety: Is the role specific, supervised, trained, and supported by safeguards suited to its duties and location?
State registrations, tax records, evaluator coverage, and safeguarding rules can change. Check current records for the particular organization and location you are considering.
Quick Recap
Sources and jurisdiction
- FTC: Before Giving to a Charity
- FTC: Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams
- FTC: Professional fundraisers’ due-diligence guidance, September 2025
- U.S. Office of Justice Programs: youth-serving background-screening guide, March 2021
- Charity Commission for England and Wales: safeguarding guidance, updated June 1, 2022
- FTC Charity Checklist, May 2009
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