In the past week, I received three solicitations for donations to charities that sounded like I should support. Two were for police associations and the other to help women with cancer. How could I say "no"?

But, I always ask for the IRS 990 form reporting of the percentage of funds raised provided to the programs and for fund raising. In New York, if you request that number, they telemarketer must respond and they did. All three responded: "....no less than 10%..."

I laugh and hang up.

I'll never give to a charity that provides less than 90% to the programs. And there are plenty that fit that goal.

(09-07-2015 10:30 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  In the past week, I received three solicitations for donations to charities that sounded like I should support. Two were for police associations and the other to help women with cancer. How could I say "no"?

But, I always ask for the IRS 990 form reporting of the percentage of funds raised provided to the programs and for fund raising. In New York, if you request that number, they telemarketer must respond and they did. All three responded: "....no less than 10%..."

I laugh and hang up.

I'll never give to a charity that provides less than 90% to the programs. And there are plenty that fit that goal.

Unfortunately, a lot of the police charities are professional fund-raising organizations that simply go to police groups and say, hey, how would you like some money?

(09-07-2015 10:31 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:30 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  In the past week, I received three solicitations for donations to charities that sounded like I should support. Two were for police associations and the other to help women with cancer. How could I say "no"?

But, I always ask for the IRS 990 form reporting of the percentage of funds raised provided to the programs and for fund raising. In New York, if you request that number, they telemarketer must respond and they did. All three responded: "....no less than 10%..."

I laugh and hang up.

I'll never give to a charity that provides less than 90% to the programs. And there are plenty that fit that goal.

Unfortunately, a lot of the police charities are professional fund-raising organizations that simply go to police groups and say, hey, how would you like some money?

Organizations like those are not 501c3 organizations, so contributions made to them are not tax deductible.

I only donate to local charities in which I fully know do good work in my community.

My all time favorite has been Salvation Army. The Food Bank is another. There are others that have religious basis. I used to give to United Way but after all the hullabaloo years back I've stopped.

I get calls from the Texas State Police Officers Association and I always say no. I pay enough taxes to cover that.

(09-07-2015 10:48 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:31 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:30 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  In the past week, I received three solicitations for donations to charities that sounded like I should support. Two were for police associations and the other to help women with cancer. How could I say "no"?

But, I always ask for the IRS 990 form reporting of the percentage of funds raised provided to the programs and for fund raising. In New York, if you request that number, they telemarketer must respond and they did. All three responded: "....no less than 10%..."

I laugh and hang up.

I'll never give to a charity that provides less than 90% to the programs. And there are plenty that fit that goal.

Unfortunately, a lot of the police charities are professional fund-raising organizations that simply go to police groups and say, hey, how would you like some money?

Organizations like those are not 501c3 organizations, so contributions made to them are not tax deductible.

Hey that's good to know. Instead of asking "what is your IRS form 990 program contribution?" all I need to ask is "Is the gift tax deductable?" Then "goodbye."

(09-07-2015 03:44 PM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:48 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:31 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(09-07-2015 10:30 AM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  In the past week, I received three solicitations for donations to charities that sounded like I should support. Two were for police associations and the other to help women with cancer. How could I say "no"?

But, I always ask for the IRS 990 form reporting of the percentage of funds raised provided to the programs and for fund raising. In New York, if you request that number, they telemarketer must respond and they did. All three responded: "....no less than 10%..."

I laugh and hang up.

I'll never give to a charity that provides less than 90% to the programs. And there are plenty that fit that goal.

Unfortunately, a lot of the police charities are professional fund-raising organizations that simply go to police groups and say, hey, how would you like some money?

Organizations like those are not 501c3 organizations, so contributions made to them are not tax deductible.

Hey that's good to know. Instead of asking "what is your IRS form 990 program contribution?" all I need to ask is "Is the gift tax deductable?" Then "goodbye."

They may well be 501©(3). Its just that most of the money goes to the fund-raising organization instead of the charity.

The only national organization I support financially are the Shriners. I know first hand how valuable the work they do is. I have a neighbor that would have been bankrupt from his child's hospital bills if it was not for the free care given to them at the Shriner Hospital. I am positive that child would be dead today with the care it has received there. That place is simply touched by the hand of God.

Some 501c3 organizations are better than others, but the organizations like Fraternal Order of Police actually are in a different category - they are 501c4, not 501c3. Here is an article that explains the differences:

http://www.nj.com/helpinghands/nonprofit...1c3_a.html

I have used this website to help me understand some of the charities that call the house. Charity Navigator.

(09-07-2015 08:49 PM)BEARCATDALE Wrote:  I have used this website to help me understand some of the charities that call the house. Charity Navigator.

Nice...bookmarked this. Lots of good info here.