5 tips for choosing a charity for your year-end giving

Seattle, Washington (22 December 2011) — We've all heard the advice: Get your charitable donations in before the clock strikes midnight on December 31 — or say goodbye to potential tax breaks. But how to make sure you're choosing the best charity in the first place? Here are five tips for making the most of your charitable dollars before we ring in the new year.

1. Find a charity with a track record: Experience matters, and so does innovation. If you'd like to give to clean water efforts, look for a charity that has staff on the ground and can show success at providing wells and handpumps that can be repaired locally. If addressing homelessness is your passion, look for an organization that's been tackling the problem in your city for several years or more--and is a local leader on the issue.

2. Look beyond overhead: Efficiency is an important factor when choosing a charity, but effectiveness is the key question. Once you've identified fiscally responsible charities, look for one that shares regular updates, impact reports, photos and videos from the frontlines of their work. Efficiency alone is no guarantee the charity is making a difference.

3. Ask questions before you give: Most charities raise a big percentage of their donations in the last week of December, so they should have knowledgeable staff standing by to answer your questions. Don't feel pressured to write that check until you learn a little more. Visit the charity's website, send an email, or pick up the phone.

4. See what others are saying: Social media makes it easy to see what a charity's biggest fans and critics have to say. Most charities have Facebook fan pages, Twitter feeds, and blogs where the public can leave comments and ask questions. See how responsive the charity is in sharing information and addressing any concerns donors might have. You'll get a taste of how you'll be treated if you become a donor.

5. Watch for scams: The year-end giving season is a popular time for scam artists to try and take advantage of your generosity. Don't let them! Be on your guard for emails that ask for your credit card or other personal information. If you receive a phone call asking for money from a charity you don't know, check their website and the Better Business Bureau before giving. If in doubt, check it out!

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Tips are provided by Larry Probus, Chief Financial Officer at World Vision.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews