With two weeks left before Christmas, the most gratifying gift of all may be one to a charity. With millions starving, homeless and even in such financial dire that they cannot provide a holiday to their family this year in the U.S. and abroad, the time is now to step up.
Charitable giving by United States residents reached a new record last year, according to Giving USA 2007, the yearbook of philanthropy published by Giving USA Foundation, an estimated $295.02 billion. This is up from $283.05 billion in 2005, which saw great support for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, as well as the Asian tsunami.
Giving by individuals is the largest single source of donations, according to the report. It rose by 4.4 percent to an estimated $222.89 billion. This accounts for 75.6 percent of all estimated giving in 2006.
And giving isn’t just limited to the extremely wealthy. About 65 percent of households with incomes less than $100,000 give to charity, the report showed. This number is higher than the percentage that vote or read a Sunday newspaper, the Giving USA report says.
It’s wonderful to see the willingness of Americans to lend their support of any and all causes.
While many supportive opportunities are obvious, such as the church collection basket or the Girl Scout selling cookies, many of us may question that charity that may call us at home. And with an approximate one million operating in the U.S., according to the state Division of Consumer Affairs, many charities may sound familiar and many may not.
Any charity worth its weight will allow a potential donor to check it our before donating. The DCA maintains a charitable registration directory at http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/charity/chardir.htm or call 973-504-6215.
The DCAS offers the following tips:
If you receive a telephone call from a charity avoid being pressured into making an immediate donation and do not give credit card information to an unknown person over the telephone
If you are interested in making a donation, ask for written information about the charity to be mailed to you and consult the DCA directory.
Ask if the organization is using a professional fundraising firm, and if so, how much of your donation actually goes to the charity.
Trinkets and other items accompanying donation requests are gifts to you. You are not required to send a donation because you received a gift.
