Practical guide
How to check a charity before donating
A registration result is a starting point. A careful check confirms identity, eligibility, conduct, finances, and evidence about the work.
1. Confirm the exact organization
Match the legal name and nine-digit EIN. Similar names are common, and a fundraiser can use a familiar-sounding name that belongs to a different entity.
2. Check tax and solicitation status
Confirm federal deductibility through IRS records. For a charity soliciting in Minnesota, also search the Minnesota Attorney General's registry.
A missing IRS listing deserves investigation, not an automatic verdict. Churches and some organizations under group rulings can require additional confirmation.
3. Read the latest filing in context
Look at revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, compensation, fundraising, and whether the filing is current. Compare several years when possible. Do not decide based on one overhead percentage.
4. Ask what changed
Find a recent annual report or program evaluation. Look for a concrete population, activity, outcome, time period, and cost. Counts of brochures, meals, or attendees are outputs, not necessarily outcomes.
5. Understand the donation route
Before paying through a platform, identify who legally receives the gift, every fee, how much reaches the selected charity, when it arrives, who issues the receipt, and what happens if the grant cannot be delivered.