Giving Tuesday: How to give responsibly

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As the year draws to an end, holiday goodwill is in abundant supply. Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season by channeling charitable efforts around a growing global #GivingTuesday movement, beginning the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Many charities support veterans and military families and welcome your generosity. 

Unfortunately, it pays to be prudent before you decide to donate. The FTC recommends the following tips for safe giving:

  • Look up a charity’s ratings on sites like charitynavigator.org
  • Pay by credit card or check, not gift cards or wire transfers
  • When you consider giving to a specific charity, search its name plus “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” or “scam”
  • Find out how much of your donation goes to help military veterans and families
  • Keep a record of all donations you make, and review bank statements to make sure you’ve only been charged the amount you agree to donate

Operation Donate with Honor” was launched in summer 2018 to crack down on fraudulent veteran charities. The FTC partnered with all 50 states to ban these charities from soliciting donations and educate the public on avoiding scams.

The following charities have been sued for lying to donors:

  • American Disabled Veterans Foundation
  • National Vietnam Veterans Foundation
  • Healing American Heroes, Inc.
  • Veterans Fighting Breast Cancer
  • Military Families of America
  • VietNow National Headquarters, Inc.
  • Foundation for American Veterans, Inc.
  • Healing Heroes Network
  • Help the Vets, Inc.

To find out the best ways to safely donate this giving season, visit FTC.gov/Charity.

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