How Do I Check If a Charity Is Real Before I Donate?

What this helps with: Making sure your donation goes to a real charity, not a scammer, whether someone calls, texts, emails, knocks on your door, or posts on social media.

The short answer: Slow down, look the charity up yourself, and pay by credit card or check. Real charities are happy to wait while you check. Scammers aren’t.

Signs it might be a scam

The FTC says to watch for these:

1. They rush you. “Give right now, today only.” Real charities will still take your gift tomorrow.
2. They want cash, a gift card, a wire transfer, or crypto. That’s how scammers ask to be paid. Don’t do it.
3. They thank you for a gift you never made. It’s a trick to get you to “finish” paying.
4. The name sounds almost like a charity you know. Scammers copy real names on purpose.
5. They’re vague. Lots of sad stories, but no clear answer about how your money will be used.
6. They promise a prize. Winning a sweepstakes in exchange for a donation is a scam, and it’s illegal.

Caller ID can be faked to look like a local number, so a local number doesn’t prove anything.

How to check a charity in a few minutes

1. Ask questions first. What’s the charity’s exact name? Where is it? How will my money be used? A real charity will answer. You can also say, “Please send me something in writing.”
2. Search the name online. Type the charity’s name plus the word “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.” See what other people say.
3. Look up its ratings. These free sites report on how charities spend money:
   • BBB Wise Giving Alliance
   • Charity Navigator
   • CharityWatch
4. Check that it’s a real tax-exempt charity. Use the IRS’s free Tax Exempt Organization Search. It also tells you if your gift can be tax-deductible.
5. Check with your state. Most states require charities to register before asking for money. Find your state’s charity office at nasconet.org.
6. Go to the charity yourself. Want to give? Hang up, close the message, and go to the charity’s real website or call a number you looked up. Don’t use a link or number they sent you.

Safer ways to give

• Pay by credit card or check. A credit card gives you the most protection if something goes wrong.
• Keep a record of every gift: who, how much, and when.
• Check your statements. Make sure you were charged only what you agreed to, and that you weren’t signed up for a monthly gift by mistake.
• Giving by text? Make sure the number is real first. Check it on the charity’s own website.
• Giving on social media or a crowdfunding site? Research the charity yourself, even if a friend shared the post. On crowdfunding sites, it’s safest to give to people you know.

Good to know: Giving Tuesday is December 1, 2026, and many real charities send more emails and texts around then. That’s normal. Just use the steps above before you click.

If you think you gave to a fake charity

1. Call your credit card company or bank right away and tell them. Ask if they can stop or reverse the charge.
2. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Report it to your state charity office. Find it at nasconet.org. Share the name, phone number, and what they said.

This is not your fault. Scammers use people’s kindness against them. Telling someone helps stop them.

For free, friendly help, you can call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET). You don’t need to be an AARP member.

Want more ways to stay safe? See our guides to spotting a scam, gift card scams, and scams on social media.

Official sources

• FTC: Donating safely and avoiding scams
• IRS: Tax Exempt Organization Search
• National Association of State Charity Officials: Resources for donors
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance: Give.org
• AARP: Fraud Watch Network Helpline
• FTC: Report fraud

Last checked: Oct 21, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support, and not legal, tax, or financial advice. It covers giving in the U.S. If you think you’ve lost money, contact your bank or card company and the official sources above.