Protect Your Charity

On April 25, 2015 an earthquake rocked Nepal. It killed over 7,000 people and injured many more. When disasters  such as these strike, many often rush to help out in one way or another. One of the most popular contributions is direct monetary donations to relief efforts. We can be old-fashioned and call in, or text a number from our mobile devices. Within the past few years, it’s become possible to engage with relief efforts and donate from social media platforms.

While a great many hearts are in the right place, there is a sobering truth to how we, as a cultural collective, respond with such relative disengagement. For many, it’s as easy as sending that small donation to a mystery number or clicking a button in a social media feed. It goes without saying that such ease is sometimes too good to be true. Though hard to believe for some, the wash of humanitarian and charity drives in the aftermath of a catastrophic event can bring out the most conniving of scammers. Protect yourself, and the integrity of your donations, by doing your due diligence and making sure your cash is going to an actual, credible charitable foundation.
Don’t fret if you don’t know where to begin; USA Today has you covered.