SENIORS' SAFETY

There are about 80,000 charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. Many provide needed assistance to communities and groups and do such things as aid in poverty, education, and health care.

But, not all charities claiming to charities are reputable.

We are faced with requests for donations by many different organizations. How can we ensure the money we give is used properly? How can we protect ourselves from being scammed? Why are some people get many more solicitations in the mail and over the phone than others?

Seniors are the largest group of givers in Canada. They are also targeted as generous and easily persuaded. There are some things that should be taken into consideration when deciding where to donate money.

Solicitation lists are gathered by organizations through telephone directories, postal code indexes, and other public information resources. These lists are available for exchange and for rent to other soliciting organizations. When you have given to a charity, you are flagged as a donor and become more valuable to that and other charities. The more often you give to any of these callers or mailers, the more times your name is traded as a flagged giver and the more solicitations you will get.

A common decision many make is to give smaller amounts of money to many different organizations. The consequence, however, is an increase in the amount of requests you get. You have now been flagged to even more organizations and are more vulnerable to scams.

There are some other important considerations. Start by forming your own giving plan. Decide on a firm budget and which charities you want to assist. The best way to determine which charities you want to support is to be informed about them. Ask questions. You should want to know how the money is used and how much goes to administrative fees.

Ask canvassers for identification. Ask for the organizations address and registration number. If they are calling by telephone and you are truly interested, ask for information to be sent to your home. Never give personal information over the phone unless you are the one who has made the call and are absolutely certain they are legitimate.

Do not give cash. Write a cheque directly to the charity. Better yet, contact the charity on your own and make arrangements. Ask for a receipt. A charitable receipt will have the letters RR in the registration number. Be cautious if you are sent something that thanks you for a donation you don’t remember making. This is a pressure tactic.

Charities that bear gifts such as stamps or address labels use this tactic to hoping you will feel bound to donate. You may not be able to return these in the mail as they have paid a charity rate that includes only one-way delivery. This is not your problem.

If a request makes you feel uneasy or pressured, then it is not respecting you as a donor. More often, if a request tugs at your heart or brings a tear to your eye, it is worth investigating before you make a decision. If they are legitimate, they will be able to provide statistics and give you administrative information you request in a consistent manner.

Remember, it’s your money don’t be afraid to say no. For more information, call the Charities Directorate Canada Revenue Agency at 1 800-267-2384.

(Dawn Thomas is Seniors’ Safety coordinator for the Town and Municipality of Digby)